For the first time in weeks, the rain had ceased. Though dusk crept into the sky in shades of deep-sea blue and sleepy purples, a handful of people still milled about the streets, returning home after the day. Streetlights blinked into life as you ventured further into the city, lighting your path like fireflies.

At every sudden noise you instinctively tightened your grip on the handle of your knife. It dug into your ribs with each step, although you barely noticed. It acted as an anchor of some sort, keeping you from drifting too far into your thoughts; the slight discomfort tethered you to the present.

You couldn't shake the feeling that something wasn't right. Was it the misspelling of his name? The odd choice of meeting place? The lack of information in his note? You couldn't place your finger on it, but dismissed it as pure, pointless paranoia. It was the first time you'd been outside alone at night in over a month, and you'd grown unused to the nature of the city after hours, the uncanny stillness of the streets that were accustomed to seeing bustling and busy.

Much quicker than you expected to, you arrived at the tunnel that lead to yours and Viktor's meeting spot. Your steps faltered. In the dim light of twilight it looked like a gaping mouth. Jagged teeth lined stony lips, opening up into a damp cavern of pitch black. You shook the image from your mind, though couldn't help shudder slightly as you stepped into the darkness.

Your fingertips became coated in slimy grime as you ran a hand along the wall to ensure you stuck to the path. Above, the many mechanical cogs filled the otherwise quiet space with a constant rumbling sound.

Suddenly, a screech shattered the thick silence. You jumped so hard you almost lost your balance. Past the thundering heartbeat that filled your ears, you heard a sharp flap of feathers, then another caw. It took you a moment to connect the two sounds, and realized it must've just been a bird.

You exhaled shakily, unaware you'd been holding your breath until then. Feeling a new tendril of doubt unfurl in your stomach, you cast a longing glance over your shoulder. The entrance was now only a small, faint square of light, like the keyhole of a giant, dark door.

You pushed forwards until you reached the giant cog that separated the lookout from the tunnel. Part of you knew this was stupid, that you'd just wasted the past half hour faffing around in the dark, but still, you wanted a definite outcome. You ducked underneath, straightened, and-

Found yourself alone. No Viktor. Obviously, added a small voice from the back of your mind. The note must've been old, then. He wouldn't have waited hours in the dark for you. Whatever 'important' thing he'd wanted to say would have to wait til the next week.

You huffed, your breath coming out in a spiral of mist. A gust of cold night air sent goosebumps up your arms, and you cast one lingering look at the stars dotting the streetlight-stained sky before turning around. But then- a sound from the obscured tunnel made you freeze; a slight scuffle that somehow you knew was distinctly human.

"Viktor?" you called out, hating the pitch fear that seeped into the word. You waited. Your voice, multiplied and echoing, was the only response. Viktor?... Viktor?... Viktor?... Viktor?...

"Jeez, took your time, didn't you?"

You whirled at the sudden voice from behind you. Female. Not Viktor. Then who-

A girl stood behind you, where you swore there was no one just a moment before.

You opened your mouth to speak and gaped for a moment before managing to stammer out a few words. "I- What? I don't-"

She must've been barely sixteen - somewhere in those awkward ages between child and adult. She was short but lean, with jutting elbows and bony knees. Two impossibly long braids ran down her back and swung like a pendulum as she rocked back and forth on her heels. You blinked, sure it was the moonlight messing with your vision, but no, her hair was blue. A vibrant, shocking blue.

That was all you managed to acknowledge before she smirked and darted out of sight, so fast all you acknowledged was a faint brush of air then- gone. You turned in a circle, searching. It was as if she'd disappeared. The only trace of her was a laugh that seemed to echo around the small space.

Inside your pocket, your hand gripped tight on the handle of your knife. Something within you, somewhere deep and dark and primal, was telling you that this was very, very wrong.

"Over he-re," came her chirpy voice, and you jumped. She crouched on one of the stone outcrops, poised on her haunches like a cat. You took a step back. She stood, and took a step towards you.

"I'll be honest, I thought you'd chickened out," she said, continuing to walk forwards. You realized too late that somehow you'd ended up on the side of the cliff, with her between you and the exit to the passage. There was nothing behind you but air and a drop big enough to easily break a limb. You were trapped.

"I'm not- I don't understand-"

"Yeah. Didn't think you would - though I thought you'd see through that note."

You felt your stomach plummet. You hated how little your voice was when you breathed, "What?"

She rocked back and forth on her heels as she spoke. "Y'know, the one from your boyfriend. It's stupidly easy to fake his handwriting." She laughed; a short, sharp sound. "Can't believe you fell for that."

You were so stunned you completely glossed over the 'boyfriend' comment. You going to throw up. The note. Viktor's note- only it wasn't. Who was this person? How did she know about you and Viktor? How did she know what his handwriting looked like? How did she know where you lived? There were a million things you could've been thinking at that moment, but somehow all your brain could muster was fuck.

Fuckfuckfuckfuckfuck.

What she was saying didn't make any sense, but... You refused to piece the puzzle pieces together, as if by thinking it, it'd mean it was real. That you've just stumbled into a trap.

But why?

"Look, I don't want any trouble," you said, somehow managing to find you voice amongst the internal chaos. You felt as if you'd gone into autopilot, reciting all the things you were taught to say in situations like this. "Whatever you want, I'm sure you've got the wrong person. I- I don't have any money on me. I don't have anything valuable on me. If you just let me-"

She cut you off with another laugh. This time it was a lot less humorous. Mocking and malevolence tinged its edges. "Psh. You adults with all your economy shit. I don't want money. I. want. you."

"... What?"

She punctuated each word with a step forwards. She stood close enough for you to see the slight smearing of dirt across her nose, the chipped nailpolish on her nails as she raised a finger.

"Look, I'm gonna give you two choices." To your relief, she turned and began to pace. You shuffled forwards ever so slightly. When she didn't seem to notice, you began to edge your way towards the exit.

"Number one - the boring one," She began. "You come with me, zero questions asked. You don't get a headache, I don't waste a bomb, and everyone lives happily ever after. I'd probably have to blindfold you at some point, but that ain't a big deal. Or option number two-"

You took your chance and darted whilst her back was turned. There was the scuffle of feet from behind you, but you didn't dare turn around. You ran. You made it out the exit, ducked under the cog. You kept running even when you stumbled and felt your ankle twist painfully. The square of streetlight at the end of the tunnel grew closer and closer and closer and-

Your legs buckled as something wrapped quick and tight around them. You crashed to the floor and tried to stand again, but it was useless. A net of some kind had bound your legs together, rendering them useless. As you heard footsteps able towards you, all you could do was flop helplessly onto your back.

You were well and truly fucked.

"Rude," you heard the girl grumble from above you. She tilted your chin up with the toe of her boot so that you faced her, and grinned maliciously. The edge of her braids tickled your face.

"Looks like you've chose option number two!" she declared in a sing-song voice. "My personal favourite.

She reached into her pocket and held up a small, chunky object the size of a fist. The weak moonlight highlighted the colourful but crude scribbles that covered the dented metal. Her eyes flashed as she pulled the pin from the mechanism with her teeth. With her free hand, she pulled a mask of some sort over the lower half of her face. Too late did you realize its purpose.

Your hands flew to your mouth, but already a thick, pearly has had began to seep from the device. It curled through your fingers and sent dizzying waves of fatigue through you. You held your breath as your eyelids became heavy.

The girl dropped the object and took a step back as it rolled towards you. Though her mouth was covered, you could almost sense her smile through the crease of her eyes. It sent chills through your body. There was something terrifying about her, something unnerving.

You let out a splutter, lungs tight from lack of oxygen.

"Deep breaths," the girl said, sounding bored, voice muffled by the mask. "It'll be all over soon."

As stars began to distort your vision, you finally gave in and breathed. Instantly you felt lighter, detached from your body as if you were a ghost floating above it. Your thoughts became fuzzy and jumbled until you could barely string two words together.

The girl said something, but it was lost in the haze that now suffocated you. You had the sense you were being lifted, although could no longer see.

It'd be nice to say that there was a poignant last thought before you slipped into unconsciousness. Something powerful and iconic and defiant. But, to be frank, there wasn't. All you knew in that moment was dark and heavy and rest and smoke and sleep.

With one last breath, your body went limp, feeling as heavy as if it were lead.

Then

the

world

went

black.