The New York night was brutally cold. A cutting wind whipped through the buildings, and mist clung to the alleys like a silent veil of menace. Celina left the restaurant later than usual, wrapped in her dark overcoat, eyes tired and thoughts scattered. She boarded the subway as she always did, slipped on her headphones, and let music carry her through the ride.

When she reached her neighborhood, the street was emptier than normal. Silence pressed in, heavy. Trees swayed under the icy breeze, and the houses seemed asleep—lights off, shutters drawn.

She walked faster, hugging herself. Her body trembled, though she couldn’t tell if it was from the cold or from the creeping sense of being watched. As she crossed the street toward her small, charming house with its porch and white fence, she heard footsteps behind her. She sped up. The footsteps matched her pace.

She spun around. A tall man in a hood, eyes predatory and a sick smile on his lips, was far too close.

“Hey, gorgeous,” he drawl