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, an