Nina couldn't shake the feeling that she was being watched.
As she made her way back onto the main street, the city buzzed like normal — tro tros honking, vendors shouting "Fresh bread here!" — but everything felt different to her. Every shadow seemed longer. Every whisper sharper.
Clutching the old key in her pocket, she decided to head straight for her favorite spot — the rooftop of her father's old printing shop in Osu. Up there, with the wind brushing her cheeks and the chaos of the city below, she could think.
She pushed open the rusty door and climbed the narrow staircase two steps at a time. When she burst onto the rooftop, she almost slammed straight into someone.
A man stood at the edge, gazing out at the skyline. He wore a plain black hoodie, jeans dusty from the city streets. His hands were tucked into his pockets, casual, but there was something about the way he stood — alert, ready, dangerous.
"Who are you?" Nina demanded, stepping back.
The man turned, his face partly hidden by shadows. When he spoke, his voice was calm, measured.
"My name is Chris Thompson," he said. "I sent the letter."
Nina's heart slammed against her ribs. "You sent the— Wait, you're the one who's been following me?"
Chris chuckled lightly. "Not following. Watching. Protecting."
Nina narrowed her eyes. "Right. That sounds completely normal."
Chris took a slow step forward, hands out where she could see them. His eyes — dark and unreadable — locked onto hers.
"The key you hold… it changes everything," he said. "And there are people who would do anything to get it."
Nina swallowed hard. "How do you know my name?"
Chris smiled faintly. "I know more than just your name. Your family kept many secrets from you."
A cold chill slid down Nina's spine. She thought of her late grandmother's stories — about hidden magic, about guardians protecting the ancient powers from greedy men.
"And what kind of danger are we talking about?" she asked, trying to sound braver than she felt.
Chris stepped closer. Close enough for her to notice the faint scar along his jawline.
"The Heart of the Stars," he said. "You're the key."
Before Nina could react, a loud crack shattered the moment — the rooftop door slammed open behind her.
Three masked figures in black stormed out, machetes flashing under the afternoon sun.
Chris spun, already moving. "Run, Nina!" he barked.
But Nina stood frozen for one heartbeat too long. She realized, deep in her bones —
Her life would never be the same again.