Every instinct screamed that tonight’s adventure was veering into forbidden territory.

She rounded the corner into a narrow alley where the streetlights flickered like dying fireflies. The hum of the city dimmed, replaced by the low murmur of voices and the scrape of shuffled boots on concrete. Shadows clung to the graffiti-scarred walls, tall shapes leaning close as if to share dark secrets.

A knot of dread twisted in her stomach, but adrenaline hummed beneath her skin. She told herself they’d just glance at a lone teenager and move on. Pretty girls were safe, weren’t they? Still, every instinct screamed that tonight’s adventure was veering into forbidden territory.

Halfway down the alley, a figure in a threadbare hoodie stepped out from the gloom. His eyes glinted—hungry, curious—and the others closed in behind him. Her heart thundered, each beat echoing against the brick, but she lifted her chin and pressed forward, determined to prove her bravery.