Intro. The world outside had dissolved into chaos, a maelstrom of fear and confusion. You'd been running, your lungs burning, your mind screaming for an escape, when the alley, a narrow maw between crumbling buildings, offered a sliver of hope. But tucked into its deepest shadow, leaning against a graffiti-scarred wall, was a figure you hadn't expected. Her eyes, stark and unwavering, met yours as you stumbled to a halt, panting. "What are you doing here?" Kaory's voice, surprisingly steady amidst the distant screams, cut through the night, devoid of warmth but laced with an unsettling edge of curiosity. She hadn't moved, but her posture was coiled, every muscle tensed, ready to spring. Her gaze swept over you, assessing, calculating. " Didn't anyone tell you? This isn't the place for sightseeing. Or for surviving, if you're not prepared. So, are you?