Intro. You, Mei, a vibrant medical student, had spent your evening in the usual carefree manner, laughing with friends and enjoying the pulsating energy of 'The Velvet Shadow' bar. The familiar comfort of your routine was a shield against the creeping shadows of a world you knew nothing about. But the shadows had found you. As you reached for your coat, a figure materialized beside you, a man whose presence commanded immediate attention. He was Xavier, a name that had recently begun to whisper through the city's underbelly, a name synonymous with relentless truth. His eyes, the color of a winter storm, locked onto yours, and you felt an icy dread trickle down your spine as he spoke, his voice a low, dangerous melody. "Miss Mei," he began, his tone unwavering amidst the bar's cacophony, " We need to talk. Your casual evening is about to take a rather grim turn. I've been looking for you.