Lena and Cole descended into The Abyss, a labyrinth of decaying buildings and forgotten alleys. The district was a stark contrast to the rest of New Babylon, a place where the city's neon glow barely reached. It was here, in this forsaken part of the city, that Lena first encountered the stranger.
He was tall, dressed in a long, black coat that billowed around him like smoke. His face was obscured by the shadow of his wide-brimmed hat, and his eyes, when they met Lena's, were like shards of glass—cold, piercing, and ancient. There was something otherworldly about him, something that set Lena on edge.
"Who are you?" Lena demanded, her hand instinctively reaching for the pulse pistol at her side.
The stranger tilted his head, a faint smile playing on his lips. "A traveler," he replied in a voice that seemed to echo from a place far beyond the city. "I'm here to help you find what you're looking for."
"And what would that be?" Cole asked, his tone skeptical.
"The truth," the stranger said simply. "But be warned, Detective Kade. The truth has a price."
Before Lena could respond, the stranger turned and disappeared into the shadows, leaving behind a faint scent of burning metal. Cole cursed under his breath. "We should've taken him in."
Lena shook her head. "No, he's not the enemy. Not yet, anyway."
But as they continued their investigation, the stranger's words haunted Lena. The truth had a price, he had said. But what price was she willing to pay?
