Nightfall: Last Call

Chapter 1 - The Stranger

01:30 AM, April 3rd 2026 - Night Avenue, Okaso

Ren stood in the alley, hands tucked into the pockets of his black bomber jacket, listening to the distant sounds of the city winding down. He sighed as he pulled out his phone. 3 missed calls. Ren stared at the phone notification blankly, struggling to collect his own thoughts. The bar had a way of warping time, as well as disorienting ones mind, slowly turning you into a brainless servant just living to do others bidding.

He pushed open the heavy door, the familiar scent of aged whiskey and something metallic—something ancient—greeting him. The regulars would arrive soon, slipping in like shadows, and Ren had learned that his job wasn't just about pouring drinks. It was about keeping secrets, about pretending he didn't notice when a glass was drained too quickly or when a patron's eyes lingered a bit too long on the pulse in his neck. He moved behind the bar, his fingers brushing the cool bottles that lined the shelves, each one labeled in a way that only he and Akina, the senior bartender, could understand. Tonight, like every other night, he would serve those who lived in the spaces between, their hunger in the still air. And in the dim, red-tinged light of The Howler, Ren would try to forget that he wasn't just part of this world—he was starting to feel like he belonged to it.

"Ren." Akina interrupted his thoughts.

Ren almost jumped before shooting his glance toward her.

"You doing okay? You've looked kinda rough lately," Akina asked concerned as she sorted the stations with fruits, sugar, spices and all the garnishes the drinks needed.

Ren stared blankly at her hands moving, carefully placing every container around the bar with purpose. "I guess I'm just tired from the irregular sleeping. But I wont let it slow me down during the shift, don't worry."

Akina sighed, "keep your head in it okay? These are not the people to tick off. It could be the last shift for the both of us. Like what happened to Lena."

"Yeah, okay." Ren shuddered. 

As the clock struck two, the atmosphere inside The Howler shifted. The warm hum of the daytime bar was long gone, replaced by a heavy, expectant silence. Ren and Akina exchanged a knowing glance as the old wooden doors creaked open, the faintest breeze slipping through the cracks, carrying with it the chill of the night. Outside, no one could see the subtle red glow that now pulsed from beneath the bar's low-lit chandeliers, but to those who knew, it was a beacon. The vampires came in quietly, as they always did—faces hidden beneath dark hoods or long brimmed hats. Ren wiped down the counter, his senses sharpening as the room filled with their silent, heavy presence. Akina, standing beside him, moved with quiet efficiency, her hands already mixing a drink for one of the regulars without needing to ask.

Ren's hands moved automatically, pouring a glass of Blood Lust for the first patron—a red eyed figure who always lingered at the far end of the bar. Akina slid a glass to another customer with a subtle nod, her eyes scanning the room. Despite the silence, there was an electric tension in the air, something unspoken that both Ren and Akina felt but couldn't place. Tonight felt different.

As Ren wiped down the counter again, the door creaked open once more. He glanced up, expecting another familiar face, but the figure standing in the entrance was new. Tall, sharp-eyed, with skin almost too pale, even for one of them. He didn't wear the usual anonymity that most vampires preferred, his face fully exposed under the dim light. Something about him made the hair on the back of Ren's neck stand.

The stranger made his way toward the bar, moving with a casual, predatory grace. Ren kept his expression neutral as the man took a seat directly in front of him, resting his hands on the counter. "Ren, right?" the stranger said, his voice smooth, but laced with something darker.