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The pedestrian traffic flowed like a river, and Dominic Dusk moved against the current. Moving in and out of the light his shadow defied all expectations, had anyone sought to pay it attention. The smells of alcohol and bad decisions clung to the air, the noise of a weeks worth of pent up stress and frustrations. People tore off in a myriad of directions, into a vast assortment of destinations. Cafés, restaraunts, diners, clubs and pubs. The [i]Strip[/i] was where you went if you wanted to go for a night out, and you wanted to not break the bank, or be left beaten and broken. In a recent societal shift Dusk had noticed a new wave of clientele from elsewhere in the city, as Steel Acres and the Docks became 'hip' and 'trendy' places to live.

Also known as; cheap. It had its benefits, but many people these days found themselves unwelcome on the Strip. 

Dominic allowed his thoughts to flow, as the invisible thread of pure instinct pulled him along. The crowds thinned as he moved away from the strip into the Docks proper, the sweet stink of alcohol and the musk of weed was replaced with the salty bitter air and the comforting smell of old rust. There were still pedestrians here, however they either moved in groups or with purpose. Nobody wanting to be caught here all alone, by themselves and unaware. He was broken by his thoughts when there was a crash down an alleyway to his right. He saw the man stumbling and bumping into things, a long list of vulgarities spewing from his mouth.

Part of him just thought he was another wayward drunk. Though the thread that brought Dusk here pulled his head back towards the figure. [color=slategray]"Hey buddy, you alright?"[/color] He called, though he didn't approach. His right hand slipping down and under his jacket, palm resting against the side-arm he kept there in its holster. 

"That bitch!" The courseness in his voice was of a man who had been shouting for far too long.

The man removed his hands from his face, and Dusk took half a step back. The mans eyes were bloodied, bruised. Marks from where someone had seemingly tried to claw the eyes from their sockets. "That cunt, I'll make sure she fucking pays-" Realisation dawned on the mans face as he noticed Dusk stood there, wary. Looming. "Are you with her?" What remained of his eyes scanned Dusk up and down, narrowing as they focused and his face contorted as he appeared to make a decision on Dusk identity, lunging forward.

"Who is she?! Where is she?! You [i]fucking emo bastards[/i] all stick together, you'll know her-"

As he lunged, Dusk reached out and grabbed the mans arm. Pulling him in close, twisting his body and turning. Bringing his other arm up off his weapon he used both hands to push the man away. Who went stumbling, trippling and falling into a nearby puddle. With a very satisfying [i]oof[/i]. [color=slategray]"I don't know who you're talking about, but if she's the one who did-"[/color] Dusk gestured towards the mans face as he rolled over, blood, mud and other secretions and fluids upon his face. [color=slategray]"All that, I'll hunt her down while [i]you[/i] go to a hospital."[/color]

The man reached down to slip something out from his left boot, and Dusk just sighed. [color=slategray]"Go."[/color] Dropping his right hand very visibly, and very purposefully to his holster. The mans eyes widened, and then he nodded. Scurrying off leaving Dusk to turn around and make his way through the labyrinth. Casting his thoughts out, he tried to seek for the thread that had slowly been pulling him here all night. Leading him to this moment, this confrontation. It wasn't long till he could hear singing.

[b][color=#9174CB]”[/color][color=#927ABF]Y[/color][color=#9481B4]o[/color][color=#9588A8]u[/color] [color=#989691]m[/color][color=#9A9D86]a[/color][color=#9CA47B]k[/color][color=#9DAB6F]e[/color] [color=#A0B958]m[/color][color=#A2C04D]e[/color] [color=#A5CE36]f[/color][color=#A7D42B]o[/color][color=#A5CE36]r[/color][color=#A3C741]g[/color][color=#A2C04D]e[/color][color=#A0B958]t[/color] [color=#9DAB6F]m[/color][color=#9CA47B]y[/color][color=#9A9D86]s[/color][color=#989691]e[/color][color=#978F9D]l[/color][color=#9588A8]f[/color][color=#9481B4].[/color][color=#927ABF]”[/color][/b]

He followed the voice. Followed the pull, he heard another voice now. Calling, shouting out to the womans voice. [i]Eve[/i]. Dusk concentrated and pulled the shadows around himself, blending into the alleyway he approached, he could see her now. Dancing. Twisting and spinning, one hand outstretched. A finger pointing and thats when he saw the body.

Lying on the ground, bald, pale, and serene. The same as the others. He should have jumped out, drawn his weapon. Told them to freeze, called in for help. Something told him to wait. The man kept shouting at the woman, trying to get through to her and still she sang and she danced. From her outstretched finger, seemingly invisible to her and the other man stretched what looked like a line of shadow. It twisted and weaved as she danced to the song she sang, coiling around her body. One end on her finger, the other attached to the chest of the women. Then as the song hit its peak, and came to an end the strand snapped. The spell broken. Landing on her hands and knees.

The two spoke. [i]Luca, Eve. Harborlight. Luca was somehow connected to her father. Did she do this?[/i]. She swore she didn't kill, there was emphasis on this. What was the significance? The man looked directly at him before he reached down and picked her up, as he threw her over his shoulder he ran and Dusk had to take a sidestep to stop him from colliding headlong into him. If he noticed the slight shift in the shadow he didn't react. As Lucas running footsteps echoed in their retreat Dusk stepped out of the shadow and went to kneel beside the dead woman. 

Dusk recognised her as one of the missing, and a pang of regret shot through him. If only he had done more, if he had been more succesful in his invesitgation then this wouldn't have happened. Pulling his cell from his pocket with one hand, he closed her eyes with the other as he hit his speed-dial #2. It rang twice before it clicked in answer.

[color=slategray]"Hey, it's me. We've got another one."[/color]

[sup][sup][color=#645452]Indirect collab with [@Stormyx][/color][/sup][/sup]