Chapter 4 — The Midnight Veil

Leora

The Midnight Veil loomed ahead, its entrance shrouded beneath a rust-streaked warehouse façade. The faint bass of music pulsed through the cracked pavement beneath Leora’s heels, each beat reverberating up her spine like a warning. She adjusted the silk scarf tied at her neck, forcing her hands to remain steady. The graffiti-smeared bricks and flickering neon signs painted the scene as something born of chaos—danger and unpredictability woven into every shadow. It was far from the polished halls of museums and galleries where she felt at home. But tonight, comfort was a luxury she couldn't afford.