Kara felt a knot forming in her stomach as Grant skipped through the video. She held her breath, dreading what the video would show. As it began to play, Kara squinted at the screen. Sure enough, there Alyssa was—her dark hair brushing against her shoulders, her deep brown eyes scanning the crowd, and that unmistakable red dress that made her look like a flame burning brightly in the middle of the club.

“I don't understand.” Kara shook her head in frustration, her forehead creasing as she frowned. “She knows that club is a hotbed for gang activity. I've told her a million times to stay away from there.”

"Apparently, it didn't stick," Grant's reply was barely audible, his fingers lightly brushing the stubble that lined his jaw, showing he hadn't been home all night. His dedication to his work rivaled her own. As his partner, she knew it was her job to voice her concern, but Alyssa was the more pressing matter.

Kara's eyes were full of desperation as she looked toward Grant, "I'm sorry, Grant, but I really need to check on her. Can you get by on your own today?"

Grant hesitated, then he cracked a tired smile and waved a hand dismissively. "You're lucky that you caught that fool Mancini yesterday. I'll let it go this time," he said with a wink. "But you owe me. I need a break from all these late shifts. I'm growing an extra set of bags under my eyes." He scratched at the stubble on his face before flicking imaginary hair over his shoulder. "I got to get some beauty sleep, too, ya know."

Kara set her hand on Grant's shoulder before playfully smacking him in the back. "You're right," she conceded with a half-smile, "I owe you one."

Grant rolled his eyes as he waved her away with a flick of his hand. "Yeah, yeah," he muttered before she ran off.

* * *

Kara tapped the address into her maps app and set out on her way. She'd hoped that Alyssa would be home after her busy night out. Kara had never been to Alyssa's campus apartment building before, and even though she was willing to help her move in, Alyssa insisted that Kara didn't have to worry about it. As she pulled up to the towering building with its grey brick and white accents, Kara couldn't help but be impressed. She parked beside a row of bicycles and walked to the main entrance. The doors were large and white, with windows lining each level of the high-rise apartment complex. She approached the intercom and pressed the button beside it. "Hello," she said into the speaker. "I'm here to see my sister."

A tinny voice rang out from a small speaker near the door. “Please come to the front desk,” it said, and with a loud beep, the door unlocked.

Kara pushed open the building door, her eyes immediately searching for a familiar face. A young girl with dark hair pulled back in a neat bun sat in the lobby at a small desk with a computer monitor facing her. She appeared to be about Alyssa's age. As Kara stepped closer, the girl looked up and waved her in. "Hello," Kara said, "I'm here to see my sister, Alyssa Westbrooke. I'm not sure which apartment she's in."

The girl behind the desk had inquisitive, almond-shaped eyes framed by a pair of wire-rimmed spectacles. She peered up at Kara and quickly resumed typing away at her computer. Her fingers tapped at lightning speed until they suddenly stopped. “I’m sorry, ma’am,” she said with a soft shake of her head. “No one by that name is staying here right now."

Kara's mouth dropped open slightly as she felt a sudden wave of dread and confusion. Her forehead wrinkled in disbelief as she asked again, "But this is 367 Brown Street, right? Are you sure?"

The girl shrugged. “Afraid so. Sorry."

Kara was now seething. Suddenly, it all made sense why Alyssa insisted she never visited her. She had been lying to Kara this entire time. But why? Why would Alyssa be deceitful like this? Had Kara done something to upset her sister?

She clenched her teeth and raced towards her car. After sliding into the driver's seat, she scrambled for her phone, frantically pressing the familiar number until she heard Alyssa's voicemail greeting. Frustrated, she clicked the phone off and threw it on the car seat. She turned on the ignition and slammed her foot on the gas pedal, swerving out onto the empty street with one goal: finding her little sister.

Kara’s heart raced as she navigated her vintage Mustang through the city streets. She took a deep breath and tried to calm down but had no luck. Her eyes danced from side to side, scanning each street corner and alleyway, searching for any sign of Alyssa. With every passing minute, Kara's anxiety grew until it consumed her entirely.

She pulled out her phone and typed a message, “Where are you? I'm worried sick.”

No reply.

Finally, Kara did the only thing she could. Sighing, she put her car in gear and headed towards Immortal. It wasn't her first choice of places to be, but it was the only option left.

Kara felt the pleasant heat of the summer evening on her skin as she pulled up to the club. A huge, glowing moon rose above the horizon, casting a pale light across the parking lot. Kara stepped out of her car and felt the wind tug at her hair in greeting, warm and fragrant with salt air. As she approached the entrance, she saw a large man standing there, arms crossed over his chest, towering over everyone who tried to enter. Kara knew she wouldn't have trouble getting in because she had the secret key… her badge.

The bouncer’s eyes were hidden behind mirrored sunglasses and an expressionless face. She approached him, but before she could even say her name, he said firmly, “Sorry, you aren’t on the list.” He didn't bother to look at the clipboard or give her another moment of consideration.

She grabbed the edge of her leather jacket and pulled it aside to reveal a shiny badge clipped to the waistband of her jeans. “So, does this mean I'm on the list?” she asked, her voice confident.

The bouncer rolled his eyes as he stepped aside with a sigh of annoyance. He grabbed the rope that held back the crowd and unclipped it to let Kara through. As Kara stepped into the club, she was enveloped in heady scents—a mix of sweat, cologne, and a hint of tobacco smoke. The air around her seemed to buzz with energy; red lighting cast wild shadows across the walls, and further ahead, people moved in tightly packed circles, dancing wildly to the thumping bassline.

Kara thrust her way through the throngs of night-goers, eyes darting, searching for Alyssa. Finally, her gaze landed on her sister, bent over a tray of drinks she was serving to a small coterie of people in the VIP section. Kara felt her jaw drop; Alyssa’s dress was skin-tight and made from latex, leaving little to the imagination apart from a hint of black lace around the hemline. She recalled the red dress with no back, and it made this ensemble look tame by comparison. Kara shook her head in disbelief; she barely recognized this new version of Alyssa.

In that moment, Kara's heart thudded violently in her chest. This was the same girl she’d held in her arms after their mother had passed, the girl she’d sworn to protect. The thought of her being here, in this place, surrounded by the very danger she had warned her about, ignited a fierce protectiveness within her. What if gang members were watching her, waiting for the right moment to strike? She couldn’t let that happen. Not now. Not ever.

Kara pushed through the crowd, feeling the bass thrum in her bones as she made her way closer to Alyssa. She could see her sister laughing and joking with a group of guys, their hands reaching out to touch her arm and pull her into their conversation. The scene made Kara’s blood boil.

Just as she was about to call out to Alyssa, a tall guy with tousled blonde hair and a grin that screamed mischief sidled up to her. He leaned in close, his breath hot against her ear. “Hey, sexy,” he said with charm and arrogance. “Dance with me.”

Kara shot him a sideways glance, her brows furrowing in disapproval. “No,” she replied flatly, her tone leaving no room for argument.

But the guy wasn't ready to back off. He reached out and grabbed her wrist with a confident tug. “C’mon, don’t be a buzzkill. The night is young, and you’re looking too good to just stand there.” He wiggled his eyebrows playfully, a mischievous glint in his eyes.

Kara yanked her wrist free, her patience wearing thin. She rolled her eyes, annoyance coursing through her veins. “I'm not interested,” she repeated, more firmly this time.

In an attempt to sweeten the deal, the guy pulled something from his pocket—a small, colorful pill that glinted under the club's flashing lights. “What about this?” he said, holding it out to her like it was the key to unlocking a hidden treasure. “It’ll take your night to the next level. Trust me, you’ll love it.”

Kara's stomach churned at the sight. “No thanks,” she said, her voice dripping with disdain. “Do you think I’m that easy?”

She flashed her badge, the glint of metal catching his eye. The guy’s expression transformed from confident to horrified in a split second as the realization hit him. “You’re a cop!” he stammered, taking a quick step back, his face paling as he dropped the pill back into his pocket. Without another word, he turned and fled into the crowd, weaving through the throngs of people like a frightened rabbit escaping a predator.

Kara sighed, shaking her head at the absurdity of it all. The nightlife, with its flashing lights and pulsating beats, was nothing more than a façade, hiding the real dangers lurking beneath. She turned her attention back to the VIP section, where Alyssa was now giggling, seemingly unaware of the chaos just moments away. Despite the crowd and the chaos, Alyssa was so vibrant, so carefree, and yet so dangerously naïve.