Rain pounded the cobblestones, dim streetlights casting long shadows. A scream pierced the night, echoing through deserted alleys. A body lay crumpled beneath the gothic arches, a single dagger plunged into its chest. Detective Sullivan approached, eyeing the macabre scene with grim determination. He noted the time: 2:17 a.m., the city's darkest hour. Surrounded by mist, the mystery began to unfurl, a sinister plot taking shape.