Dark clouds hovered above silent streets. Rain dripped slowly from broken gutters. A lone figure stumbled near alleyway. Footsteps echoed sharply in damp night. Door creaked open with soft protest. Candlelight flickered across bloodstained floorboards. Empty wine glass lay tipped sideways. Clock stopped at ten past midnight. Crowbar rested beside shattered study window. Coat fluttered, caught on splintered wood. Name carved neatly into desk drawer. Photograph showed smiling faces, one missing. Letter rested under porcelain teacup. Words formed a cold, final farewell. Wind howled low through fractured pane. Silence returned, heavy, complete, absolute.