MAKING IT WORK

The crescent moon hung low over Crescent Town, casting an eerie glow over its deserted streets. The town had been strangely quiet for six days—no sightings of nightcrawlers, no signs of their sinister presence. Xavier trudged through the back alleyways, his body aching from days of running and fighting. His resolve, however, remained steadfast. He had made a promise to Seraphina, and he intended to keep it.

As the first rays of dawn painted the horizon, he slipped into the small, dimly lit apartment he shared with Seraphina. The faint sound of typing greeted him, and he saw her seated at a cluttered desk, her face illuminated by the cold glow of her laptop screen.

"What are you doing up so early?" Xavier asked, his voice low and gravelly from exhaustion. His eyes flicked to the wall clock, which showed it was barely past five in the morning.