Fii slipped bato the id headed to her room to remove her equipment, stuffing the pieces into a bck gym bag. Once she was dressed in her usual attire, she padded back out through the ic's rear entrand headed toward the Neon Alley.

  She walked casually along the streets, blending in with the crowd. Nobody gave her a sed gnce as she wove through the throng, approag the entrao the Neon Alley. She gnced up at the colorful array of neon signs hanging above the alleyway, fshing and flickering in the gloom. Despite the te hour, the atmosphere remained lively and eic.

  Then, she made her ast the rge group of people gregatihe entrand rouhe er, entering the alley proper. The buildings here were pressed together tightly, narrow passageways brang off at various points, leading to smaller marketpces and nooks where vendors peddled their wares.

  Fii weaved her way through the bustling crowd, keeping a for anything suspicious. A pair of men staggered past, ughing boisterously as they slung their arms around each other's shoulders. Another man lurked in a dark alcove, talking in hushed tones with a hooded figure, a cigarette sm between his fingers.

  As she approached a booth selling handmade jewelry, a hand reached out from the crowd, ing around her arm. She reacted instinctively, pivoting and bringing her free elbow up sharply, making tact with her assaint's sternum. There was a sharp gasp as the grip on her arm loosened.

  She spun to face the offender, her hand balling into a fist. "Back off!" she spat, ready to strike.

  The man who'd grabbed her staggered back, wheezing. "Rex...was gonna ask..." he coughed, massaging his chest, "if you're ied in some good weed...just a joint or two..." He winced as he straightened up, giving her a forced smile.

  Fii blinked, her fist ung as she rexed her stance. "Oh...uh...nht now."

  The man gave her a toothy grin. "e on, sweetheart...won't be able to offer you this dist ter...best stuff on the market, I guara." He wi her, pulling out a small pstic package filled with rolled joints.

  She shook her head, gng away awkwardly. "I'm fihanks."

  The dealer chuckled, tug the package ba his pocket. "Suit yourself, kid." He turned and sauntered away, disappearing into the crowd.

  Fii stared after the man for a moment, before tinuing on her path. She moved cautiously now, keeping her guard up.

  The st thing she wao deal with tonight was getting mugged or solicited fs. She was fident she'd be able to sniff out some useful intel from the locals, and her instincts usually weren't wrong. But if she really wao find out what was going on, there was only one person she could turn to: Lyria.

  Fii began asking around, striking up versations with a few street vendors, performers, and locals. It wasn't hard; she wasly shy, and her charm, albeit goofy, often made folks more receptive to talking. She had a knack fetting people to open up, and she'd learo use that to her advantage.

  It only took a few moments for her to discover that Lyria was having a small get-together with some friends at her pear the end of the alley. Fii thahe vendor and tossed a Tink to a street performer before heading over, hoping to catch the party in full swing.

  She knew where Lyria lived, but she also k wasn't a good idea to approach the dancer without permission. The woman wasn't a regur partier, as far as Fii uood, but she did dabble in the nightlife, and she loved the Neon Alley. It made sense for her to reside nearby, and she often hung around the street performers to socialize. That's how they met, after all.

  It should be fine. Lyria was o her, s in uninvited shouldn't be a big deal. Or at least, Fii hoped.

  The small apartment building looked like many of the others in the area, run-down and dipidated, but inside was a different story. Fii had only visited Lyria's pce before, but it seemed the woman had made some improvements sihen. Instead of the damp, moldy space she remembered, the interior was surprisingly cozy.

  Warm lighting bathed the main room in a soft, yellow glow, and the air smelled faintly of inse and spices. A coud several beanbags occupied the ter of the room, surrounded by plush pillows. Music pyed from a vintage-looking record pyer, and there was a small kitette off to the side, plete with a stove and a sink.

  A small group of people lounged around, chatting and ughing amongst themselves. Several of them were drinking and smoking, but nobody seemed toohank goodness. She didn't want to intrude on an out-of-trol bash, after all.

  "Well, well, if it isn't my favorite little acrobat! How ya doing, slumshine?" Lyria beamed, emerging from a side room. "Fii! It's been a while. I thought you'd fotten about little old me." She draped a nky arm over the Fii's shoulder, pulling her into a side hug.

  Fii stiffe first but quickly rexed, melting into the embrace. "Hey, I've been busy, you know? Just got a lot going on. How're things?" She awkwardly patted Lyria's forearm as they walked over to the group, who all greeted her with warm smiles.

  "Oh, you know, just chasin' the neon in my little shimmer in the puddle. Trying to enjoy myself before I turn into a dried-up old hag." Lyria ughed, a hearty, booming sound. "e on, rex and sit down. You want a drink?" she asked, motioning to the kit.

  Fii shook her head, deing politely. "Ah, thanks, but I don't really drink much." She sed the group, ting a total of seven people in total. "Sorry to drop in, by the way. I was just looking for some info, and I figured you'd be able to help me out."

  She looked around at the faces in the room. Many of them seemed familiar, probably regurs at the Neon Alley. But there were a few unfamiliar ooo, probably acquaintances and friends of the group.

  After p herself a drink, Lyria took a sip and waved a hand dismissively. "Eh, you're not interrupting anything important. Besides, I always got time for you. What's up? Wao help spread the word about one of ys?" She grinned.

  Fii's eyes lit up. "Uh, no, that's not...but if you wanna—"

  "I'm kidding, Fii, rex." Lyria chuckled, squeezing Fii's shoulder reassuringly. "Seriously though, whateed? Spill it. I got ears everywhere, y'know." She sat down on the couch, gesturing for Fii to join her.

  One of the people sitting on the couch, a handsome man with a ly trimmed beard, perked up. "So, who's this? A friend of yours, Lyr?" He tilted his head, scrutinizing her. "You don't look like anyone I've seen around here before."

  Fii smiled weakly, shrugging. "Name's Fii. Just a street performer and odd jobber around these parts."

  "Yup, that's her, and yes, she's my little friend." Lyria ed an arm around Fii's shoulders and squeezed tightly. "Don't let the adorable face fool you—this one's a real hard worker and a feisty one. Now, shhh, we're talking here, babe." She shot him a pyful wink.

  Fii blushed slightly at the pliment, shifting in her seat.

  Another person, a petite woman with gsses, leaned forward curiously. "Hmm, iing. So, what brings you here, Fii? Are you part of Lyr's crew or something? Because, like, if you're looking for a job, we could probably hook you up with something. Lyr's tight with a lot of the local vendors."

  Fii shook her head again, running a hand through her hair. "No, that's not what I'm here for, but...thank you." She gave them all a nervous smile.

  Lyria tsked. "Seriously, chill. She's fine; we go way back. So, Fii, whateed?" The uests quickly fell silent, seemingly tent to listen as she and Lyria versed.

  Fii made a mental o return the favor ter, somehow, before speaking up. "So, I found this guy overdosing in an alley tonight. Didn't look like the usual drugs or alcohol, but he was high as a kite. Passed out, seizing and everything. Shaking so hard he dropped a syri was empty. Anyway, I brought him to the ic, but..." She lowered her voice a bit, leaning in to whisper. "Has there been any echoes in the alley about a new drug? Something big, or different, maybe?"

  Lyria hummed thoughtfully, taking another sip of her drink as she leaned ba the couch. "Y'know, now that you mention it...been hearing some rumors for a while. Like whispers. There's a hing going around, supposedly. Dealers call it 'Shiver' or some such. Said to make you feel real good, like flying, but when it wears off, you crash hard. Like a fug rock."

  Shiver? Sounded a bit ridiculous. Fii frowned, arg a brow. "Oh? Never heard of that name. Doesn't seem like the usual stuff that circutes around here. Usually, the uff goes straight to the metropolis. But not the slums."

  "Exactly, which is why it's all kinds of suspect," Lyria expined. "Somebody's trying to get people hooked on something nasty." She cast a worried g her friends, who shared simir looks of .

  The bearded man on the couch sighed, ping the bridge of his nose. "Great, more problems. Isn't the Neon Alley shady enough as is?"

  The woman wearing gsses rested her on her hands. "Makes sehough. The more addicts, the more moo be made, and the less petition from the usual gangs. Seems like somebody's trying to house." She sipped from her mug, frowning deeply.

  Another woman oher side of the couch scoffed, rolling her eyes. "Well, who cares? We're not users, and we're certainly not addicts. I say let the freaks and gangs destroy themselves for all I care. Less trouble for us." She folded her arms defiantly.

  "otive, still murder," the bearded man said with a wry smirk. "Not to be a jerk, but I'd rather not die because some asshole decided to poison my high." He gred at the woman. "Also, rude. Don't lump us in with those bottom-feeders."

  "Hear there's been some nasty side-effects, too," Lyria tinued, ign the other two. "People losing their minds, going psycho, y'know? Talkin' crazy, violent-like. Then, bam, they go catatonid just keel over like dead bugs."

  "One guy told me he had this buddy who'd been using, and then, just like that, he turned on his dealer and killed him. Straight-up tore the poor bastard apart. No joke." Lyria clicked her tongue and made a sshing motion across her throat. "Lost his marbles and offed him. Bonkers, I'm telling ya. It's dangerous shit, whatever it is."

  Fii blinked, slightly taken aback. The fact that Lyria was even telling her all this was surprising enough. "Sounds really bad. Does anyone know where they're getting it from, who's supplying it?" Fii asked, crossing her arms over her chest. "Or at least, who's dealing it?"

  Lyria shrugged, setting her empty gss oable. "Don't know yet. All I know is it's still in the rumor stages, so it's only hitting the streets in small amounts, but people are going wild for it. It's bad news, though. You stick to perf, girl. This isn't something you wanna mess around with." Her tone was light but held an unmistakable edge of warning.

  Fii nodded solemnly. "Got it. Don't touch the crazy juice. Good to know. I just hate seeing people hurt, or worse. Doesn't feel right, y'know? Would be nice if we had someone around to make it all go away."

  Lyria fshed a toothy grin and spped Fii's thigh pyfully. "Don't worry, cutie. If you haven't heard already, we've got a superhero in towaking out gangbangers and thugs, keeping the pead all that." She tapped the side of her nose knowingly. "I bet you she'll be all over this 'Shiver' business in no time. Probably knows more than us lowlifes by now."

  Fii allowed herself a small smirk, gazing at her feet. "Yeah, you're probably right. Thanks, though." She raised her head and smiled brightly at Lyria. "And you're not a lowlife. You're one of the people I know. The frie, too. If you ever need anything, you know I'm happy to help, right? I owe you, for a lot."

  "Aw, sweet talker." Lyria giggled, stretg her arms and ing them around Fii's neck, pulling her into a tight hug as she straddled her p. "You've always been so adorable. Such a cutie."

  She ran her fihrough Fii's hair, scratg lightly at her scalp as she whispered, "You know, you've grown up so nicely. My, my, you've got quite the figure, too. Love the toned arms, babe." She nuzzled Fii's cheek, trag her jawlih her nose as she purred, "Wouldn't mind spending some quality time with you, if you're ied. Just the two of us. Hmm? Or mabye...with others?" Lyria g the group, who were already giving them approving looks.

  Alert! Red alert! Code red!

  Fii could feel her cheeks burning, and she swallowed hard. "Uhh..." she stammered, her voice crag. "I, uh, I mean, I've gotta...I—uh—I'm not...I don't think..."

  "Sheesh, Fii, don't leave me hanging, now," Lyria said with a soft giggle. "You're in the middle of a party, aren't you? Rex and enjoy yourself." She pecked Fii's forehead gently. "All work and no py makes for a dull girl, darling."

  Fii let out a shaky ugh, trying her best to stay calm. "Right...well, um, I guess I could...stay for a little bit. 't have fun if I'm nervous, though. And I've never done anything like this before, so..."

  "Never? Never ever?" Lyria whispered, her lips brushing against Fii's ear. "We could start slow. Show you the ropes. Teach you how to breathe again." She nibbled the lobe tenderly and—

  —that was all it took for Fii to suddenly lift Lyria off her p ahe woman on the couch beside her.

  Fii stood up, cleared her throat, and blurted out, "IhavetogoandIreallyshouldgetbacktoit. Thanksforthetalk. Bye!"

  She scrambled for the door, her face beet red. As she sped away, she could hear the hing, but Lyria's ughter seemed louder than all the rest.

  Once she was a few blocks away, she slowed to a normal walking pace, letting her heart rate and breathile. She cursed under her breath, trying to erase the embarrassment from her mind.

  She had pletely fotten how forward Lyria could be sometimes. She was a sweet person, sure, but...man. The woman never minced words when she was flirting, and she didn't seem to care whether anyone else was in the room or not. It wasn't as if Fii disliked her, but she certainly wasn't expeg to get hit on like that—and in front of strangers!

  She pihe bridge of her nose and sighed, her shoulders slumping. "o self: ime, practice saying 'no.' Definitely o learn that..." she muttered glumly as she headed back to the ic.

  At least she mao get some useful information, and in such a short amount of time, too.

  Looks like she'd have to give Virgil a heads-up about this new drug. This "Shiver" stuff sounded really, really bad, and the soohey iigated, the better.