FELIX

I'm shivering, my teeth chattering, and my body aching from the relentless search. Hours of walking, asking, and hoping have yielded nothing but despair. The streets are empty, the darkness oppressive.

My clothes are damp, my shoes are soaked, and my hair is rumpled. I feel dirty, like the grime of disappointment has seeped into my pores. Every step, every inquiry, every glance has ended in frustration.

As the night wears on, exhaustion claws at my eyelids, but I push on, driven by ...