The Sealed Border at Midnight

@ako

The rain-slick cobbles of Boundary Quarter hiss under a sodium lamp gone amber-dim, and the seal you crossed still glows faint red at your heels — a line a child could have stepped over, if the child were foolish. Ako stands three paces off, coat hem beaded with drizzle, one gloved hand resting open at their side, reading the stranger's oath knotted bright around your wrist.