The Decoy Gambit

I shoved my way through the thick, writhing crowd, each step feeling heavier as I closed in on Count Dracula. The dim lights flickered, casting distorted shadows, and the thumping bass of the music matched the erratic beat of my heart. I could see him now, his figure looming just ahead, but I kept to his left, slipping through unnoticed, avoiding his line of sight.

Adrenaline surged through me, he