#uwfmplotdrop

Thin, black plastic wraps tightly around a limp form, contorted and twisted in unnatural angles -- and the closer the jogger comes, the more the unsettling reality begins to sink in. The blare of sirens pair with flashes of bright blue and red, NYPD cars gathering in droves to quarantine off the particular block holding the discovery. The sun has finally begun to sink beneath the horizon, burnt orange hues streaking against a thick coat of indigo like rivulets of blood. What they discover within the plastic confines is the body of a young man -- or, at the very least, what little remained of him. His body is torn from the chest cavity down, disemboweled with a majority of his organs missing. Broken & splintered bone tear through torn skin -- but most startling of all? Burns that gave way to ash seem to litter what little parts of his body remained intact. 

Dental records were pulled -- but the presence of razor-sharp teeth off-set any plausible findings. The John Doe’s identity is a mystery -- but the ripple effect his death holds is inevitable. New York City is thrown into hysteria. News headlines, social media posts, and more -- all detailing the crude details of such a grisly affair. The echoes of disaster resound deeply through New York City’s core -- and not even the supernatural are exempt from the deadly claws slowly digging through their essence.

While the mortals scramble to put a name to the John Doe’s broken face, Aleksander is quick to find an identity. Malik Saad, a fresh-faced fledgling who had been turned only months prior. Dead. Not only that -- massacred in cold blood. Aleksander’s doors have always been open to those who wish to reside amongst his ranks -- but it also provided fledglings with the ability to explore their newfound life as an undead on their own terms if they so wished. The lax security meant that Malik’s absence amongst the coven hadn’t been entirely noticed… and now, it came with a price. His death sparks outrage. Why has Aleksander failed to protect his own children of the night? Why have the Death Dealers failed in their sworn duty to protect their own? And more than anything -- have the lycans finally put their plans into motion?

Malik’s murder is nothing short of an act of direct warfare -- a carefully-timed chess move poised to come to light after the latest full moon. A flashy show of dominance -- to say that they are here and they are ready. And yet, no lycan comes forward. Not the Liberation, not a lone wolf, not anyone. The responsible party for Malik’s mauling is still at large -- but perhaps that was their initial intention. To plant the seed of strife and doubt. Aleksander has no choice but to grit his teeth and admit defeat. One life lost is not enough to mobilize a war so soon -- but is he still able to sit back and play defense with unrest growing ever stronger?