Tvaikonu Str. 5, Lv1007, Riga, Latvia -

Marta’s skin went cold, then hot. She touched the nearest teacup. It was warm. She lifted the folded paper. Beneath it, carved into the wooden chair’s backrest, was a name: Marta Lapiņa.

Inside, the staircase spiraled upward, wrong. The steps were too shallow, the banister too cold, even for Riga in November. On the first landing, a single bare bulb flickered, casting shadows that didn't match the angles of the room. The walls were covered in layered wallpaper—1950s florals peeling over 1930s geometries, over something older: newspaper print in a language she almost recognized but couldn't read. tvaikonu str. 5, lv1007, riga, latvia

TVAikonu str. 5, LV1007, Riga, Latvia

Marta checked her phone. No signal. Not low bars—zero. The air smelled of river silt and coal smoke, though the last coal plant shut down a decade ago. Marta’s skin went cold, then hot

The address was just a string of text in an old file: Tvaikonu Str. 5, LV1007, Riga, Latvia . No context. No date. Just a location. She lifted the folded paper

It was a crisp autumn evening in Riga, and the streets were alive with the soft glow of streetlights. Tvaikonu Street, with its rich history dating back to the 17th century, was bustling with people seeking to enjoy the city's vibrant cultural scene. At number 5, a beautiful Art Nouveau building stood tall, its ornate facade a testament to the city's architectural heritage.