Cyberpunk 2074: Shadows of the Past

The heavy darkness made her breathless.

His consciousness sank in the endless darkness for a long time.

It wasn't until the chip was turned off that his consciousness regained control of this aching body.

Lying on the bed like a dead dog, there was no movement for a long time.

Before the bell rang, she opened her eyes, got out of bed, and limped to the bathroom to take a shower with bare feet.

After a brief rinse with cold water, she picked up her scattered clothes one by one on the floor of the bedroom.

Enduring the pain that traveled throughout my body, I slowly put it on.

She took one last look inside the room to make sure she had left nothing behind, and then left the room.

get off work.

She said to herself in her heart.

2074, January 19, three o'clock in the morning.

A black silent beast parked at the door of the building.

She walked out of the gate, looked at the vehicle, exhaled a breath of cool white mist into the night sky, and raised the corners of her mouth.

"Hey Judy!"

She opened the car door and got in, feeling like she was back home.

"Xiao Ai! How did you get injured all over your body?" Judy, who was sitting in the driver's seat, asked quickly. She leaned over and reached out to gently tap the shocking bruises.

"Damn Genting, you treat people less and less like people!" Judy slapped the steering wheel hard and gasped for air.

"It's okay, Judy, it's just a slight pain now. My body, after installing that chip, no longer belongs to me..." Evelin rested her head on the armchair and looked at In the night outside the car window, he whispered softly, "This is how we work in this industry. Don't worry, Judy, it's okay. At least, I don't have to bear those disgusting injuries consciously."

She was covered in scars, but she smiled and comforted her closest friend.

"Xiao Ai...why don't you quit your job?"

"Don't go to work? Are you supporting me?"

Judy stared at Evelin for a long time and slowly made a promise.

"I raise you."

"Judy..." Evelin stroked her face with her previously washed hands, "This is the City of Night, Judy, not a fairy tale or comedy world."

"In this city, no matter how hard you try, it's all in vain."

"So you just gave up?" Judy couldn't help but increase her voice, and the corners of her mouth were filled with anger.

She was angry with Evelin for her decision to give up, and angry with herself for being powerless. She could only watch the people closest to her sink into the quagmire and die silently little by little.

"I just... chose to accept it. Accept all the damn things..." Evelin turned her head towards the window and spoke calmly.

"Then... at the appropriate time, I will personally hold the torch high, light the firewood of sin, and burn this city to ashes." Her lips and teeth moved slightly, burying her determination deeply in the night and wind.

Evelin turned her head, looked at Judy's tense side face, and sighed softly.

I hope Judy won't be too surprised when she really knows what her choice is.

Don't... be angry with her again.

"You can stay at my place tonight. I still have some medicine upstairs..."

The car stopped slowly on the side of the road, and Judy asked her opinion softly.

After recalling her messy room in her mind, Evelin could only respond with a wry smile.

So the car continued to drive, heading towards the parking lot.

Evelin got out of the car, followed Judy silently, and stepped step by step on the rusty ladder outside the apartment.

The last time I came to Judy's house was several months ago.

Evelin shook her head, unable to recall the details that were once engraved in her heart.

She sighed, the side effects of the chip finally showed up.

It can protect one's consciousness from sinking into endless humiliation, but it is also gradually eroding one's memory.

How many girls like her are working hard for this chip, standing on the street one after another, doing business, just to no longer be tortured by those ugly faces.

It's just drinking poison to quench thirst.

"What's the matter, Xiao Ai?" Judy stood at the door of her house, looking back at Evelin, a little surprised as to why she was just leaning against the guardrail, silently dazed.

"It's okay..." Evelin shook her head, turned her back to Judy, and stretched her waist.

She stretched out her hands as if to embrace this neon-lit city that never sleeps.

"Xiao Ai?" Judy walked to her side and asked again with some worry.

"I'm just a little tired." Facing the biting cold wind, Evelin said softly.

"Come in quickly, it's cold outside." Judy took the initiative to hold Evelin's hand and led her towards home.

"I'll take a hot bath first."

"Okay." Judy nodded, closed the door, and walked to the living room, "Would you like some supper?"

She turned her head and asked Evelin who was walking to the bathroom.

"Eat, I happen to be a little hungry." Evelin answered while taking off her clothes.

"Throw the clothes in the dirty clothes basket! Wait for me to wash them!"

"I know~" Evelin turned on the faucet and watched the steaming water gushing out. The long syllables lazily circled around the bathroom before entering Judy's ears outside.

Judy shook her head and laughed, put the soup in the pot to heat up, walked to the bedroom, picked up Evelin's clothes from the closet, then walked into the foggy bathroom, put away the new clothes, took away the dirty clothes, and threw them into the washing machine. inside.

Evelin lay in the bathtub and closed her eyes quietly.

It feels so good to feel like home.

She whispered in her heart, but hummed a nostalgic song on her lips.

"Want to rub your back? Xiao Ai?" After Judy finished what she was doing, she stood quietly at the door of the bathroom and opened a small crack to allow air to circulate.

"Okay." Evelin closed her eyes and responded in a low voice.

"This client..." Judy said through gritted teeth as she carefully inspected Evelin's injuries, "The attack was a bit too harsh."

"This is pretty good..." Evelin shook her legs, and droplets of water rolled down smoothly, "I know a girl who woke up and found herself lying in excrement. Not to mention how disgusting it was."

"Oh..." Judy frowned and did not continue the topic, otherwise the late night snack would be wasted.

"Will this chip have any side effects?"

"Being treated like a puppet, being manipulated unconsciously..." Evelin shook her head, still choosing to hide the truth, "Maybe."

"I said before... I mean it... Evelyn." Judy took off the bathing gloves in her hands and gently hugged her from behind.

"Judy...it's okay, it's really okay." Evelin held the surrounding hands tightly and sighed softly, "Compared to the girls traveling with me...I'm lucky enough."

"Think about it." Judy frowned and emphasized her tone.

"I'm not clean, Judy."

"You are the only one who dislikes you... I will never dislike you." Judy also got into the bathtub and put Evelyn in her arms little by little, warming her desolate soul with the closeness of her heart.

"forever?"

"forever."