The cold wind of the rainy season swept across the city, bringing with it the acidic smell of smog and decay. I stepped out of the Smiling Eddy, a dingy bar I frequented, and huddled deeper into my tattered trench coat as I lit a cigarette. The ember glowed softly in the darkness, reflecting in the puddles that formed on the grimy pavement.
Walking alone had always given me time to think, assess, and ruminate on the state of things. The world, a decrepit shell of its former self, had become a breeding ground for corruption and deceit. Human life had long been devalued by the powers that be. Now, it was almost drowned by neon lights and the incessant hum of machinery. People had willingly given up their lives in exchange for the semblance of normalcy offered by corporate giants with a finger in every pie.
I pulled my collar up higher to shield myself from the drizzle and started to walk home. My right arm tensed involuntarily as the sensors in the robotic prosthetic adjusted to the cold air. A memento from a failed uprising against our cybernetic overlords, it now served me well in my line of work as a private investigator.
A figure emerged from the shadows, their face obscured by a trilby hat. I could sense their gaze following me as they tailed me down the alley.
“Agent Smith,” I muttered under my breath, not daring to look back.
He was a legend amongst us rebels who had dared to stand against the oppressive system. Some said he had once been on our side, a traitor to the cause; others claimed he was merely a program created in response to the uprising. Regardless of his origins, we all knew what Agent Smith represented: power, control, and ruthlessness.
“Care to join me for a walk?” His deep voice echoed through the alley, causing the hair on my neck to stand on end. He caught up to me in one swift motion, placing a firm hand on my shoulder as we continued to walk side by side. His touch felt cold, even through the layers of my clothing.
“What do you want with me?” I asked, struggling to keep my voice steady.
He let out a low chuckle, the sound barely audible over the rain. “You’re quite the enigma, aren’t you? A lone wolf who refuses to bow down to the powers pulling the strings. You fascinate me.”
The compliment, if it could be called that, did little to settle my nerves. I knew Agent Smith was dangerous; he was a harbinger of chaos and fear, yet there was something about his presence that was almost magnetic.
We walked in silence for a while, the only sound being our footsteps splashing through the puddles that littered the ground. I wanted to know why he had sought me out, but found myself unable to ask.
“It’s because you have something I need,” he answered my unspoken question suddenly. “You have information. Secrets gleaned from your investigations that could prove… useful.”
His grin was cold and calculating. “And what do I get in return for this… information?”
He tapped a finger to his lips, clearly amused by my response. “I can offer you protection. An ally with power and influence in this twisted world.”
As tempting as his offer may have been, I knew better than to trust him. He would only use me for his own gain before discarding me and seizing any opportunity to sink his teeth into my life.
“Nice try,” I said calmly. “But I’m not about to make a deal with someone like you.”
Agent Smith stared at me for a moment before letting out a mischievous laugh. “Very well,” he conceded. “You refuse my offer, and I can’t fault you for that. But there is something you should know.”
He leaned closer, his breath cold against my ear. “The world as you know it is changing. Lines are being blurred, cracks appearing in the foundations. And when that happens, you’ll be forced to choose a side.”
He paused, looking me directly in the eye. “When that day comes, remember this conversation and know that I will always be watching.”
And with that, he vanished back into the shadows as quickly as he had appeared. I continued my walk home, the wind still biting at my face, but one thing was now certain: the storm on the horizon was far more dangerous than any I had faced before.
Author: Opney. Illustrator: Dalli. Publisher: Cyber.
