My eye catches a small shift in Blue’s demeanor. Her eyes drift slightly to the side, and her body tenses, freezing as her attention gets pulled elsewhere. I tap Vince, signaling him to pause his story for a moment.

  Blue’s attention returns to us with a microscopic jolt.

  “Sorry, the city needs my attention.” She says.

  “You’re alright Little Blue.” Vince reassures her. “Just tell us how we can help.”

  “Three people have overdosed on a chemical Frankenstein is unfamiliar with. He thinks they injected it into themselves, they also had something called Blur in their systems. But I’ve disabled most of the cameras inside people's homes, and he and Monary have no idea where whatever they used came from.”

  “Sounds like it was laced.” An ancient fire burns in my chest. “Dealers cut pure stuff with god knows what, trying to save themselves an arc and make the high more intense. I’m not surprised it’s killing people.”

  “How do I track down who’s doing it?”

  “You let me handle it.” I push myself to my feet and grab my rifle from her resting spot against the couch. “You need a sample, and I know a guy who cares more about arcs than safety.”

  “We all handle it together.” Vince stresses, standing up beside me.

  “Vince, you have a reputation as a goody-two-shoes and Blue shows her face every few days, making it clear who she is. Nobody is going to talk when you two come knocking.” I say. “I could get away with bringing Cassie, but that’s about it.”

  “What about me?” Lucas asks.

  “Lucas, no offense, but you’re too happy.” I say flatly. “You look like someone who’s never done anything more than alcohol and some edibles, not someone looking to make an entire day disappear just so you don’t have to experience it.”

  “I don’t have to look like this.” Blue says. “Remember the receptionist when we went to talk to C-1? She was a robot body the whole time, and I haven’t adjusted her yet.”

  “How many people have seen her?” I ask.

  Her attention lapses once again for just a moment before returning.

  “Almost exclusively the top floors, and most of them have left.” She answers.

  “Fine, it’s your city. Bring her here and I’ll dress her up.”

  “Ok.”

  “Make sure both of you are prepared.” I nod to Blue and Cassie. “I want to head out as soon as your body gets here.”

  “Ok.” Blue says.

  I open the door and step out, Vince following closely behind. Blue and Cassie’s conversation still filters out of the room as we walk down the hall.

  “Don’t you have people to deal with this?” Cassie asks.

  “My citizens are being hurt. I need to be the one to make sure they’re safe. Plus, I’m worried Ray might go overboard.”

  Vince and I step into my room, cutting off everything but muffled voices through the walls.

  “Are you going to be able to handle this?” Vince asks.

  “Cassie will keep me straight.” I lean against the dresser and stare at myself in the mirror. I brush my hair out of my face, staring into my own eye. I look too put together. I grab a cloth and begin to remove my mask.

  “I know.” Vince wraps one arm around my waist and holds me close. I let my head lean against his while I work.

  Once I look like shit, revealing the years of abuse, I slip a knife out of my sleeve to check it. It’s sharp and reliable, same with every other one I have hidden. My pistols are the same, although I grab a cleaning kit just to make sure.

  My eye locks onto my rifle. That’d be a hell of a thing for an addict to have. It’d make sense to leave her behind.

  “Hummingbird, ping Blue for me.” I say into the room.

  “What is it?” Blue’s voice comes through the intercom.

  “Is the body you’re bringing packing?”

  “Yeah, she’s armed, although I don’t want to hurt anyone.”

  “I know.” I let out a loud sigh and hand my rifle to Vince. People are more likely to talk to us if I don’t have her.

  “You stay safe out there, alright?” Vince asks.

  “I wouldn’t dream of anything else.” I hold my pistol up, not a speck of sand on it. I slide in the rounds and hide it back in my waistband.

  This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

  Just as I’m finishing up my last weapon, a knock comes from the door. I push myself off of my dresser and open it.

  On the other side stands a woman I’ve only seen once, alongside Cassie, feeling a little unsure. Blue’s hair is brown and perfect, and her skin is far too flawless. Beneath what I have to hope is an artificial skin are what I hope are fake capillaries pulsing to an artificial beat.

  “Huh. I can’t even tell that body is a robot. Sit down, you need a lot of work.”

  “I think that was C-1’s intention.” Blue says, and takes a seat on the edge of my bed.

  I grab a makeup kit and get to work. She needs imperfections, a lifetime of stories painted on her face. Deep bags under her eyes go far to make her seem more human. I add a few scratches, faded scars, pockmarks, exhaustion lines. I mess up her perfect hair, give her an uneven cut and split ends. She looks just like any other poor person who lives here and might be looking for an out. As long as nobody looks at how perfect her skin is at least.

  “Keep this body when you’re done with it.” I say. “She’s useful.”

  “I will.”

  I grab clothes from my dresser and hand them to her. Long sleeves and pants to hide her skin. They’re old, with threadbare patches and the dye so faded it’s almost gray in places.

  She shamelessly gets started putting them on.

  Oh, she’s anatomically correct. I guess that explains where C-1 got the body. I catch Cassie’s reflection in the window, she’s not as embarrassed as I would have expected. Good for them.

  Blue puts on her clothes, prim and proper. I have to reach over and mess her up a little. I tuck an edge of her shirt into her waistband, slightly roll up one leg.

  “You can get away with that.” I say. I glance at Cassie. She’s fine. She carries every year with her. “Let’s get this over with.”

  “Where are we going?” Blue asks.

  “To meet someone I was hoping to never talk to again, assuming he’s still alive.”

  “What’s his name? I can check.” Blue offers.

  “Stillson.”

  Blue’s attention lapses, and she frowns. I wonder if every single body does the same, or just the one she’s currently focused on.

  “Is that a nickname?” She asks. “I have someone named Lawrence that goes by Stillson sometimes?”

  “Wait, his name is Lawrence?” I lost tens of thousands of arcs and months of my life to a guy named Lawrence? Yeah, that word’s getting spread around.

  “Either way, tell me about this guy.” Cassie says, doing a final check of her weapons. “And what’s the plan? Forcing answers, or are we just asking?”

  “As much as he doesn’t deserve it, we’ll start by talking.” I answer. “He’s just a dealer. Just follow my lead.”

  “I’ll be here when you get back.” Vince reminds me.

  “I know.” I head out of my room before my logic catches up and forces me to stay.

  My eye tracks everyone as we head downstairs and outside. The tension that they all normally carry when Blue is around is nowhere to be seen. There’s just a small amount of confusion about the new person behind me.

  “You need a new name.” I say over my shoulder.

  “I used Ruby once.” Blue says.

  “That works.”

  It’s a short walk to a familiar building at the edge of the city. It’s entirely unremarkable, although I know the metal door and walls are reinforced more than what’s average for the city.

  “Do me a favor, you two. Hide around the corner for me. He’ll be more likely to talk if it’s just me. Just stay close and don’t let me go inside.”

  “You step through that door and I start firing.” Cassie jabs me in the side.

  “That’s what I’m counting on.”

  The two of them slip around the corner, just feet away from me. They’ll keep me honest.

  I climb up the steps and knock on the door. I take a moment to adjust my stance, grabbing one arm with the other and slouching over, stepping back into the small, desperate kid I used to be. My body shakes, although if that’s from my current mask or my memories, I can’t be sure. A small eyehole slides open before slamming shut a moment later.

  Movement. Cassie flashes a quick signal, trusting my eye to catch her reflection.

  They won’t attack. Although I’d love to see them try.

  Cassie’s hand twitches, signalling an approach. A moment later the door opens, a familiar man in a white suit on the other side.

  “Ivy fucking Fields.”

  “Stillson.” It makes my blood boil to be this person again. “Stillson, I fucked up. I need a hit.”

  “Well, Little Ivy asking for help.” He drags out his words, reveling in it. He crosses his arms and leans against the frame of the door. “A little silk for old times sake?”

  “No. No no. Bad memories. Something peaceful, strong, new.”

  “Just got back and already so demanding.”

  “Are you going to help me or not?” My anger is real, although he’s too stupid to see the source.

  “Pretty sure I remember you and I ended up leaving things on the wrong foot last time we met. Why don’t you come inside and we can discuss things?”

  “No.” Fucker. “No, slipped away. Don’t have time. Need to be back quick.” That should put him on the back foot. I walk away, and he doesn’t get his hooks in me, his fingers in my wallet.

  “Tell you what. New blend’s going around, just what the doctor ordered. First hit’s free if you step inside.”

  If I didn’t know it might kill me I’d be tempted to say yes.

  “Just give me a vial.” I say quickly. “Don’t have time, how much?”

  “I’m a reasonable man. An even hundred. Call it a delivery fee.”

  I’m about to vomit. Actually paying for this shit? He’s just going to use these arcs to buy more supply.

  “Fine.” I pull out my wallet and shove a wad of arcs into his hand. My eye tracks every bill, I’m overpaying by twenty, but that only makes things more believable.

  “Give me one moment.” He takes my money and steps back, a sickening predatory grin on his face.

  I do my best to look like I don’t want to be here, glancing around at the street in shame. It’s not hard to pretend.

  He returns, and I snatch the vial out of his hands without a word. He watches me go, not closing the door until I’m almost out of sight. Cassie and Blue stay out of view until the door closes, thankfully. The second we’re away from the windows I shove the vial into Blue’s chest and keep walking.

  “Get your man to check that. I’m going home.”

  “Ok.” My eye catches Blue glancing nervously at Cassie, silently asking for reassurance. “I’ll meet the two of you on the way home. Thank you for helping.”

  “Mm-hmm.” I don’t wait for any of them to follow.

  Come join the Discord to talk about the chapter!

  Or come join my Patreon to get the next 20 chapters instantly for only 10 bucks, or 10 chapters for 5!

  Book 1 is for sale on Amazon in both paperback and ebook!

  Book 2 is also for sale!

  Book 3 is available here!