At a luxury restaurant in NeonyRain, Alice worked. Her gaze, strangely apathetic, examined every face, every order, every intention... everything.
People watched her oddly because of her empty tone. When she reached the head chef, the man ordered:
"Now it's Skyler Fogue's order. He only wants a brownie, apparently."
"Skyler?"
She asked, shaking her head to come back to herself.
"Sure, I can do that."
Her steps were light as she carried the pastry in her arms. When she stood in front of him, she looked around and noticed they had moved into a quieter part of the restaurant.
"Sit down, Alice."
He ordered. Placing the treat on the table, Alice smoothed her clothes and sat across from him.
"I haven't seen him in a few days, Skyler... actually, it's been a long time since I've seen anyone."
"Everyone went back to their jobs. Me too. But obviously you still seem a bit... melancholic. You don't have to tell me if you don't want to, just be honest in your answer."
Alice was thoughtful, hesitant to answer him. But she swallowed hard and mustered the courage.
"... I still haven't gotten over 'that'."
"That was more direct than I expected..."
He cleared his throat.
"I understand how you feel. You chased revenge for a long time, now you feel there's nothing left in this life, right?"
"I think so... but why do you care so much?"
"I have goals similar to revenge's, Alice. I don't want you to end up worse than you already are."
"Similar? You're after revenge too? For what?"
"Curious, aren't you? I'll be honest: I seek revenge for old partners I knew. That's it. I only mean to say that I understand the feeling of hatred, I also pursue justice for those I cared about. In the end, I just want what's best for you."
"... Thank you for caring, Skyler. That's more comforting than I thought."
"It's nothing. And I'll take this brownie home, if you don't mind."
Wrapping the pastry in a bag, Skyler stood up from the table and prepared to leave.
"Skyler."
"Say it."
He looked at her over his shoulder.
"You told me that day: 'Revenge leaves an empty place in the heart.' If you know the consequences, why do you still pursue it?"
"Because there's a difference between us: you can recover, you can still see the beauty in life. I've lived so long, I know so much and have pursued this goal for so long that there's no salvation for me, not anymore."
Without another word, Skyler left the restaurant, leaving her alone and full of doubts.
***
With the rain over her head, Alice walked the streets; the light was so bright in that constant darkness, so beautiful... that it sounded sad, strange as it was.
Her thoughts returned to the sentence he'd said. Skyler's almost indifferent voice when he brought up the subject was more uncomfortable than she wanted.
But the sight of a figure sitting on a bench drew her in: Vector. His eyes stared at a soaked document and a tired sigh escaped the man in the suit.
"Vector?"
"Oh, good evening. How are you?"
"You look kind of sad."
She sat beside him.
"It's nothing major. Since I woke up I've been trying to find a job with my degrees and nobody has hired me so far."
"Can I see them?"
"Why not?"
He handed her some papers taken from his pocket. The blonde read through all the contents with one hand, surprised by each piece of information.
"You're more than capable of getting a great job! Why haven't you gotten one?"
"Ah, I try, but because of the accusations against me, even though I won in court, I still don't get accepted anywhere."
"How? You deserve to have your effort rewarded."
"It's not that simple. No one managed to prove if I'm innocent or not. The accusation was so... maliciously detailed that they believed it right away."
"And who would have the nerve to do something so cruel?"
"I don't know who did it. I only remember the police bursting into my house and arresting me. Nobody believed me, not even my parents."
"But how did you get out of there?"
"Ah, that was Skyler's doing."
"Wait... he posted bail?!"
"No, no..."
Vector laughed at the question.
"Haven't I told you before that he's an expert at making people get to know him in ways that aren't very pleasant?"
***
Locked up, Vector found himself among other men, criminals of all kinds, who stared at him with disgust and hatred.
He remembered the attempted murders and the times the criminals tried to make him "feel what he did." It was a horrific scenario.
The uncertainty about who had made the accusation frustrated him. It was unfair, cruel.
When he closed his eyes seeking peace, he heard a fire alarm. The thugs widened their eyes as flames spread through the penitentiary.
"We're screwed! Let's get out of here!"
They tried to find a way out. Vector stood up, nervous about the tense situation.
"Isn't there a window around here?"
"And who said you're coming with us? You deserve to die!"
Vector had never felt such rage; his fists clenched. He was about to lunge, but then...
Bang.
The men in the room were killed by gunfire. When he turned, there he was, pointing a pistol at his face.
"Do you prefer to follow me and live, or not follow me and die?"
Before he could answer, Skyler put his hand on the bars and forced them open.
"I'll leave the decision to you."
He turned and left without waiting. Vector, completely confused, wondered whether he should follow such a suspicious man...
But instinct spoke louder.
"Wait!"
He followed the one who remained calm, moving through several rooms until they found the penitentiary exit.
"Man, what are you thinking?! Let's get out of here now!"
"Don't rush me. I want to do things properly."
They entered an elevator, which signaled for others to join. When they got in, the elevator ropes were burned and it plummeted.
"AHHHH!"
"..."
Vector tried to grab onto something. Skyler stayed impassive. When they hit the ground, luckily Vector remained standing, uninjured. Skyler banged his head on the ceiling.
"Ow..."
"Fuck, that was insane..."
The door began to disintegrate before their eyes, collapsing in front of them. Skyler ran through the fire quickly, pulling him by the arm.
Beside the two of them lay the body of a man burning fiercely, but still crawling. Vector's gaze went to the shattered wall nearby, and he understood the situation.
"That's the..."
"Paul. I've heard of him, but I didn't know he'd survive."
Skyler approached, touched him with a cane, and put out the flames. Paul remained motionless, and Vector stayed alert for any threatening movement.
"He's the most dangerous guy in this prison. What are you going to do with him?"
"I know that. I'll see what I can do with him... But he doesn't matter right now. You're Vector Sybenkiosk, right? No, don't answer me, I'm sure who you are. I'll be blunt: you're going to help me and I'll help you. There's no other choice: take it or die."
"... All right... I accept."
***
"..."
"..."
Silence hung between Alice and Vector; the woman was speechless, if she'd had doubts before, now they had doubled.
"Who is this guy?"