BooCat

writer and sufferer of lactose intolerance Find me on RoyalRoad and Wattpad! https://boocat.my.canva.site/1800boocat-com

[1800boocat]

Red-Listed | by BooCat

MASTERLIST...

In high-tech dystopian Neo Chicago, the right to trial by court is obsolete. Instead, criminals are marked as Red-Listed in society. When Lucia Mason’s mother frames her for murder and she becomes Red-Listed, she’s forced to live life on the streets and desperately evade law enforcement. In a turn of events, she meets Eric Nolan, another framed criminal, and leader of a group of rebels fighting to get justice. Along with Eric’s seemingly cold and unempathetic exterior, he appears to hold secrets about her past. Will Lucia be able to become closer to the temperamental leader, or will she be thrown back into the unforgiving city with no hope of clearing her name?

Chapters:

One | Two | Three | Four

[1800boocat]

Pretty (wo)Man | Act One

She’s been a part of my life since I was six.

I remember playing in a sand pit at my neighborhood park. The sand was wet, courtesy of the rain the day before, so it was perfect for building sturdy sand castles. I didn’t have to worry about sharing the space since the park happened to be empty. The whole sandbox was my metaphorical oyster. My mom was on a nearby bench, reading her book, and my older sister and brother were playing on the swings. 

I was used to playing by myself growing up. Don't get me wrong! I actually enjoyed being by myself most of the time. I was more of the read-comic-books-alone-at-home type. Plus, I had a huge imagination, so I could entertain myself in a doorless, windowless, toyless room for hours on end.

I had just begun digging a moat for the sand castle (my best one ever, in my humble opinion) when a girl about my age appeared in front of me with her hands clasped behind her back. “I really like your sand castle,” she had said, a sweet, close-mouthed grin pushing up rosy cheeks.

The girl looked way too clean for a kid, especially one playing at a muddy old park. Her black hair was glossy without a single strand out of place and tied up neatly, topped with a blush pink bow. The sparkly dress she wore was the same color, and so were the flats that adorned her feet. She reminded me a little of my sister when we took our family photos last year.

I frowned a little, then shrugged before continuing to dig. “Isth ok, I guess.” You see, I had just lost not one, but both of my front teeth, so I talked with a slight lisp.

Barely a moment passed when the girl plopped down right next to me, getting sand all over her dress. I stared at her wide-eyed, and her dark brown eyes stared right back at me with a grin, now showing off her missing two front teeth.

“My name is Haena! Can I play wif you?” I was confused as to why such a princess-ey-looking girl wanted to play in the dirty sand. All my sister wanted to do was play with her Barbies, nowhere near dirt. But I was a pretty chill kid, so I shrugged my scrawny shoulders again and replied, “Sure. My name is Joshua.”

We played for what seemed like forever in that sandbox. At one point, I noticed an equally polished-looking man in a suit speaking to my mom on the bench. Haena told me that that was her  “assistant, Marcus.” I didn't know what that meant at the time. Neither of us knew what it meant that Haena was an heiress, either, but it was apparently very important.

After that day at the park, my mom organized play dates with Haena through Marcus, and she soon became my best friend. For the most part, I went over to her extremely large house, where she had a giant chandelier in the foyer that I was scared to walk under for the first couple of visits. I met her mom and dad, who both smelled and dressed a lot fancier than my mom and dad.

Haena Kang was the heiress to the multibillion-dollar fashion conglomerate, KROWN. They weren't clothes that my family could afford at all, but people who were famous and extremely wealthy could wear them once and throw them away. Of course, our five and six-year-old minds didn't really understand just how important that was, nor did we really care. All we cared about was playing and doing things that best friends did together.

Nineteen years passed (yes, nineteen), and our friendship never faltered. We both watched each other go through different phases (including my secret crush on her when I was 15, but we don’t need to talk about that). We had fights, of course—never anything too serious, but they still happened. They typically always ended with me going to reconcile almost immediately after, but Haena beat me to it with a phone call, wailing and crying about how much she missed me already. She was secretly very sensitive. 

As I grew older, I began to have this nagging feeling that Haena’s parents didn't approve of our friendship. Less of a feeling, more of a knowing. Between scoffs at my casual, cheap fashion and upturned noses when I walked in the room, it wasn't hard to take the hint. After all, she was extremely rich and important. I was just….Joshua Thomas. Normal, not rich JoshuaThomas. 

Haena, of course, knew of my anxieties and was always quick to reassure me. “Joshua, we've been best friends since we were kids. Do you really think that I care if my parents don't like you? I like you, and that's all that matters!”

I was now 25, and Haena was soon to be turning 24. I’ve since moved out of my family's apartment and into my own shortly after college, where I had earned an English degree and an “impressive” application that got me a job as an assistant at a small publishing firm.

Haena had also moved out, but into an expensive penthouse. The major difference was that I made just enough for rent and the bills, while Haena’s penthouse was covered by her parents. She tried to beg for something smaller (and further away), but “the heir to a multibillion-dollar business isn’t going to live in a hovel”, so that was the end of that argument. 

Instead, she became my non-roommate roommate. Weekends, I wasn’t caught up with overtime work, nor Haena with a photoshoot or party, so we spent time on my couch with a popcorn bucket, fast food, and whatever shows we were feeling that day.

That's where I was today, sitting in my tiny LA apartment with Haena, watching the first episode of a new slice-of-life anime on Netflix. My head was in Haena’s lap, fingers absentmindedly playing with my freshly washed hair as my abnormally long legs hung over the other arm of the tiny two-seater. A perfectly normal way for best friends to hang out.

Her ministrations suddenly paused. “Hey, Josh?”

I looked up and saw Haena’s glowing colors flickering across her features, her eyes still glued to the TV screen.  “What's up?” 

She finally looked down at me and, when she saw my eyes on her, a small grin grew on her face.

“My cousin is getting married and I'm in the wedding party, so I need a date. You wanna pretend to be my boyfriend?”

Pause…WHAT?

 I would attempt to mask the shock, but that one came from completely out of left field. My eyes grew wide and I shot up from Haena’s lap, just narrowly missing colliding with her chin. “I-I’m sorry. What?”

 She rolled her eyes. “Why are you so surprised? It’s not like we haven’t gone to a wedding as partners before. Do you not remember Sooah’s wedding?”

“Haena, we didn’t pretend to be boyfriend and girlfriend at my sister’s wedding!”

“Jesus, Joshua. You’re acting like it’s going to be real.”

“-And another thing: That was a regular run-of-the-mill wedding. It’s like you’re asking me to attend the Met Gala.”

She blew out a humorless laugh, then finally paused the show (don’t ask me what the plot is). “Dude, you’re blowing this a little out of proportion. It’s just a wedding.”

I stared at her incredulously. Honestly, I was used to shocking things coming from her mouth. This was the girl who stood on the stage at a corporate event and aired out reputation-ruining lies about her ex, who was in the room. She was truly filterless, but this? This sounded like it might be the most insane scheme she’s ever dragged me into.

I suddenly remembered something that left a bad taste in my mouth. “Wait a minute. What about Jeran? Don't you want your actual boyfriend to be your date?” 

Haena wrinkled her nose in absolute disgust and looked down at her perfectly pedicured toes, wiggling them a little. “I dumped him yesterday,” she muttered. Despite the situation, this lifted my mood tremendously, and I couldn’t help the smile that grew on my face.

Jeran was the biggest tool I had ever seen. Definitely the worst boyfriend Haena had ever had, and there had been plenty of bad boyfriends. Not a single good one, if you ask me. I never had the pleasure of actually meeting him, but I heard enough about him through daily texts and phone calls where Haena just vented her frustrations about his latest shenanigans. Her boyfriend (well, ex-boyfriend) was notorious for drinking at parties to the point bad things happened. Once, he got into [REDACTED]. What’s even worse was he somehow always managed to charm the hell out of her parents.

“Oh no! Not Jeran! Your parents are going to be devastated, Haena-ie,” I faked concern. She met my eyes once more, a laugh bubbling out of her. 

“They’ll live. Or maybe they won’t, and this will be the thing that finally gets me written off the inheritance.”

We laughed a little, then stopped and looked at each other in comfortable silence. Her eyes suddenly averted, then she said, “Speaking of them…My parents aren’t going to be at the wedding! So the fake boyfriend thing will be convincing.”

I rubbed my face and sighed loudly in exasperation. “Haena...”

She cut me off with fervor. “No, listen! I have to have a date. You know how these people are! I can’t show up single. What am I gonna do? Sit by the French champagne fountain by myself and drink myself into inebriation? Like a loser?” 

I tried to ignore how baffled I was at the “French champagne fountain” part, and instead shot back, “Yes! That’s what normal single people do at a wedding! Besides, Haena, what happens when paparazzi blast our faces all over tabloids? How are you going to explain the nobody holding your hand?”

She grinned. “No paps allowed, as per everyone’s request.”

“And the ‘nobody’ part?”

She shifted her position so that she was sitting on her heels, our knees now touching. I got a whiff of her expensive shampoo – jasmine and oranges. A smell I loved so much.

“First of all,” she points at me in admonishment, “You aren’t a nobody-”

“Be for real-”

“And that’s easy. We just get you a nice suit, give you a little makeover, and come up with some bullshit lie about how you’re some prince from a foreign country or something.” There was a fire in her eyes, one that gave me a sneaking suspicion that I wasn’t going to win this argument. This was absolutely absurd, and I was right: this is the craziest plan she’s ever roped me into. But… She was so close, and she was giving me that begging puppy look I have a track record of never saying no to. 

After a couple of moments of silence, I let out a long sigh, and she jumped off the couch with a cheer. Oh, God. I’m going to regret this, aren’t I?

“When is the wedding?” I asked once Haena had ceased her little victory dance around my coffee table. She clapped her hands together and turned to me, her wide grin plastered to her face.

“November 30th. Two months from now.”

*****

“You’re fucking cooked, man,” my friend’s tinny voice came through my phone speaker.

“Gabe! That doesn’t help,” I shouted, exasperated.

“Hey. I have to keep it real. What? You’re supposed to turn into this perfect, rich ‘boyfriend’ in less than two months? Why’d you even agree to this?”

As much as I hated to agree with Gabe, I had to. Cinderella is nothing but a fairytale, but I’m having to make it my reality somehow. And I know exactly why I agreed: because I’m a sap. Also, an idiot.

“She was persistent! Besides,” I dropped dramatically onto my couch, a loud creak emitting from the secondhand piece. “I can’t back out now…She’ll be devastated.”

A scoff was heard from the other end. “You’re double-cooked.” A pause. “Also, the second cooking is the fact you’re whipped and in denial about your feelings.”

“Wha- Gabe, no! I’m not! It’s not like that,” I sputtered. 

An image of Haena popped into my head. Her smile when I agreed to go along with this plan, the sparkle in her eyes as she rambled off her ideas for my “makeover”. I felt my face begin to heat up. “She’s just really convincing! It’s always been this way. I’m also a people-pleaser! Also! Also- We've been friends forever. I just really care about her, like a sister!”

“Uh-huh…You’re shouting and talking fast. Why are you so defensive?” I could hear computer keys rapidly clicking, followed by Gabe cursing under his breath.

“Are you playing League?” I received an answer in the form of the telltale victory sound and Gabe cheering loudly. He was definitely going to get another noise complaint from his neighbors.

“Yeah, I’m hanging up.” I cut the call before tossing my phone on the coffee table and lying across the couch fully, letting out a long groan. Why do I even call him for advice?

Truthfully, I wasn’t mad at Gabe. That much was obvious. Though he’s typically annoying, the anger was misplaced because I couldn’t be mad at Haena. It wasn't anyone's fault but my own. It still didn't change the fact that I was utterly screwed and there was nothing I could do to get out of this.

I tried to distract myself from my imminent doom. Playing Valorant just pissed me off more, especially when the people I was teamed with had to have just started playing that day. Reading the new chapter of Dandadan (pirated online, of course) kept me busy enough. This chapter seemed shorter, however, so I was just alone with my stress again after five minutes. I tried doing my neglected laundry next, but when one of Haena's expensive-looking t-shirts tumbled out of the warm pile of clothes in my arms, I just about lost it. 

I needed some fresh air. Desperately.

When I stepped out of my apartment building, aggressive honking and the stench of the city filled my ears and nostrils. It was bright, the sun hitting my skin and warming me instantly. I slid my sunglasses on and stuffed my hands in the pockets of my sweats before setting off on the busy sidewalk.

Today was a Thursday, a day I'd normally be at work. My coworker begged me at the beginning of the week to give him my shift. Something about needing extra money for some new Nikes he wanted. I certainly wasn't going to say no. I'd have an extra day to laze about. But no. I was spending my day off stressed out of my mind.

As I made my way down the sidewalk to who-knows-where, the what-ifs just kept coming. What if we get caught? What if photos get leaked? What if her ex shows up and kicks my ass?

That last one, I’ll admit, was just ridiculous. I was an idiot. No, this whole thing was idiotic! Maybe Gabe was right. I really was whipped. But it’s always been this way. 

Not like that! I just really…care about her. That was all. I care about all of my friends and would thus do anything for them.

I was yanked out of my inner turmoil by my phone vibration against my leg. When I managed to fish it out of my pocket, I groaned out loud. Speak of the fucking devil.

“Hey, Joshie,” Haena's voice drawled. I cleared my throat before responding with a (not) smooth, “Hey, what's up?”

“Oh, nothing…I just wanted to talk to you! I missed you!”

I ignored the way my heart clenched. She sounded very suspicious. “Sure…Haena, you’re doing that thing with your voice you do when you're lying. What's happening?”

I could hear a loud, dramatic sigh on the other end, and I couldn't help the small smile that twitched its way on my face. “I hate when you do that. Can't you be unobservant? Like most men?”

“Sorry. I'm not like other men.” I bit back a laugh when I heard her fake gag.

“Don't ever say that again. ‘I'm not like other men.’ Shut the hell up, Joshua.”

I tried to speak, but Haena went into a breathless ramble, another tell-tale sign she was hiding something. “Also, I did miss you! It's been like a week since we talked. I've been so-”

“Haena. Stop avoiding. Other than the fact that you ‘missed’ me, what's the real reason you called?” 

There was a long stretch of silence. I almost thought the call had dropped, but then I heard a long sigh. She begins to mutter something, but her voice is drowned out by the sound of a jackhammer. I had apparently stumbled upon a block corner that was being repaired without noticing until now.

“I'm sorry. Can you repeat that? I couldn't hear you.” I plug my other ear with my finger, then quicken my pace, trying to get away from the construction.

“...I said…My cousin is inviting paparazzi to the wedding.”

I stopped dead in my tracks. A man shoved past me, cussing me out as he went, but I barely noticed him. I didn't even know what to say. I just stood there, in the middle of that sidewalk, frozen.

“Joshua…Please say something.” 

“I…Don't even know what to say right now. Honestly.”

She burst into action, rushing to attempt to reassure me. “It's only for the reception! And the photographers are going to be more focused on my cousin and her fiancé, anyway! We can just avoid them!”

“What happened to ‘no paps allowed’? Haena, do you realize how bad this is? I can't do this!” I ran my fingers through my hair, trying to calm myself down. Jesus, it was always something with her!

“I know, Joshua. I'm really sorry.” I faintly heard someone call out to Haena on the other end, but she was quick to dismiss them. It was now that I remembered she had a photoshoot for some makeup company scheduled for today. That must be where she was now.

“Let's just…talk about this later. Get back to your shoot.”

“But, Joshua…” Her voice sounded so small. I know she felt bad. I know she did. It made it so much harder to even be mad at her. So I just sighed and pinched the bridge of my nose,  attempting to collect myself. 

“Listen. Go finish your photoshoot, and we can talk about this later. I promise,” I managed to reply in a calm, reassuring tone.

“Alright…” She still sounded hesitant, but she knew not to push. “I'll talk to you later. Have a good day off, Joshua.”

The call disconnected, and I was left staring at the giant CHANEL billboard with Haena’s face, wondering how I always get myself into these predicaments.

[1800boocat]

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Red-Listed | Three

While in the clinic, I had the assumption that I was somewhere underground. I was correct, but I was a little surprised to find myself in something that looked like it came out of a history documentary.

Immediately upon exiting the clinic, Minako, Aeris, and I were in a stone hallway lined on either side with old, heavy steel doors. Some were open, all were painted green with large bald patches, revealing years of rust buildup. Thick wires ran above me to who knows where, and old bulbs hung every couple of feet. It was oddly quiet, save for the quiet hum of the lights.

Aeris’ voice and our footsteps echoed as we walked. “The Themis facility was previously an underground military base and prison for suspected enemy infiltrators. It was built during the war as one of many across the nation in secret, then abandoned and sealed off once it no longer served a purpose. We’re currently in the medical wing.” 

I was surprised by her short speil, as I'd only heard rumors about places like this existing during the war. The government and military had vehemently denied any existence, but I never believed them. I don't think anyone really did, but what did it matter? Seeing this place now (if this was an old war bunker), I wondered what prisoners went through in here. I shuddered at the thought.

We eventually reached a door at the end of the stretch, similar to the others but this one had a small window. “So how did-” I began to ask a question, but was interrupted by Minako.

“This is where we part. Aeris will take care of you until you return.” 

I made a sound of confusion and attempted to protest. How was a Holo AI supposed to do anything helpful for me? Minako simply gave me an apologetic look, bowed, then set off back where we had come from. 

“Miss Minako has other patients to attend to. She doesn’t have time to accompany us,” Aeris explained.

  I was surprised by this information, as I didn’t think anyone besides us was around. I eyed Aeris with hesitance as the AI opened the door.

We were in what looked like a college dorm common room. The sound of low chatter filled my ears. Couches, tables, and chairs were scattered about, and occupying them were some of the first new people I had seen in days. 

There was a decent amount of men and women, some around my age or older, all with varying looks. A few intimidating-looking young women and men sat on couches, some talking happily and two reading book tablets. A few older men sat around a table and were playing from what I could guess was holo-poker or something of the like.

It seemed there were more people apart of Themis than I had originally imagined.

“This is the common area. It’s open for anyone to visit at any time,” Aeris says as I take in the new environment. 

By now, a few people had noticed our entrance and were staring. Two women whispered to each other in a far corner as their curious gazes lingered on us. I slightly tugged on the hem of my clothing, suddenly feeling underdressed. 

A burst of laughter was heard from the group on the couches. A girl with icy, light-blue hair contrasting dark skin had her face screwed up in laughter, seemingly by something the hot-pink-haired man next to her had said. I thought back to what Yuto said—that everyone in Themis had a history of crime or wrongful accusations. I wondered how these people, who were labeled rejected by society, could be so comfortable and full of happiness.

Aeris suddenly spoke and began walking away. “Please follow me. I will bring you to the technology research room.” I was filled with a little giddiness at this and rushed to follow her.

When I was still a college student at New Dallas Institute of Technology, I was pursuing my bachelor’s in technological development. All my life I have been fascinated with technology, even squirming excitedly at my desk when learning about the Neo Technological Revolution in high school. I had a natural gift in my field, or so my professors had frequently remarked. Before I was Red-Listed, I was working on my thesis: a pitch for a new invention that would further benefit neurologists with studying how the brain processes and stores memories.

We walked down a long hallway before stopping at a large pair of steel doors. Aeris placed her hand on a panel to the side of the doors, which almost immediately flashed from red to green. A loud buzzing sound was heard, followed by a click, and then both doors quickly slid apart. A rush of cool air blew a few wispy hairs against my face.

I was becoming increasingly more impressed by this “small time” criminal group’s headquarters. My eyes widened as I took in the high-tech room: walls were lined with enormous computer towers flashing different colors, thousands of wires along the floor provided tripping hazards and ran all different directions, and digital beeping sounds came from all sides and filled my ears. In the corner to my right was a large, L-shaped desk that held a couple of large monitors, which all displayed varying lines of colorful codes and symbols. Nearby, a tall, cylindrical device that resembled a body scanner emitted a white glow.

In the center of the room was a large steel and glass counter that projected a soft blue hologram of unknown information. Carefully studying it were two tall men clad in white tech coats. They were so immersed in their work that they must not have heard us come in.

The man (or I should say boy) on the right appeared to be of high school age. He had short, cinnamon-brown locks with a soft wave to them and acne-free, peachy skin. His warm, brown eyes had a gentle, but sprightly appearance and were framed by long lashes.

The other man on the left was slightly taller and had a completely different energy from the other. Where the boy had a warm, approachable appearance, this man seemed a little more serious and thoughtful. If I had to be frank, this was probably the prettiest man I had ever seen. It was almost hard to believe he was a real person and not another Holo AI.

While he appeared to be in his early 30s, my gut tells me he was probably around my age or slightly older. He had a slight undercut, with the rest of his tousled, white hair reaching the middle of his ears. His skin was pale and poreless and his cheekbones lifted. Round metal frames were perched on a sharp nose and accentuated his dark and slender, fox-like eyes. All of this together radiated ethereal beauty.

“Ricky. Kellen. I am giving Miss Lucia a tour of the facility,” Aeris spoke cooly, and both men’s eyes snapped toward us. It was at this point I realized I had embarrassingly been staring, slack-jawed. 

The hologram the men had been studying quickly disappeared, and before I could even blink, the boy was in front of me, bouncing a little on the balls of his feet. 

“Nice to meet you, Lucia! I’m Kellen,” he said eagerly, both of his hands clasping one of my own and giving it a few shakes. “I heard you were an NDIT student. A tech major, too! That was my dream school.”

I was a little overwhelmed by Kellen’s enthusiasm but was still endeared. He seemed genuinely kind, and it was a little refreshing after the past few monotonous days I suffered. The boy had one of those infectious grins that filled you with warmth, so it was admittedly difficult to be put off by the extra energy.

The older man had leisurely strolled over by this time, joining us with a soft, closed-lipped smile. He stuck his hand out, and then spoke with a gentle, deep timbre. “My name is Ricky. Ricky Zhao. It’s nice to finally meet you in person, Lucia.”

I felt my cheeks warm slightly as I went to give Ricky a firm handshake. “Likewise. Both of you. I’m sorry, but this is my first time hearing about either of you.”

Kellen waved a hand dismissively and Ricky’s smile grew a little. “No worries. You’ve been recovering and getting accustomed to the facility.” Then he frowned, moth opening and closing as if he was debating what he wanted to say next. “I’m…sorry about your sister. It must've been hard these past few months.”

I felt my heart stutter a little but quickly suppressed any reaction on my face. I shook my head a little and gave him a tight-lipped smile. 

Before I could reply, Kellen suddenly quipped, “I lost my older sister, too. Granted, it was a longer time ago, but… I understand how you feel.” He then sent me a gentle, reassuring smile.

I averted my eyes. “Ah…Thank you both. All of this, I’m…Still getting used to.” 

I really hated it when people pitied me. Of course, any normal person would, given my situation. It didn’t make it any less embarrassing, didn’t make me feel any less weak.

“Of course. If you ever need anything, feel free to pay us a visit,” Ricky replied, and Kellen nodded in agreement. 

There was a brief moment where none of us spoke and only the soft beeping and hum of machines could be heard. Not wanting the awkward silence to linger any longer, I quickly changed the subject. “Wow, it's been a while since I was in a lab like this. The one at the college wasn't nearly as fancy as this,” I gestured around the room, “But anyways, what kind of work do you guys do?”

Ricky grinned. “Kellen and I are mainly in charge of anything Themis needs advanced tech-wise.” He headed to the table he had previously occupied and the rest of us followed. 

“Taking care of devices for missions, hacking into any databases, background monitoring, etcetera, etcetera. We also maintain the power supply for the entire facility.” He chuckles a little, then adds, “Though, sometimes Kellen gets a little excited with his experiments and blows a fuse.” 

The boy in question smiles sheepishly, though I could tell Ricky was merely teasing him.

“That was only once! No…Twice. But- also, I'm not that great. Ricky is amazing! There’s nothing he can’t do. Did you know he created Aeris all by himself?” Kellen shared, eyes sparkling in admiration. I had almost forgotten the Holo-AI was even here – she had been so quiet this whole time. I briefly sent her a glance, but her expression remained neutral, as per usual.

Ricky seemed unfazed and simply huffed out a small laugh and ruffled Kellen's hair. “So are you, kid,” he turns to me, “Kellen just recently created a new communication device for a mission solely out of scrap parts we had lying around. The kid has started inventing earlier than I ever did.” 

At this, Kellen puffed out his chest with pride. “Do you want to see it,” he asked eagerly, already running over to the L-desk in the corner, while Ricky looked on with fondness.

I could tell the two were very close. After all, I’m sure they spent hours upon hours together in this room. My heart ached a little in longing. I had a decent group of friends at my college. All of them were in my major, and we would frequently spend time in the campus tech lab in the off hours – tinkering with outdated tech, bouncing ideas for projects off each other, talking and laughing about our personal goings-on. It was something that kept me going, other than surprise days my sister would come home from work and take me out to dinner. I missed it all.

Kellen returns with a round, metal device roughly the size of my pinky nail. It was unassuming, with no visible detailing, and slightly darker than my own skin tone.

“It sticks just behind the ear using nanocircuitry and uses vibrations to externally tap into the wearer's hearing so only they can hear the sound on the device. It also has tiny receivers so that we can even hear everything the wearer hears. Plus, I added interference blockers. They’re so strong that only someone with special clearance, like Ricky or I, can project from it.” 

The boy rambles this quickly, a wide grin plastered to his face. His eyes twinkle in a way that makes me feel as if I’m looking at a past version of myself. “I made it for Eric, and he used it on a mission recently. Do you want to try?”

I couldn't help smiling. Kellen’s high energy was truly infectious.

Before I could respond, Ricky’s hand fell on Kellen’s shoulder. “Maybe another time, Kel. Let's let Lucia finish her tour of the facility.” The boy deflated, almost a little too dramatically. He looked like a sad puppy, and I rushed to reassure him.

“I’ll absolutely come back later! I’d actually love to hear more about your device, even other things you guys have created.” Kellen perked back up at this and nodded eagerly.

“Sure! I’m almost always here,” he chuckled. “Maybe I can make something for you by the time you come back.” I briefly wondered how that would even be possible. Then again, it shouldn’t surprise me given what I’ve seen of the boy’s abilities so far.

“I will continue Miss Lucia’s tour, then,” Aeris remarked. 

Then, she bowed respectfully before turning on her heel and walking away. I quickly thanked the two men before rushing to follow her out the door. When I looked back, Kellen was waving, and Ricky had his hands jammed in the pocket of his lab coat, the soft smile still on his face. I noticed his eyes followed Aeris’ form, holding something akin to what was…sadness? My brow furrowed a little as I turned around, and my thoughts lingered on Ricky’s expression as we walked down the hall to our next destination.

“So, Aeris. Where to,” I ask. A strand of hair fell in my face, and I blew a puff of air to move it.

“Next is the physical training room. Afterward, I will take you to the canteen for lunch.” At the mention of food, my stomach growled. Minako and Yuto had fed me well in the clinic, which I was extremely grateful for. It was the most full I had felt in a long time. Still, I was beginning to grow tired of cream-of-chicken soup. 

When we reached the physical training room, shouting and loud thuds could be heard from the other side of the double steel doors. Unlike the tech room doors, there was no electronic lock, and the doors simply slid apart when we came close. 

The room was spacious, with only a back wall lined with weapons (both the training kind, as well as real knives and batons) and a large padded mat in the center. On the mat, a dark-skinned woman with red-hair had a slightly built, tanned man in a chokehold with her legs.

“Tap out! I’m not letting you win this one,” the woman growled, but the man just chuckled in response. “I already won, Noa. I’m having my head squeezed between your thighs. Besides,” he tilts his head back a little and smiles. “I have a pretty good view, here.”

“Ew, Marcos!” Noa’s hold loosened just a little, but enough for the man, Marcos, to slip free and have her flipped and pinned to the mat in seconds. Panting filled the room and Marcos smirked. “I win.”

“Marcos and Noa, I apologize for interrupting your sparring session, but I have Miss Lucia with me. I am giving her a tour of the Themis facilities.”

Two heads turned to look at us, and the man’s face split into a grin. “Ah! It’s the new girl Eric brought in!”

Noa managed to free her arms and punched Marcos square in the chest. “Get off of me.” He yelped in pain and fell onto his butt. The red-headed girl rose to her feet and stepped over him, wiping her hands on her pants, and approached.

I finally got a good look at her face just as she extended her hand towards me, and I felt my blood run cold.

“Hi, I’m Noa! I’m happy to have another girl join the team,” she greeted with a gentle tone, much nicer than she was using with Marcos. 

I just stared, and my stomach flipped hard, like I'd had the wind suddenly knocked out of me. My heartbeat pounded in my ears like a drum. I couldn’t move, couldn’t speak. I was consumed by fear, because I’d seen Noa before.

She was there the night my sister was murdered.

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Red-Listed | Two

40 years ago, there was a great war. World War III, to be exact. This war was far more devastating and life-altering than any other in history. 

New China (which was formerly known as China) and Russia decided they wanted more land, more control. So, they set out together to conquer nearby countries. The rest of the world opposed this, of course, and war was declared. All of the larger nations possessed powerful nuclear arms that wiped out entire provinces, entire nations. Technology also progressed to increase the amount of carnage.

In the midst of all of this, the citizens of certain countries that didn’t like their governments decided this was the perfect opportunity to revolt. With an international war and numerous unyielding civil rebellions, the entire world was thrown into chaos for 10 long years. 

In the end, when the peace treaties were signed and internal tensions suppressed, many countries came together and decided that there was simply too much power given to the citizens – too much leniency. Why else would their own people rebel against the government? 

Thus, New Dallas, and many other cities like it, rose from the war-torn rubble around the globe. The powerful new technology developed during the war was fully integrated, including the implantation of red-listed chips in all citizens. New laws and systems were implemented to make peaceful living and growth attainable. New Dallas, which I was taught previously had a high crime rate, became one of the biggest crime crack-down area in all of Americanada. 

While civil rebellions were snuffed out by the passage of the Liberation And Welfare Act (more commonly referred to as LAW), it couldn’t completely eradicate the distrust and disfavor of the government. The luxuriously wealthy were only positively affected, while the livelihood of everyone else was turned upside down. The seething remained silent, of course, but there was no wonder why small crime groups began to pop up in the shadows. Themis was one of these.

The word means “law” in Greek, which was ironic given the group’s method of operation. Themis was full of all kinds of New Dallas’s misfits: mercenaries, hackers, petty criminals, you name it. Everyone here was red-listed. Whether or not it was rightfully so was up for debate.

Themis wasn’t the only ring. It was one small puzzle piece in an underground network of criminals and society rejects. What sets them apart from the rest is they were one of the few groups that specifically fought against LAW, dreaming of one day uprooting the unfair legal system established so long ago with the creation of New Dallas. They tried to avoid any illegal dealing that specifically hurt people or broke the law just for the sake of  doing it. Of course, this didn’t mean they didn’t associate with criminals who did. The Themis members weren’t really big threats, but did what they had to to survive as criminals.

This long monologue was given to me by Yuto as his assistant, a quiet girl by the name of Minako, did my routine vital checks. It had only been a couple of days since the day I awoke in the clinic. I hadn’t seen anyone new other than Minako, who would come in to help me use the restroom and change my dressings. Occasionally, Yuto would come in to do checks. Besides them, I mainly stayed alone in the room, sleeping, eating, and bored out of my mind. 

“So do you guys, like…kill people?” I really had to ask.

“Hmm…Sometimes, I suppose. Only when it’s warranted really,” Yuto replied. “Sometimes we get in fights with mercenaries sent after us, some of our escapades get attention from the LAW and we have to defend ourselves. Of course, I don’t see a lot of action. I mostly stay here.”

Huh. Well, I could get behind that, I guess. They had some morals at the very least.

“So…How much longer am I going to be locked up in here? Am I being quarantined or something?” 

“Patience, sweetheart,” Yuto smirked, to which I scowled a little. “You were pretty badly damaged when you came in here. You had to get fixed up. But actually now, I think a little walk around the facility might be good for you.”

I perked up at this. Noticeably so, as Minako smiled a little at me.

Aeris then fizzled into the room, taking all of us by surprise. She greeted me politely, then turned to Yuto and said “Eric wishes to speak with you. He’s waiting for you in the meeting room.” 

“Ah. Thank you, Aeris. Tell him I’m on my way.” The AI bowed, then disappeared as suddenly as she arrived.

“I better go. He gets impatient.” Yuto then made his way toward the door. “Minako will finish looking at you, then you can call Aeris when you’re ready for a tour.” With that, he waved and was gone.

It was now just Minako and I alone. She was preoccupied with her tablet, rapidly typing away. I assumed she was taking note of any medical updates. The room was quiet for a moment.

I was used to the silence with her, as the girl was never particularly talkative when she had come in to care for me. Not that she ever really stayed long enough for small talk. She only appeared for short periods, just long enough to help me undress or help me use the restroom (which was a little embarrassing). After her few small tasks, she would leave the room abruptly with only a mere nod.

She didn’t come off as cold to me, just someone who didn’t feel the need to say much. Maybe she was just shy. I wanted to talk to her a little. Perhaps I could get close to her, and become her friend. If I stayed.

“So, uhm…How long have you been here? In…Themis?” Minako glanced at me briefly, before returning to typing on her tablet.

“I came with Yuto. It’s been at least a couple of years, I’d say.” Her voice was cool and smooth.

“Oh! So you’ve known him for a while, then?” The girl nodded, then rose from the stool and pocketed her tablet. 

I watched Minako carefully as she removed the IV needle from my hand and cleaned up the area. Her straight, jet-black hair hung in her face as she worked, standing out against her soft, pale features. I was reminded slightly of a pre-war horror movie I once saw but waved the thought away with guilt. Minako wasn't scary at all. Just…silent. It made for a slightly awkward atmosphere while I waited for her to elaborate. When she didn’t, I pressed a little.

“Were you two friends? Colleagues?”

“Yuto was a surgeon in Tokyo. The best one. He was a genius, even graduated high school and college early. He had a lot of wealthy clients, he was very popular. He hired me to shadow him as part of my requirements for medical school residency. I learned a lot from him, and I was his only student since he typically didn’t like taking on student residents.” There was a small sparkle in her eyes as she spoke about Yuto. A little admiration, but also, a little of something else…

I wanted to know how she and Yuto ended up in Themis. The question scratched at my brain, but I was unsure if it was rude to ask. They both seemed like pleasant people, even though Yuto was slightly annoying with his smirks and flirtiness.

I decided to just go for it. “Can I ask what made you and Yuto join? Like…” The real question lingered on my tongue. She watched me for a moment, her expression unreadable.

“I think…That’s a story for another time. One you should ask Yuto about.”

Minako let me know I was good to get down from the bed. She offered her hand out to help me, but I waved her off, insisting I could do it myself. She still hovered her hands near me in case I needed aid. However, I’d managed to make it down on my own with barely a stumble, and I shot her a small prideful smile.

I thought about that look in her eyes again when she was speaking of her bold colleague, and asked, “Yuto. Do you like him?” 

Minako stumbled suddenly, her eyes blinking at me owlishly. “W-What? Why would you think that?” She stuttered, and I could see traces of a blush beginning to dust her cheeks and ears. I smiled and shrugged.

Before I could question her a little more, Aeris appeared in the room. The AI held a neatly folded stack of gray fabric. “Miss Mason, hello again. Are you ready to begin your tour of the Themis facility?” 

I cringed a little. “Just ‘Lucia’ is fine.” But, oh! I could finally see something other than this sad, sterile room.

I paused when I suddenly remembered: I was practically in underwear. Granted, the clothes I wore covered me decently. However, the thought of meeting more people this way made me feel exposed. I looked down at myself before moving my sheepish gaze to Minako.

“Is there…anything else I can wear?” Aeris spoke up instead. “I have brought you a temporary change of clothes,” she held the stack of fabric out to me, which I graciously took. “I hope these will suffice.” 

I gently unfolded the simple, gray set, nodding before heading behind the privacy curtain at the other end of the room. “Yeah, these will, uh…‘suffice’. Thank you, Aeris.”

There was a small mirror on the wall that I noticed almost immediately. It had been a little while since I had been able to see a clear reflection of myself. I took in my horrifically gaunt features: sunken cheeks from lack of consistent meals the past few months, though the fullness had slowly begun to return. My light skin was paler than usual, and my amber-brown eyes, usually bright with energy, were now dull and lifeless. The dark brown rat nest of hair atop my head made me cringe. I had taken pride in caring for my hair before everything. I always made sure to keep it tangle-free and the neat-medium length tresses always pulled in some pretty style my sister would weave. Now it looked…wrong. 

My midsection was wrapped tightly in clean bandages, courtesy of Minako. Yuto had told me a laser bullet had pierced me just below my ribcage. Luckily, vital organs were only minorly scathed, but running with the injury as long as I did had resulted in severe blood loss. Hence why I passed out in that man—Eric’s arms.

I managed to pull my attention away from my reflection and focused on the garments in my arms. Both were a charcoal grey, and the fabric was decently thick and soft to the touch. The top was sleeveless with a neckline that reached to the middle of my neck, and the bottoms were shorts that ended at my thighs.

My eyes fell to the large scar on my outer thigh and I gently ran my fingers over the raised skin. It looked to be healing well, most likey from Yuto’s care, but it would surely leave a scar. It will remain as a reminder of the night everything began.

“Lucia?” Minako’s soft voice called out and jolted me back to reality. 

“Y-yeah! I’m coming out.”

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Red-Listed | One

At this rate, I was going to be caught. I wasn't very athletic at all, and despite the adrenaline keeping my boots slapping the pavement, my lungs and muscles were screaming for mercy. It didn’t help that the wounds from the LAW officers’ light phasers were throbbing, and white spots were dancing in my vision. 

I skidded around a corner, nearly colliding with a group of drunk businessmen. The light bullets whizzing past my head were coming too close, and I instinctively ducked my head as I barreled on through the mass of people.

I had a normal life. I was a college student. The only things I had to worry about were catching the bullet trains and making sure my assignments were completed on time. When I walked into my house after class and saw that puddle of blood on the floor of my living room, none of that mattered anymore. 

Not when my mom came in shortly after and accused me of taking a sibling squabble too far. None of it mattered when my mom pressed the emergency button and I took off running into the streets of New Dallas. All I had to worry about now was staying in the shadows and evading the LAW. So far, it was working out fantastically.

The chase had led me to the south side of the city, and as I looked around, I noticed that upper-class civilians and familiar skyscrapers had dwindled. Scary-looking criminals in dark clothing, half of them with the signature “RED-LISTED” lettering floating above their heads, peered at me from the sidewalks. They were probably pissed I brought the cops into their neighborhood. Just great, I thought. If I were lucky enough to escape the officers hot on my trail, I’d still need to worry about the criminals coming after me. 

I rounded another corner, pumping my legs in hopes of giving me a headway from my pursuers so I could duck into an alley—and it worked. A look over my shoulder revealed only loiterers. I let out a short, breathy ha! and faced forward. My glee didn’t last for long.

Too quick to process, a hand grabbed the back of my shirt and yanked me into a space between two buildings. Before I could let out a scream, a hand slapped over my mouth, and an arm went around my waist, pulling my back into a hard body. 

“Shh. Be quiet or they’ll hear you,” a male voice whispered in my ear. I heard a click and felt something sharp pierce into my neck. The alley was immediately swallowed by darkness, the glow from my “RED-LISTED” sign disappearing. 

I couldn’t move—the tight hands over my mouth and abdomen prevented that. All I could do was listen to the blood rushing through my ears and my thoughts racing. I was going to be killed, or even worse. I was sure of that. Right now, one of the criminals I saw earlier got me, and I was too weak to fight back. Whoever he was, he was insanely strong. 

“Stop moving,” the voice hissed in my ear again.

On one hand, I could stop struggling and let this unknown assailant drag me away and have his way with me. On the other, I could try to break free, only to run right into the LAW’s hands. 

After weighing my options, I stopped struggling and relaxed into the guy’s hold. I would let this guy keep me, but as soon as the officers were out of sight, I would break free and escape.

I tensed as multiple rapid footsteps echoed in from the street, paired with yelling and radio beeps. I watched in disbelief as the officers ran past the alley opening, their footsteps fading out. After a moment, a sigh of relief escaped my mouth, misting my assailant’s palm. I managed to escape again, but how long would that last me?

“I’m going to see if they’re gone.” 

His hands never left my body, and I was dragged to the mouth of the alley. The assailant peered his head around the corner and looked down the street. From the minimal lighting, I could only see his side profile for a brief minute. A murmur of, “Good. They’re gone,” escaped his lips, and the tight hold on me was released.

I didn’t even hesitate before attempting to book it down the alley. Savior be damned. I was only able to make it a few steps before two arms wrapped tightly around my middle, a cry of pain leaving my lips as he pressed into the wound on my waist.

“Will you calm down! I’m trying to help-” 

I fought desperately, finally managing to jab my elbow into his stomach. A painful grunt sounded from his lips, and he let go. Sharp pain shot through me, and I dropped, wincing when my knees collided with the hard concrete. Tears pricked my eyes, and only the sound of the two of us panting could be heard bouncing off the brick walls.

“Shit– you’re insane, you know that?” 

A small light surrounded me, and I slowly brought my head up, only for my eyes to finally meet with my crouched assailant. 

From what I could see, he was fairly attractive. He probably wasn’t much older than me, with short, chestnut-brown fringe lying over his eyes. Plump lips sat in an annoyed scowl on his tanned face, glowing from the small electro-lighter in his gloved fist. His cold, sharp eyes narrowed at my figure.

“I was trying to hide you from the cops, and this is how you thank me? Beating the shit out of me and running off?” His voice was no longer in a whisper, but now an aggravated shout. I panted in response, unable to escape the tightness in my lungs and the pain from my injuries, which had now tripled.

“How was…I supposed to know…trying to help me?” This man had the audacity to call me insane when, only moments ago, he had grabbed me like a kidnapping victim. How the hell was I supposed to react? The unknown man sighed and stood up, taking me aback at how tall he was. 

“What did you expect me to do? Walk out and be like, ‘Hey, come here! Let me rescue you!’ Be pissed at me all you want, but I saved your ass. If it wasn’t for me, you would’ve been nothing more than an imprint on the road.” I tried to push myself up but only managed to irritate my wounds further, making me collapse on my side.

The man quickly dropped down beside me, pulling my arms from my abdomen and spitting out a “Shit.” All I could do was whimper pathetically, squeezing my eyelids shut when black spots danced in my vision. “You're hurt. Bad. We need to get you help, or you aren’t going to make it.” I cried out again when I felt arms slide under me and jerk me upwards, cradling me into his chest. As he took off down the alley, my vision went in and out of focus. I was only vaguely aware of the man’s hushed whispers. “Just hold on a little longer. Don’t fall asleep.” My eyes shut despite his pleas, the echo of his footsteps and words fading with my consciousness.

I was only able to get bits and pieces of the world outside of my unconscious state as I faded in and out. At one point, I thought maybe I was in a hospital. A harsh light penetrated through my eyelids, and a lot of muffled voices surrounded me, though I couldn’t make out what they were saying. The pain had gotten so immense at some point that I couldn’t feel anything anymore. I was probably dying. I just hoped that it would be done and over with soon.

When I fully came to, I couldn’t open my eyes. My entire body felt heavy, like only my gravitational pull had been kicked up. I simply lay there, taking in my sensory-deprived state. The steady beeping of a heart monitor filled the room as my hearing slowly returned.

 When I mustered the strength to peel open my eyelids, I expected to be greeted by some sort of hospital room. Instead of white walls and a holo-flower vase by my bedside, gray, cinder block walls surrounded me. The room was relatively dark, too. Probably due to the lack of windows. Despite this, it kind of looked like a normal room in a small clinic. Was I in some sort of basement?  I guess that guy sold me for parts. 

There wasn’t a soul around. Nothing but an empty chair in the corner of the room. Sitting and listening for a moment revealed the only sounds being the quiet beeping of the monitor to my left and my own heartbeat. No muffled voices outside the door, no steady hum of a security system keeping me locked in the room. Maybe I could escape. I looked at the IV tubes sticking out from my left arm and began yanking them out. I winced at the sting and waited for a moment for any sort of alarm to go off. Nothing. 

I hopped off the bed. It was now that I noticed that I was no longer wearing the torn and bloody clothes I last remembered wearing. Instead, I was dressed in a nude-colored monochrome set: a sort of high-neck sports bra-like top that had a zipper in the middle and skin-tight shorts that ended mid-thigh. The lack of covering allowed me to see the bandages that wrapped around my midriff and upper arms. My feet were bare, allowing the coolness of the concrete beneath me to seep in.

I only made it a couple of steps toward the door before a voice resounded behind me, making me jump.

“You still need rest.” 

I wheeled around to find a woman standing in the middle of the room. She seemed around my age, perhaps younger, with a pretty, slender face. Her skin was like porcelain, adding to her doll-like appearance. Blue eyes stared back at me.

What the hell? I was sure that no one was in the room besides me. The only door out was the one I had just tried to escape from, so where–

“Please come back to the bed. In the meantime, I will alert Yuto, the doctor, that you are awake,” the woman spoke again. It was now that I noticed a slightly electronic lilt to her voice, as well as a slight waver to her body. 

Ah, she was an AI-Holo. A very…interesting one, I might add. Most of the ones I've had the rare pleasure of seeing certainly weren’t as pretty looking as her. They definitely didn’t wear fashionable clothes, either. 

I remembered what she had said about “alerting” someone named Yuto, and I slightly panicked. “No! No, no, don’t do that,” I stepped towards her, waving my hands. “I just…uhm…” 

The AI pursed her lips and said, “You must have your vitals checked. Please have a seat. I have already alerted Yuto.”

Shit. Why the hell did this have to be difficult? Also, what kind of black market organ thieves have a Holo-AI? 

As far as I saw it, I currently have two options. The first was to take off running out the door. However, that came with a significant amount of risk. I had no clue what lay beyond that door. For all I knew, the entire crew of criminals could be out there, gathered around some bucket full of organs they stole off of other people (I have to admit, my overly active imagination was a tad dramatic). The Holo AI said it alerted someone, and that person was most definitely on their way. They could spot me and chase after me. I was certainly in no condition to be running like a crazy person through a crime den.

The other option was to simply agree to the AI’s wishes and play along. To my annoyance, this was the option I would have to go with. Besides, I could already feel the pain beginning to come back. With a hesitant side-eye towards the AI, I slowly climbed back into the bed.

“Can I ask who you are? Or where am I?” She seemed to straighten at this, and I could almost see her programmed script running through her head.

“I am Aeris. I am an AI Holo developed to assist with any task instructed to me. Currently, you are in a clinic room of Themis headquarters.”

“Themis? What is that?” 

Before Aeris could answer me, a knock resounded in the room. The door was thrust open, and in stepped a man who looked like the farthest thing from a doctor. The man was clad in an all-black ensemble of jeans and a short-sleeved button-up with the top two buttons undone, allowing a sneak peek of tattoos on his neck and chest. I could almost make out a small, faded dragon peeking out of his shirt collar. More ink covered his arms, and if I had to guess, his entire body. Brownish-black hair was pulled back into a loose bun to reveal a face with strong, angular features. 

“That’s enough, Aeris. You can go back to Ricky now,” The man spoke with a smirk and a shooing gesture toward the AI. Aeris’s short, silver bob shimmered in the light as she bowed toward who I assumed was Yuto. She then turned toward me. “It was a pleasure to meet you,” she said, and with that, she dissipated. 

There was a moment of silence as I actively avoided looking at Yuto, though I could feel his eyes on me. I wondered what he was waiting for. I didn’t necessarily get evil, organ-stealer vibes from the guy, but I was obviously hesitant nonetheless. 

I heard a sigh, and he approached me, pulling out a tablet and tapping away. “So…You tried to make a break for it, huh?” I frowned. That damn snitch of an AI.

Yuto chuckled a bit at my expression. “What? You thought she wouldn’t tell me? Don’t worry, we aren’t trying to hurt you. I’m Yuto, by the way. Yuto Hirano,” He jutted out his hand for me to shake, which I ignored. 

He sighed once more, then swiped up on his tablet. A hologram of information appeared in the air between the two of us, my personal information.

“Lucia Mason. 23 years old, Junior at Neo Dallas Institute of Technology, no body modifications or alterations. Currently at large for the murder of her younger sister.” I winced and turned away from the image of my sister to be met with him staring at me, eyebrow cocked. How the hell did he have all of this info? I was starting to wonder if I was instead in a government prison. How else would he have access to any of this? I glared back at him.

“So what? Do you work for LAW or something?” I bit, “Gonna kill me?” 

It hasn’t been long, but I was really starting to get fed up with all of this. The running, the judgmental glares, being treated like a criminal. All I had done wrong was not escape from my mother's clutches when I had the chance. If I’d just cut her off the second I went to school, none of this would be happening.

Yuto smirked. “Not at all, sweetheart. We’re all just like you.” The projection disappeared with a beep, and Yuto pocketed the tablet, finally settling his arms in a crossed position.

“So how did a smart little NDIT student end up becoming a cold-blooded killer?” 

“I didn’t do shit.”

“Relax, it was a joke. Of course, you didn’t. That’s why you’re here, isn’t it?” Yuto smiled with his teeth this time, a more gentle expression than what he had previously shown me. I was honestly a little taken aback. He had one of those smiles that, if I had seen under any other circumstance, would’ve made my heart skip a beat.

“Where exactly is here?” Yuto now strolled over to my left side and began to fiddle with the monitors. There were a few minutes of silence as he pressed a couple of buttons on the machine. When he noticed the IV tubes dangling, he tsked. I watched as he dug a packaged IV needle out of a drawer nearby.

“You’re in our little hideout. Hold still for a second.” I winced as he inserted the IV needle in the top of my hand, taping it off before gesturing for me to lie back down in the bed. 

“We’re a group of falsely accused and small-time criminals, all of us considered rejects by the so-called ‘perfect’ society. Ex-cops, mercenaries, hackers, you name it.”

He shone a small light in both of my eyes, then gave a satisfied hum. The tablet was pulled out once more, and he tapped away.

“You were unfairly red-listed, correct?” Yuto glanced up at me, and I nodded. “Then you’re just like us.”

I blinked back at him, and he laughed a little, his pretty teeth making a reappearance. “Eric brought you in here because he wants you to join us.”

Eric. That was a new name. Was he the one that I had met in the alley? The asshole that yanked me around and made the whole kidnapping experience so… kidnap-ey. But he was admittedly the one who also brought me to a doctor. Regardless of whether that doctor was legitimate or not.

“Hold on. I never agreed to join…whatever you guys are doing–”

“We’re trying to take down New Dallas,” Yuto said. I laughed. When he didn’t join me and instead just stared at me with a steady expression, I stopped. 

“Oh my god, you’re serious. Yeah, absolutely not. Do you think I’m insane?” 

Yuto leaned back a little, hands going in his back pockets, and a small smile appearing on his face. “Why is it so crazy? I mean, when has New Dallas ever been a good thing? Well, besides the bigwigs making the fat stacks.”

I waved my hand, forgetting there was a needle in, it which tugged a little and made me flinch. “No, I’m not talking about that. Of course, ND is awful. Power to you guys who wanna take over the government and whatnot. I’m talking about me. I’m a normal freaking person. Not some,” I wracked my brain, “mercenary or whatever else you said.”

“You’re Red-Listed, right?”

“Well, yeah, but–”

“Then you’re not “normal” anymore. You’re one of us.”

I paused, my mouth opening and closing like a fish. “...But why me?”

Yuto shrugged at this. “Eric wanted you here. What Eric says kinda just goes.”

I took some time to process his words. A little crime syndicate, basically. That’s who had “captured” me. Though, from the sounds, and so far looks of it, they weren’t as big of a threat as I had initially imagined. That, and I was technically also a criminal. 

Still, I wasn’t planning on joining some little gang. I just figured I would be living the rest of my most-wanted-list life on the streets alone, scavenging for scraps of food, outrunning LAW officers, sleeping in boxes in alleys while the rain poured on me. Wow. Sounds like a bright future for me. 

But then again, what the hell could I offer to some little gang? I was just a (former) normal college student! I’ve never dabbled in anything even remotely crime-related. Why did “Eric”, whoever this guy was, want me in their little group?

Yuto could practically see the steam coming out of my ears as my brain worked in overdrive processing all the new information. He chuckled a little.

“Look, no one is forcing you to stay here. If you want, as soon as you’ve recovered, feel free to leave. I could always just…Look the other way.” He winked at me, then fiddled with the machine again. A teal liquid began to flow down the tube and into my hand. “I’m gonna give you some sleep juice. It’ll make the pain go away.”

“Honestly, though, Eric’s gonna be pissed if we wasted our meds on you and you just disappear. Again—no pressure.” Yuto smirked. I wanted to hit him, but damn, the medicine works quickly. My body was already feeling heavy. 

“It kinda sounds like you aren’t giving me a choice,” I muttered back instead. 

“I didn’t say anything like that, Lucia,” Yuto replied to that. 

I really wanted to ask more questions. I wanted to ask more about their group, dig around, and try to figure out exactly why I was wanted. I definitely wanted to ask to talk to Eric, who was most likely the leader. The medicine was beginning to make it hard to think, though.

“I need more information. I’m not gonna join some anti-government rebel group just because I'm homeless and being hunted down,” I mumble, voicing my thoughts to no one in particular. My head felt like it was floating, and my eyelids were beginning to droop. “But…I guess I don’t have any other options…”

Yuto smiled at me, a look that made me feel like a mouse caught by a cat. It was the last thing I saw as I finally let my eyes close. “Welcome to Themis.”

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[1800boocat]

Red-Listed | Two

40 years ago, there was a great war. World War III, to be exact. This war was far more devastating and life-altering than any other in history. 

New China (which was formerly known as China) and Russia decided they wanted more land, more control. So, they set out together to conquer nearby countries. The rest of the world opposed this, of course, and war was declared. All of the larger nations possessed powerful nuclear arms that wiped out entire provinces, entire nations. Technology also progressed to increase the amount of carnage.

In the midst of all of this, the citizens of certain countries that didn’t like their governments decided this was the perfect opportunity to revolt. With an international war and numerous unyielding civil rebellions, the entire world was thrown into chaos for 10 long years. 

In the end, when the peace treaties were signed and internal tensions suppressed, many countries came together and decided that there was simply too much power given to the citizens – too much leniency. Why else would their own people rebel against the government? 

Thus, New Dallas, and many other cities like it, rose from the war-torn rubble around the globe. The powerful new technology developed during the war was fully integrated, including the implantation of red-listed chips in all citizens. New laws and systems were implemented to make peaceful living and growth attainable. New Dallas, which I was taught previously had a high crime rate, became one of the biggest crime crack-down area in all of Americanada. 

While civil rebellions were snuffed out by the passage of the Liberation And Welfare Act (more commonly referred to as LAW), it couldn’t completely eradicate the distrust and disfavor of the government. The luxuriously wealthy were only positively affected, while the livelihood of everyone else was turned upside down. The seething remained silent, of course, but there was no wonder why small crime groups began to pop up in the shadows. Themis was one of these.

The word means “law” in Greek, which was ironic given the group’s method of operation. Themis was full of all kinds of New Dallas’s misfits: mercenaries, hackers, petty criminals, you name it. Everyone here was red-listed. Whether or not it was rightfully so was up for debate.

Themis wasn’t the only ring. It was one small puzzle piece in an underground network of criminals and society rejects. What sets them apart from the rest is they were one of the few groups that specifically fought against LAW, dreaming of one day uprooting the unfair legal system established so long ago with the creation of New Dallas. They tried to avoid any illegal dealing that specifically hurt people or broke the law just for the sake of  doing it. Of course, this didn’t mean they didn’t associate with criminals who did. The Themis members weren’t really big threats, but did what they had to to survive as criminals.

This long monologue was given to me by Yuto as his assistant, a quiet girl by the name of Minako, did my routine vital checks. It had only been a couple of days since the day I awoke in the clinic. I hadn’t seen anyone new other than Minako, who would come in to help me use the restroom and change my dressings. Occasionally, Yuto would come in to do checks. Besides them, I mainly stayed alone in the room, sleeping, eating, and bored out of my mind. 

“So do you guys, like…kill people?” I really had to ask.

“Hmm…Sometimes, I suppose. Only when it’s warranted really,” Yuto replied. “Sometimes we get in fights with mercenaries sent after us, some of our escapades get attention from the LAW and we have to defend ourselves. Of course, I don’t see a lot of action. I mostly stay here.”

Huh. Well, I could get behind that, I guess. They had some morals at the very least.

“So…How much longer am I going to be locked up in here? Am I being quarantined or something?” 

“Patience, sweetheart,” Yuto smirked, to which I scowled a little. “You were pretty badly damaged when you came in here. You had to get fixed up. But actually now, I think a little walk around the facility might be good for you.”

I perked up at this. Noticeably so, as Minako smiled a little at me.

Aeris then fizzled into the room, taking all of us by surprise. She greeted me politely, then turned to Yuto and said “Eric wishes to speak with you. He’s waiting for you in the meeting room.” 

“Ah. Thank you, Aeris. Tell him I’m on my way.” The AI bowed, then disappeared as suddenly as she arrived.

“I better go. He gets impatient.” Yuto then made his way toward the door. “Minako will finish looking at you, then you can call Aeris when you’re ready for a tour.” With that, he waved and was gone.

It was now just Minako and I alone. She was preoccupied with her tablet, rapidly typing away. I assumed she was taking note of any medical updates. The room was quiet for a moment.

I was used to the silence with her, as the girl was never particularly talkative when she had come in to care for me. Not that she ever really stayed long enough for small talk. She only appeared for short periods, just long enough to help me undress or help me use the restroom (which was a little embarrassing). After her few small tasks, she would leave the room abruptly with only a mere nod.

She didn’t come off as cold to me, just someone who didn’t feel the need to say much. Maybe she was just shy. I wanted to talk to her a little. Perhaps I could get close to her, and become her friend. If I stayed.

“So, uhm…How long have you been here? In…Themis?” Minako glanced at me briefly, before returning to typing on her tablet.

“I came with Yuto. It’s been at least a couple of years, I’d say.” Her voice was cool and smooth.

“Oh! So you’ve known him for a while, then?” The girl nodded, then rose from the stool and pocketed her tablet. 

I watched Minako carefully as she removed the IV needle from my hand and cleaned up the area. Her straight, jet-black hair hung in her face as she worked, standing out against her soft, pale features. I was reminded slightly of a pre-war horror movie I once saw but waved the thought away with guilt. Minako wasn't scary at all. Just…silent. It made for a slightly awkward atmosphere while I waited for her to elaborate. When she didn’t, I pressed a little.

“Were you two friends? Colleagues?”

“Yuto was a surgeon in Tokyo. The best one. He was a genius, even graduated high school and college early. He had a lot of wealthy clients, he was very popular. He hired me to shadow him as part of my requirements for medical school residency. I learned a lot from him, and I was his only student since he typically didn’t like taking on student residents.” There was a small sparkle in her eyes as she spoke about Yuto. A little admiration, but also, a little of something else…

I wanted to know how she and Yuto ended up in Themis. The question scratched at my brain, but I was unsure if it was rude to ask. They both seemed like pleasant people, even though Yuto was slightly annoying with his smirks and flirtiness.

I decided to just go for it. “Can I ask what made you and Yuto join? Like…” The real question lingered on my tongue. She watched me for a moment, her expression unreadable.

“I think…That’s a story for another time. One you should ask Yuto about.”

Minako let me know I was good to get down from the bed. She offered her hand out to help me, but I waved her off, insisting I could do it myself. She still hovered her hands near me in case I needed aid. However, I’d managed to make it down on my own with barely a stumble, and I shot her a small prideful smile.

I thought about that look in her eyes again when she was speaking of her bold colleague, and asked, “Yuto. Do you like him?” 

Minako stumbled suddenly, her eyes blinking at me owlishly. “W-What? Why would you think that?” She stuttered, and I could see traces of a blush beginning to dust her cheeks and ears. I smiled and shrugged.

Before I could question her a little more, Aeris appeared in the room. The AI held a neatly folded stack of gray fabric. “Miss Mason, hello again. Are you ready to begin your tour of the Themis facility?” 

I cringed a little. “Just ‘Lucia’ is fine.” But, oh! I could finally see something other than this sad, sterile room.

I paused when I suddenly remembered: I was practically in underwear. Granted, the clothes I wore covered me decently. However, the thought of meeting more people this way made me feel exposed. I looked down at myself before moving my sheepish gaze to Minako.

“Is there…anything else I can wear?” Aeris spoke up instead. “I have brought you a temporary change of clothes,” she held the stack of fabric out to me, which I graciously took. “I hope these will suffice.” 

I gently unfolded the simple, gray set, nodding before heading behind the privacy curtain at the other end of the room. “Yeah, these will, uh…‘suffice’. Thank you, Aeris.”

There was a small mirror on the wall that I noticed almost immediately. It had been a little while since I had been able to see a clear reflection of myself. I took in my horrifically gaunt features: sunken cheeks from lack of consistent meals the past few months, though the fullness had slowly begun to return. My light skin was paler than usual, and my amber-brown eyes, usually bright with energy, were now dull and lifeless. The dark brown rat nest of hair atop my head made me cringe. I had taken pride in caring for my hair before everything. I always made sure to keep it tangle-free and the neat-medium length tresses always pulled in some pretty style my sister would weave. Now it looked…wrong. 

My midsection was wrapped tightly in clean bandages, courtesy of Minako. Yuto had told me a laser bullet had pierced me just below my ribcage. Luckily, vital organs were only minorly scathed, but running with the injury as long as I did had resulted in severe blood loss. Hence why I passed out in that man—Eric’s arms.

I managed to pull my attention away from my reflection and focused on the garments in my arms. Both were a charcoal grey, and the fabric was decently thick and soft to the touch. The top was sleeveless with a neckline that reached to the middle of my neck, and the bottoms were shorts that ended at my thighs.

My eyes fell to the large scar on my outer thigh and I gently ran my fingers over the raised skin. It looked to be healing well, most likey from Yuto’s care, but it would surely leave a scar. It will remain as a reminder of the night everything began.

“Lucia?” Minako’s soft voice called out and jolted me back to reality. 

“Y-yeah! I’m coming out.”

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Red-Listed | One

I rounded another corner, pumping my legs in hopes of giving me a headway from my pursuers so I could duck into an alley. And it worked. A look over my shoulder revealed only loiterers. I let out a short breathy ha! and faced forward. my glee didn’t last for long.

Too quick to process, a hand grabbed the back of my shirt and yanked me into a dark alley. Before I could let out a scream, a hand slapped over my mouth and an arm went around my waist, pulling my back into a hard body. 

“Shh. Be quiet or they’ll hear you.” a male voice whispered in my ear. I felt a click and something sharp pierce into my neck. The alley was immediately swallowed by darkness, the red glow from my “RED-LISTED” sign disappearing. 

I couldn’t move. The tight hand over my mouth prevented that. All I could do was listen to the blood rushing through my ears and my thoughts racing. I was going to be killed, or even worse. I was sure of that. One of the criminals I saw earlier had me in a tight hold, and I was too weak to fight back. 

“Stop struggling,” the voice hissed in my ear again.

On one hand, I could stop struggling and let this unknown assailant drag me away and have his way with me. On the other, I could try to break free, only to run right into the LAW’s hands. After weighing my options, I stopped struggling and relaxed into the guy’s hold. I would let this guy keep me, but as soon as the officers were out of sight, I would break free and escape.

Multiple rapid footsteps echoed in from the street, paired with yelling and radio beeps. I watched in disbelief as the officers ran past the alley opening, their footsteps fading out. After a moment, a sigh of relief escaped my mouth, misting my assailant’s hand. I managed to escape again, but how long would that last me?

“Be quiet. I’m going to see if they’re gone.” The hands never left my body, and I was dragged to the mouth of the alley. The assailant peered his head around the corner and looked down the street. From the minimal lighting, I could only see his side profile for a brief minute. A murmur of, “Good. They’re gone,” escaped his lips, and the tight hold on me was released.

I didn’t even hesitate before attempting to book it down the alley. Savior be damned. I was only able to make it a few steps before two arms wrapped tightly around my middle, a cry of pain leaving my lips as he pressed into the wound on my hip.

“Will you shut the fuck up! I’m trying to help!” I struggled desperately, only stopping when his hold tightened. Tears pricked my eyes, and only the sound of the two of us panting could be heard bouncing off the brick walls.

“Don’t run off.” His warning made me shiver, and I was soon let go. I dropped, wincing when my knees collided with the hard concrete. “Jesus. You’re insane, you know that?” A small light surrounded me, and I slowly brought my head up, only for my eyes to finally meet with my crouched assailant. 

From what I could see, he was fairly attractive. He was young, probably not much older than me, with medium-length, chestnut-brown fringe laying over his eyes. Plump lips sat in an annoyed scowl on his tanned face, glowing from the small light. He held a small, electro-lighter in his gloved fist, his cold sharp eyes narrowed at my figure.

“I was trying to get you from the cops and this is how you thank me? Running off and beating the shit out of me?” His voice was no longer in a whisper, but now an aggravated shout. I panted in response, unable to escape the tightness in my lungs and the pain from my injuries, which had now tripled.

“How was…I supposed to know…trying to help me?” This man had the audacity to call me insane when only moments ago, he had grabbed me like one of his kidnapping victims. How the hell were I supposed to react? The unknown man sighed and stood up, taking me aback at how tall he was. 

“What did you expect me to do? Walk out and be like ‘Hey, come here! Let me rescue you!’? Be pissed at me all you want, but I saved your ass. If it wasn’t for me, you would’ve been a bloody imprint on the road.” I tried to push myself up but only managed to irritate my wounds further, making me collapse on my side.

The man quickly dropped down beside me, pulling my arms from my abdomen and spitting out a “Shit.”

All I could do was whimper pathetically, squeezing my eyelids shut when black spots danced in my vision.

“Your wounds are severe. We need to get you help or you aren’t going to make it,” I hear him say.

I cried out again when I felt arms slide under me and jerk me upwards, cradling me into his chest. As he took off down the alley, my vision went in and out of focus. I was only vaguely aware of the man’s hushed whispers. “You’re going to be fine. Don’t fall asleep. Don’t fall asleep.” my eyes shut despite his pleas, the echo of his footsteps and words fading with my consciousness.

I was only able to get bits and pieces of the world outside of my unconscious state as I faded in and out. At one point, I thought maybe I was in a hospital. A harsh light penetrated through my eyelids, and a lot of muffled voices surrounded me, though I couldn’t make out what they were saying. The pain had gotten so immense at some point that I couldn’t feel anything anymore. I was probably dying. I just hoped that it would be done and over with soon.

When I fully came to, I couldn’t open my eyes. My entire body felt heavy like only my gravitational pull had been kicked up. I simply lay there, taking in my sensory-deprived state. The steady beeping of a heart monitor filled the room as my hearing returned to me.

 When I mustered the strength to peel open my eyelids, I expected to be greeted by some sort of hospital room. Instead of white walls and a holo-flower vase by my bedside, gray, cinder block walls surrounded me. The room was relatively dark, too. Probably due to the lack of the window. Despite this, It kind of looked like a normal room in a small clinic. Was I in some sort of basement?  I guess that guy sold me for parts. 

There wasn’t a soul around. Nothing but an empty chair in the corner of the room. Sitting and listening for a moment revealed the only sounds being the quiet beeping of the monitor to my left and my own heartbeat. No muffled voices outside the door, no steady hum of a security system keeping me locked in the room. Maybe I could escape. I looked at the IV tubes sticking out from my left arm and began yanking them out. I winced at the sting and waited for a moment for any sort of alarm to go off. Nothing. 

I hopped off the bed. It was now I noticed I was no longer wearing the torn and bloody clothes I last remember wearing. Instead, I was dressed in a nude-colored monochrome set, a sort of high-neck sports bra-like top that had a zipper in the middle, and skin-tight shorts that ended mid-thigh. The lack of covering allowed me to see the bandages that wrapped around my midriff and upper arms. my feet were bare, allowing the coolness of the concrete beneath me to seep in.

I only made it a couple of steps toward the door before a voice resounded behind me, making me jump.

“You still need rest.” I wheeled around, to find a woman standing in the middle of the room. She seemed around my age, perhaps younger, with a pretty, slender face. Her skin was like porcelain, adding to her doll-like appearance. Light brown eyes stared back at me.

What the hell? I was sure that no one was in the room besides me. The only door out was the one I had just tried to escape from, so where–

“Please come back to the bed. In the meantime, I will alert Yuto, the doctor, that you are awake,” the woman spoke again. It was now that I noticed a slightly electronic lilt to her voice. Ah, she was an AI-Holo. A very…interesting one, I might add. Most of the ones I've had the rare pleasure of seeing certainly weren’t as pretty looking as her. They definitely didn’t wear fashionable clothes, either. 

I remembered what she had said about “alerting” someone named Yuto, and I slightly panicked. “No! No, no, don’t do that,” I stepped towards her waving my hands. “I just…uhm…” The AI pursed her lips and said “You must have your vitals checked. Please have a seat. I have already alerted Yuto.”

Shit. Why the hell did this have to be difficult? Also, what kind of black market organ thieves have a Holo-AI? As far as I saw it, I currently have two options.

The first was to take off running out the door. However, that had a ton of risk. I had no clue what lay beyond that door. For all I knew, the entire crew of criminals could be out there, gathered around some bucket full of organs they stole off of other people (I have to admit, my overly active imagination was a tad dramatic). The Holo AI said it alerted someone, and that person was most definitely on their way. They could spot me and chase after me. I was certainly in no condition to be running like a crazy person through a crime den.

The other option was to simply agree to the AI’s wishes and play along. To my annoyance, this was the option I would have to go with. Besides, I already feel the pain beginning to come back. With a hesitant side-eye towards the AI, I slowly climbed back into the bed.

“Can I ask who you are? Or where I am?” She seemed to straighten at this, and I could almost see her programmed script running through her head.

“I am Aeris. I am an AI Holo developed to assist with any task instructed to me. Currently, you are in the clinic room of the base.”

“Base? What base?” Before Aeris could answer me, the door was thrust open, and in stepped a man who looked the farthest thing from a doctor. The man was clad in an all-black ensemble of jeans and a short-sleeved button-up with the top two buttons undone, allowing a sneak peek of tattoos on his neck and chest. More ink covered his arms, and if I had to guess, his entire body. Dark brown hair was pulled back into a loose bun to reveal a face with strong, angular features. 

“That’s enough, Aeris. You can go back to Ricky now,” The man spoke with a smirk and a shooing gesture toward the AI. Aeris’ short, silver bob shimmered in the light as she bowed toward who I assumed was Yuto. She then turned toward me. “It was a pleasure to meet you,” she said, and with that, dissipated. 

There was a moment of silence as I actively avoided looking at Yuto, though I could feel his eyes on me. I wondered what he was waiting for. I didn’t necessarily get evil, organ-stealer vibes from the guy, but I was obviously hesitant nonetheless. 

I heard a sigh and he approached me, pulling out a tablet and tapping away. “So…You tried to make a break for it, huh?” I frowned. That damn snitch of an AI.

Yuto chuckled a bit at my expression. “What? You thought she wouldn’t tell me? Don’t worry, we aren’t trying to hurt you.” He swiped up on his tablet and a hologram of information appeared in the air between the two of us, my personal information.

“Lucia Mason. 23 years old, Junior at NCIT, no body modifications. Currently at large for the murder of her younger sister,” He looked at me with an eyebrow cocked, and I glared heavily in return. How the hell did he have all of this info? I was starting to wonder if I was instead in a government prison. How else would he have all of my info?

“So what? You work for the LAW or something? Are you gonna kill me,” I bit. I was really starting to get fed up with all of this. The running, the judgmental glares, being treated like a criminal. All I did wrong was not escape from my mother's clutches. If I’d just cut her off the second I went to school, none of this would be happening.

Yuto smirked, a look that made me feel like a mouse caught by the cat. “Not at all, sweetheart. We’re all just like you.” The projection disappeared with a beep, and Yuto pocketed the tablet, finally settling his arms in a crossed position.

“So how did a smart little NCIT student end up becoming a cold-blooded killer?” 

“I didn’t do shit.”

“Relax, it was a joke. Of course, you didn’t. That’s why you’re here, isn’t it?” Yuto smiled with his teeth this time, a more gentle expression than what he had previously shown me. I was honestly a little taken aback. He had one of those smiles that, if I had seen under any other circumstance, would’ve made my heart skip a beat.

“Where exactly is here?” Yuto now strolled over to my left side and began to fiddle with the monitors. There were a few minutes of silence as he pressed a couple of buttons on the machine. He tsked when he saw the IV tubes dangling. I watched as he dug a packaged IV needle out of a drawer nearby.

“You’re in our little hideout. Hold still for a second.” I winced as he inserted the IV needle in the top of my hand, taping it off before gesturing for me to lay back down in the bed. 

“We’re a group of false and small-time criminals, all of us considered rejects by the so-called ‘perfect’ society. Ex-cops, mercenaries, hackers, wrongly accused, you name it.”

He shined a small light in both of my eyes, then gave a satisfied hum. The tablet was pulled out once more and he tapped away.

“You were unfairly Red-Listed, correct?” Yuto glanced up at me and I nodded. “Then you’re just like us.”

I blinked back at him and he laughed a little, his pretty teeth making a reappearance. “Eric brought you in here because he wants you to join us.”

Eric. That was the first I heard that name. I could probably assume that he was the one that I had met. The asshole that yanked me around and made the whole kidnapping experience so… kidnap-ey. But, he was admittedly the one that also brought me to a doctor. Regardless of whether that doctor was legitimate or not.

“Hold on. I never agreed to join…whatever you guys are doing–”

“We’re trying to take down Neo Chicago,” Yuto said. I laughed. When he didn’t laugh back and instead just stared at me with a steady expression, I stopped. 

“Oh my god, you’re serious. Yeah, absolutely not. Do you think I’m insane?” 

Yuto leaned back a little, hands going in his back pockets and a small smile appearing on his face. “Why is it so crazy? I mean, when has Neo Chicago ever been a good thing? Well, besides for the big wigs making the fat stacks.”

I waved my hand, forgetting there was a needle in it which tugged a little and made me flinch. “No, I’m not talking about that. Of course, NC is awful. Power to you guys who wanna take over the government and whatnot. I’m talking about me. I’m a normal freaking person. Not some,” I wracked my brain, “mercenary or whatever else you said.”

“You’re Red-Listed, right?”

“Well, yeah, but–”

“Then you’re one of us.”

I paused, my mouth opening and closing like a fish. “...But why me?”

Yuto shrugged at this. “Eric wanted you here. What Eric says kinda just goes.”

I took some time to process his words. A little crime syndicate, basically. That’s who had “captured” me. Though, from the sounds, and, so far, looks of it, they weren’t as big of a threat as I had initially imagined. That, and I were technically also a criminal. 

Still, I wasn’t planning on joining some little gang. I just figured I would be living the rest of my most-wanted-list life on the streets alone, scavenging for scraps of food, outrunning LAW officers, sleeping in boxes in alleys while the rain poured on me.

Wow. Sounds like a bright future for me. 

But then again, what the hell could I offer to some little gang? I was just a (former) normal college student! I’ve never dabbled in anything even remotely crime-related. Why did “Eric”, whoever this guy was, want me in their little group?

Yuto could practically see the steam coming out of my ears as my brain worked in overdrive processing all the new information. He chuckled a little.

“Look, no one is forcing you to stay here. If you want, as soon as you’ve recovered, feel free to leave. I could always just…Look the other way.” He winked at me, then fiddled with the machine again. A teal liquid began to flow down the tube and into my hand. “I’m gonna give you some sleep juice. It’ll make the pain go away.”

“Honestly, though, Eric’s gonna be pissed if we wasted our meds on you and you just dip. Again, no pressure.” Yuto smirked. I wanted to hit him, but damn, the medicine works quickly. I could already feel my body getting heavy. 

“It kinda sounds like you aren’t giving me a choice,” I muttered back instead. “I didn’t say anything like that, Lucia,” Yuto replied to that. 

I really wanted to ask more questions. I wanted to ask more about their group, dig around, and try to figure out exactly why I was wanted. I definitely wanted to ask to talk to Eric, who was most likely the leader. The medicine was beginning to make it hard to think, though.

“I need more information. I’m not gonna join some anti-government rebel group just because I'm homeless and being hunted down.” my head felt like it was floating, and my eyelids were beginning to droop. “But…I guess I don’t have any other options…”

Yuto smiled at me. It was the last thing I saw as I finally let my eyes close.

“Welcome to Themis.”