The sun had already begun to dip beyond the horizon, casting long amber shadows across the windshield. Rex sank into the driver's seat of his car, the leather seat groaned slightly under his weight. the newly purchased perfume box resting carefully on the passenger side like a treasure chest. The scent clung to him like a second soul, stirring emotions he wasn't used to confronting. Satisfaction. Confidence. Something close to pride.
As for other things? They were safely thrown on the backseat.
He exhaled, a slow, satisfied breath. For once, he felt genuinely content.
He adjusted the mirror, placed the key in the ignition, and was about to start the engine when—
Ding!
A familiar chime echoed in his mind like a bell in a quiet chapel.
His hand froze mid-air.
Before he could react, the air shimmered faintly, and the all-too-familiar interface of his system appeared in front of him like a holographic screen suspended in the air.
[Ding!]
