The night air was still heavy with the echo of bass beats and laughter from the club as Jack strolled down the dimly lit streets of Neon City. His hood was pulled low, masking the weariness in his eyes. The flickering streetlights painted the cracked pavement in strokes of silver and shadow, a pattern that somehow mirrored his life;bright one moment, dark the next.
When he reached the Azure Dreams Motel, the flickering neon sign buzzed above the entrance, humming like it was tired of existing. The place looked the same as always.cheap, quiet, a little sad but to Jack, it had been home. It was where he healed, where he planned, where he became someone else.
But tonight, that peace shattered.
As Jack approached his door, he froze. Standing right there in front of his room was Mr. Travis, the motel manager,a round,pot-bellied man with thinning hair and a frown that could split stone. His arms were crossed, his tone sharp before Jack could even speak.
"Mr. West," Travis began, voice brimming with false politeness. "I didn't want it to come to this, but your payments been overdue for two weeks."
Jack blinked. "Overdue?"
"Yes, overdue," Travis said, waving a tablet that displayed blinking red alerts. "I don't know if you've been too busy to check your messages, but I've sent plenty. You need to pay up.tonight."
Jack rubbed the back of his neck, glancing at the dull paint on the walls, the humming vending machine in the corner. "So that was what the constant beeping was about.You're really kicking me out now?"
"I'm sorry," the man said, not sounding sorry at all. "Rules are rules. You've been a good tenant, quiet and all, but business is business. You'll have to vacate by morning."
Jack sighed, half-smiling. "Morning, huh?"
"Honestly," Travis continued, lowering his voice with a hint of smugness, "I don't even know how you could afford this place in the first place. It's not luxury, but for someone like you…" He gestured vaguely, as if Jack didn't belong anywhere decent.
Jack just nodded slowly, his gaze unreadable. "Got it."
Travis grunted, tapping his tablet, then walked away.
Jack unlocked his door and stepped inside. The familiar smell of faint detergent and cheap air freshener greeted him. He tossed his jacket on the bed and collapsed beside it. For a while, he just lay there, staring at the cracked ceiling.
"What now?" he muttered under his breath.
His mind raced. The battle with Luther still haunted his body;every ache, every scar. The night with Elena felt distant already, a flicker of heat fading into cold thought. And now, this? Evicted from the only place that had felt remotely safe.
He closed his eyes for just a second… and that's when his holo watch chimed softly.
PING.
The numbers flashed across the display.
CREDITS: 40,700
Jack's eyes widened, a slow grin tugging at the corner of his lips. Right. He'd almost forgotten how much he had earned after the Luther bounty and the quest rewards.
He sat up instantly, scrolling through listings projected in mid-air. "Alright," he muttered. "Time to upgrade."
At first, he searched for luxury apartments , Sleek,high-rise condos in the upper districts, with glass balconies and panoramic views of Neon City. A part of him wanted that;the comfort, the security, the luxury he'd never had.
But then he stopped.
He stared at one listing, his reflection faintly visible in the watch's glow. If I'm trying to blend in as the Void Walker, he thought, then the last thing I need is to stand out like a spoiled rich kid.
He smirked, switching filters.
"Middle class, clean, comfortable… somewhere that doesn't scream look at me."
The listings shifted.Smaller apartments, mid-tier neighborhoods. Brick walls instead of glass towers. The kind of place that said someone lives here, not someone flaunts here.
One caught his eye: Ridgepoint Flats, a modest block of apartments in the outer ring. Affordable, well-kept, near transit lines. Perfect.
Before he could even tap to reserve it, the system chimed.
New Quest Generated
Objective: Transfer 2000 credits to the Azure Dreams Motel account and add an extra 2000 credits as a tip. Make the manager feel this place wasn't even worth your time.
Reward: +5000 Credits, +1 Strength, +2 Luck
Failure Penalty: -1 to all stats
Jack chuckled. "Well… failures not an option."
He stood, brushing off the dust from his pants, and looked around the room one last time. The peeling wallpaper, the buzzing light fixture, the dented nightstand.It was all part of a chapter that had quietly raised him. This was where he had stitched his wounds, laughed at his broken luck, stared into the mirror and told himself he'd make it.
"Guess this is goodbye."
He grabbed his jacket, sliding his arms through the sleeves, and walked out without looking back.
Downstairs, the lobby was dim, illuminated by the cold blue light of vending machines and the faint hum of holo-ads. Mr. Travis was there, hunched over the counter, half-asleep.
Jack approached silently, transferring the payment through his watch. A chime echoed,a digital confirmation tone.
Transaction Complete: 4000 Credits sent to Azure Dreams Motel.
The sound startled Travis. He looked up, confused, then stared as his screen flashed the numbers.
Jack leaned casually against the counter. "Here's your payment for the two weeks," he said evenly, "and here's another 2000 for all the stress and trouble."
Travis blinked. "Wait—what?"
Jack shrugged. "I've been busy. Didn't have time to check messages."
The manager's jaw hung open as he scrolled through the account. "You… you sent an extra 2000?"
Jack smiled faintly. "Yeah. Consider it compensation for having to deal with someone like me."
The man's face turned pale. Then red. Then, surprisingly, soft. "M-Mr. West, please—you don't have to leave! It was just protocol, you understand? You're one of our most reliable tenants!"
Jack chuckled, shaking his head. "No, it's fine. This place…" He looked around the lobby, his eyes briefly catching his faint reflection in the vending machine glass. "It isn't really up to my standard anymore."
Travis froze mid-breath. "S-sir, I—"
"I'll clean your room personally,upgrade it. Anything you want.Pool table,ping-pong table,swimming pool.Believe me,I can do it.
But Jack was already walking toward the exit.
The automatic doors hissed open, letting in the cool whisper of dawn. He didn't turn back. Behind him, he could hear the faint sound of Travis's voice cracking,something between begging and disbelief.
Jack exhaled deeply, stepping onto the quiet street. The sky above Neon City was painted in shades of violet and orange, the first signs of sunrise pushing through the haze. For once, the city looked peaceful;no gunfire, no alarms, no chaos. Just the hum of morning.
"Good riddance," he muttered.
He raised his watch again. "Plot coordinates to Ridgepoint Flats."
A gentle blue arrow appeared on the holographic map, pointing north. Estimated arrival time:six hours on foot.
Jack started walking, hands in his pockets, the faint wind brushing his hair."well,I better cut to the chase then."
From the slums, to the motel, to my own place, he thought with a grin. Not bad for an orphan who shouldn't have made it past seventeen.
The system chimed again.
Quest Completed!
Rewards Claimed: +5000 Credits | +1 Strength | +2 Luck
Current Credits: 41,700
Stats Updated.
Jack smiled faintly at the sound. His body felt just a little lighter, a little stronger. Luckier, even.
He passed a row of small convenience stores, their holo-signs flickering to life as vendors opened for the morning. A cat darted across the street, brushing against his leg before vanishing into an alley. He couldn't help but laugh.
For the first time in weeks, Jack didn't feel hunted or haunted. He just felt;free.
He looked up at the emerging dawn sky, his breath fogging faintly.
"The Void Walker rises again," he whispered, smirking to himself.
The city hummed quietly in response, as if listening.