Arron_Alderson

In the shadow-soaked alleys of a city where memories are both currency and weapon, burned-out detective Maxwell Hartwell is known for his unique immunity to memory extraction, a trait that marks him as both an asset and an outcast. When enigmatic Elena Voss approaches him to investigate the murder of Victor Kane, a top memory trader renowned for his ruthless ambition, Max is drawn into a web of deceit that permeates the highest echelons of society.

Max's investigation leads him deep into the underbelly of the memory trade, where human experiences are bought and sold to the highest bidder, altering personalities and histories at will. As he navigates this dangerous landscape, he's forced to contend with his former partner, Detective Sarah Lim, who walks a thin line between law enforcement and moral compromise. Throughout his journey, Max is aided by the Archivist, a secretive figure who trades in illicit memories, providing Max with information that cannot be obtained by conventional means.

As Max delves deeper into the mystery, he uncovers a disturbing truth: Victor Kane's death is merely the surface of a much larger conspiracy that threatens to topple the precarious balance of power within the city. His investigation reveals a sinister plot to control the memory market, orchestrated by figures that blur the line between friend and foe.

Haunted by fragments of his own inaccessible past, Max must navigate through layers of betrayal and manipulation, confronting painful truths about himself and those he once trusted. The closer he gets to solving the murder, the more entangled he becomes in a struggle for power that will define the future of memory itself.

With the city on the brink of chaos, Max is faced with a choice that will not only determine his own fate but also the fate of a society where memories can be rewritten at will. As alliances shift and secrets are unearthed, Max must decide whether to continue protecting a world that has forsaken him or forge a new path that could lead to redemption—or ruin.

Neon Shadows - Memories of Sin

The city lay like a restless beast, its neon arteries pulsing with a toxic glow. Max stood on the rooftop, the cold wind whipping his coat around him. The skyline was a jagged silhouette against the murky sky, a testament to humanity's relentless ambition and inevitable decay. He took a deep drag on his cigarette, the ember flaring like a beacon in the darkness.

"You're gonna burn out one day," Mia's voice broke through his thoughts, low and steady, like a lifeline in the storm.

Max turned, his eyes meeting hers. She was a shadow in the night, all sharp edges and hidden depths. "Not today," he said, a grim smile touching his lips.

Below them, the city moved in its perpetual dance of vice and virtue. The takedown of Kane had sent ripples through the underworld, but the real monsters still lurked beneath the surface. Max knew their victory was but a fleeting reprieve.

"What's the next move?" Mia asked, her gaze scanning the streets below, ever vigilant.

Chapter 176: The Edge of Night