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

Max Slade watched the city from his rooftop vantage point, the neon lights casting a sickly glow over the streets below. The rain had stopped, leaving the air thick with humidity and the scent of wet asphalt. He lit a cigarette, the flare of the lighter briefly illuminating his weary face. The smoke curled upwards, mingling with the heavy air.

"Max," Mia's voice crackled through his earpiece. "We've got movement at the warehouse on 14th. Intel says it's a major meeting tonight."

Max exhaled slowly, the smoke a thin wisp in the night air. "Copy that. Keep eyes on it. I'm heading over."

He extinguished the cigarette under his heel and made his way down the fire escape. The city hummed with life, oblivious to the storm brewing beneath its surface. Max's thoughts were a whirlwind of strategies and plans. Vincent was still out there, and now they knew about the mole. The betrayal cut deep, but they had to stay focused.

Chapter 187: The Fractured Light