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 dawn broke over the city like a half-remembered dream, the weak light struggling to penetrate the heavy shroud of fog that clung to the streets. Max and Vivian sat in the back of a nondescript sedan, their eyes bleary from lack of sleep. Harris drove, his knuckles white as he gripped the steering wheel. The city around them seemed to hold its breath, the tension palpable, as if it knew what was coming.

Max's side throbbed with a dull ache where The Wolf's bullet had grazed him. He absently pressed a hand to the wound, feeling the sticky warmth of his own blood. They needed a place to regroup, somewhere safe where they could tend to their wounds and plan their next move.

"Where are we headed?" Max asked, his voice rough from the night's exertions.

Harris didn't take his eyes off the road. "Safe house on the east side. Old contact of mine runs it. Should be secure for a few hours at least."

Chapter 220: The Gathering Storm