The Round Ends

Neith found herself in the deserted streets of the simulated urban environment, her thoughts swirling like a storm in her mind. The price the Butcher had demanded for his service was steep, far too high for such a simple task. "The memory of your most precious person," he had said, and Neith couldn't help but think about what that might entail. What if the Butcher decided that her most precious person was Ethan? Could she lose everything, forget her feelings for him, the experiences they had shared? The idea didn't sit well with her, but she couldn't afford to negotiate either.

The pressure and her own pride weighed on her like a heavy stone. She needed a solution, a way out to avoid such a loss. Long ago, she had been taught a trick that might save her from the Butcher's demands. There was always supposed to be a way to deceive him, but since he always asked for different things, there was no fixed method to do so. Then, an idea struck Neith.