Rat In A Corner

The leader loomed over Alex, his shadow swallowing the dim light.

"The name's Kerrik Vosha," he declared with his deep, rumbling voice. "We are here to remind people like you that humanity's gotten soft. All these gadgets, virtual networks and technology—it's poison. Time to cut it out, at the root!"

Before Alex could respond, a boot slammed into his ribs, sending him sprawling to the ground.

Pain exploded inside him as he coughed, clutching his torso.

"You think you're the future?" Kerrik Vosha sneered, "Pathetic. There's no future in machines. Only blood and sweat—that's what humanity is about."

The lackeys circled like vultures, their weapons glinting under the emergency lights. Since their leader is handling the situation, they leaned against the seats, smirking, confident that Alex was already finished.

"You're wrong," Alex hissed, spitting blood onto the floor. His eyes burned with defiance.

Although he didn't know why he was getting beaten up, he knew he was facing someone who lost confidence in the future that mankind took.

A future that he believes in.

"The future isn't about going backward. It's about innovation. Humanity doesn't survive by rejecting progress. We survive by adapting — learning new things. You guys are trying to turn back the clock. That's called running away!"

Kerrik Vosha'd eyes narrowed. He struck Alex across the face with with the back of his hand.

"You're blind, like all of them. People don't go out to meet each other anymore. Everything happens on a fake virtual worlds. The new generation doesn't step out into the real world anymore."

"Don't you think that's the beauty of it? You can explore new worlds with your friends and go to different adventures!"

"Boy, you don't understand what going out on adventure means that's why your saying these things." Kerrik sneered, "That means going out to nature, to the great outdoors!"

"Oh," Alex chuckled bitterly. "That one, I fully understand. Going outdoors was not fun. It's extremely dangerous and it's not for the faint-hearted."

Kerrik paused for a second trying to understand the underlying meaning of his words. His gaze softened, then stood straight in front of Alex. "The Iron Crusade is humanity's salvation. We'll purge these filthy companies and bring the world to balance. We will show them how dangerous technology is when they fall in the wrong hands."

Alex laughed. "Aren't you admitting that you're just another bully with a lot of anger to the world? You don't care about the people. You just want to play god with your shotgun."

Kerrik froze, his expression darkening.

The room was deathly quiet as Alex realized what he had just said.

He murmured to himself, "Me and my blabbering mouth."

The insult hung in the air. For a second, the lackeys didn't know how to respond.

They didn't wait long as Kerrik lunged at Alex, grabbing him by the throat and hoisting him into the air.

Alex clawed at Kerrik's arm in a weak attempt to free himself as his breathing became harder. He used both hands as platforms to lift himself up to be able to breathe.

"You dare mock us when you don't know the suffering and sacrifices we've made." Kerrik hissed while keeping eye contact with Alex.

Alex gave him the dirty finger and uttered with difficulty, "Fuck your crusade."

His middle finger whirred and split open at the tip with a soft click. A razor-sharp blade the size of a finger fully extended out in less than a second.

Alex swung it toward Kerrik's neck in a desperate attempt.

Swish!

The blade missed its mark, slicing Kerrick's cheek instead.

Blood splattered across Alex's hand as Kerrick howled in pain, hurling curses left and right.

Alex hit the floor hard, gasping for breath.

The lackeys surged forward, shouting in anger, ready to pummel Alex into ground meat.

Alex could only back up in between the train seats and raised his arms in defense.

"Everyone, stop!" Kerrik roared, veins showing on his neck.

The lackeys stopped "nd slowly backed up, creating a clearing between the two. One of the lackeys tripped while backing away but no one paid him attention.

Kerrik took the sawed-off shotgun on his back and leveled the barrel at Alex's chest.

"This one's mine."

The deafening boom of a shotgun was never heard.

A soft thud resounded.

Alex braced for the impact but it wasn't him who fell.

Kerrick fell sideways as a small hole appeared on the side of his head.

The leader of the Iron Crusade collapsed to the floor.

Before the lackeys could react, a series of soft, precise gunshots echoed through the compartment.

Each lackey dropped where they stood, lifeless before they even realized what was happening.

Alex blinked in disbelief, gasping for air as his trembling hand reached for the edge of a seat to pull himself upright.

From the corner of the compartment, a shimmering distortion in the air shifted and solidified, revealing a cloaked figure.

The figure wore an advanced combat suit, matte black and sleek, with panels that shimmered faintly as they powered down. A visor covered their face, glowing faintly blue with data streams.

"Clear," the figure muttered, tapping the side of their helmet. Their voice was calm but sharp, like someone used to giving orders.

They tilted their head as if listening to a response, but the static crackling and the glitching augmented reality support interface in their visor gave away the truth.

No response.

"Base command, this is Field Agent Sigma. Hostiles neutralized, requesting extraction and situational report."

The static persisted, and the figure's hand clenched into a fist.

Alex's mind raced as he stared at the stranger, unsure whether to feel relieved or terrified. "Who—who are you?" he croaked, his voice still hoarse from the choking.

The figure turned to face him, their movements fluid and deliberate.

"Agent Sigma, AetherCorp Internal Security," they said, lowering their weapon but keeping it within easy reach. "I was assigned to tail you, Alex. Corporate wanted to know what's inside that suitcase—and whether you're involved in the chaos unraveling around us."

Alex frowned, wiping blood from his mouth. "Involved? I'm the one getting choked out and almost got shot at. Doesn't exactly scream 'mastermind,' does it? Are you even allowed to tell me this?"

Sigma tilted their head slightly, the glossy surface of their visor reflecting the dim light. A faint hum emitted from their augmented interface as an AR display flickered to life.

Alex felt a chill as Sigma's gaze intensified, processing a wealth of information he couldn't see.

"Your file isn't exactly confidential," Sigma began, their tone measured. "AetherCorp flagged you because you hacked into the Nexus hub—one of the most secure systems in the city. You're an impressive hacker, Alex, even if you're not subtle. Manipulating Nexus data while staying protected by legal loopholes? It's... creative." They paused, letting the words sink in. "But your reactions tonight tell me one thing—you're unlucky. Wrong place, wrong people, wrong time."

Alex let out a bitter laugh, gesturing at the ruined compartment and the bodies scattered around them. "Unlucky doesn't even begin to cover it. I've been fired, hunted, nearly strangled, and now you're implying I'm some kind of liability? What's next?"

Sigma's visor dimmed slightly, and they finally holstered their weapon. Their demeanor shifted—less adversarial, though still distant. "I've seen enough. You're innocent. For now."

"For now?" Alex scoffed, crossing his arms. "Not exactly comforting."

Sigma stepped closer, their boots crunching on broken glass. "You should come with me. There's a secure AetherCorp base nearby. We can regroup, identify the source of these network outages, and keep you alive until we know more. You'll get answers. And protection."

Alex leaned against the bent remains of a seat, one hand gripping the handle of his suitcase. His voice dripped with sarcasm. "Sounds perfect. Let me guess: I get locked in some interrogation room and grilled about every step I've taken for the past month? No thanks."

Sigma's posture stiffened, the faintest sign of irritation slipping through their controlled exterior. "You're making a mistake. The Iron Crusade isn't the only group hunting you, and if they found you once, they'll find you again. Next time, we might not be there to clean up your mess."

Alex's eyes flicked toward the smoldering wreckage around them. The charred walls, shattered windows, and the faint metallic tang of blood painted a grim picture. He shifted his gaze back to Sigma, meeting their hidden eyes through the visor.

"I appreciate the assist," he said, his voice softening slightly. "But I've got my own plans. Thanks, though." Turning on his heel, he began walking toward the rear exit.

Sigma didn't move, their voice cutting through the tension like a blade. "You're stubborn," they said simply, their tone colder now. "When you realize you need help, remember this moment. And learn to control that mouth of yours. It'll kill you someday."

Alex paused at the tilted doorway, glancing back with a faint smirk. "Yeah, thanks. Maybe I'll call—assuming I don't choke to death first."

Without waiting for a response, he leaped down from the train, landing with a muted thud on the uneven ground below.

Sigma stood amidst the carnage, their visor glowing faintly as they resumed scanning the area, identifying the neutralized targets and any remaining witnesses, taking stock of everyone that Human Resources need to contact to cover the event.

For a moment, the people inside the compartment watched Alex disappear into the distance, their expression hidden but their thoughts unmistakably sharp.

Envious at the courage the young man showed.

"Fool," Sigma muttered under their breath, their augmented systems already preparing the next report for AetherCorp.

---

Undercity.

Inside an old apartment.

The room was chaos incarnate. Posters of virtual worlds plastered the walls, their vibrant colors clashing with the dim red glow of the overhead light.

A once-pristine VR headset lay shattered in a corner, tangled wires like veins spilling out onto the carpet.

Junk food wrappers, empty soda cans, and shards of broken furniture littered the floor, crunching underfoot.

In the center of the destruction, a thin frame was trembling with an unnatural rage. The AR glasses perched on her face glinted ominously, the lenses glowing faintly.

Behind them, her eyes burned crimson—wild, unblinking, and utterly devoid of humanity.

She was no longer a teenage girl. She was something else.

Her movements were jerky, like a puppet pulled by invisible strings.

When footsteps were heard on the ceiling, she grabbed a nearby chair and hurled it across the room with a guttural snarl, the impact sending splinters flying.

Her hands were scraped and bloodied, but she didn't seem to notice. Every breath was a growl, her chest rising and falling like a predator ready to strike.

The muffled sound of knocking broke through the chaos.

"Erika?" a voice called from outside, hesitant but laced with concern.

She froze for a moment, her head twitching unnaturally to the side, as if processing the sound.

Then she moved, a sudden blur of motion, toward the door.

The sharp crack of her body slamming into the wood echoed through the small apartment.

"Erika! Are you okay in there?" the voice called again, louder this time.

Erika clawed at the door with bloodied fingers, leaving red streaks as she thrashed against it.

Her shoulder collided with the wood repeatedly, the dull thuds becoming frantic. The frame creaked under the assault, but the door held firm.

A shard of glass from a broken VR visor embedded itself deeper into her leg as she slammed against the door again, but she didn't flinch. Her body was a vessel of rage, blind to pain, driven by something far darker.

"Erika!" the voice outside grew sharper, panic rising. "Erika Vosha! I will call your older brother if you don't stop this!"

Her movements slowed for just a fraction of a second, the name hanging in the air like a lifeline.

The red glow in her eyes pulsed faintly, her head tilting as if trying to remember something.

Then the rage returned, more violent than ever, and she resumed battering the door with inhuman determination.