PH_Blackwood

In a city where justice is a myth and shadows whisper louder than truth, former cop Matthew Hale walks the tightrope between redemption and ruin. Haunted by his partner's death and driven by a buried conspiracy, Hale is dragged into a secret war waged in the alleys, boardrooms, and digital backdoors of New York City.

When a crime syndicate's façade begins to splinter, a rogue AI project resurfaces—threatening to erase not just lives but identities. With enemies closing in and allies who might be traitors, Hale must trust a haunted tech prodigy, a conflicted double agent, and a detective who still believes in justice.

As the game escalates, the line between man and machine begins to blur. What began as a personal mission becomes a final stand for truth, memory, and the soul of the city.

But in New York, the ghosts never stay buried for long… and some were never truly human to begin with.

Chasing Ghosts: Echoes of Control

The blast from Hale's pistol shattered the silence.

Moretti ducked behind the console, barking orders to the Cleaner. The room erupted into chaos—sirens wailing, lights strobing blood-red. The countdown began flashing across every surface.

NEURAL CORE WIPE: 09:47

Hale dove for cover as the Cleaner advanced, moving like a ghost with a gun. Bullets pinged off the server core's housing—one shot ricocheting past Hale's ear. He flinched, then fired a double-tap that hit nothing but glass.

Across the chamber, the clone grunted, pressing his wound.

The clone ignored him, dragging himself toward the emergency panel on the wall. "We don't just need to shut it down," he rasped. "We need to lock them out for good."

Moretti rose, her gun aimed squarely at Hale now. "You were a prototype. A broken version. But I fixed you. I gave you purpose!"

"You gave me a lie," Hale growled, eyes burning.

He broke cover, charging the platform where she stood. Moretti fired—one shot grazing his arm, another cracking the screen behind him.

She slammed the butt of her pistol into his jaw, but Hale tackled her back into the railing. The gun clattered across the floor.

"You can't stop it!" she spat. "This is bigger than you!"

He threw a punch that knocked her down.

Across the room, the clone reached the panel and smashed the emergency override. Sparks flew. Then a deeper hum filled the space as backup systems started melting down.

The Cleaner turned toward the clone now—calculating, silent.

"No!" Hale lunged, grabbing the fallen pistol and firing.

The shot hit the Cleaner's leg. He staggered.

Moretti, bleeding from her lip, stared at Hale through the haze. Her voice softened, bitter. "You're not a man, Hale. You're a product. And products don't get to choose."

He raised the gun again—but she was gone.

Hale rushed to the clone, who was slumping fast.

"We have to move," Hale said, trying to lift him. "We can get out. There's time."

"Not for me," the clone whispered. "But maybe... for you."

"No. I'm not leaving you here. We started this together."

The clone grabbed Hale's collar, pulled him close. "Then finish it."

The walls began to crackle—digital lightning tearing through the core as files disintegrated.

The clone smiled through the pain.

Chapter 25 – Kill the Puppetmaster