Cyberpunk 2074: Shadows of the Past.

Chapter 55 Even

The heavy night weighed heavily on her.

Consciousness sank in endless darkness for a long time.

It wasn't until the chip was turned off that consciousness regained control of this aching body.

Paralyzed on the bed like a dead dog, there was no movement for a long time.

Just before the death bell rang, she opened her eyes, got out of bed, and limped barefoot to the bathroom to take a shower.

After a brief rinse with cold water, she picked up her scattered clothes one by one on the floor of the bedroom.

Enduring the pain that traveled all over his body, he put it on slowly.

She took a last glance at the room to make sure she hadn't left anything behind, and left the room.

get off work.

She said to herself in her heart.

January 2074, 1, at three o'clock in the morning.

A black silent behemoth parked at the door of the building.

She walked out of the gate, looked at the vehicle, and exhaled a cool white mist into the night sky, with the corners of her mouth raised.

"Hey, Judy!"

She opened the car door and sat in it, as if she had come home.

"Xiao Ai! Why did you get hurt all over your body?" Judy, who was sitting in the driver's seat, asked quickly, and the whole person came over, reached out and gently touched the shocking bruises.

"Damn Yunding, he doesn't treat people more and more!" Judy patted the steering wheel hard, panting heavily.

"It's okay, Judy, there is only a slight pain left now. My body, after installing that chip, no longer belongs to me..." Evelyn rested her head on the armchair and looked at the In the night outside the car window, she whispered softly, "This is how we do it, don't worry, Judy, it's okay. At least, I don't have to consciously bear those disgusting pains."

She was covered in scars, but she smiled and comforted her closest friend.

"Xiao Ai... why don't you quit your job?"

"Not going to work? Are you supporting me?"

Judy stared at Evelyn for a long time, and slowly made a promise.

"I raise you."

"Judy..." Evelyn caressed her face with her clean hands, "This is Night City, Judy, not a world of fairy tales or comedies."

"In this city, no matter how hard you try, it's futile."

"So you just gave up?" Judy couldn't help but increase the volume, and the corners of her mouth were filled with anger.

She was angry at Evelyn's decision to give up voluntarily, and at her own inability to do anything. She could only watch her closest people sink into the mud and die in silence little by little.

"I just... chose to accept it. Accept this damn thing..." Evelyn tilted her head, facing the window, her tone was flat.

"Then... at the right time, I will hold the torch high with my own hands, ignite the sinful firewood, and burn this city to ashes." Her lips and teeth moved slightly, burying her determination deep in the night and wind.

Evelyn turned her head, looked at Judy's tense side face, and sighed softly.

Hopefully by the time Judy actually knows what her options are, she won't be too surprised.

Don't...get mad at her again.

"You can stay with me tonight, I still have some medicine upstairs..."

The car parked slowly on the side of the road, and Judy asked her opinion softly.

Recalling her messy house in her mind, Evelyn could only agree with it with a wry smile.

So the car continued to drive, heading towards the parking lot.

Evelyn got out of the car and followed Judy silently, step by step on the rusty ladder outside the apartment.

The last time I came to Judy's house was several months ago.

Evelyn shook her head, unable to recall the details that were engraved in her heart.

She sighed, the side effects of the chip finally appeared.

It can protect its own consciousness from sinking in the endless humiliation, but it is also gradually wearing down its own memory.

How many other girls like her are working hard for this chip, standing on the side of the street one by one, doing business, just to stop being tortured by those ugly faces.

It's just drinking poison to quench thirst.

"What's the matter, Xiao Ai?" Judy stood at the door of her house and looked back at Evelyn, wondering why she just leaned on the guardrail and was in a daze quietly.

"It's okay..." Evelyn shook her head, turned her back to Judy, and stretched her waist.

She straightened her hands, as if she wanted to embrace this neon-flashing city that never sleeps.

"Xiao Ai?" Judy walked to her side and asked again worriedly.

"I'm just a little tired." Facing the biting cold wind, Evelyn said softly.

"Come on in, it's cold outside." Judy took the initiative to hold Evelyn's hand, and led her towards the house.

"I'll take a hot bath first."

"Okay." Judy nodded, and after closing the door, she walked to the living room, "Would you like some supper?"

She turned her head and asked Evelyn who was walking to the bathroom.

"Let's eat, I'm just a little hungry." Evelyn replied while taking off her clothes.

"Throw your clothes in the laundry basket! Wait for me to do the laundry!"

"Got it~" Evelyn turned on the faucet and watched the steaming steam gushing out, and the long syllables spun lazily around in the bathroom before entering Judy's ears outside.

Judy shook her head and laughed, put the soup in the pot to heat it up, went to the bedroom, took the clothes for Evelyn from the closet, then walked into the foggy bathroom, put the new clothes away, took away the dirty clothes, and threw them into the washing machine inside.

Evelyn lay in the bathtub and quietly closed her eyes.

It's such a homey feeling.

She murmured in her heart, but hummed a nostalgic song on her lips.

"Do you want to wipe your back? Xiao Ai?" After finishing the work at hand, Judy stood quietly at the door of the bathroom, and opened a small slit to allow the air to circulate.

"Okay." Evelyn closed her eyes and responded in a low voice.

"The client this time..." Judy carefully inspected Evelyn's scars, and said through gritted teeth, "The attack was a little too harsh."

"This kind of thing is not bad..." Evelyn shook her legs, and the drops of water rolled down smoothly, "I know a girl who woke up and found herself in the excrement, not to mention how disgusting it is."

"Oh..." Judy frowned, and didn't continue this topic, otherwise the supper later would be wasted.

"Will this chip have any side effects?"

"Being treated like a puppet, unconsciously playing with it..." Evelyn shook her head, but still chose to conceal the truth, "Maybe there is."

"I said it before...I'm serious...Evelyn." Judy took off the scrub gloves in her hand and gently hugged her from behind.

"Judy...it's okay, it's really okay." Evelyn held the wrapped hands tightly, and sighed softly, "Compared to the girls in the same industry...I'm lucky enough."

"Think about it." Judy frowned, emphasizing her tone.

"I'm not clean, Judy."

"The only one who dislikes dirt is yourself...I will never dislike you." Judy also got into the bathtub, and put Evelyn in her arms little by little, warming her desolate heart with her heart-to-heart.

"forever?"

"forever."

(End of this chapter)