The grand hall of the underground auction house was a world away from the filth of the outer districts.
Crystal chandeliers hung from a vaulted ceiling, casting a golden glow over the room's opulence. The air was thick with the scent of expensive cigars and aged liquor, mingling with hushed conversations and the occasional clink of glasses.
Myst adjusted the silver bracelet on her wrist—a disguised comm-link—before shifting her gaze to Echo beside her. Dressed in a sleek black suit with his hair slicked back, he looked every bit the high-class corporate investor he was pretending to be.
Unlike his usual expressive self, his face was unreadable, sharp eyes scanning the room with quiet calculation.
"Not bad," she murmured, linking her arm with his as they entered the grand doors. "You clean up well."
Echo smirked, his voice light but laced with focus. "Try not to fall for me, Blue. Wouldn't want to complicate things."
She rolled her eyes, but the banter kept them grounded. They were surrounded by the elite—the people who thrived while the rest of the world rotted. And they had a job to do.
Cipher's voice crackled softly in her earpiece. "You're in. The intel should be stored in the auction archives. Shade's pinpointing the server room now."
Myst's fingers twitched against Echo's arm as they passed by a display case showcasing a shimmering crystal dagger. It was one of many artifacts, but the real horrors of the auction were yet to come.
"Enjoying the sights?" Echo's voice was low, just for her.
She kept her expression neutral. "Just taking it all in."
The auctioneer's voice rang through the hall, signaling the next set of items. A holographic display lit up, showcasing something that made Myst's stomach turn.
Prisoners.
Displayed like objects, their records flashed beside them—criminal accusations, genetic enhancements, or, in some cases, simply 'useful assets' for private bidders.
Myst kept her breath even, her pulse hammering beneath her skin. She'd been one of them once.
A test subject. A number on a list. A thing to be owned.
She felt Echo tense slightly beside her. He saw it too.
A girl no older than sixteen was brought forward, her wrists bound in metal cuffs. The auctioneer droned on about her 'enhanced durability' and 'obedience to authority' as if she weren't standing there, head bowed in silent resignation.
Myst's nails dug into Echo's sleeve, but she didn't say a word.
Echo's voice was steady, but there was a fire in his eyes. "They're treating people like weapons."
"This is what power looks like," she muttered. "Stripped of humanity."
"Myst, Echo." Cipher's voice cut in. "I've got the archive location. South wing, restricted access. You'll need clearance."
Echo exhaled sharply, shaking off the tension. "Then let's make some connections."
They slipped into their roles seamlessly. Echo charmed his way through conversations, trading empty pleasantries with high-ranking officials while Myst played the quiet but observant partner.
Between sips of expensive wine, they listened—piecing together names, alliances, and just how deep the corruption ran.
Eventually, they made their way toward their target: an auction official who controlled entry to the restricted sector.
"Allow me."
Echo smoothly intercepted a waitress carrying a tray of drinks, snatching two glasses of golden liquor. He approached their mark, his usual playful air shifting into something more refined.
"Quite the event," he said, handing the man a drink. "I hear the most exclusive dealings happen behind closed doors."
The official chuckled, amused. "Only for those with the right investments."
Myst smiled, leaning in as if sharing a secret. "And how does one prove themselves worthy?"
The man glanced between them before smirking. "It's not about proving. It's about what you have to offer."
Echo tilted his head, as if considering. "And what if we're not just here to bid—but to buy into something bigger?"
A test.
The official's interest piqued. "Come with me."
They followed him down a side corridor, past guards who barely spared them a glance. Their clearance was granted, just like that.
The server room was cold, sterile, and heavily monitored.
While Echo kept watch, Myst accessed the database, fingers flying over the interface as Cipher guided her through the process.
"You're looking for transaction records, asset transfers, and high-level buyers."
She bypassed the encryption, pulling files as fast as she could. The more she saw, the worse it got.
Experiments. Procurement of enhanced individuals. Illegal testing facilities.
Her fingers hesitated over a file.
PROJECT BLUE ROSE
A breath caught in her throat.
A grainy image flickered on the screen—scattered reports, unreadable except for glimpses of her past. It was all there. The procedures. The tests. The people who had signed off on them.
Her hands clenched.
The ones who did this to her were still out there. Still profiting.
She slammed the drive into the terminal, copying the files. Echo glanced at her from across the room, sensing the shift in her energy.
"Almost done?"
"Yeah." Her voice was tight. The final file transferred. She yanked the drive free. "Let's go."
Back in the auction hall, the night was winding down, but Echo had one last move to make. He casually stepped onto the platform, taking the mic from a stunned auctioneer.
"Ladies and gentlemen," he drawled, voice smooth as silk, "I'd like to propose a toast."
Myst barely held back a smirk. Here we go.
"Tonight, we celebrate power. The kind built on the backs of the forgotten. The kind that lets you sit comfortably while others suffer."
Murmurs rippled through the room. Security shifted uneasily.
Echo's smirk was razor-sharp. "The world is changing. The ones you discard? They're watching. And soon…" His voice dropped, a dangerous edge creeping in.
"They won't stay silent."
Before the guards could react, the room plunged into darkness. Explosions rocked the outer corridors—small detonations planted beforehand to sow chaos.
Myst grabbed Echo's wrist. "Time to go, showman."
They vanished into the confusion. And they didn't stop running until they were far from the auction house. In a secluded alley, their adrenaline finally settled.
Myst leaned against the wall, exhaling. "You really couldn't resist, huh?"
Echo grinned, breathless. "Had to leave them something to remember us by."
She chuckled softly but said nothing. Her hands were still cold. Her mind still spinning. Echo noticed.
His grin faded slightly, replaced by quiet understanding. He stepped closer, warmth radiating off him. "You saw something back there, didn't you?"
Myst hesitated. Then, instead of answering, she simply pressed a hand against her forehead, trying to steady herself.
Echo didn't push. He just moved closer. And then, without a word, he wrapped an arm around her, pulling her into a firm, grounding hug.
Myst stiffened for half a second, then exhaled, sinking into it.