Angel City - Playxstudios – Parking Lot

  Isaac pulled his car into his usual spot, the tires crunching softly against the asphalt. Before he could even kill the engine, his phone buzzed on the dashboard. It was Joe.

  “Joe… morning. Has the man arrived yet? I’m already in the parking lot.”

  “Morning, bro,” Joe’s voice crackled through the speakers. “Not yet… but get your ass up here quickly.”

  “On my way.”

  Isaac hung up and stepped out of the car. He grabbed his bag and glasses, letting out a heavy sigh as he adjusted his tie in the side mirror. The morning sun already felt too bright, pressing against his eyes. He turned toward the building entrance, but something caught his eye.

  He stopped.

  Across the street, standing perfectly still on the sidewalk, was a strange figure.

  It was too far away to make out details, but the proportions felt… wrong. Limbs slightly too long. A posture that defied gravity. And it was looking directly at him.

  Isaac squinted, trying to make sense of the shape.

  The figure’s face seemed to split open. It was smiling. A wide, unnatural grin that stretched far beyond human limits.

  Honk!

  A car sped past, blocking his view for a split second as it parked.

  When the car moved, the figure was gone.

  Isaac stood there, frozen, his heart pounding in his throat. Terror, cold and sharp, washed over him.

  What the hell was that?

  The door of the car that had just parked opened. A woman stepped out, noticing Isaac staring blankly at the empty street. She smiled and walked over to him, her heels clicking rhythmically.

  “Isaac? Good morning… Is everything okay?”

  Isaac snapped out of his trance. He looked at the woman — Jenny.

  “I… Jenny. No… no, it’s nothing,” he stammered, forcing a smile. “I guess I’m just tense.”

  “I imagine you are. I heard today is your big day,” she said, flashing a dazzling smile.

  They walked together toward the elevator bank.

  “Tell me about it…” Isaac sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. “I’ve waited a long time for this.”

  “Congratulations, really,” Jenny giggled softly, glancing at him. “I’m really happy for you.”

  “Thanks, Jenny. How about you? How’s work?”

  “Oh, everything is fine… except for one little problem I have to deal with today.”

  “What problem?”

  “My personal computer… Ugh, it seems to have a virus or something. It’s completely locked up. I’ve been trying to fix it since yesterday, but it’s difficult,” she pouted slightly. “Emily is already on my case about work, but I really need to get that fixed today. You know…”

  Jenny leaned in closer to Isaac as they waited for the elevator doors to open. She stepped into his personal space, her voice dropping to a husky whisper.

  “I heard you know a lot about computers and tech… maybe… you could help me out?”

  Isaac felt the soft pressure of her chest brushing against his arm. Jenny looked up at him through her lashes and smiled playfully.

  “Maybe I can… Perhaps.”

  “That’s great,” she purred. “When I’m alone in my office later… I’ll give you a call. You can come by and… help me.”

  The elevator arrived at her floor with a soft chime.

  “Well… I’m off. When I call you, don’t keep me waiting, big guy,” she said, winking. “I’ll be waiting for you. And good luck in your meeting… I’m rooting for you, Isaac.”

  She walked out, hips swaying. The doors slid shut, leaving Isaac alone in the metal box.

  He leaned his head against the cool wall and smiled, the terror of the street momentarily forgotten.

  “Whoa…” he chuckled to himself. “Maybe I should talk to—”

  CRACK.

  A sharp, agonizing pain exploded in his skull.

  Isaac collapsed to the elevator floor. His vision blurred, the metal walls dissolving into a chaotic static.

  Suddenly, he wasn’t in the elevator.

  He was standing on a floor slick with fresh blood. The smell of iron and sulfur filled his lungs. He opened his mouth to scream, but the pain was overwhelming, a white-hot fire consuming his brain.

  Then, just as quickly as it had begun, the illusion shattered.

  Ding.

  The elevator doors opened on his floor.

  The pain vanished instantly.

  Isaac scrambled to his feet, panting heavily, looking around wildly. The blood was gone. The smell was gone. It was just the sterile office hallway.

  “What is happening to me?” he whispered, trembling.

  He walked slowly to his desk, his legs feeling like jelly, and collapsed into his chair. He stared blankly at his monitor, trying to process the madness.

  “Yo, bro! Glad you made it.”

  Joe walked into the room, holding a tablet. He stopped when he saw Isaac.

  “So… are you ready for—”

  Joe frowned, stepping closer.

  “Isaac? Are you okay, man? You look worried. You’re pale.”

  “No… it’s nothing, Joe,” Isaac lied, rubbing his temples. “I’m just tired.”

  “Are you sure? I can call Kate to sub in for you at the meeting. You’ve been working like a slave lately, man.”

  “No… don’t worry about it, brother. I’m fine. I just need to stop eating donuts before bed,” Isaac forced a weak chuckle.

  “Fair enough,” Joe grinned, though his eyes still held concern. “Alright then. Let’s go. Dexter has arrived… and he’s already with Emily waiting for us.”

  “Okay. Let’s do this.”

  Isaac stood up, straightened his jacket, and followed Joe toward the Conference Room.

  Conference Room

  “…In short, Mr. Hargrove, ‘Project Ether’ isn’t just an evolution of Virtual Reality. It is the end of it.”

  Isaac leaned his hands on the glass table, feeling a strange surge of confidence despite the throbbing in his skull.

  “Forget haptic suits or heavy headsets. Our technology uses direct neural induction. We don’t trick the player’s eyes; we hack their senses. When the user touches a wall in the game, their brain feels the cold texture of the stone. When they run, they feel the actual lack of breath. We are eliminating the barrier between the pixel and the thought.”

  He paused for dramatic effect, locking eyes with the man at the head of the table.

  “We aren’t selling a video game anymore, sir. We are selling a second life. A world where the limit isn’t the hardware, but the user’s own imagination.”

  Dexter leaned back in his leather chair, a slow, unreadable smile spreading across his face.

  “I told you it would be interesting,” Emily said, her voice tight with anticipation.

  “Yeah… I can see that,” Dexter murmured.

  Isaac and Dexter stared at each other for a long moment. The silence stretched thin. Isaac slowly sat down, a feeling of unease creeping up his spine.

  “Isaac, isn’t it?” Dexter asked casually.

  “Yes, sir.”

  “I’ve heard of you before…” Dexter’s eyes glinted with a predatory light. “You are Captain Anderson, from the Intelligence Forces. The one who deserted, right?”

  The air left the room. Everyone froze, turning to look at Isaac.

  Isaac felt his blood run cold. His muscles tensed, an old soldier’s reflex kicking in.

  “How do you know that?”

  Dexter chuckled, a low, rasping sound. “You know, son… there is nothing, and nobody, that I don’t know about. Do you know how?”

  Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation.

  Isaac held his gaze seriously. “No.”

  “I’ll tell you. It’s because everyone has a price, son. And money… money is the true power. Do you want me to prove it?”

  Dexter turned his gaze to Emily. She looked back at him, confused, fear flickering in her eyes.

  SMACK!

  The sound of flesh hitting flesh echoed like a gunshot in the silent room.

  Dexter slapped Emily across the face with the back of his hand.

  “Dexter?!” she gasped, clutching her stinging cheek, unable to believe what was happening.

  SMACK!

  He hit her again, harder this time.

  Isaac shot up from his chair, his fists clenched, ready to intervene. “Hey! Stop th—”

  Dexter didn’t even flinch. He just held up a finger, pointing at Isaac. His eyes were dead cold.

  “Sit down. And shut up.”

  Isaac froze. The command was absolute. But it wasn’t just fear; he saw Emily’s eyes pleading with him not to make it worse.

  “Watch,” Dexter commanded.

  He grabbed Emily by the throat, squeezing just enough to show dominance. Isaac watched in horror, his knuckles turning white as he gripped the edge of the table.

  “You like that slap, don’t you, you little slut?” Dexter hissed.

  “What… what are you doing, Dexter?” she choked out, tears forming in her eyes.

  “SHUT THE FUCK UP!” Dexter roared; his composure snapping for a split second before returning to an icy calm. “I’m the only one who speaks here. You need me to approve this investment, don’t you? Honestly… I have zero interest in games. What a load of rubbish. I just like control.”

  Dexter leaned in and kissed Emily forcefully, biting her lip. She whimpered in pain but didn’t push him away. He released her abruptly, and she collapsed back into her chair, coughing and trembling.

  Dexter looked at Isaac, smoothing his suit jacket as if nothing had happened.

  “See, Mr. Anderson? She can’t do anything. She needs me, don’t you, darling?”

  Emily coughed, wiping a trail of blood from her lip, and looked at Isaac. Her eyes were dead.

  Dexter burst into laughter.

  “Alright! I liked you guys. And I liked this meeting. Let’s sign this paperwork immediately. Miss Emily?”

  “Yes… yes, sir,” she whispered.

  Ten minutes later, the papers were signed. As everyone filed out of the Conference Room, Dexter walked up to Isaac and extended his hand.

  “Isaac… like I said, great meeting, my boy. I’m enthusiastic about what comes next. And honestly, I see a great future for you, Captain.”

  Isaac looked at the hand, then at Dexter’s face. He swallowed his bile and shook it.

  “Thank you, Mr. Hargrove. I’m glad you liked it.”

  “Oh, please. No formalities. Call me Dex,” he smiled, the charm back in full force. “Listen, I have an engagement next Thursday. I’m taking my daughter and my new girlfriend to that new restaurant that just opened. What’s the name? L’Amor. Would you like to join us? No work talk. Just cultivating good friendships.”

  Isaac hesitated. Every instinct screamed danger.

  “Um… Sure, Mr. Har—Dex. I’d love to go.”

  “Wonderful! Lisa, my secretary, will pass you my contact info. See you next Thursday, son.”

  Dexter walked out, radiating power. Emily lingered for a moment. She was wiping her mouth with a tissue, her makeup smeared.

  She walked up to Isaac. He looked at her in shock, searching for words of comfort.

  “Don’t spread this,” she hissed quietly, her voice trembling but stern. “And don’t speak a word about the details of what happened here. Do you understand?”

  “Yes, ma’am.”

  Emily looked at him, let out a shaky sigh, and briefly touched his cheek with a cold hand. Then she turned and walked away fast.

  Before Isaac could process it, a blonde woman in a sharp business suit stepped in front of him.

  “Mr. Anderson,” she purred. “I’m Lisa Williams, Mr. Hargrove personal secretary. He asked me to give you his contact details. Here you go.”

  She handed him a sleek business card, then slid another one on top of it.

  “And here is mine… just in case you have any questions that you want to… know from me.”

  They looked at each other. Her eyes were inviting, completely ignoring the violence that had just occurred.

  “Thank you, Ms. Williams.”

  “Call me Lisa. See you later.”

  She gave him a knowing smile and clicked away down the hall.

  Isaac stood there, exhaling a breath he didn’t know he was holding. Joe appeared behind him, watching Lisa sway as she walked away.

  “Ah…” Joe shook his head. “Poor Kate.”

  Isaac frowned, turning to his friend.

  “Kate? What does Kate have to do with any of this?”

  Joe laughed, slapping Isaac on the back. “Who knows? Maybe you’ll figure it out one day.”

  “Seriously, man?” Isaac sighed, adjusting his tie. “Anyway… let’s get lunch? I’m starving.”

  “Let’s go! I was heading downtown anyway.”

  Memory Log: Classified Sector 4 – Unknown Location Date: [????]

  The landscape was utter devastation.

  A burnt doll lay face down in the dirt. The camera panned low, skimming over debris, revealing the bodies of fallen soldiers amidst pools of dark blood. The lens moved steadily until it found him.

  Isaac.

  His face was caked in soot and sweat, a dried line of blood tracing a path from his temple to his jaw. His gaze was cold, analytical, scanning the horizon. There was no panic in his eyes — only the terrifying focus of survival mode.

  He pulled a small field notebook from his vest and began to write. Confirmed Casualties: 4. Status: Critical. Ammo: Low.

  In the background, Lambert was kneeling, frantically adjusting the dials on a long-range radio, checking frequencies with professional urgency.

  “Did you get it?” Isaac asked without looking back.

  “Encryption went down with the explosion,” Lambert grunted. “I’m trying a global emergency frequency… [static hiss]… Wait… I think I got something.”

  The radio crackled to life, a deep, distorted voice cutting through the noise.

  “…mand to Leader Bravo. Respond, Bravo. Over.”

  Isaac grabbed the handset firmly. “Leader Bravo here. Captain Anderson listening.”

  “Anderson… what a surprise. Your vitals disappeared for two minutes, Captain. Report.” It was General Thor.

  “Ambush via IED… Support vehicle obliterated… Lost Lieutenant Miller and Corporal Diaz… Only Sergeant Johnson and I remain… Requesting immediate extraction at Landing Zone Delta…”

  Silence stretched over the radio waves. Isaac and Lambert exchanged a weary look. They knew the answer before it came.

  “Negative, Captain… Airspace is closed due to enemy anti-air batteries… There will be no extraction.”

  “They’re going to leave us here?” Lambert whispered, incredulous.

  “But you have a window of opportunity, Captain,” the General continued. “Intel has tracked the origin of the attack. Grid 34-Victor. Five clicks North of your current position.”

  “Five clicks in hostile terrain? General, we are compromised.”

  “The mission has changed, son. The objective is ‘Search and Destroy’. Eliminate the complex before they move the weapons. Complete the mission, and I’ll send the bird to get you… Thor out.”

  The radio went dead. Isaac stared at the device.

  “Five clicks… in this sun… without water,” Lambert shook his head. “It’s suicide, Isaac.”

  Isaac pocketed the radio. “Unfortunately, it’s our only ticket home. Let’s move.”

  They moved tactically through the rocky canyons. Not running, but marching with a steady, lethal rhythm. Weapons up, covering opposite sectors.

  Isaac raised a closed fist. Lambert stopped instantly, dropping to a knee. Isaac signaled ‘eyes on’ and pointed to a ridge. They crawled forward as the sun began to dip, their lips cracked and bleeding from dehydration. Lying prone, camouflaged among the rocks, they looked down into the valley.

  Isaac raised his digital tactical binoculars.

  “Command, this is Leader Bravo. Visual on Grid 34-Victor.”

  “Excellent, Captain. Confirm presence of heavy weaponry and mark for airstrike.”

  Isaac adjusted the focus.

  He saw what looked like a military base. But there were no anti-air guns. There were Red Cross tents. Women were cooking over open fires. Children were kicking a ball made of rags.

  Isaac felt a chill run down his spine that had nothing to do with the desert night.

  “Shit…”

  “Isaac…” Lambert breathed. “They’re refugees. That’s a humanitarian aid camp.”

  “General Thor,” Isaac’s voice turned ice cold. “Intel is incorrect… Repeat: Target invalid… Visual ID confirms civilians and medical personnel… No hostiles.”

  “Your judgment is compromised by fatigue, Captain. My satellites indicate insurgents using human shields. The target is legitimate.”

  “Legitimate? Sir, I am watching children play in the courtyard. I will not mark this target for bombardment.”

  “Watch your tone, Anderson. The mission is to destroy infrastructure… Mark the target with the laser… Now.”

  Isaac took his finger off the trigger. “Negative. I will not authorize direct attacks on non-combatants. I won’t dirty my hands with innocent blood.”

  “You are a soldier, not a judge!” The General screamed. “Follow the damn order or you will be court-martialed for treason and cowardice before the enemy! Mark the target or I order a blind strike on the whole grid!”

  Isaac and Lambert looked at each other.

  “Isaac…” Lambert whispered. “He’s going to fire anyway. If we don’t do anything…”

  “Nobody dies today by my hand.”

  Isaac grabbed the laser designator.

  “I’m losing patience, Captain! Do it!”

  Isaac pointed the laser not at the village, but at an abandoned, isolated radio tower, 200 meters away from the tents.

  “Target marked… Coordinates sent.”

  “Received. Hellfire missile inbound… Impact in 10 seconds.”

  Isaac switched off the radio, dropped the designator, and turned to Lambert.

  “But the extraction…” Lambert started.

  “They were never coming, Lambert,” Isaac said, his eyes burning with fury. “We were just the cleanup crew.”

  Lambert ripped the battery from the radio. High above, the terrifying shriek of the missile tore through the sky. Isaac watched the valley. The missile screamed over their heads… and followed the laser.

  BOOM.

  The explosion vaporized the empty tower. In the village, people ran, terrified, screaming — but alive.

  “It’s over…” Isaac whispered.

  But Lambert’s radio, even without the main battery, chirped with residual energy.

  “…Traitors… Cleanup Unit… Activate Protocol Spider…”

  Isaac frowned. “Shit!”

  Suddenly, a second missile — one they hadn’t expected — slammed into their position on the ridge.

  The world turned white.

  Angel City - Nearby Park

  “Isaac… Isaac?”

  Isaac blinked. The white light of the explosion faded into the gentle sunlight filtering through the trees. He was sitting on a park bench, holding a cold soda, staring blankly at Lake Gael.

  “Are you really okay, man? You seem distant.”

  Isaac hesitated, the echo of the explosion still ringing in his ears.

  “I have something to tell you, bro. A big surprise, actually.”

  “Really? Hope it’s good news!”

  “I don’t think it’s that good,” Isaac sighed. “Amanda is back.”

  Joe stopped drinking his soda mid-sip and looked at Isaac, stunned.

  “Back? Like, back in your life?”

  “Back as in she moved into my building. Like nothing ever happened.”

  “Whoa…” Joe whistled. “That’s sudden. Is that why you’re acting so weird?”

  “I think so.”

  “Man…” Joe placed a hand on his shoulder. “Don’t let this get you down. I know these have been tough days for you… all this shit. But know that I’m here if you need me, bro. If you want to crash at my place for a while… count on me. Now, more than ever, you need to focus on your success, Isaac.”

  “Mmhmm. Thanks, man. I really appreciate it.”

  Joe stood up and offered a hand to pull Isaac up. They both laughed, the tension breaking.

  “No need to thank me,” Joe grinned. “We’re partners, bro. One helps the other.”

  “That’s it!” Isaac chuckled.

  They walked back toward the office buildings, the mood lighter. Until…

  “Jonathan?”

  Joe and Isaac turned around. Standing behind them was a breathtakingly beautiful woman, holding several bags from high-end fashion stores.

  “Sweetie? I didn’t see you there… what are you doing here?”

  Isaac watched, eyes wide, as Joe ran to hug the beautiful woman. They kissed deeply, ignoring the public setting.

  “Isaac, come here,” Joe waved him over. “Sweetie, this is Isaac Anderson… the brother from another mother I told you about… and your biggest fan.” He laughed.

  “Fan?”

  “Oh yeah… remember the woman I told you about that day? Whose car broke down and I helped her? Isaac, this is Alexandra Martinez… from the series…”

  Isaac’s jaw dropped.

  “Wait… you’re the actress who plays Jack in Night Killers?”

  “In the flesh, Isaac,” she laughed, a melodic sound. “Pleasure to meet you. Jonathan talks a lot about you… and how much of a fan you are of my show.”

  Isaac looked at Joe, impressed. “Unhun… Yes! Pleasure to meet you too, Alexandra.”

  Alexandra smiled at Isaac, observing him a little too closely.

  “Jonathan, darling… could you put these bags in my car? It’s right over there. While I give an autograph to your little friend…”

  “Of course, my beautiful sweetie.”

  Isaac watched the two exchange quick pecks on the lips before Joe jogged off with the bags.

  “Look, you don’t need to sign anything, really… I appreciate it, Alexandra!”

  “Please… call me Alex.”

  She pulled a notepad and a pen from her purse and began to scribble.

  “Let me ask you a question, Isaac… are you a model? I feel like I’ve seen you somewhere before.”

  “No… definitely not.”

  “Hmm, I see…” she smiled, tearing the page off. “It’s your lucky day, honey. Here…”

  She handed him the paper. It had her autograph… and a phone number written below it.

  “My autograph… and my personal number. You know… in case you miss me.”

  Isaac stared at the paper in surprise as Joe returned, wrapping an arm around Alex’s waist.

  “Thanks for taking the bags, sweetie.”

  “Isaac… you can go ahead. I’m going to walk her to the car… and you know…” Joe winked. “I’ll be at work in a bit, bro!”

  “Alright, man. Don’t take too long.”

  Isaac waved goodbye. Alex watched him go, her expression shifting from flirtatious to something calculating.

  “See you later, Isaac… was nice meeting you. Hope we meet again,” she said, winking.

  For a split second, as her eyelid closed, Isaac saw her face distort. The skin seemed to melt, revealing raw muscle beneath, before snapping back to perfection instantly.

  Isaac blinked, rubbing his eyes. She was just smiling beautifully.

  “See you!”

  He turned and walked away, the image of her melting face burned into his retinas.