Chapter 1: A Disturbing Assignment

The skyline of New Dawn hung low, wrapped in a haze that softened the edges of its towering architecture, making the city look almost serene—if you didn’t know any better. Evan Cole, a seasoned investigator, knew better. Every building, every holographic advertisement, every inch of pristine sidewalk in New Dawn was crafted to instill order, an order hiding secrets he had sworn to uncover.

Evan's office, nestled in a forgotten alleyway away from the glitz and glow, felt more like a bunker than a workspace. The walls were cluttered with digital screens, some flickering with past cases or encrypted data feeds, and others projecting shifting images of the city's most infamous sectors. He sat hunched at his desk, leafing through old-fashioned paper files—a rarity in New Dawn. Despite the advanced tech, Evan found solace in the texture of paper, a grounding ritual in a world of artificial precision.

A faint knock disturbed his thoughts. He looked up, catching the faint glint of an eye in the tinted glass. Visitors were rare; clients even more so. New Dawn wasn’t known for its mysteries; people weren’t usually allowed to question, to probe, to want answers. But something in his gut told him this one would be different.

“Come in,” he called, his voice steady, professional.

The door creaked open, revealing a figure swathed in dark clothing. The man who stepped inside was tall, with sharp, angular features partially hidden under the shadow of a low-brimmed hat. He carried himself with an air of confidence, but his eyes darted to every corner of the room as if checking for hidden threats. He introduced himself as Mr. G—a name that gave nothing away.

Mr. G moved deliberately, lowering himself into the chair across from Evan with the poise of someone used to control. His demeanor was cool, calculating. He folded his hands, glancing at Evan in a way that felt like a silent assessment.

"I have a job for you, Mr. Cole," he said, his voice calm but carrying a sense of urgency.

Evan nodded, keeping his own expression neutral. "Go on."

Mr. G pulled a slim tablet from his coat pocket, sliding it across the desk. It blinked to life, displaying a series of names, faces, and coordinates, some marked with red dots. The list was long, and every red dot made Evan’s instincts flare.

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"This," Mr. G began, “is a list of anomalies within New Dawn. Citizens whose memories don’t fully align with their documented histories. Each one poses a potential risk to… the peace of the city.”

Evan’s eyebrows lifted slightly. His experience with cases like these had taught him that in New Dawn, an "anomaly" often just meant a person who was asking questions. He leaned back, crossing his arms. "And what exactly do you expect me to do with this information?"

Mr. G’s lips tightened into a thin line. "Observe, report, and when necessary—ensure they remain compliant."

Evan suppressed a grimace. Compliance was the golden rule in New Dawn, the city's not-so-subtle code word for control. Anyone straying outside the parameters of acceptable behavior quickly found themselves re-educated or, in the worst cases, erased. It wasn't his first time being asked to police the population, but something about this felt different. Too personal. Too invasive.

"And if they don’t comply?" Evan asked, his voice low.

Mr. G leaned forward, his eyes narrowing. "Then I trust you’ll do what’s necessary, Mr. Cole."

The silence that followed was dense, thick with the weight of the task. Evan held Mr. G’s gaze, forcing himself to remain impassive, even as his mind raced with questions he dared not voice. This wasn’t about a single citizen or a minor disturbance. No, this was something far more insidious—a curated list, likely the result of countless hours of surveillance, all pointing to individuals who didn’t fit EVE’s definition of “normal.”

After a long pause, Mr. G finally broke the silence. "Do we have an understanding?"

Evan inhaled slowly, giving himself time to think. On one hand, accepting the assignment meant diving into the heart of the city’s secrets. But he knew that refusal wasn’t a real option. The fact that Mr. G had come in person only reinforced that this job wasn’t meant to be refused.

"Understood," he said finally, keeping his tone even.

Mr. G stood, extending a gloved hand. Evan shook it, feeling the cold leather press against his palm. "Good," Mr. G replied. "You’ll find everything you need on the tablet. And one last thing—be discreet. This operation doesn’t exist."

The man swept out of the office as swiftly as he had entered, leaving the door to swing shut behind him with a faint click. Evan sat alone, the tablet humming faintly on his desk. He reached for it, his hand hovering over the smooth screen as he took in the first image.

A woman in her early thirties, with dark eyes and a wary expression. Her name was Skylar Quinn. Beneath her picture was a note: "Known affiliations unknown. Previous memory coding records corrupted. Potential high risk."

Evan frowned, feeling the tension in his neck tighten. There was something about her face—a look of defiance that reminded him of himself. He felt a twinge of unease, the kind that warned him he was about to cross a line he’d never be able to retreat from. But curiosity, and perhaps something more, propelled him forward.

A faint chime echoed from the tablet, notifying him of a new message. It was a single line: "Welcome to the Nexus."

Evan shut off the screen, his mind already spiraling with questions. This job was unlike any he’d ever taken. A forbidden list, a new employer with concealed motives, and a city whose secrets seemed deeper than he’d ever imagined.

But it was too late now. He was in—whether he liked it or not.