Cass played the video.
"What am I seeing?" Malcolm asked, looking at Mark drinking his energy drink flashed on the screen.
"Sorry. That's not it. Wait." Cass adjusted the video where the ghost appeared and paused. "This is the person that I am investigating."
He took out the watch and searched for the pictures of his client's daughter. Her smiling holographic image came into their view.
"And here she is."
"Okay." Malcolm acknowledged. He tilted his head to the side. "So, she's playing the underground games."
"Yeah. I hope it was that easy." Cass replied. "But it's not. She's dead. Her body is in a Research Facility outside the City."
Malcolm chuckled. "So, a dead person playing games that's what you're telling me?"
Cass didn't reply. He just kept on looking at him. His face devoid of any emotions.
"You're serious?" Malcolm said in disbelief.
"That's what I thought too. I even suspected the college student to be a prankster, but when I was investigating. That 'ghost' revealed itself."
Cass played the video. "Look."
Malcolm glanced between the monitor and watch. The ghostly version of the woman on the watch had eyes brimmed in red glaring at the monitor. Despite her sunken features didn't stop them to identify it as her.
"I need to cross check her voice with the her other videos confirm if it was really her." He said.
"That's why you showed me this?"
"Yes." Cass replied. "Will you ask David?"
He pertained to his assistant.
Malcolm gave a long sigh. "What would happen to you if I'm not here?"
"I won't solve any case." He admitted. "Or I'm working with you guys."
"No, thanks." Malcolm quickly said back. "I'll contact him right now."
The monitor changed to another person. A man with sharp intimidating features.
"Answer." Malcolm instructed. The man started to move.
"Boss, you have a meeting with -" The person stopped talking when he saw Cass inside the room. "With someone."
"Stay here, Cass." Malcolm told him. "I'm just going to the antique room."
Malcolm was still in the room. His eyes fixated on him. Waiting.
"Don't touch anything. I know." Cass said in resignation.
His friend walked towards a wooden door and left the room.
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Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
Cass was already bored with his mind. He had been watching the robotic arms to continuous write lines of codes for the past hour.
His throat began to run dry.
He got up from the and walked towards the kitchen.
Malcolm's collection of different glasses were lined up. He took one that looks newer than the rest and filled it up with water.
"Find him." A male voice said alerted him.
He immediately went down the floor and concealed himself behind the counter.
Intruders. He slowly peeked to see who they were. He can't seem to identify them. They were all dressed in black armor suits. There were no sound, nor warning from the security of the bar.
They might have used the backdoor. He thought while examining the unwanted guests. He don't know them but one things for sure; they are part of the Underground. Only few knew the hiding place of Malcolm.
His gaze went to the person in the middle. He wasn't sure if it was Malcolm or his enemies at the office right now.
There must be a mole on their organization to infiltrate Malcolm's room. He thought of his friend.
Malcolm might come out any minute now. He knew his friend was never great with these kind surprises. But to him, these situations were hardly a surprise. He decided to have them trail him instead.
His gaze went to his hands.
He only have a glass of water as a weapon. He's sure it was antique
He looked around him, searching for more weapons. The knives were beyond his reach. The intruders might already killed him before he reach one of those.
There was no choice, but to use the glass. He needed to time it right for him bolt out of the door.
And do the usual.
The clicking sounds stopped as he hear their steps getting closer.
His grasp on the glass tightened.
1...2...3...
He stood up behind the counter and aim to the person near him. He threw the glass hard and ran out of the door.
The people in armor was distracted momentarily by their comrades sudden collapsing on the floor and shoot at him.
"It's him! Get him!"
Think Cass! Think!
He ran across the corridor and looked at the main lobby.
No choice.
He dashed towards the moving robots at the center. He ripped off his clothes and threw it away on the pile. He approached one of the e-hookers on the line and grasped its head towards the lower part of his body.
He can feel the tip of the soft-hard lips approaching his nether part.
The steps and shouting of people pursuing him got nearer. His tried to control his breathing into a silent manner.
It should activate by now.
There were growls near him. The sound made his tiny hairs stood up. He glanced behind him to confirm his guess to what it was.
Robotic dogs. He was right. One bite on his neck or shoulders will be the end of him.
"Find him." The person with pieces of glass on his head commanded.
His eyes came down at the e-hooker. The robot's mouth was halfway with his junk when the feeling of vibration was suddenly gone. The e-hookers' eyes suddenly lost it light and became lifeless.
It wasn't moving anymore.
He slowly tried to slowly get the head from his lower part, but the e-hookers mouth was attached firmly to his junk. It was stuck; he didn't dare move from his position any further.
He looked at his left through the corner of his eyes. Around him the e-hookers around him stopped moving one by one.
Diffuser. The immediate answer that came to his mind. Everything goes dark within its range.
Damn.
With the device, the inside security of the Bar will stop. He was now in deep utter shit. No wonder the security was not working until now. No one can help him now.
The steps came farther away from him. It's do or die. He slowly took a breath; trying to gain his momentum.
1....2....3...
He clutched the robotic head and snapped it from its body. His hands hold on to the severed head and bolted towards the exit.
"It's him! Get him!"
"Go! Go! Go!"
He looked where his pursuers are as he ran past the exit.
"AAAAAAhhhh!."
The people kept shouting and covering their eyes as he ran past them.
"Someone call the police!"
"Ew! A flasher!"
A sharp object latched on his back.
"No!" He yelled. Grabbing the thing behind his back.
He felt a sharp pain on his groins. He grasped the robotic head again. Easing the pain on his nether parts.
He repeated kicked the thing behind him. It was no use. The dog started to alter its body. Effectively binding his arms. It latched on his body; attaching itself on his flesh.
He cried out in pain.
Another robotic hold bared its fangs in front of him. It bit his chest and started to transfer also.
"No! No! Help!"
Darkness surrounded him.
"Coffin Complete." A effeminate voice declared. "Sleeping air activated."
"We already catch the hacker. Will now transfer him in the agreed place." was the last thing he heard as his vision turned cloudy and turned to darkness.