"I don't want to think about these things... but... sniff... why is my life fated to be like this? I... I hate this. It hurts... it hurts so much."
BOOM.
August suddenly wakes up, breathing heavy.
"What... was that?"
He hears knocking.
He jumps up, rushes to the window—
It's Melli.
He hesitates, then opens the door.
Can I trust her?
Melli: "Hi, August. Let's go to my house. It's not far. My parents just left, so let's hurry before they come back for some reason."
August doesn't say much. He walks beside her, through the beautiful neon-lit, yet dangerous dump of a city.
This is my first time in a long time seeing real rain… It's beautiful... but sad. The clean outskirts sector I come from barely sees rain. It has this weird dome with fake air, fake everything. This place is dirty... but more real.
Melli: "Yeah… I've never been to the Echo Sector. I was born and raised here in Twilight City—city of dreams. We're here. My home. Come in, make yourself comfortable."
August: "It's kinda big for a two-room apartment. Can I use your bathroom?"
Melli: "Sure."
He walks into the bathroom and turns the shower on. He steps in.
It feels like forever since I've showered...
Later, August walks into the living room, the smell of food pulling him in.
Melli: "Sit. Eat."
He eats in silence.
Melli: "Are you going back home after this?"
August: "No. I'll try to find somewhere else. Crash at someone's place if I can."
CREAKING.
August jumps—
It's just a cat.
Melli looks at him, worried.
He looks away.
August: "I'll leave after grabbing what I need. You're a big help... Thank you, Melli. I really mean it."
He grabs his bag.
Melli helps him get his stuff ready. He sits on the couch and nods off until morning. She wakes him.
As he's about to leave—
Melli: "Wait… I don't really know what's going on... but be careful, August."
She hugs him.
He hasn't felt that kind of warmth in a long time.
He walks through the city alone.
This place is a dump… but better than the Echo Sector. That place feels so fake. The only thing that ever felt real was my sister…
As he's deep in thought, he bumps into someone.
August: "I'm so—… It's you?"
The man from the alley: "You're coming with me. Now."
August backs up.
The man: "Someone's hacking into your optic system. You'll lose sight in 3... 2... 1."
August: "What—?! HELP! I CAN'T SEE! PLEASE, SIR, PLEASE—"
The man: "Shhh. It's fine."
He guides August into a van, locks him in the back, and drives off.
They arrive at a massive building. Empty. Silent. August is led into a secret room.
Suddenly—
August: "I... I can see again. What is this pla—?"
The man: "August. I'm Donovan. The girl beside me is Kira. I know you're scared, but we're here to help."
He speaks fast.
Donovan: "You caught our attention when you tapped into a secret network—deeper than government-level. A syndicate stronger than anyone. They control people through chips implanted in their heads since childhood. Most people have them. Some don't. You're one of them. So are we. The others are out on a mission. We'll introduce you later."
Donovan (continued): "When you typed about 'the matrix,' it flagged you. They threw you into a surveillance net. But then realized—no chip. So they panicked. Sent people to your house. Your parents acting strange? Yeah. That's why."
Donovan: "We don't have time. I gotta go. Kira, don't let him do anything stupid."
He rushes out.
August: "Wait—are you saying we're in a matrix or... I—what...?"
Kira: "Shut up, idiot. Crying won't help. Stop fucking whining."
August: "I'm sorry... sniff..."
He looks around.
August: "So... a group stronger than the government tried to kill me because I don't have a chip that lets them control me?"
Kira: "Yeah. You learn fast for an idiot. I'm gonna lay down. Don't touch anything. Don't leave. Or Donovan will kill me."
August: "I'll stay... for now. I don't have anywhere else to go..."
In his head:
This sucks. I'm being dragged around by people I don't even know. Can I trust them? I don't know. But they don't feel like the guys in suits. I just wish this was a nightmare... I'm so tired of all this.
A few hours pass.
August wakes up. Kira shakes him.
KIRA: "Get up. Donovan and the others are here."
August walks with her to the others.
DONOVAN: "There he is. The crybaby—haha, just messing with you. Don't cry, alright?"
DONOVAN: "August, the girl your age is Claire, the guy's her brother, Gale. I sent them to connect to the Driftline, past the archive wall, and scan surveillance. What'd you find?"
CLAIRE: "There's a girl he met—Melli, from his school. They're interrogating her. Surveillance caught August entering and leaving her house."
AUGUST: "Melli—are they gonna kill her? Because of me? Melli, I'm sorry..."
GALE: "Also… in 2088, they discovered your sister, Rebecca, didn't have a chip either. They kidnapped her. Did experiments on her body and brain to figure out why. There's a video... It's bad. They faked her death in a car crash. I'm really sorry, August."
August sits down, frozen in shock.
AUGUST: "What...? Why would someone do something so inhuman...? I'm sorry, Rebecca. I'll KILL every last bastard in that group!"
AUGUST: "Donovan—tell me how to find them."
DONOVAN: "We can't. It'd be suicide. I get it, but I can't let you—"
AUGUST: "I don't need your f**king permission!"
He runs for the door—Donovan grabs him.
DONOVAN: "I'm sorry, August. Don't make me do this."
AUGUST: "They... killed her. How could I not—after what they did to my sister?!"
KIRA: "Let the dumbass go and die. It's not our fault."
CLAIRE: "Don't say that!"
GALE: "Come on, August. Please listen."
DONOVAN: "Ow! You bit me—dammit, August!"
August runs—Kira trips him, climbs on top of him, and chokes him.
KIRA: "I'm sorry you're such an idiot."
August passes out.
KIRA: "What do we do with this idiot?"
DONOVAN: "Take him to your room. I need to think."
KIRA: "Why my room, you old bitch?"
DONOVAN: "Please, Kira. Just do it for me."
KIRA: "Fine."
She helps Claire and Gale carry August to her room.
KIRA (quietly): "I understand how you feel, August... but we're trying to help. Please... try to understand."
She closes the door behind her.