Chapter 55

The heavy darkness pressed down on her until she could barely breathe.

Her consciousness sank for a long time into endless blackness.

Only when the Crystal Yuan shut down did her awareness regain control of her aching body.

She lay on the bed like a dead dog, motionless for a long while.

Just before the alarm rang, she opened her eyes, got out of bed, barefoot, limping toward the Bathroom to shower.

After a quick rinse with cold water, she picked up her scattered clothes one by one from the floor of the bedroom.

She slowly dressed, enduring the pain that crawled across her entire body.

She cast one final glance around the room, confirmed she had left nothing behind, and left the room.

Off duty.

She said it to herself inside her mind.

January 19, 2074, 3:00 a. m.

A black, silent beast stood parked at the building's entrance.

She stepped out the door, looked at the vehicle, exhaled a thin white mist into the night sky, and smiled.

"Hey, Judy!"

She opened the car door, got in, as if returning home.

"Xiao Ai! How did you get all these injuries?" Judy asked urgently, leaning over and gently touching the shocking bruises.

"Damn Cloudtop—they're treating people like trash now!" Judy slammed the steering wheel, breathing heavily.

"It's fine, Judy. Now it's just minor pain. My body hasn't belonged to me since I got that Crystal Yuan…" Evelyn leaned back against the seat, gazing at the night outside the window, whispering softly, "This is what our line of work is like. Don't worry, Judy. At least I don't have to be conscious to endure those disgusting wounds."

Covered in wounds, she smiled, comforting her closest friend.

"Xiao Ai… maybe you should quit this job?"

"No job? You're going to support me?"

Judy stared at Evelyn for a long time, then slowly made a promise.

"I'll support you."

"Judy…" Evelyn gently brushed her face with her clean hands, "This is Night City, Judy. Not some fairy tale or comedy world."

"In this city, no matter how hard you struggle, it's all pointless."

"So you just gave up?" Judy couldn't help raising her voice, anger blazing at the corners of her mouth.

She was angry at Evelyn for choosing to surrender, angry at her own helplessness—helpless to watch her closest person sink slowly into the mire, dying in silence.

"I just… chose to accept. Accept this damn reality…" Evelyn turned her head toward the window, her tone flat.

"And then… at the right moment, I will raise the torch myself, set fire to the pyre of sin, and burn this city to ashes." Her lips moved slightly, burying her resolve deep in the night and wind.

Evelyn turned her head, watching Judy's tense profile, and sighed softly.

She hoped that when Judy finally understood her choice, she wouldn't be too shocked.

Don't… be angry with her anymore.

"Stay here tonight—I still have some medicine upstairs…"

The car pulled over slowly, and Judy quietly asked for her opinion.

Recalling the mess of her own apartment in her mind, Evelyn could only smile bitterly and agree.

The car started again, heading toward the parking lot.

Evelyn got out and followed silently behind Judy, step by step up the rusted ladder outside the apartment.

The last time she came to Judy's place was months ago.

Evelyn shook her head; she couldn't quite recall the details once etched into her heart.

She sighed—the side effects of the Crystal Yuan were finally showing.

It protected her consciousness from sinking into endless humiliation, but it was also slowly erasing her memories.

How many girls like her were still fighting for that Crystal Yuan, standing on street corners, one job after another, just to avoid the torment of those vile faces?

It was nothing but drinking poison to quench thirst.

"What's wrong, Xiao Ai?" Judy stood at her front door, turning back to look at Evelyn, puzzled why she was just leaning against the railing, staring blankly.

"Nothing…" Evelyn shook her head, turning her back to Judy and stretching lazily.

She stretched her arms out, as if embracing the neon-lit city that never slept.

"Xiao Ai?" Judy walked over to her side, concerned, asking again.

"I'm just a little tired." Evelyn spoke softly into the biting cold wind.

"Come inside—it's cold out here." Judy took Evelyn's hand and pulled her toward the house.

"I'll take a hot bath first."

"Okay." Judy nodded, closed the door, and walked toward the living room, "Want some late-night snacks?"

She turned her head, asking Evelyn, who was heading toward the Bathroom.

"Eat—I'm a little hungry." Evelyn answered as she took off her clothes.

"Throw your clothes in the laundry basket! I'll wash them!"

"Got it~" Evelyn turned on the faucet, watching steam surge out; the long, lazy syllable curled through the Bathroom before drifting into Judy's ears outside.

Judy shook her head with a smile, warmed the soup in a pot, went to the bedroom, picked out clothes for Evelyn from the closet, walked into the misty Bathroom, placed the clean clothes down, took the dirty ones, and tossed them into the washing machine.

Evelyn lay in the bathtub, quietly closing her eyes.

This feeling—like home—was so good.

She murmured it in her heart, humming an old song aloud.

"Need a back rub, Xiao Ai?" Judy finished her tasks and stood quietly at the Bathroom door, cracking it open slightly to let air circulate.

"Okay." Evelyn closed her eyes and murmured a soft reply.

"This client..." Judy carefully examined Evelyn's bruises, gritting her teeth, "went too far."

"This isn't so bad..." Evelyn swayed her legs, droplets of water sliding smoothly down, "I know a girl who woke up lying in excrement—can you imagine how disgusting that was?"

"Oh..." Judy frowned, choosing not to press further—otherwise, her late-night snack would go to waste.

"Will this Crystal Yuan have side effects?"

"Being treated like a puppet, manipulated without awareness..." Evelyn shook her head, still choosing to hide the truth, "Maybe."

"I told you before... I was serious... Evelyn." Judy removed the scrubbing glove from her hand and gently embraced her from behind.

"Judy... it's fine, really it is." Evelyn clutched the arms wrapped around her, letting out a soft sigh, "Compared to the other girls... I've been lucky enough."

"Think about it." Judy frowned, sharpening her tone.

"I'm not clean, Judy."

"Only you think you're dirty... I'll never reject you." Judy stepped into the bathtub, slowly settling Evelyn into her arms, warming her lonely soul with the closeness of heart to heart.

"Forever?"

"Forever."