Desperate Decisions

Dante stepped out onto the street, the weight of worry heavy on his heart. As he walked through the rain, he paused for a moment and looked at his reflection in a broken window. His image stared back at him: black, disheveled hair, tired but determined eyes, a thin body covered in torn and dirty clothes. Since he could remember, he had always seen that reflection in the mirror: a young man marked by constant struggle, with a spirit that never extinguished despite the adversities. He thought about what it would mean to lose Lena, how empty he would feel without her. The idea of being alone in this ruthless world was unbearable.

He knew he couldn't do this alone. He needed help, and fast. He decided to head to one of the offices of Arclight Cyberdefense, the organization responsible for maintaining order in Neon City. Arclight was known for its corruption; they rarely lifted a finger unless there was something in it for them. They were more mercenaries than protectors, selling their services to the highest bidder and ignoring the cries for help from the slums.

He arrived at the Arclight office, an imposing and well-maintained building that stood in stark contrast to the decaying surroundings. He entered, water dripping from his soaked clothes, and approached the reception where a security guard watched him with disdain. Another guard, standing to the side, listened silently.

"I need help" Dante said, trying to sound as firm as possible.

The main guard, a burly man with a scar on his cheek, looked at him with contempt. "Help? What are you talking about, kid?"

"My sister has been kidnapped by Kade and his gang. I need you to rescue her before it's too late."

The guard snorted, crossing his arms over his chest. "Kade, you say? And what makes us think you're telling the truth? You're just a street kid. You could be lying."

Dante felt frustration burn inside him. "I'm not lying! They have her, and I know where they are. I just need you to help me get her back."

The guard shook his head, a mocking smile on his lips. "Listen, kid. We don't have time for your stories. Get out of here before I decide to arrest you for causing trouble."

Dante couldn't believe what he was hearing. "Please! She's all I have! I just... I just want her to be safe."

The guard stepped forward, intimidating. "I've already told you. Get lost. We're not going to waste our resources on someone like you."

The second guard, who had been listening silently, said nothing but looked at Dante with a mix of pity and disinterest. Two guards approached and, before Dante could say anything else, grabbed him by the arms and dragged him out of the building, throwing him onto the wet sidewalk. The door slammed shut behind him, leaving him alone in the cold night.

Sitting on the ground, soaked and trembling, Dante realized he had been naive to think the corrupt agents of Arclight would help him. He had to rely on himself to save Lena. He knew exactly where to go: Kade and his gang's base of operations in an old building in the slums. He knew that place well, having heard many stories about the criminal activities that took place there.

He stood up, his determination renewed. He started walking, his steps firm and resolute, heading directly to the building where he knew he would find Kade and his gang.

Meanwhile, inside the Arclight offices, the second guard headed for the exit. "I'm going to buy something to eat" he said aloud.

The first guard laughed a little. "You're always going out to buy something. You could order it to the office like everyone else. You're such weirdo person."

The second agent didn't respond, simply leaving the building, leaving a trail of curiosity behind.

Dante reached the dark outline of the place, a deteriorated apartment that Kade and his group used as their base of operations. He took a deep breath, ready to face whatever was necessary to save his sister. Just as he decided to enter, someone grabbed him by the clothes, pulling him back. It was one of the guards who had thrown him out of the office.

"Where do you think you're going?" the guard asked, with a hard and calculating look