The weight of the world pressed down on Elias's shoulders as he sat at the small kitchen table, staring at the file Kane had handed him. His hands trembled, the betrayal of innocent lives weighing heavily on him.
"Just fake it," he repeated to himself, as if repeating the words would somehow erase the hollow feeling gnawing at him. "Just fake it."
The file before him contained detailed information about his first target — a young journalist named Emma Carter. Her crime? She had been digging too deep into Kane's underground operations. Too much curiosity, too many questions. And Kane had a very simple solution to that.
Task:
Eliminate Emma Carter.
Reward: Advancement within Kane's organization.
Failure Consequence: Immediate termination.
Elias rubbed his eyes, exhausted. His phone buzzed, cutting through the silence.
Text from Glitch:
You good? I have a plan. We can fake this one — but it'll need to be clean. No one can know you're on the inside.
Elias's mind raced. Could he really go through with this? Could he truly betray someone whose only crime was seeking the truth?
Character Spotlight: Emma Carter
Name: Emma Carter
Age: 29
Profession: Investigative journalist
Appearance: Shoulder-length red hair, fair skin, freckled face, and sharp green eyes that never missed a thing. Typically seen in casual clothes, always with a camera slung around her neck
Attitudes: Determined, curious, unwavering in her pursuit of truth
Flaws: Overly trusting, naïve in her belief that everyone wants the truth to come out
Fate: Currently unaware that her latest investigation will lead her straight into the hands of a monster.
---
Elias stood outside Emma's apartment, hidden in the shadows, feeling the cold air bite at his skin. He had spent the last few hours rehearsing his role: the charming stranger, the ally, the one who would lead her to safety — only to be the one who led her to the edge of a precipice.
The door opened, and Emma stepped out, her camera bag slung over her shoulder. She had no idea she was about to be swept into something far darker than she could ever have imagined.
Elias took a deep breath, his heart pounding. His watch buzzed once more, the small vibrating reminder of the stakes.
Task Update:
New Ability Unlocked: Charisma Boost (Extreme).
"Use it wisely," the watch chimed, almost mockingly.
The watch was always watching. Always controlling.
Elias smiled grimly as he approached her.
"Emma Carter, right?" he asked smoothly, his voice calm and confident.
She stopped in her tracks, startled. Her sharp green eyes studied him for a moment before she nodded.
"Yes. Who are you?"
"I'm Elias," he said, flashing a smile. "I work for someone who might be able to help you with your... investigation. I think you're in over your head, though."
Emma's posture shifted, defensive but intrigued.
"Who's asking?" she pressed, her tone skeptical but polite.
Elias leaned in closer. "Someone who knows the danger you're in."
---
In the real world, charisma is a potent tool. Some use it to manipulate, others to build trust. In Elias's case, it was the weapon he had to wield carefully, playing the part of a trustworthy ally, only to betray it all. He knew that charisma could get him far, but at what cost?
---
Elias extended a hand, and she hesitated for only a moment before shaking it.
"You'll want to trust me," he said, his voice low, compelling.
Emma nodded slowly, falling for the façade. "Alright. Let's talk."
---
The moment they arrived, Emma's sense of unease seemed to grow. The place looked like it had been abandoned for years, dark and forgotten. Her instincts screamed at her to leave, but Elias, calm as ever, guided her deeper into the warehouse.
It was only when the door slammed shut behind them that the air thickened with tension. The trap was set.
Elias gave her a cold, fleeting glance before his watch buzzed again.
Task Update:
Reward: Increased Strength (Level 1).
With newfound strength surging through him, Elias turned, facing Emma.
Her eyes narrowed as she took a step back, sensing something was wrong. "Wait... what is this?"
Elias could feel his conscience warring with the task in front of him. He reached for the gun at his waist — the cold metal a stark reminder of what he had become.
"I'm sorry," he said quietly, unable to look her in the eye. "I wish it didn't have to be this way."
Emma gasped as the realization hit her.
"You... you were never on my side."
Elias couldn't respond. He could feel the weight of her words pressing down on him like an anchor, pulling him deeper into a moral abyss.
---
Elias raised his gun, and for a heartbeat, time seemed to freeze. The sound of his heartbeat in his ears was deafening. He could hear Glitch's voice faintly in his earpiece.
> Glitch: You don't have to do this. We can fake the death. This isn't you. Elias…
But the task had been set, and failure would mean death — both for him and his loved ones.
As his finger hovered over the trigger, he whispered, almost to himself, "I'm sorry," and pulled the gun.
---