The Perfect Combination #1

Chapter 3: Neo

Freezing cold water hit his face and Neo woke up with a start, coughing violently. He tried to move but found that his hands were tied behind the chair he sat on. Even his tail was uncomfortably tied up. 

Is it even necessary to tie up my tail like this? What are they expecting? Like, I'm gonna tickle you to death with my fluffy tail if you don't let me go! ...Or something? 

He could feel his wounds stretching painfully when he moved but noticed that, though poorly done and by now soaked, someone had tried to dress his wounds.

"Looks like the little rascal finally woke up," someone scoffed. Neo tried to get a hang of his surroundings and looked around with squinting eyes. He was in a white room, with a skunk and a tiger. 

It wasn't hard to guess how he ended up here, his wounds were a harsh reminder of what had happened prior and how he had left Marla all alone by being a stupid idiot and getting caught. 

The skunk voice rang through the cold room, catching Neo's attention

"Who are you?" Neo looked up and shivered. The icy drops were still running down his face before hitting the floor

"...Shouldn't you already know?" he asked back.

"In normal circumstances, yes, but there is no data on you in the records." Mr. Skunk tapped his finger on the table while speaking, "Like many other low lives and street rats." he mumbled silently as an afterthought, but Neo heard him clearly. 

"So, tell me while I'm still asking nicely, who are you? Are you one of those ungrateful rebels in the slums?" Neo stared at him but remained silent. 

It wasn't the first time Neo found himself in such a situation. Neo didn't want to brag, but he did have a knack for finding trouble wherever there was some to be had. He was once mistakenly caught in a gang feud and interrogated just like now. Although those guys had been easy to rile up. He could tell it wouldn't be the same for these Highers. They were trained to keep their work free of emotions that could obscure the case at hand. 

These types can take a burning insult or look at a dying kid and still be ice cold rational and professio-WHAM! A fist hammering down on the table right in front of him. 

Blimey, so maybe not that professionally trained. 

He unwillingly grinned at the thought. Mr. Skunk must have noticed, because the next second Neo felt a sharp slap to his face.

"Don't think of playing any games with me, brat, and just answer the question."

"Playing games? I would never!" Neo huffed, pretending to be offended. Apparently, Mr. Skunk didn't find it funny as he pressed down into the gun wound on Neo's shoulder with a threatening glare.

"It seems that you like it the hard way" He dug his finger further into Neo's wound, staining his white gloves green as Neo cried out in pain. 

"Who are you?" He asked again. 

"Are you with those self-proclaimed revolutionaries?" Neo took a deep breath, trying to get his bearing as he looked up and stared right into the eyes of the skunk with anger issues.

"What do you want me to say? '' He asked with a smirk. "You got the wrong guy." He blinked slowly at him. 

"I was just there at the wrong place at the wrong time," Neo shrugged, but immediately regretted the action, when the pain in his shoulder shot through him. He could see Mr. Skunk's shoulder trembling as he clenched and unclenched his fist. 

"Let me get this right..." He said through gritted teeth. 

"We found eight dead people laying on the floor and you holding the package with Geppetto's weapons that we were supposed to receive," he glared at Neo, and Neo stared right back, "and you say it's just coincidence?"