The Memory Broker

Chapter seven: Into The Abyss

Riva's pulse hammered in her ears as the guards dragged her down a long, dimly lit hallway. The metallic clang of heavy doors echoed behind her, each one shutting out the light of the compound above. Her wrists throbbed from the force of their grip, but the physical pain was nothing compared to the storm of emotions churning inside her—betrayal, rage, and a sickening realization that she had trusted Kellan all along.

He had stood beside her through everything, guiding her, feeding her information, pretending to fight the same battle. The memories hit her in flashes—late nights spent strategizing, whispered conversations in the dark corners of abandoned warehouses, and the moments of trust she had extended to him over and over again. It had all been a lie.

Kellan had played her, led her straight into the lion's den. And now Crawford and Melville were holding all the cards.

The guards shoved her into a cold, windowless room and locked the door behind them. Riva stumbled forward, catching herself against the wall. The silence in the room was suffocating, broken only by the sound of her own ragged breathing. For a moment, she allowed herself to feel the weight of Kellan's betrayal, but only for a moment.

Pushing off the wall, Riva straightened, her eyes narrowing as she scanned the room for anything she could use. Her mind was already racing toward the next step. Kellan may have thought he'd beaten her, but he had underestimated her resolve. She'd made it this far, and she wasn't about to give up now.

She would find a way out. And when she did, she would make sure Kellan—and Crawford—would pay for what they had done.

The dim light flickered above Riva as she paced the small cell, the metallic smell of damp concrete filling her nostrils. She had been down here for what felt like hours—long enough to replay Kellan's betrayal a hundred times in her mind. The sting of it cut deeper with each repetition, but the anger it fueled was the only thing keeping her sharp. If she let herself fall into despair, she'd be as good as dead.

She hadn't expected Kellan to turn on her, but maybe she should have. Trust was always a luxury in their world—an illusion, fleeting and dangerous. She leaned her head against the cold wall, thinking of all the times Kellan had guided her, protected her even. It was all a lie. A twisted game orchestrated by Crawford, Melville, and Kellan himself. The reality of it made her blood boil, but now wasn't the time to dwell on emotions.

A soft creak from the door caught her attention. Riva spun, her muscles tensing as the metal door swung open. A figure stepped through the doorway. For a brief moment, her heart clenched at the sight of Kellan, his face shadowed under the flickering light. But the cold, emotionless look in his eyes told her everything she needed to know—there was no coming back from this. He was a traitor, through and through.

"Kellan," Riva said, her voice cold but steady. "Come to gloat?"

He didn't answer right away. Instead, he stepped closer, his hand resting on the back of the chair that sat in the middle of the room. "It didn't have to be this way, Riva. I tried to warn you."

Riva's eyes narrowed. "Warn me? You played me like a puppet, fed me just enough to keep me dancing to your tune. Was it fun for you?"

Kellan's jaw tightened, a flicker of something—regret, maybe—crossing his features before vanishing. "It wasn't like that."

"Then what was it?" Riva snapped, her voice rising. "Were you ever on my side, or was this your plan all along?"

He sighed, dragging the chair a few feet closer before sitting down, his elbows resting on his knees. "I never wanted to betray you, Riva. But you were in over your head. Crawford and Melville—they're not just two crime lords in a city full of them. They're untouchable, and going up against them? It was a suicide mission. I couldn't let you destroy yourself."

"Destroy myself?" Riva barked a bitter laugh. "You think this is better? You sold me out to two men who'll erase me from existence the moment it suits them. And you think you're safe?"

Kellan's face hardened. "I made a deal. They needed you neutralized, but they didn't want you dead. Yet."

"Yet," Riva echoed bitterly. "So that's your plan? Keep me in a cage until they decide I'm expendable?"

Kellan leaned forward, his eyes locking onto hers. "You don't get it, do you? This is bigger than either of us. NovaTech isn't just playing with memories—they're rewriting reality itself. If we don't stop them, none of this will matter. You, me, Crawford, Melville—we'll all be wiped out like we never existed."

Riva's anger faltered for a split second as she processed his words. "So what, you think helping them gives you a better chance of survival?"

"I think aligning with power is the only way we survive this," Kellan said, his voice low. "I don't like what Crawford and Melville are doing, but they have the resources to fight NovaTech. They'll keep you alive—for now. And if you play this right, you might still have a future."

Riva studied him, searching for a hint of the man she once trusted. But all she saw was a shadow of that person, replaced by someone willing to sacrifice anything—and anyone—for his own survival. The realization hit her like a punch to the gut. Kellan had made his choice. He was no longer the ally she thought he was. He was just another piece of the machine that sought to control her fate.

"You've made your choice, Kellan," Riva said quietly, her voice laced with cold resolve. "Now I'll make mine."

He opened his mouth to speak, but before he could respond, the door to the cell swung open again. This time, it wasn't a guard—it was John Crawford himself. His presence filled the room like a dark cloud, his eyes gleaming with that predatory intelligence that had always unnerved her.

"Time's up, Kellan," Crawford said smoothly, stepping into the room. "We have other matters to attend to."

Kellan stood, casting one last look at Riva before turning to Crawford. "I've said what I needed to say. The rest is up to her."

Crawford's smile was thin and dangerous. "Indeed."

Kellan left without another word, leaving Riva alone with the man who now held her fate in his hands. Crawford circled the room slowly, his eyes never leaving her.

"I've always admired your tenacity, Riva," he said. "But you should've known better than to cross me."

Riva straightened, refusing to show fear. "You haven't won yet, Crawford. You think you're untouchable, but NovaTech doesn't care about you any more than they care about me."

"Ah, but that's where you're wrong," Crawford replied, his smile growing colder. "I don't need them to care. I just need them to believe I'm useful. And unlike you, I've always known how to stay useful."

He stepped closer, leaning down until his face was inches from hers. "But you? You're just a loose end now, Riva. And we both know what happens to loose ends."

Riva's heart pounded, but she refused to flinch. If this was the end, she would face it on her terms. But in the back of her mind, she was already calculating, already planning. Crawford might think he had won, but she wasn't finished yet.

Not by a long shot.

Crawford straightened, turning toward the door. "Enjoy your final hours, Riva. You won't have many left."

As the door closed behind him, Riva took a deep breath, her eyes hardening with determination. This wasn't over.

It was just beginning.