Mardock Scramble

–We’ll discuss that properly once you follow our escape route and make it out of there safely. Hmm, room 202 is no good anymore. I can sense that Boiled is watching it. Anyway, all you need to know is that I’m here to preserve your life. In return, we expect you to cooperate fully as an effective witness on our side. We will expect you to pay for your own crimes in full, of course.

“What are you talking about? How are you going to get me out of here? Where are you taking me?”

–Try and stay calm. Room 207—the bathroom window there. You should be able to reach the window of the building on the other side.

Shell’s breathing was all over the place, but he made up his mind, and with flashing eyes he stepped out of the elevator.

He made a beeline for room 207. He reached for the doorknob, and the moment before he touched it he heard a click. The electronic lock had been lifted. Shell pushed the door with the muzzle of his gun, and it swung lazily into the room.

There was no sign of life inside the room. No trace of a person that might have opened the lock on the door. Shell entered the bathroom as ordered.

There was, indeed, a window there. He looked out of it, and it did seem that he might be able to cross over to the next building. Shell shot the window frame to dislodge it, then kicked the whole window out of the building. A musty wind blew in from outside.

Shell stuck his head out through the rectangular space, and, bag still on his shoulder, he maneuvered awkwardly, stretching his leg out toward the next building, where an open window was already awaiting him.

His outstretched leg reached the window frame, and then his gun-wielding hand. Finally, he shifted his weight in one movement.

He was in. He dropped down from the window ledge, which was higher up relative to the floor than he had anticipated. He landed with a thud.

His Boston bag slipped off his shoulder, and Shell thought he would collapse from the impact, but he managed to stay upright.

There were no lights on in the room, but the natural light from the window was just about enough for Shell to make out his new surroundings. It looked like some sort of abandoned store. It was completely bare, with visible cracks running across the concrete walls. A number of large windows lined one of the walls, and there was a cross marked out in tape.

Shell suddenly realized that he was standing on something soft. He looked down and noticed that various objects were scattered across the concrete floor. He hoisted one of them up with the tip of his gun.

It was a dull piece of cloth. He looked closer and realized that it was a skirt.

Farther along was a blouse. Even farther along—and his eyes came across a sight that made him jump.

A white coat, fluttering in the darkness.

He thrust his gun out quickly, and the skirt on its end fell to the floor.

At the end of his muzzle was a girl.

A girl encased from top to toe in white. She was looking his way.

“Rune-Balot…”

Shell called out the name of the girl that should have died in his dreams.

≡

Shell’s Chameleon Sunglasses were in the middle of transforming from blue to red.

“Why, here… Why are you in a place such as this?” Shell’s inflamed red eyes stared at her in shock from behind the sunglasses. He kept his gun trained on her.

Without a word, Balot raised her hand for Shell to see.

In her hand was a cell phone. She tossed it over to him.

The phone bounced off his bag, and he caught it reflexively. Its monitor showed that a second had already passed since a call had been initiated. It was on. Shell frowned, puzzled, and put the phone to his ear.

–This is PI Oeufcoque here. Hand all your weapons over to the girl in front of you. Do so and you’ll be recognized as a cooperating witness for our second case, and the Life Preservation Program will take effect in order to protect you.

“Where are you? Why won’t you show yourself?”