The Neon Falls

Raiko decided not to enter the cafeteria. Instead, he decided to go to his shelter, a house that once belonged to Osmerd. Although modest, the dwelling had what he needed: two floors, on the first floor, a living room, kitchen and a room that he now uses as a storage room, it also has a small backyard. Upstairs there are two bedrooms and a bathroom. It is perfect for one or two people.

Since Osmerd disappeared, Raiko had survived on the money he left behind. However, over time, the savings ran out. So, he decided to start on her mission in life, the same one Osmerd had instilled in her: to put an end to people who bring darkness into the lives of others.

"I guess what I did earlier was my first mission," he thought as he closed the door behind him. Not only had he finished off some criminals, but he had also taken their money, enough to pay for the household and buy some food.

Raiko plopped down on the couch, opened a bag of potato chips and turned on the TV. He didn't know what to watch, so she chose a video about her city.

"Neonvale," began the narrator on the screen, "a semi-futuristic city, where neon lights and technological advances coexist with more traditional neighborhoods and old-fashioned cars. The city extends over high cliffs, more than 150 meters above sea level. Its skyscrapers and energetic streets represent the technological avant-garde with breathtaking views of the ocean.

To get to the beach, you can walk or drive down several points along the Circuit of Lights, an illuminated highway that runs along the entire coast, and the lower part of the great cliff known as the Neon Coast. Between the beach, the highway and the cliff, a landscape of almost 20 kilometers extends. That's why Neonvale is not only known for its technology, but also for its.... beautiful views!"

Raiko turned off the television with a weary sigh. It was almost two in the morning. Most Neonvale workers slept in from ten or eleven o'clock at night and were up at dawn, around six o'clock. But for people like Raiko, with no morning commitments, the schedule was different: they went to sleep at two or three in the morning and woke up around noon.

In the bathroom, Raiko looked at herself in the mirror. He took a close look at the phosphorescent red tuft in her black hair, and how her red eyes glowed brighter than usual.

"The red in my hair and eyes, it's like neon..." he muttered in surprise. The earlier memory with Osmerd invaded his mind again.

"...Your only difference is not only the color of your eyes, also your hair" Osmerd had told him with a smile.

"My hair?" asked Raiko, puzzled. "What's wrong with it? Is it changing? Is it falling out? Well, the latter doesn't make sense, I'm still young..."

Osmerd let out a slight laugh. "No, don't worry, you won't drop it... for now.. But when I found you, it had a phosphorescent red gradient."

"And how do I make it change color?" asked Raiko, intrigued.

"I don't know. I only know that it's possible. And the next day it returned to its normal color."

Back to the present, Raiko watched her reflection with a mixture of fascination and frustration.

"I hope to find out the reason soon..." he thought, letting out a sigh.

As he was about to walk away, he noticed something else: the scratch on her cheek, almost completely healed. He stared at it, impressed by his quick recovery.

Later, already lying on his bed, Raiko couldn't stop thinking about what happened that night. He still felt some regret for not being able to save the injured person.

"It was my first mission towards my goal," he thought, trying to calm herself. "I hope I can save others in a better way.... Tomorrow will be another day."

He rolled over in bed and closed his eyes, trying to ease the burden.

Miles away, the hooded who had managed to escape was sitting in front of a desk, in what appeared to be a rented room. His black hair also had a phosphorescent streak in it, but his was blue. As he fiddled with a lighter in his hands, a cold, calculating look flashed in his blue eyes. He had survived, but she knew this was only the beginning.