Morning
I slowly opened my eyes, greeted by the comforting weight of Lola lying on top of me. Her warm breath tickled my face, and her eyes locked onto mine like she was waiting for my first move.
"Wake up, girl. We're leaving."
After what happened last night—the Scavs, the kills, the mess—I decided to avoid any more attention. My original plan was to buy a place in the City Center, somewhere like Corpo Plaza. Secure. Clean. Monitored. Safe. But the more I thought about it, the more I realized how bad that move would be.
Too many corpo eyes.
Buying an expensive apartment in the heart of the city would light me up like a neon sign. They'd dig into my background. Try to scan me. Realize there's nothing there. No record. No childhood. No paper trail. That kind of mystery in a place like that? Gets people curious. And curiosity is dangerous in Night City.
No, I need to blend in—not stand out. So I picked Heywood. The Glen.
Still a decent area. Not as flashy, but stable. Neutral territory, more or less. Safer for me—and Lola.
I stood up, stretched, and made some quick breakfast. Lola watched me with those ever-alert eyes, tail wagging. Even with everything going on, she was still excited just to see me. Loyal.
As I finished eating, I grabbed my gear and headed for the door.
Bang!
The moment I tried to leave, I walked straight into the broken frame. I forgot we were in a temporary spot—since the first place, I busted the door wide open. Looking back, I saw Lola's tongue hanging out as she panted in what could only be called a smug grin.
"I'm an idiot," I muttered.
Even though I have max Intelligence, it doesn't mean I'm wise. That's one of the few things this world keeps teaching me—fast.
As I heard people approaching, I activated my Ghost Camo and slipped into the shadows. No need to explain myself to some curious renters or cops. The less seen, the better.
[An hour later]
We finally arrived in Heywood. I stuck to back alleys and rooftops to avoid too many stares. My Ghost Camo kept us hidden.
Once I was sure the coast was clear, I deactivated the camo and stretched my arms.
"Okay, Lola. It's time."
She perked up, ready.
"Hopefully nobody's dumb enough to mess with us, though I doubt it. You're a rare sight, and without any obvious cyberware, I look like a soft target. But hey… we've handled worse."
"Grrr," she growled softly.
"Yeah, I know. I don't like it either. But we can't keep hiding. Let's just hope the apartment's still available."
We stepped out of the alley into the main street, the sounds of Heywood filling the air—music from street vendors, bikes revving, conversations in mixed Spanish and English. It was lively. Gritty, but real.
Compared to Pacifica, this place was a breath of fresh air. Not clean—but cleaner. Not safe—but safer.
We walked down the street, drawing attention.
People stared.
Not at me—at Lola.
A living, breathing German Shepherd? In this city? That's almost mythical. Some looked amazed. Others… looked hungry.
"So far, so good. No one's moved yet."
But I could feel it.
The air tightened. I scanned the crowd through my modded optics. Civilians mostly—but three red flags stood out. Gold chains. Tattoos. Pistols half-hidden beneath flashy jackets.
Valentinos.
If I had to describe them, they were… complicated. They weren't like the Scavs. The Valentinos had a code. A sense of pride. They didn't attack randomly or without cause.
But not every Valentino was built the same.
Some followed the code.
Others spat on it.
"Be ready, Lola. We're being followed."
"Woof."
My minimap lit up. Three signals. Shadowing us at a distance but gaining ground. I kept walking casually, pretending not to notice.
They didn't stop.
One of the dots moved closer. I tensed.
Suddenly, a hand grabbed my neck, and cold metal pressed into my spine.
"Don't move."
"Grrr, woof, woof!"
"Tell your dog to shut up, or I'll shoot you both."
"It's okay, girl. Everything's under control," I said calmly, trying to defuse the situation.
The other two flanked us, keeping their eyes peeled for bystanders. The street noise drowned out our little scene. No one was watching.
The man with the gun nudged me forward. We walked into a circular clearing surrounded by graffiti-tagged walls and dumpsters.
"Take it easy, man. We can talk this out. No need for violence."
"Shut up. Today's not your lucky day. Hand over the dog and everything you got—unless you want to end up in a bag."
He pushed me hard into the wall and kept the gun on me. Up close, I got a better look at him. Late 30s. Rough voice. Cybernetic eyes. The other two were younger—probably new blood trying to prove themselves. A girl and a skinny guy, both clearly uncomfortable.
I sighed.
"No. I'm not giving up my dog. We didn't provoke you or your gang."
"I don't care. Give us the dog."
Lola growled deeper. Her fur stood on end. She was ready to tear him apart.
"What about your moral code?" I asked, trying one last time.
"F**k the code."
He pulled back his fist and slammed it into my gut with his Gorilla Arms.
A punch like that should've ruptured organs and broken bones it was meant to kill me. But I didn't move. Didn't even flinch.
He froze.
"...What?"
"You said f**k the code?"
I grabbed his arm.
"Too bad. If you followed it, maybe you'd still be breathing."
Splat. Rip.
I tore open his stomach. Blood and intestines spilled out. He collapsed to his knees, gasping, eyes wide in shock.
The other two backed away, frozen.
"Today is not your lucky day. Now—repent for your sins."
Bang!
A bullet hit me in the head.
Nothing.
The younger guy emptied his clip. One bullet went through my mouth. It startled me. But no real damage.
Turns out I'm bulletproof on the inside, too.
I smiled, but deep down, I was furious.
Then I moved.
In a blink, I was in front of him.
"What the—"
I grabbed his arm and ripped it off clean.
"Aaaaaaah!"
Smack!
I beat him with his own hand like a makeshift bat. Again. And again. Until he stopped screaming.
Then I looked at the girl.
She had dropped her gun. She was on the ground, shaking.
I picked up the gun that had shot me and walked over.
"Please don't kill me," she whispered, eyes brimming with tears.
"Why shouldn't I? You tried to kill me."
"We just wanted the dog… we didn't mean to—"
"I said no. And this is what happened. Actions have consequences."
I raised the gun. She shut her eyes and whispered:
"Please… God, forgive me for the actions that I did..."
She was praying.
That actually gave me pause. In this city, people don't pray. Not unless they've got a plan or they've got nothing left.
She had nothing.
I waited.
She finished, looked up at me—scared, accepting.
"...May you find peace."
Bang.
I fired.
But not at her.
I shot past her head, missing intentionally. Then I turned and walked away.
"..."
"...I'm alive?"
She looked around in disbelief. Touched her body. No blood. No wounds.
"I'm alive..."
She broke down, crying—half from relief, half from guilt.
"Woof."
"Yeah, I know. She only wanted to steal—not kill."
That's my line. If someone tries to kill me? I'll erase them. But if someone just tries to steal? I'll punish them.
I already killed her crew. That was punishment enough.
Still... that bullet in my mouth?
"I can't believe a bullet went through my mouth. God, I hope this apartment has a toothbrush."
"Woof, woof."
We finally reached the apartment building. The place was still for sale. Perfect. I scanned my hand and transferred the eddies—thankfully, I'd already converted digital currency into shards.
We entered the elevator. I leaned against the wall, Lola sitting next to me like nothing had happened.
After a minute, the doors opened.
"Finally. Our new home."
"Woof, woof, woof!"
The apartment was one of the best in the game, even if it was in Heywood. A sleek blend of traditional architecture and modern flair. The view overlooked the glowing sprawl of Night City, towers blinking like stars in the pollution-choked sky.
Lola ran around sniffing corners, tail wagging like crazy. She seemed happy. That made me smile.
I walked into the bathroom. Took a long-awaited shower. Brushed the blood out of my mouth. Cleaned my gear.
Then I crashed onto the bed.
Lola jumped up next to me and curled up by my side.
"Tomorrow... we'll go to El Coyote bar. See if Jackie's still alive. Hopefully... I can stop what's coming."
End of Chapter