Pulsing, every goddamn thing in this city pulses. The rain pulsing onto the earth below, the neon lights pulsing in the air, the pulse of the people packed like sardines on street level, everything has a pulse.
In the sea of pulses, one blinked especially fast tonight. Hurried footsteps, eyes flicking left, right, left right. A young man shouldered through the human current of 50th Avenue-- a street every night overrun by street vendors and market stalls recommending the newest model of synth-peach. That target was a bed to sleep on tonight, this target fed his stomach. In this sea, a particular face stood out to the man. Sweat slicked forehead and eyes flickering like the neon above. There, the man's brows furrowed as his steps quickened into a prowl. Don't run, it'll only delay the inevitable.
He is right there, it doesn't have to be hard. A startled yelp. The target spun and ran— the man grunted in annoyance as his steps exploded into a sprint. Weaving beneath the masses as his hand reached into his jacket pocket, and he slid out a pulse pistol. The man raised his left forearm to eye level, a cybernetic implant staring back. "T.R.A.C.K", the soft buzz of rotor wings came to life as the tracking drone floated up, leaving an unnatural gap in the man's forearm. The drone began chasing the target whilst the man came to a stop, a single finger coming up and tapping a button on his glasses. Immediately the left lens shimmered to life as his view became on with the drones, one eye chasing the target and the other showing the crowd before him.
'Run, delay the inevitable. Every step is a temporary piece of salvation, though that drone… he knows. I can't give up. I won't give up. I have too much to lose. decades of building that company from scratch. when I find the bastard who hired this guy, I'LL KILL THEM… though for now, I need to survive.' The mantra fuelled his burning legs. His steps had not faltered in the good while he had ran, and he prayed that it should be enough. However, all things come to an end, his legs screamed it, his sprint was one of these things. A dark alley. He staggered in through the mouth, leaning on a wall as his escape came to a halt.
Breathe in, 6 seconds, breathe out. you're alone. He isn't close. It's just you and your thoughts- the faint sound of a pulse pistol flickering to life reached the ears of the man, and his blood ran cold. He quickly spun to see a pale blue dot and shadows that drew closer, the hunt had come to an end. Breathe in, no wait, breathe out. The man's breathing quickened, his pulse frantically beating. "WAIT!… Wait just a second!" The man blurted out in panicked fear, as the face of his chaser came into the light. Young, too young, hazel eyes that had seen too much, and an expression that spoke of the spark of a man getting put out too soon. "Why?"
"Because! I… I'll pay you! Yes! I'll pay you! Double- no. TRIPLE what you're being promised!" A desperate gambit, and one the was quickly dismissed. "Rent's due and I'm not here to negotiate."
"No! NO! PLE-" the ringing of a gunshot echoed through the alley. Walls splattered red and a dull thud as the man dropped to the ground. The target was dead, the mission had been done, and one pulse had been stomped out tonight.