hivemindd
It had been an hour and a half since Cassandra’s strange run-in with that hacker—the one she couldn’t shake the feeling was stalking her. Now, she was headed to the meeting spot they’d given her, though something about it didn’t sit right. Her gut twisted with unease; the location felt random, almost deliberately so. Worse yet, the area was notorious for gang activity, making her seriously question why she ever agreed to this. But it was too late to back out—she was already pulling into the North Tower.
Her fingers clenched the steering wheel, nerves creeping in despite her usual courage. She’d faced danger before, but this felt… different. Still, the possibility of getting real answers was enough to push her forward.
After a short drive up, she reached the top level of the structure. Carefully, she eased her car into one of the open parking spots and shut off the engine. For a brief moment, she just sat there, staring out the windshield in silence.
“Well… here goes nothing,” she muttered, slipping her mask on before stepping out of the vehicle.
As promised, she’d left her weapons behind. No guns, no blades—just her phone, which she tucked into her pocket. She began walking across the rooftop lot, scanning her surroundings. Her mask’s soft blue lights glowed faintly in the dark, casting an eerie glow as she moved through the shadows, on alert for whoever might be waiting.
/ These two have been rotting my brain lately I’m afraid.. </3
hivemindd
“I’m willing to talk,” she said at last. “I believe you—for now. You seem like someone who has their pieces in place. As risky as it is… I think I can trust you.”
(2/2)
hivemindd
[@-auditlog] Though her expression was hidden behind the mask, the subtle shift in Cassandra’s posture betrayed a flicker of annoyance. As much as she hated to admit it, he wasn’t wrong—charging into that abandoned apartment complex had been reckless. She should’ve hacked the surveillance feeds before stepping inside. But she hadn’t known what she was walking into. The moment she entered, she was already in over her head—military-trained men, heavily armed and ready. It was her fault the place was compromised, and now it was crawling with security. The consequences of that day still lingered. All she could do in response was scoff at his remark, her head tilting up slightly to gaze at the stars for a brief moment. Just enough time to reflect… and then her eyes returned to him. “Sharp tongue,” she muttered. “Smarter than you look, I’ll give you that.” Despite her instinct to keep her distance, Cassandra stepped a little closer. She’d been confident in how well she hid her files—buried under layers of encryption and guarded by a brutal firewall. But somehow, this man—Cedric—had broken through. She had to respect the skill it took to pull that off. With enough determination, anyone could get in… he just proved it. “You’re right,” she said quietly. “I have a sister. She was taken last fall. No word since—no trace. I don’t even know if she’s still alive, but I have a good idea of what she’s going through. I have to find her. Once I do… I’m done with this city.” Her voice softened, the admission leaving her feeling exposed. Vulnerable. But since he already knew, there was no point in hiding it. If anything, he probably knew more than he was letting on. One thing was certain—they both wanted the same thing: to take Quinn down. That man was a rot in the city’s core—too powerful, too untouchable for far too long. (1/2)
-auditlog
{ @cyber_hacking }
the mask shifted - just enough to let the other hacker know he heard her. no bravado, no wasted movements - just presence. with enough stillness and focus, one would think he'd been waiting longer than she'd realize.
« you made it. » cedric uttered out. his voice was smooth. grounded, even. not like reading from a script, but like he knew every word had to count.
« for someone who tries to keep as low a profile as possible, you have been making a lot of noise lately. » he let that sit. not accusatory, just honest. his gaze - hidden behind the faint glow of his mask felt like it knew things. not divination. just someone who’d spent a long time learning where to look. « i’m not here to make any threats. you’ve been poking holes in something dangerous. that’s earned you attention. mine included. especially after that attempted attack on rossi-fremont. »
he shifted, a slight weight adjustment. A more relaxed posture - not open, but not hostile either. « ...but I digress. we’re both after something we can’t get alone. » the masked man paused for a brief moment. « i know for a fact that you have someone trapped in the club's trafficking ring. a friend... family, maybe. you want to find them and get them as far away from this mess as possible. as for me? quinn's holding onto something like it's his last breath. and i'm positive it has something to do with the merlaut heist that happened last year. » he uttered out, slowly walking over to the railing, placing a hand on it. « ...but it's not just any sort of blackmail, punk. it's blackmail strong enough to get you the key to the whole city. should we remove that leverage, the empire he built shall start crumbling at the foundation. »
« i have faith in the idea that there's room for a deal, if you're willing to talk. if you still need convincing, then i will paint you a clearer picture. »
