Killing Memories

and the roar of vehicles that never truly ceased. From the highest floor of a skyscraper, Arkana Wir

ly as he tilted his wrist. The golden liqui

e ye

Three years he had spent rebuilding

his lungs. The pain was still there, embedded deep in his ch

ic

a slow but firm movement. Tonight, the plan he h

ard. Computer screens emitted a bluish light, displaying stock movement graphs and financial re

found so

ing Arkana a tablet. His hand moved qu

. "Some of their business partners are losing confidence after

his fingers lightly tapp

TOK

stall?" he asked, his voice a

rs. They tried to expand too q

fael's mistake was always

envelope beside it. He opened it slowly, taking out sev

more trouble getting funding. If we can hit them

corner of the city, Rafael Prad

them had just been thrown onto the flo

rowed, his hands clenched tightl

RR

sk. Roughly, he grabbed it a

ice was sharp,

's a problem. Our main investors in the Shanghai project are starting

ed his back against the

ng things worse. Some financial media are

eping up his neck. Someone was

..." he

as this time. But he was sure,

nced at the watch on

dialing a number already

.. TU

a voice on the other e

he next ord

, his eyes fla

lize... that this isn'

d to the window, staring at the

rhythm-measured, calculated. On the computer screen, Rafael's stock graph s

Rafael," he whispered softly, almost lik

ived. Just one sentence, but enou

ting to falter.

air that smelled of victory. Then, with a voice

bankrup

rops fell heavily on the glass windows of Arkana's office, f

glass. The amber liquid burned his throat, but he didn't care

tly, displaying a steadily declining stock g

smiled

l. You must be

nt by one of his trusted men. His cold hands turned the pages one by one,

re starting

jects wer

nfidence

as he ha

made him raise his

me

shoulders were broad, his expression stiff. Upon

rp. lost another strategic investor. The Sha

der, his eyes scannin

almost like the hiss of a sn

of him. "Make sure this news spreads to the media.

of Rafael's contracts that we can

hand, interrupti

e him feel safe first... befo

er Side of

l Pradipta sat in his

His jaw clenched. Piles of documents on the desk were scattered

his face

this?" he mut

grabbed it quickly. The name of one o

voice sou

other end sounded hesitant. "Investors are

ist. "Give me time. I

ll ended, he knew his

ice, he stared at his phon

ting to falter.

ce, then twice, savori

almost devoid of emo

bankrup

e screen

lked to the window. From the reflection in the glass, he saw his own si

o

torm that came

his first s

ghtning flashed across the sky, illumina

all was only a

would ensure there was