The neon sign above the clinic buzzed. THE ORACLE: KNOW YOUR FATE.
Kael stared at the sign. His hands were shaking. Not from fear, but from the cold rain soaking his trench coat. He needed to know where the killer was hiding. There was only one way to find out.
He pushed the door open. The bell chimed. The smell of antiseptic and burnt sugar hit him.
"Welcome back, Detective," the receptionist said. She was a robot. Her plastic face smiled, but her eyes were just blue lights. "Ready for another session?"
"Just the location," Kael said. His voice was rough like gravel. "I need to know where Subject 89 will be at midnight."
"The price is standard," the robot replied. "One core memory. Emotional value: High."
Kael closed his eyes. This was the part he hated.
To see the future, you had to pay with the past. The Oracle didn't take money. It took pieces of you.
"Take it," Kael whispered.
He sat in the white chair. The metal helmet lowered onto his head. It felt cold against his temples.
Searching database... the machine's voice echoed in his mind. Payment required.
Kael thought of the day he taught his little sister to ride a bike. The sun was yellow and bright. She was laughing. She had a pink helmet. He could feel the warmth of that day. He could feel the pride in his chest. It was a good memory. A warm memory.
Payment accepted, the machine buzzed.
A sharp pain spiked through his skull. It felt like a hook ripping something out of his brain. Kael gasped.
Then, the vision came.
He saw a warehouse by the docks. Pier 4. He saw a man in a red jacket holding a knife. He saw the clock striking 12:00 AM.
The machine lifted. The helmet retracted.
Kael sat in the chair, breathing hard. He wiped sweat from his forehead. He had the information. He knew exactly where the killer would be.
He stood up and walked to the door.
"Detective?" the robot called out.
Kael stopped. "What?"
"You forgot your receipt."
Kael looked at the piece of paper. It listed the transaction details.
Service: Future Prediction (Location).
Cost: [DATA DELETED].
Kael frowned. He tried to remember what he had just paid. He knew he had given something up. He knew it was important. But when he reached for the memory, there was only fog.
He tried to picture his sister. He knew he had a sister. But he couldn't remember her face. He couldn't remember if he had ever taught her anything.
The pain in his chest was gone. Now, there was just a hole.
"Keep the receipt," Kael said. He walked out into the rain.
He had his target. Pier 4.
The rain felt cold, but Kael didn't mind. He couldn't remember what warmth felt like anymore.