Ren, draped in his black outfit, is seated on a threadbare sofa. His mask remains fixed, his presence a silent weight in the room.
The door creaks open, and a man stumbles inside, exhausted from his late shift. His name is Jason Talbot—middle-aged, balding, and looking like he's barely keeping things together.
As he steps in, he freezes. The sight of a figure, seated in the shadows, is enough to stop him in his tracks.
"Who the hell—?" Jason's voice shakes as he steps back toward the door, but before he can take another step, his body locks up. He's frozen, unable to move an inch.
Ren's voice is low, almost casual.
"Don't bother running."
Jason's eyes widen, his pulse spiking. He struggles against the invisible force, but he's trapped.
"What are you—?"
Ren stands slowly, his movements deliberate. He walks to the door and shuts it with a soft click before turning back to Jason.
"Relax," Ren says, his voice steady.
"I'm not here to hurt you. I just want to talk."
The grip loosens on jason, and his body returns to him. His legs almost give out as he collapses against the wall, gasping for air. His heart races, panic still gripping him.
"Who… what do you want from me?"
Ren motions to the chair opposite him.
"Sit down. We'll talk."
Jason hesitates but slowly drags a chair over, keeping his eyes on Ren. His hands tremble as he grips the chair.
"Who are you? What do you want?"
Ren's expression remains unreadable as he sits back down, his tone turning more conversational.
"Name's Incubi. And I heard you're someone who knows his way around computers. Cybersecurity, web development, hacking… all that. Is that right?"
Jason blinks, still rattled, but the words sink in.
"Yeah… Yeah, that's right. Who told you that?"
Ren leans forward, his voice taking on a sharp edge. "Someone you used to know."
"They told me about your skills," Ren continues, his tone still calm.
"I need someone who can build something secure. Something only I control. Something nobody else can touch."
Jason swallows hard. His mind is racing, trying to make sense of this situation.
"What are you talking about? What do you want from me?"
Ren gives a small smile, but it's not comforting.
"I need you to create an online platform—something bulletproof. Secure. It'll be a place where I can gather people, but only the ones I choose. No leaks. No backdoors."
Jason's eyes widen slightly, his curiosity piqued.
"A secure platform? I can do that, but why me?"
Ren's smile fades, his voice growing serious.
"Because I don't trust just anyone. You've got the skillset, and someone I know vouched for you. That's enough for me to trust you a bit." He leans in slightly, his eyes narrowing.
"But I'm not asking you to do this for nothing."
Jason is still processing.
"What do you mean?"
Ren's gaze hardens.
"Here's the deal. I'll pay you more than your current job. Security. A better place to live. Resources. Everything you've ever wanted. I can give you everything you need, Jason. All you have to do is work for me. I'm here to recruit you."
Jason's breath catches as he processes the offer. It sounds too good to be true. But in his gut, he knows it isn't. He's seen enough in this world to know how things work when someone mysterious walks into your life.
Ren continues, voice low but filled with meaning.
"But there's one condition. I need absolute loyalty. You understand me? If you even think about betraying me, or digging into who I really am, you'll regret it. I'll make sure of that."
Jason's throat tightens, and for a moment, all he can do is nod. The fear in his chest is almost suffocating. He's not dumb—he knows this could be a trap. But the offer… the temptation…
Ren stands, pacing a little, his words coming faster now. "I'm not here to force you, Jason. I'm giving you an opportunity. You'll be well-paid, and you'll never have to worry about money or safety again. But the moment you betray me? That's when things will get ugly. And I don't just mean for you. It'll be bad for everyone you know, your family, friends and their family, no one in your life is untouched."
Jason swallows again, his hands shaking.
"I… I get it. You're serious about this."
Ren's expression softens for a moment, but it's brief.
"I am. And that's why I'm giving you this chance. But understand me, Jason—loyalty is non-negotiable. Once you're in, you're in for good."
Jason runs his hands over his face, trying to steady his breathing.
"Okay. Okay. I'll do it. I'll work for you."
Ren's lips curve into a faint smile.
"Good. That's the right choice."
Ren steps toward the door.
"Here's the job I need done. Create a platform. Name it 'The Black Eden', It needs to be secure, and I need full control over who joins. It's a place where people can talk to each other, a simple group. Easy to use, but unbreakable."
Jason nods, still processing.
"I can do that."
Ren opens the door and pauses, his hand on the handle.
"You can quit your job tomorrow, and start working on this. I'll give you the funds you need by tomorrow."
Jason's eyes widen. "Wait, I—I don't have to stay at my job? You'll give me everything I need?"
Ren turns his masked face toward him.
"Everything. But remember, loyalty. No questions, no doubts. Do your job, and you'll have everything you've ever wanted. Fail me, and the consequences won't be pretty."
Jason gulps, nodding again, a mix of relief and dread hanging in the air as Ren steps, leaving Jason alone with a future that is as uncertain as it is dangerous.