Chapter One: The Internet Waits for Me to Fail

Every device in the room lost power, though the city beyond his window remained bright. Lin reached for his phone. Its screen lit by itself: 23:59:47. Rain whispered inside the dark display. It was not sound from a speaker. Water ran down the inside of the glass and spread across the desk. The rider in the portrait rolled his stiff neck. Then he braced both hands on the frame and squeezed through it like a man climbing through a narrow window. Helmet first. Shoulders. Arms. Finally, two muddy shoes. Midnight. The man in the yellow jacket collapsed onto the floor, gasping. His badge read ZHOU YUAN, and the rain soaking his uniform was streaked with dark blood. Lin raised the folding chair. “Who are you?”