Cyberpunk 2077 - The Ballad of Lost Souls

V nervously opens the front door of the apartment complex where Judy lives. After climbing the graffiti-covered stairs, V finds himself in the hallway where the door to Judy's apartment stands. 

V starts ringing insistently on the virtual intercom outside the apartment. After a short while, the door disappears into the wall, letting V in.

Judy: In the bathroom!

V's steps become slower as he approaches the bathroom door. After opening the door, he drops his hand near his leg, as if it was dead. In front of him is Judy, sitting on the edge of a large tub, curled up, her hands wrapped around her head.

V lowers his gaze to the floor, there is a long cloth carpet that runs from the door to the tub and gets redder and redder as he approaches it.

Behind Judy, just outside the bathtub, a small hand emerged from which gushed the stream of blood that soaked the carpet.

V: Oh, fuck...

V slowly walks toward Judy, discovering Evelyn's lifeless body, immersed in a pool of blood. Jonny appears between the two, leaning against a small metal cabinet.

Johnny: Birds off herself to express her undying gratitude to you for saving her ass.

V turns angrily toward Johnny.

V: SHUT THE FUCK UP!

Judy slowly shakes her head then looks up at V, staring at him with her eyes drowned in makeup melted by tears.

Judy: I was… I was only gone for an hour…

V kneels by the tub, touching Judy's pool of wine blood with his knee.

V: How'd this happen?

Judy: I don't know! Told you… Evie was lying in bed, like always, when I went out… I got back to… 

V: Oh Judy…

Judy: If I'd just known I'd've…

V: She made up her mind. Would've found a way. Always.

V stands up.

V: Gotta do somethin' with her.

Judy: Don't want any troubles. I'm callin' the badges… Can you carry her to the bed?

Johnny's ghost begins to wander around the room, displeased.

Johnny: As if that'll change anything.

V dips his hands into the tub, lifting Evelyn's lifeless body as Judy leaves the room.

Judy(Phone): Yeah, I would like to report an accidental death. Northside. Jackson street.

V passes the living room where Judy is phoning, entering the small room next to the kitchen and laying Evelyn's body on the bed.

Judy(Phone): No, there is no imminent danger… Suicide.

V stares at Evelyn silently, as Judy enters the room raising her voice on the phone.

Judy(Phone): TWO?! TODAY! WHAT PART OF DEATH YOU DIDN'T UNDERSTAND?! 

V turns around, leaning against the doorframe.

Judy(Phone): No she wasn't pronounced dead by the Trauma Team. If she'd've coverage, we wouldn't be talkin'.

Judy lifts the phone from her ear and places it in front of her mouth.

Judy(Phone): An' fuck you! If you don't wanna move your asses, why don't I come down the precinct and trash it into bits? NOW WILL YOU COME AND ARREST ME, YOU PUSSIES?

V lifts his lip slightly in a barely-there smile, diverting his thoughts from Evelyn for a moment.

Judy(Phone): Fine. I don't give a fuck what you write me up for!

Judy shoves the phone into the pocket of her jeans.

Judy: They'll be here soon… Told me to keep her in the ice 'till tomorrow. CAN YOU BELIEVE THE BALLS?!

V: All things considered you let 'em off pretty light. Had it been me, they would've gotten an earful like nobody's biz.

Judy slowly approaches the bed where Evelyn is lying, sitting down next to her. A nervous silence falls in the room, after a while Judy breaks it.

Judy: I would like to put something on her, so she'll look like a person, rather than a body. 

V nods, then starts toward the door when Judy says something.

Judy: Close the door V, please.

V is sitting on a plastic chair on the roof of the apartment; in front of him is Judy, gazing lost at the skyscrapers of the Night City skyline. V looks at her for a moment, before returning to Evelyn's metal cigarette case that she clutches in her hands.

Judy leans on the railing, then turns to V.

Judy: Fwoo, uh… bum a cig?

V: Didn't know you smoked.

Judy: Quit. Been years. But right now I need something 'sides air in my lungs. Please V, just one.

Judy walks toward V as he takes the cigarette holder and hands it to her.

V: here.

Judy takes the cigarette holder, looking at it closely and passing it through her hands a couple of times.

Judy: That was her smoke case.

V: You want it back?

Judy: No. Keep it. Kinda glad it's you that has it, actually. 

Judy takes a cigarette and then returns the cigarette case to V, who tucks it back into his jacket, Judy then sits next to V.

Judy remains silent for a while, smoking. V does the same.

Judy: I let her down. I thought if I gave her some space or time she'd get back on her feet.

V: Stay strong, Judy. Don't let this tear you down.

Judy: Her condition… Couldn't think about anything else… Tech-wise she was clean, doll shard was operational, uncorrupted. 

Judy takes a puff from the cigarette.

Judy: So psychological trauma… Had to be that. Did more diggin' in her virtus. Found Woodman.

Judy takes one last puff, then puts it out on the floor.

Judy: He kept her. Had his way with her. The things he did… Once he got bored he pawned her off.

V changes expression, pervaded by overwhelming anger.

V: What did he do to her? Did… did you see it?

Judy: Yeah and I really wish I could unsee it.

V: Had no idea the guy was such a monster. Saw him as the average tricksy sleazebag.

Judy: Yeah. Put on a convincing facade. I knew him, but I never thought him that sick in the brain… Gotta be somethin' I can do about it.

V: like what?

Judy: Don't know yet. I think I'll call Suze… V, thanks. But for now I'll rather be alone. I'll keep in touch, I promise.

Judy stays silent with her gaze lost in the void. V gets up from the chair, resting his hand on Judy's shoulder, then puts both in his pocket, setting off without a word.

Meanwhile, in the penthouse of the Arasaka Tower, a man wearing a long black kimono and a pair of glasses sits on a black leather sofa in a wide, dark room. His face is tinged red by the light coming from the large monitors placed at the back of the room. In his hands, he holds a small white token that seems to represent Evelyn, staring at it, wistfully.

Suddenly a man in a suit and tie opens the door of the large office, positioning himself behind the sofa.

Arasaka Employee: President Yorinobu... We found her.

Yourinobu clutches the token in his hand, closing it into a fist, along with his eyes.