"I don't get it," you sighed. A knee pressed into your spine and your cheek scraped the ground. "Why does this always happen to me?"

491.3209.

That was your Crime Coefficient number.

You were a glitch in the system. A glitch that WOULD NOT FIX. You have been tasered so many times that you were not surprised if your number went up, from pure frustration.

"Your number went up," said Shinya Kogami, the man in charge of watching you.

"Oh really? How much?"

"Level Five. Congratulations, you're a Max-Threat."

You sighed again, "Can we just go home Shinya?"

"No," he said.

You groaned, "How much longer do I have to stay here?"

"A few hours more, now shut up so I can get some work done."

You grinned and poked Shinya's cheek, "Tonight's movie night~ Eh~ Your turn to cook too~ Come on Shinya~ Let's go home~"

Oh, two more things about Shinya:

He was your cousin.

And fiancé.

It was a tradition in your family that you and Shinya agreed to NOT go through with. You were both surprised when you found out that his dad and your mom were twins. And his mother was (in fact) your dad's sister.

Inbreeding. Don't do it, kids.

You sat down in a twirly chair and stared up at the ceiling. You sighed. Your watch beeped. You looked at it and read "Crime Number Increase."

"Was the notification sent through?" asked Shinya, not looking up from his desk.

"Yeah. '500+ max.' That's really great Shinya. I'm a fucking terrorist."

The phone rang. Shinya answered and said lowly, "Hello?"

He listened for a bit before hanging up. He grabbed his jacket, and said, "Stay here."

You saluted your soldier boy and watched as he left. You could faintly hear him mutter, "Pain in the ass."

You waited until he left to stand up and leave. Screw him, you were tired and wanted to eat some well deserved cup ramen. (Pretty much the only thing edible in your apartment.)

You walked around, distracted mostly. It wasn't as if you were constantly spacey. It was just that you, for some reason, would get really distracted.

You found yourself on the train, surrounded by millions of other who were crowded together. Perfect time for horny businessman molestors. Ever since the new watch came out that told people another person's crime coefficient number, you've just tried to look like any other high school girl.

"Ha...."

Your ear twitched. You glanced over and saw a girl gripping the rail. She was younger than you with the same uniform. She looked up and her eyes made contact with yours. She blushed and looked away.

You narrowed your eyes and saw the tough biker guy, hands under the girl's skirt.

You growled and pushed past the crowd. In one swift moment, you grabbed the girl by the arm and yanked her behind you. She looked at you gratefully.

"Oi bitch, get lost. We were trying to have some fun."

"It's sickos like you that make me wonder...." you muttered.

He grabbed your shirt and barked, "What'd you say bitch?!"

His watch beeped, "Calculating Crime Coefficient Number.... Crime Coefficiant Number Calculated...."

You sighed, "Oh God."

Suddenly, the room became a mess of alerts from watches. They released loud siren noises and warned their owners.

"Max Threat 500+."

A group of women screamed and people tried to stop the car. You grabbed the biker's hand, "Let go of me."

He obliged and you brought the girl away from him. The train finally stopped and everyone pushed to get off. You smiled at the girl, "You okay?"

She nodded.

"Excuse me...."

You looked over your shoulder and saw a man with shoulder length white hair.

"Excuse me," you smiled to her. You directed your attention to the new man, "Yes?"

"I'm Shogo Makishima, I am doing a study to see people with glitches in their numbers," he smiled.

"Uh...okay...."

"Would you and your friend like to have some coffee while we talk?" he asked, with a soft smile on his beautiful face.

"Sure!"

You dragged the girl with you as you followed the mystery man.

~~~~~~

"What?!" you cried.

He laughed, "That's right, I have a crime number of zero."

"That's amazing...." muttered the girl, Miyu.

"I know how to keep my nose clean~ But a number of 500, that's ridiculous...."

"Ah.... You figured me out...." you laughed. "Well... You know....Uh, what's your number Miyu?"

"I actually have a high number too, 213. It gets me in a lot of trouble with the police...."

"Why don't you join my movement?" he asked. "I find the Sybil System completely unnecessary and it needs to be stopped."

"Stopping the Sybil System? How?"

"How about you both meet me tomorrow? I can answer your questions then."

~~~~~~

"Where were you?"

"I just went to get coffee with a friend," you called, peeling off your shirt.

"There was a Max Threat Alert on the train today."

"Really? Huh. Maybe the Sybil System just needs to be put to an end."

"What?"

You shrugged and walked out of your room, "Well, you know there's been a lot of false alarms, not to mention my bullshit number-"

"Shogo Makishima."

You looked at him, startled, "What?"

"Nothing.... I.... Have business to take care of."

~~~~~~

Miyu, Shogo, and you met every week, talking over plans. You were getting super excited. You had never done something so radical before.

Right now, you were meeting Shogo and Miyu at the park. However, both of them were late.

"Ah ________. So glad you could make it."

You looked over and saw Shogo standing there. You smiled, "Where's Miyu?"

"Actually.... She's not coming.... You see.... I really admire your personality _________...." he smiled.

You blushed, "R-Really?"

"You're very cute," he said softly.

"I-I.....I-"

His lips pressed against yours. He put his hands on your head and pushed you against him. One hand rested on your waist. You just stood there stunned, but you slowly went along with it.

That was how your first date with Shogo went.

Oh wait-not entirely.

You fell over on your side, recognizing the electrifying sensation of a taser. You hit the sidewalk and banged your head against the ground. Your eyes shot open and you tried to move. Shogo was running down the street away from none other than your cousin Shinya.

You watched until your eyes forcibly shut themselves.

~~~~~~

When you woke, you found yourself facing the balcony of a penthouse. Your wrists held down with ragged and rough rope, your mouth gagged with cotton balls and plastic wrap, and your feet wore heavy weights.

"Oh, nice to see you're awake ___________," said the voice of Shogo. "Shinya was being SO rude by interrupting us."

He kissed your cheek, "Wouldn't you say __________?"

He sat on the balcony rail and smiled, his white hair blowing in te breeze, "You're so beautiful _________..... Really.... And Shinya all ready says he wants you.... But he can't have you...."

He grabbed your chin with a wild grin, "Nor can anyone else."

At first, your initial reaction was shock. Then, for a brief second, flattery. Then reassurance. It was like everything was going to be all right.

You nodded.

Shogo smiled, "Help me take down the system ___________. Just you and me. We don't need Miyu or anyone else."

So you and Shogo planned. Suicide bomb attacks, games and puzzles, forgery and deception. Everything. It felt safe to be with him. Like no one could touch him.

And did they try.

Shinya too. As much as you loved him, Shinya was a threat. Not only to Shogo, but to you too.

Then after about a year, he broke in, kidnapped you and brought you downtown and held you in a cell for about five months. Shinya managed to get you released and dragged you home where you stayed, locked in the basement, for four more months.

By the time Shogo managed to locate you, you were malnourished and gaunt.

Shinya was a polar opposite of Shogo. Shinya was psychologically abusive to you. He treated you like a dog. He even called you his "pet." It was like he wanted you to grow ears and a tail and call him "master."

Shogo wasn't any better though. After Shinya kidnapped you, he had gotten the lovely habit of drugging you. Everyday. Sleeping was normal for you. It was in your life routine now. Sleeping the days away, only awake long enough to eat and be drugged again.

The harmless kidnappings rapidly became more frequent, to the point where you could switch kidnappers three times a week.

Then, it was no longer kidnapping. No, it wasn't harmless anymore. Not with the government trying to kill the Max Threat. No, now the city was chaos.

Just like your life.

~~~~~~

Your dress was torn in the middle. A large red gash formed across your stomach. You stumbled through the street, eyes heavy from the drug. Cars were overturned, building were burning.

All because of you.

Your feet were worn out for walking so long. They left a trail of blood behind you. The sky was yellow and bodies littered the ground. You hit your foot on a collapsed light pole.

You squatted down and buried your head in your knees. You just wanted to die.

That's what you get for playing both sides of the board.