Murder Bug is a short story set in the dark sci-fi and cyberpunk ChromaSpyke universe by Alexander Mharcei.
The contract saves your life.
The system takes what’s left.
In a future London, cybernetic upgrades aren’t luxury. They’re survival. For the hungry and the unlucky, a body contract offers one way out: compliance in exchange for augmentation, biometric access, and time.
After a lockdown grips a subway terminal, Vance is processed, tagged, and escorted home by a corpse unit, one of the half-dead automatons the city uses to enforce order. The warnings are absolute. Quarantine is mandatory. Testing is automatic. Refusal is not an option.
When his results arrive, they point to a lethal condition with only one approved solution.
Implants.
The cost is unreachable without signing a contract. Waiting only narrows the choices.
When the install suite arrives, the procedure is efficient, clinical, and irreversible. Vants survives, but survival comes with conditions, instructions, and a future already accounted for. As the universe refocuses around him, the line between who he was and what he now belongs to collapses fast.
Murder Bug is a dark cyberpunk horror short story about institutional pressure, artificial urgency, and the moment survival stops being a choice and becomes a transaction.
Return & Refund Policy
Returns are accepted within 30 days of delivery for eligible items in original condition and packaging, with proof of purchase. Customers are responsible for return shipping costs, and no restocking fee applies to eligible returns. Digital products, signed items, handmade items, collector’s editions, limited releases, custom items, sale items, and gift cards cannot be returned. If your order arrives damaged or incorrect, contact us right away and we’ll help resolve it. Read the full Return & Refund Policy for complete details.
Most physical orders ship within one week, often in 1–3 business days. Digital products are delivered electronically after checkout on the confirmation screen and by email, with up to 3 download attempts per item. International shipping is available to select countries, and additional customs or destination-country fees may apply. Tracking details are provided once physical orders ship. Read the full Shipping Policy for complete details.
Enjoy exclusive releases and early access when you shop directly with Arkhelian—supporting an independent studio. Or, if you prefer, find our titles worldwide on Amazon, Kindle, Kobo, Apple Books, Google Play, and Barnes & Noble.