Total pages in book: 44
Estimated words: 41151 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 206(@200wpm)___ 165(@250wpm)___ 137(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 41151 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 206(@200wpm)___ 165(@250wpm)___ 137(@300wpm)
“Alright, Dreamy, where’s your nearest exit that’s not a door that leads to the street?”
“Dreamy?” She’s confused at my choice of nickname.
It’s what she looks like, a round-faced little dream, a sweet and innocent little accomplice. We don’t use real names in my world.
“Yeah. Quick.” I swat her ass hard enough to shake her out of her frozen state. “Think!”
Her eyes dart back and forth for a second. “Uhm. The roof. These houses are conjoined, and then there’s internal steps that go down to the deli at the end of the street. And then, there's one of those, manholes, and I guess that goes down to the wastewater system.”
“Good eye,” I tell her. “Thank you.”
Her friend is curled up on the floor, sobbing to himself.
“Tell your friend to pay his debts next time.”
“I will,” she says. “Thank you, Shah.”
“You know my name?”
“I know your reputation. I should probably come with you. I know the patrols. And if they scan my number, then they’ll be satisfied they’ve detected someone legit. Did you know they can’t actually tell people apart? It’s all based on algorithm and codes.”
I did know that. I’m surprised she does. She seems too bright for someone about to become a worker.
“Are you coded?”
“Tomorrow, I start as a worker,” she says proudly. “I’m going for training in the morning. But today, I’m still free to help. I guess this is my last rebellion.”
I almost ask her to consider that it doesn’t have to be her last rebellion, but time is not on my side.
“I think the authorities are coming, Mr Shah,” she says. “Come with me. We can make it if we hurry.”
Back in the club…
Funny how some people leave an impression in a second, while others don’t make any kind of an impression in a lifetime. She gave me enough warning to get away before the cops showed up — and they came in force. She couldn’t have known, but I had enough warrants to bury me. That heads up saved me a long stretch.
Whatever’s going on with her, she’s not likely to survive it. I can see three slavers, two traffickers, and a meat merchant sizing her up. Before she goes on her way, I pat the top of her head. She smiles, mistaking it for affection. It’s not. I just marked her as one of mine. Nobody will touch her now, not without risking their lives.
There are beautiful women thronging this club, dressed up and made up to perfection. They know me, and I know many of them too. They come with bright smiles and ample breasts, bringing offerings of alcohol and drugs.
I can’t pay attention to them. I’m not here for women. I’m here for business. But I can’t pay attention to either of those things because Dreamy is here, sticking out like a sore thumb.
She’s taken my advice and gotten a drink. She’s up at the bar now, sipping a cocktail. I doubt she knows how strong that drink is, or what it has in it. Alcohol is the least of the active ingredients in a drink like that. I should go over and make sure she knows…
“Shah,” Malik nudges me. He’s redirecting my attention to the contact we’re here to meet. One of the Elites of the Colony wants to cut a few underground deals. It’s not uncommon. Half my crew used to be Elites. Power breeds greed, and greed can only be sated so far under the law.
“Shah,” my contact says. “It’s an honor to meet you. I hope we can cut a deal that suits us both.” He’s wearing a mask. It’s a beige face-covering with a slot for his eyes and little else. He couldn’t look more suspicious if he tried, but he has to protect his identity, especially here. The price for being caught here is death.
Zeki put this meeting together; she’s Malik’s sister. Right now, she’s back on the ship, keeping an eye on things, making sure security remains tight even in this loose place. We take a risk every time we land at a Colony. Our presence is usually tolerated, but there’s always a chance a new directive will have come down since our last visit and we’ll be greeted with bullets rather than drinks.
I have to attend to business, but as I do so, I keep a protective eye on Dreamy. She’s vulnerable, and though I’ve obviously marked her as mine, you never know what these monsters will do. Nobody here can be trusted as far as I can throw them. Me included.
She’s on the dance floor now, swaying out of time to the music. She’s like a little gray ray of dismal normality. She doesn’t have much rhythm, and whatever she has on board, it’s not helping with her coordination.
“So, if we can agree on a…”