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Rift (Part 1)

In this dead and lifeless world, there is little to live for but the next opportunity for violence. I contemplated this as I leaned against one of the cold metal walls of the countless apartment blocks, gasping for air.

"This is the last time I see you on this street." My adversary was a cruel one. His boot caught me in the stomach once again. I was too beaten to attempt an embarrassingly weak assault. My gun had been taken, and my sword was still at the flat. I coughed, my stomach seemed to rise up to my throat.

"I... I've got the message... You'll never see me again... I'll get out of your hair faster if you'd do me the honor of not hitting me again..." I heard him scoff over the sound of the driving rain against the asphalt streets and metal rooftops.

"You think I'd let you go that easy after what you did to my girlfriend? You really must be a special kind of fagot if you think I'm going to fall for that!" His fist caught me temple and I fell to the wet of the alley ground.

"Heh... She deserved it you prick..." I was taken by my long blue hair, now soaked, and pulled almost upright by it.

"I dare you to say that again! Say it again! I'm begging you!" His face was so close to mine now. His sharp features and pale skin were flecked with my blood, mixing with fresh rain water. He was only a little older than me, but far stronger.

"I said, she deserved it. And so did your pal Joll." His micro-expression told me that was a sore spot. As a reward for finding it, my head was cracked against the wall. This received an "Ooo" from several onlookers. They were part of his group, so I couldn't escape, even if I managed to best their leader. I slid down the plane of metal to stop in a twisted sitting position, not bothering to land gracefully. My head spun with the impact.

"Don't you ever talk about Joll! You're one lucky son of a bitch that I'm afraid of jail, or I'd see your insides spill over this very alleyway! You know, he's still not out of the hospital! How do you sleep at night, Eswin? How does that make you feel?" He knelt down to get a closer look at me, holding his switchblade with white knuckles. I didn't bother answering him. He probably knew what I would say anyway. He continued.

"I bet you laugh about it, don't you? You sick fuck." A certain insanity lit up his eyes. Normally, he didn't intimidate me more than your average punk, but there was something dark under there that didn't care whether he rotted in a cell the rest of his days for what he was about to do. I felt a flicker of true fear not unlick the glitter of his wet switchblade.

"Justin... I'm not going to bother you anymore. You win, okay? You'll never see me again, I told you." He placed his left hand on my shoulder and gripped hard. His right hand raised the blade up and twitched there in the air, his eyes clouding over in rage, and moral turmoil. I winced as he let out a cry and plunged the knife down. A strike of pain shot through my left shoulder. Justin immediately withdrew the blade and rose to his feet.

"Every time that wound hurts you, think of me. And when it heals, think of yourself." The grey leather of my civilian uniform was punctured and bleeding. My right hand covered it and pressed into it to try and stop it. Justin called back to his ground as he returned to the mouth of the alley.

"Let's go." They moved off, leaving me splayed out against the wall. I got to my feet, slowly, taking my sweet time. I was never in a rush these days. After discerning the stab was a flesh wound, I decided not to seek medical attention for it. I didn't have the money for that anyway. So I walked back to my flat with as much dignity as I could muster, my boots making dull thuds of the metal sidewalks, my soaking blue hair sticking to my face. I entertain a thought and smile. She really did deserve it, and that's what makes it all worth it. My eyes cloud with tears as I see the door to my apartment block. I was struck with another wave of depression that had become commonplace recently. My life was going nowhere. So what if the bitch got what she deserved and Joll finally got half of what I had received over these past few years? I didn't make any difference. Now the streets were even more dangerous for me. Even more people hate me; all for trying to keep a little piece of justice alive in this hell hole? This God forsaken hell hole... That I'll never get out of... I almost broke down, but somehow I got onto my flat and into the shower before curling up in the fetal position, rocking back and forth.

I was going to stay inside today. There was hardly any food left in the flat, but it was a small price to pay for a bit of solitude. I took my eye pills and splashed water on my face in the tiny bathroom. I stopped for a long look at my eyes in the mirror. Some of the best money I've ever spent was on the Bio-Enchantments for this natural blue hair that would never fall out and these purple eyes that see perfectly. They say the richer you are the better person you can be. It seemed to be true. I could only imagine what other operations and mutation inducing drugs I'd buy if I could. I had just paid off the last installment on my hair, and these new eyes were going to cost more than that. I really got them to impress employers. They like to see a well-made applicant who doesn't look like an animal whose features were determined by unchecked genetics. I sighed. Perhaps someday I'll scrape together enough capital to get titanium bones, or perhaps an immortal heart. It was proven to keep beating, even after you died. You could get second hand ones for almost half price. Sadly, even that was a fantasy from where I was standing.

I removed myself from the mirror and returned to the living room, eager to plop down of the couch and read. I did so, taking out my personal computer and selecting the novel I had been reading from the list. It was a fantasy story. These were rare nowadays. I didn't blame anyone for not feeling up to writing such things with the state of the world. But some do persevere, it seemed. This particular one was about a realm of many creatures with human intelligence. I would lie awake at night sometimes and smile to myself thinking about what it would be like to live in such a place. Animals, even uncivilized ones, seemed so free. I often though as well, that with all of your Bio-Enhancement technology, we could give ourselves some animal features. No one would ever do it, and if they did, they would be cast out of society forever, but... It was a tempting prospect.

I read on. Soon, I grew hungry. As I had observed before, there was little to eat around here. I satisfied myself with one of three slices of bread left, and sat back down to the book. I was not there long before my beeper went off. I touched the button behind my right ear.

"Hello?" A voice answered me.

"Eswin? Hey! I've got some items you might want to take a look at. You still interested in ammo for that antique .38? Illegally imported clothing? I know you hate the civilian jumpsuit here. I've got lots of other stuff, as you know. I figure since your paycheck was yesterday, you might want to blow some on some of my black market goodies? You're my pal, I thought I'd give you first... well... fifth pick. Sorry, business is business."

"Chail!" I nearly shouted at him. He never shut up. That's probably how he kept his job. "It's alright. I'm good for now. Keep in touch though. I'm sure to need a new gun soon. I lost the damn thing yesterday if you can believe it. Perhaps you'll come back across it sometime, huh?" I immediately closed my eyes, bracing myself. I had asked a question. I thought I had learned not to do that with him.

"Oh, yeah. I might just find it out there! Hah!" I jumped straight out of my seat when a loud crash sounded from outside.

"Whoa!" We both said in unison.

"Wait, you heard it too?" Chail said. He sounded nervous.

"I did..." I wished for the first time that there were a few windows in these damn blocks so I could see outside. "Are you still at your place of business?" I asked.

"Yes... er... There was a blue flash that filled the air... It's gone now... I know that sounds crazy, but if you heard the thunder too... at least that's true... Something's up for sure. I've got to go, umm... but give me a beep if you want to come over. You might need some armament soon..." I nodded, sitting in front of the television and turning it on.

"Will do... Take care of yourself."

"Don't worry." I heard the cock and whine of a large energy gun. "I've got it. See you." I pushed the button behind my ear again, then concentrated on the screen. The council will have to tell us something about it. Right now, the screen held only the technical difficulties slide. I began to bite my nails. Suddenly, the screen flashed alive, revealing the regular reader of propaganda sitting at her steel desk. She was a young woman with every inch of her reconstructed to be forever beautiful. Her neon green hair and larger-than-normal yellow eyes complemented her nearly pure white skin.

"Message start." A deep, mechanical voice spoke. She began her speech.

"Citizens of Lakia. This is an address from the high council concerning the recent disturbance. We assure you that there is no danger to the city. We have teams searching for the source currently. Please comply with their requests peaceably. No further information is known, but we will update this message when that information comes in. For now, go about your normal business, and report any unusual findings to an Enforcer. Your cooperation is appreciated." The mechanical voice sounded again.

"Message repeats."

"Citizens of Lakia..." I turned the television off; deciding that staying inside was no longer an option. I tightened the buckles of my leather boots, fixed the bandage on my shoulder, and put my switchblade in my pocket. After this preparation, I left the flat to walk the streets once more. This time it felt like I was looking for something in particular. I couldn't place what it was, but it was far more important than any revenge on alley punks that I could hope to exact.