《Daily Writing》


 Daily Writing #1 - Backstreet Dealings

    Calypso checked his watch, humming along to the music bursting out the club windows. He could feel the vibrations through the wall he was leaning on. Sounded like Ketro Chicken, maybe Dr Waves. Both artists he would have enjoyed under other circumstances, but now-


    A car pulled up to the pavement, headlights cutting clean through the night. Stainless titanium rims, tumbler tyres, tinted glass and a shiny red finish.


    Well, at least he had the right guy.


    "About fucking time," he said, wiping his sweaty palms on his trousers. The driver''s window rippled, becoming transparent. The geezer begind the wheel hardly looked the sort to have adjustable tints.


    "You''re Blackjack?"A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.


    The old pile of bones gestured to the back of the car. His meaning was clear:Get in.


    Calypso stared at the man while he weighed the offer. His gaze didn''t waver. In the end, it was the cold metal of the gun pressed against his leg that decided him.


    "Well, who am I to refuse a ride? And such a nice one, too." he said, opening the door and taking a seat. He had barely closed it when the car started up again. The engine''s gentle hum continued, even as their surroundings became a frightening blur.


    "Not bad, is it?" a voice beside him said. Calypso jumped. The man was shrouded in darkness, except for a glowing visor - two bands of neon red where his eyes should have been. Calyspo found himself reaching for his gun. He wouldn''t draw it, of course... but he sure as hell liked having it close.


    "Relax," the man said. An invitation? Not really. More like a masked command. "you''re the guy looking for a fusion engine?"


    Calypso glanced at the driver, "Uh, well, I-"


    "Relax," the man said again, "you can trust me. As long as you don''t cross me."


    The car came to a stop.

 Daily Writing #2 - A Glimpse of White

    Claus station was packed.


    It always was, but Terrence wasn''t always stuck between a fat man and a smoker. His legs were still heavy from the hourney here (and what an adventure that had been), otherwise he would''ve stood up. But hey, at least sitting down he wouldn''t get accidentally pushed onto the tracks and splattered into a million pieces when the Hyperion arrived.He''d seen it happen before. The man had begged-


    No. He wouldn''t let the litres of Daze go to waste. It was part of his job, that''s all. Just like his business tonight was part of his job. Nothing more, nothing less.


    A train hurtled into the station at full speed, coming to a complete stop instantly. It hovered over the tracks like a shadow - a shadow streaked with bright blue - as tonight''s party-goers scrambled on-board. And then it was gone. Drifting away silently, as if it was never there at all. The next one would be his. If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it.


    The fat man got to his feet and the smoker put out her cigarette. He glanced hopefully towards the traintracks, but there was no sign of the train.


    "Snow!"


    "It''s snowing!"


    Terrence watched the little flecks of white as they drifted in the gentle winds, glowing as they crossed the bands of neon. Everyone rose to their feet. The elderly, the sick, the little children who could only wobble on two legs.


    "Mummy, look!" one of them said, tugging at his equally awe-struck mother.


    Terrence couldn''t help but smile at that.


    His smile faded when the train arrived. The doors opened, welcoming him. The snow was getting heavier now, a rare spectacle in Cybercity, and although people filed off the train, none climbed on.


    None except him.


    It would''ve been nice to stand around and enjoy the snow, but he had a job to do. A job that couldn''t wait.

 Daily Writing #3 - Welcome to Cybercity

    Cybercity was something else. Love it or hate it, that much everyone agreed on.


    A so-called city of light, under the perpetual shadow of the stormclouds it attracted. Blue lightning snaked its way down from the sky and sparked against the cold metal spire of the Unity Tower.


    For a moment, the tallest building in Cybercity glowed. And then, it began to rain.


    Against the thundering sky, the army of skyscrapers looked like looming tombstones of glass and neon. The rain lashed against them, but they stood firm, and the raindrops slipped onto smaller buildings - the houses and apartments below. Few droplets made it to the lowest layer of the city, invisible from above. The author''s narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.


    Here, the smell of street food mingled with the odour of fried electronics and sweat. When people talked, they talked in low voices, often passing banknotes behind their back. Couldn''t be too careful, after all.


    The trail of shopping malls, strip clubs, nightclubs and brothels all spiralled back to Unity tower, where a screen displayed the following message:


    WELCOME TO CYBERCITY! ENJOY YOUR STAY!