-1-
Nothing surprised me about the room the Dories occupied. The room itself was relatively large, but you couldn’t really tell by the way they kept it. There were odd piles of clothes and shoes around the room. Bright orange plastic storage containers overflowing with clothes, makeup and other smaller possessions bordered the walls--despite there being a closet in the room. In the middle of the floor was a round wooden table covered by a surprisingly large number of books and magazines. All of the books were stacked on top of each other in a haphazard manner.I had never seen so many real life bound books before in my life.
The only thing that looked organized was the polished white and gold vanity that was pushed up against a wall just opposite the door. Sitting on the vanity , Minnie kept a small collection of antique mint boxes with a variety of colored pills and candy inside each one.
The cement walls were covered in chalk graffiti and the floor was covered by a variety of mismatched rugs. The room was dim with the only light coming from the lights hanging from the ceiling.
The room was much bigger than the one at my house or dorm so, I could deal with staying there for a while if I had to. The only thing that was unnerving me was how close the two siblings were—what I assumed was a decent marriage was now turning in my head. Judging by the sole giant king sized bed in the room I assumed the two of them slept in the same bed. I wasn’t sure if incest was popular in the Western Republic, I couldn't believe that it was. Jean had mentioned they weren't Republicans and in theEast incest was still a taboo, even with the Shift.
I stood at the door as Minnie cleared off an area of the floor, placed a piece of Tempurfoam on the ground and covered it with a blue and black checkered blanket.
“You can sleep there,” Minnie told me hopping into the king bed,”At least until you get a mattress or cot or something,”
“No, wait” Jean said pulling of his shirt and throwing it on the ground, “How could we could be so rude ?—You take the bed we will sleep on the floor,”
“Uh, No—no--no the floor is fine,” I said. The loan piece of Tempurfoam was the most comfortable thing I had laid on since I had been taken.
“Well, anything you see in here you are more than welcome to borrow, brother,” Jean told me.
“Thank you,” I said as I wondered over to the window that was above my makeshift bed.
The night had fallen and I could look up from
the basement window and see into the neighborhood. If I titled my head back completely I could see the skyline of whatever city I was in. The cityscape reminded me a
lot of home -- all the soaring edifices that looked like they were touching the sky. Even though this area had just been raided all of
the streetlamps were burning and the lights were still on in the high rises.
The streets were quiet like at home-- I saw the occasional person walk by, but they walked so silently and careful. The night had an almost tranquil effect on me. Was this really the rebellious crime ridden Western Republic ? The place they called the end of the world ? The area that had no industry or legacy of its own ?
I looked over my shoulder and saw Minnie and Jean were in their bed falling asleep, Jean’s arm protectively around Minnie. I knelt down and spread out in my makeshift bed falling into a peaceful rest.
-2-
“Wake up !,” I heard a harsh voice whisper to me
I jolted awake to see Sara crouching over me. I turned my head to the bed where the Dorys appeared to still be in a deep sleep I looked up into the window and saw it was still dark outside. Sara grabbed my arm and nearly ripping it out of the socket pulled me out of the Dory’s room. The common area—where I had previously been held was different. Sometime during the night Sara had gotten a mini fridge, microwave oven, an assortment of hotplates and furniture down the stairs along with several other orange storage containers.
“Trouble sleeping ?” I whispered
“Things need to be in order,” she answered still pulling me along after her.
She walked me to a door and opened it—it lead to a rather large bathroom. In the far corner was a deep bathtub, that almost rivaled a small pool filled with water.
“You really want to be one of us ?” she smirked
“I just don’t want to die,” I replied
“A bit of irony but, okay,” she said, ”Take your clothes off,”
“No,” I shot back
“People really don’t get to say no to me more than once,” she said,” Do it,”
“Why ?”
“I’m atoning you of your Sins,”
“What do you mean ?”
“You are a Sinner,” she said taking my arm and putting my wrist in her palm. “You have a System Identity Number. It’s in that ridiculous tattoo. I can’t let you live here with that. It's to much of a risk and frankly the idea of it makes me sick”
“It’s engraved with a laser and biochips. It won’t just come off in water,” I explained taking my wrist back
“I know,” she said, “We need to deactivate it and this is how. So, strip and get in the water. Stop being a pussy,”
I sighed and took off the clothes I was wearing, she never took her eyes off me as I got completely naked and slowly stepped one leg into the water—it was ice cold.
“Shit--It’s freezing,” I cursed as I found myself surrounded by the ice cubes floating in the water.
“I don't have all night,” she said
Not wanting to look worse with her than I already was I put my other leg in and shivers went up my spine. Within seconds I was turning numb, I could feel myself turning blue.
“Doing okay ?,” she teased
“Fine,” I lied
She leaned over and taking my
shoulders pushed me further into the water until my head was covered, the shock felt like fire in my ears and a cold
erupted through my veins as I came back up. Sara just looked down over me and I noticed her tattoos
again.
“S-s-so, what-t-t’s up with you and l-a-a-tin ?” I asked my body shaking uncontrollable at this point.
I was expecting her to yell at me some more but, she put her hands on her hips and slipped her shorts down to her hip and pulled her top around her shoulders revealing her breasts.
She pointed to the black markings on
her stomach that I could see fully for the first time.
“Radix malorum est Cupiditas,” she read,” Greed is the root of all Evil,”
She pointed to the words on her chest
“Amor vincit omnia—love conquers all,” she said and for the first time I realized those words were across her heart,”These are like my mantras. What I believe. My love for Luce, Derek and Chris is above all and what keeps me going.And greed is what I hate the most and causes so much evil. I suppose you believe that as well ?,”
“I g-g-g-uess,” I shivered
She let out an loud sigh.
“Don’t you see that corporate greed is what caused your eye problem ? How can you not be pissed ?”
My teeth were shattering to much for me to give an answer, I was feeling
numb, I wasn’t sure if I was sitting or standing anymore
She picked up a towel and handed it to me.
“You can get out nnow,” she said
I quickly got out wrapping myself in the warm towel
She took my wrist again and wiping
it clean with her shirt she put a bracelet of translucent black beads over my wrist
“What is this ?” I asked
“These glass beads have polarized magnets in the center,” she told
me, “The magent is so powerful will stop your SIN from communication with any networks as long as you
wear it. Also, if it gets to close to certain computers it will fry the system. Don't ever take this off.”
She opened the bathroom door and began to head out.
“Wait !,” I called to her “So, if these magnets are so powerful why did I have to sit in the ice water ?”
“That,” she said standing at the door,” That was for fun. You may actually be tougher than I thought. . . that may come in handy.,”
She turned around and walked out.
***
When I woke up the next morning the bedroom door was open and I could smell the faint scent of something baking. I was content in lying there all day and not bothering anybody when Jean walked in.
“Come on, brother you must be starving," he said
"I'm fine," I said
"Oh come on, you know Minnie is an excellent cook.” he said taking my arm and pulling me up.
With him by my side we walked out in the common area. The space looked even more cramped now that they were all sitting out there.
Sara was lying across the armchair with her son, Chris in her lap and Luce nearby drawing intently on paper. She barely acknowledged me or anyone in the room. She just seemed to be content in the silence. I had to admit Luce did peak my curiosity. Maybe it was because I still believed he could be fixed with some help from Tempus. Not that I would ever tell Sara that—I had no idea how she would react.
Saint was standing to the side looking through a book. I wondered if he even slept or needed to eat. Even though he looked like a normal man I could tell there was something superhuman about him. It looked like he was standing up straighter than the walls. Minnie was bent down on the ground carefully taking a small tray of biscuits out of one of the microwave ovens.
“This sucks, when will we be able to repair everything upstairs ?,” Minnie asked,” It’s not like you can stay down here forever,”
“I’ll stay where I please,” Sara said taking a sip of what looked like something stronger than grape juice out of a glass.
“I wonder who will crack first,”
Jean smiled
“Would it be easier if I just threw you idiots out ?,”Sara asked
“Without me, who would cook for you ?,” Minnie replied,” You’d starve yourself to death,”
“And who would tell you what day it is?,” Sara retorted
It amazed me how almost family like
the group of them seemed despite the circumstances. Not that I was entirely
sure what the circumstances were. I was sure Sara cared for her children and I
was sure Saint cared about Sara but they all seemed so stoic and unconnected I just couldn’t
see how. They didn't seem any closer to a family that always used technology.
“Let me give you temporary color,” Minnie said walking over to Sara and gathering her hair in a ponytail “Your to much of a stereotype with red hair--fiery redhead,”
“No,” Sara responded slapping her hands away.
"Oh, come on,"
“Hey, you can do my hair, Minnow” Jean said, “I’ve been itching for a change anyway.”
I saw a smile spread across Minnie’s face.
“Okay," she said "Oh and hey Alan, since nothing is going on tonight we should take you out !,”
“Oh no that’s--,” I started
“We insist,” Jean said, “It’s not like we get to go out with other people every day. Besides Sara and Saint never want to go anywhere fun.”
I was nervous about what Jean and Minnie's idea of fun was but, I didn't see myself being in a position to say no so, I agreed.
***
A few hours later Jean’s hair had been inverted ---it was now completely jet black with white tips. He had also changed his contacts to a haunting gold shade-- the color part of his iris appeared twice the size of a normal one. In the process I never caught what his actual eye color was. He looked more normal than usual in gray jeans, a seafoam green tank top and yellow sneakers.
Minnie was wearing a black dress and gold sandals, her hair hanging neatly combed down her shoulders, she was carrying a small pink purse she had filled with some of her mint boxes
The Dories walked on either side of me as we headed out of the house—like they thought I was going to make a run for it. It was kind of nice to go for a walk for a change, I drove most anywhere at home. As we walked down the streets I saw most of the neighborhood were housing units and abandoned buildings and factories. After only a few minutes I started to sweat and I felt winded.
"The air is really dry here," I said
"Yeah, the nuclear winter makes it warmer than in the East but, I think you'll get used to it ," Minnie said
"Except in a few years scientist think we will have a nuclear summer," Jean said "Where it gets so hot nothing can survive on the planet and we will all burn up in the suns heat,"
"Jean stop it," Minnie said, I could sense some fear in her voice. I think Jean senses it as well and reached across me and took Minnie's hand.
"I'm sorry.," he said, "I shouldn't have scared you, it's just a theory after all, it's probably not even true."
I'm not sure if Minnie believed him but, even if it was true there would be ways to circumvent it. The country had been through worse. We continued to walk down the streets in silence.
After a few blocks came the white noise of conversation, footsteps, anchors on holoscreens talking and a melody
of different types of music. We seemed to be in the downtown part of the city. The streets were alive with crowds of people and car traffic. People walked in and around the traffic ignoring all the lights. We
walked down the crowded street passing every kind of person known to man. Holographic advertisements adorned the streets floating high in the sky and others popping up in front of you--some of them were even for more unsavory activities. There
were open air bars, clubs, restaurants, tech shops
packed side by side on the street. I was overwhelmed by all the lights and people.
-3-
Jean and Minnie turned into an
open air tech market and to the back where there was a shimmering red sign for the Phoenix Arcade. In the arcade crowds of people stared into large gaming consoles, reflections of screens
were splashed across their faces-- images of violent deaths, car chases and
fantasy worlds.
Low acoustic, auto tuned electroica droned out of invisible speakers and the multi colored lights were strobing along to the pulses. In the corner were rows of white bubbles hosting Stimsim casts. You stepped into one of those and you could be anywhere experiencing anything for as long as you want. Arcades like this always seemed like fun to me but, they tended to have bad reputations.
Minnie and Jean exchanged hugs with the
occasional person but they seemed to be headed towards something at the end of
the arcade. We went through a pair of automatic doors and to the café part of the
arcade. Only a few of the tables had people sitting at them and the lights were
calmed down. The music from the arcade was barely audible. Jean and Minnie sat at a small table in the corner of the room, I pulled up and extra chair and sat across from them.
“I say we get a bite to eat first,” Jean said
“And then I’m going to kick Alan’s ass
in Grand Theft Auto,” Minnie said
“Probably,” I responded
“You don’t play video games ?,” Jean asked
“Not like this,” I admitted
A waitress came over and exchanged greeting with the Dorys. She seemed to notice me off hand and stared like she was going to say something but, she never did.
“ We want a pizza,” Minnie said ,”With pineapples and salsa--,”
“And smoked salmon,” Jean added
“Yeah, and limeades,” Minnie added
The waitress smiled, shook her head and walked off.
“She couldn’t stop staring at you,” Minnie laughed
“Well, it’s not like we get pretty things like him in here every day,” Jean joked
When the waitress came out with the
pizza I knew it would either be really good or it would be really bad but, I wasn’t
going to piss them off so, I closed my eyes and took a bite. The salmon tasted like it was covered in salt, the tomatoes and pineapple tasted gritty but, I powered through. As we
started eating a man approached our table. I smelled the liquor on him before I even saw him. He was his late 30’s with a scruffy appearance.
“Saw you working her couple of days ago,” he snorted to Minnie leaning over the table,”You one of Dakota’s girls, right ?,”
“He wishes,” Minnie smiled
The man placed a 100$ bill on the table. Despite most paper products dissipating in the last decade--money was still strong because it gave people a feeling of patriotism.
“I don’t think she’s working tonight,
brother,” Jean said leaning his chair back against the wall.
“No, it’s fine,” Minnie said taking the money and folding it in half ,”Not exactly digging deep are you ?,”
“Shouldn’t we all just be glad were alive ?,” the man said
Minnie laughed at the comment and took a mint
box out of her purse. It was filled with an assortment of what looked like candy but, I was sure it was drugs. She dug around and placed a bright orange octagon shaped waifer on her tongue. As she closed her mouth a small
smile crept across her face as she
grasped the table. She was was breathing harder like she had just run a mile. After a moment she stood up and led the man towards a wooden door in the back of the cafe.
I turned to see Jean was balancing his chair on 2 legs against the wall fishing the
lime out of his drink with his straw--like he wasn't even paying attention to what just happened.
“I can’t believe you are okay with
that,” I observed
“What do you mean ?,” Jean asked putting the lime over his teeth and sucking on it
“ I don’t know . . . it’s just you and Minnie seems so close,” I said
Jean spit the lime on to the table and sat up in his chair
“I guess we are,” he said, ”You know Minnow and I grew up on an Eastern Military Base a while from here. It was just like growing up in the East--- we were never allowed to leave the base. Our parents are very much into the military so,we were usually left to our own devices on our own. I went through a rebellious stage—guess I’m still going through it—anyway, I left the base. Minnie had always been a good girl but, for some she decided to follow me. I tried to make her go back but, she wouldn’t.”
“What did you do when you left ?,” I asked
“Lived on the streets some, had some good times too. It was scary at first and I was afraid for our lives out here but, I sure as hell wasn’t going back home . anyway, I started turning tricks. Minnow didn't start until a few years later--completely of her own decision,” he smiled “And then when we could afford a place—we moved in,"
"I can't imagine having to do that," I said
"Why not ?," Jean said, "Sex is fun, especially when you are young,"
“How old were you ?,” I asked
taking a sip of the limeade trying not to let how uncomfortable this conversation was to me show.
"It was about 5 years ago I left," he said looking up, "So, I was 18 and Minnow must have been 11,”
The drink immediately got caught in my throat and I started chocking.
“Are you okay, brother?,” Jean asked patting my back
Hell no.
“Yeah,” I lied and tried to remember my original point of this conversation. “ It's just this morning I couldn't figure out how you all fit together. I mean, guess I can see you and Minnie are um, siblings but, what about Sara and Saint. How did you all become friends ?,"
“Well our old apartment was below Sara and Derek's. They were kind to us and Derek sympathized with my anti-government notions. As for Saint, honestly I wish I knew the full story behind that. When Sara came back after Derek's death he was with her. All I know is Sara trusts Saint and he has never crossed us.,”
I just nodded my head
Jean and I sat in silence as he took very precise bites of the pizza.
“Jean Dory,you son of a bitch ! Your'e still alive !,” said a young man coming up behind Jean. Jean stood up and the man immediately stopped—staring at me.
“This is my friend Alan. He’s cool,” Jean explained hugging the man. “Alan this is my friend Pascal,”
Pascal looked like another version of Jean—he was slim, stripes of blonde and red in his hair. Pascal gave me a nod and, sat down turning his back to me as he talked to Jean.
“ Wanna hear some crazy shit ?,”
Pascal began, “ Before the bombs I heard a Mjollner configed a black clinic leech to do a full
conversion,”
"On who ?," Jean asked
"I don't know some quiff,"
“Of course," Jean responded, "I bet those gangbangers can spill getting the ace rippers.,"
“Tell me about it. Hey, was anyone bagged and tagged during the bombs ?,”
“Not that I know of, this place looks full as ever” Jean said suddenly standing up,”You ready to interface ?,”
“Just waiting for you,” Pascal responded.
Jean nodded and motioned for me to follow him out the dining room. We headed through the same wooden backdoor Minnie had gone through. The back of the restaurant had a couple of empty rooms with curtained off spaces. Jean walked past the curtained areas looking straight ahead but, I let my glance shift and through a crack in the curtains I saw a profile image of Minnie.
She was lying on her back over a
table where the drunk man was standing over her fucking violently. Minnie's eyes were wide open but, had
a dead glazed over look and she was
unusually silent. Her body was hanging over
the table limply like she had no bones her neck looked like it was going to snap any second as it continuosly hit the edge of the table.
“Jean,” I whispered pointing to
where Minnie was with the man, “I think somethings wrong,”
“She’s fine,” Jean said pulling the curtain and continuing to walk forward,” She's puppeting-- she is in a drug induced temporary coma oblivious to what is going on. It allows the client to pretend she’s anything he wants while he fucks and she doesn’t have to look into his ugly mug. It’s quite popular,”
Jean seemed to find no qualms talking about his sister in this way.
He pushed open another door and we
walked out of the building into an abandoned alley. Jean leaned against the wall while Pascal produced needles out of his pocket.
“Give me one for Alan,”Jean said
“I don’t--,”
“Yes you do. These are transsecents,” Jean said pushing my hair off my forehead,”You must think it’s impossible I get around without a syndicate, right ?,”
“I guess,”
“Well, this drug allows people to enter the internet and all cyber information without a syndicate. It activates the implant in your heads. You can even bridge into the Eastern cyberspace undetected,”
The last sentence seemed to stick with me.
“How can you control it ?,” I asked
“Well, there is a learning curve,”
Jean laughed, "You will figure it out,"
When he had pushed all the hair out of my face he kissed the side of my forehead and placed the needle into my the spot his warm lips had just left while Pascal simultaneously shot the drug into him. I barely felt the needle go in as I saw the numbers and grids matriculating in front of me again. I was floating away from what was physical and the graphs and data began to evolve from the bones of date into something I could read. I knew a bit of programming and when I saw code I could command I concentrated on it and slowly images began to form out of the numbers. I moved my eyes and the data moved with them, I just had to keep thinking in commands and concentrate.
As if there was a syndicate patching the images to my eyes I went into the Eastern States's public media wire. I searched the top headlines but, didn’t see anything about my disappearance. Okay, maybe a missing boy wasn’t going to be national news.
I moved to the South District media streams. That was where I lived and went to school and after all Dad was kind of prominent guy. I searched my name in the news streams and came up with zero results. I did a quick search of the neighborhood media stream and still nothing.
I loosened my search to just my last name and tried a regional search. Finally a choice popped up for my dad, Henry Gray in a video clip. I immediately opened the link and I saw my dad on a CNBC show.
“Now, moving into producing Syndicates is something new for Tempus. What is the plan for the Syndicate 8K ?,” the anchor asked
“Well, “ Dad said,” Tempus means time and our company has always been about extending time with biologically engineered organs. But, it's a new decade and we need new developments. I wanted the company to work on helping people enjoy time. This was rushed but, it is also a tribute to our former president,”
“And is there anything else new we can expect ?,”
“Well, we are working on some pet projects of mine but, I can't say anything to you yet.” Dad said
"I take it this is an exciting time for you ?," the anchor asked
"I couldn't be happier," Dad smiledI clicked off the video and scanned the transcripts of the
rest of the interview and not a word about me came up. Okay fine, maybe it
wasn’t something they wanted public. Mom always said Dad was good at saving face in front of people, it was why he always talked at public functions.
I navigated to Dad’s personal webpage and saw nothing but, company
info.
That made sense, Dad was prominent but, Mom’s web page was always personal.
I went to her page and saw nothing outside of the normal. I searched through her status update history and saw nothing about me. I noticed she was online so, I logged in to my account as quickly as I could and began to type a message to her when the image shook and blurred slightly. Within in seconds it started making less sense. I was becoming aware of my surroundings again and I was back in the dark alley.
“Shit !,” I cursed. For some reason I felt really out f breath. I felt like processing all that information took all my energy.
“You okay, brother?,” Jean asked his hands on my shoulder suddenly feeling cool to the touch.
I couldn't speak I was still in some kind of shock
“It’s a rush the first time,” he explained, “I only do it every now and then to see what’s going on in the world,”
Jean pulled me off the ground and we headed back into the restaurant but, the whole time I felt myself seething with internal anger. Why didn’t anyone care I was missing ? It had been days and Spring break was over they must have noticed I never called. I was their only child, how could Dad look so composed knowing I was missing ?
When we got back to the table I saw Minnie was finishing off the rest of the pizza ,looking just as normal as ever.
“How are things ?,” Minnie asked
“Nothing special,” Jean mused
"Let's go play," Minnie said taking a handful of pills and putting them in her mouth, "Alan looks like he needs some fun,"
“I’m fine,” I pressed.
We walked into the arcade and Minnie pulled me over to a Street Racer console. She pushed the shades over my eyes and the streets of France were suddenly in front of me. When I reached out hands identical to mine grasped a steering wheel. I could easily move my feet to make the car start but, I wasn't concentrating on the game. All I could think about was why I hadn't found anything about me missing when all of a sudden and I was rear ended several times by a hot pink motorcycle.
I decided not to let my frustration show and I changed my vehicle to a red sports car and locking into the game I sped past her. The game felt more real than anything I had ever experienced, I was taking a lead on Minnie when her motorcycle just stopped moving like she wasn't even playing. Her motorcycle fell on the side of the road.
I took my shades of and looked over to see she wasn't at the console--a man was holding on to her arm pulling her into him-- he looked pissed off.
“Ready to take my offer ?," he asked her. His voice seemed to permeate the noise of the arcade. “You must have known I’d be here tonight,”
“Go to hell, Dakota not tonight,”
Jean said annoyed but not alarmed
“How about you stay the fuck out of this?” Dakota shot back and turned back to Minnie,”Come on a pretty girl like you needs someone like me. You’re not a child anymore. You can make your own decisions,”
Minnie tried to pull out of his grasp but was unsuccessful
“I don’t need a pimp,” Minnie said, “You just want me for the money for yourself. Fuck off,”
"I'm willing to--,”
“Leave her alone--,” Jean said, “She's got nothing to do with this you know it,”
“Stay the hell out of this,” Dakota yelled at him,”You know you still owe me,”
“I know,” Jean said
“You are just putting off the inevitable,” Dakota said,” After a while I'll take her--
Before the man could finish he sentence, Jean had pulled a blade out of nowhere and cut a slit in Dakota’s arm. Blood sprayed on to Minnie's face as he let her out of his grasp and held his arm. He looked in shock at his wounded arm stunned.
“This is so over rated,” Minnie said, “Let’s go home,”
“Couldn’t agree more,” Jean agreed
and quickly guided us out.
“What the hell was that ?,” I asked when we were away from the crowded streets.
“Dakota was an old friend of ours-- he runs a very profitable ring and specializes in women. He helped me get my first operation a few years ago,"
"Operation ? Are you okay ?"
"It was a black surgery to keep methamphetamine running through my blood. It's why I always feel warm to the touch. Anyway I've yet to pay him back and he's been talking about taking Minnie for a while. It's just a threat, I'm sure,"
“He actually thinks I want to be one of his girls," Minnie scoffed as she kept wiping blood off her face and hair, "He knows it's not going to happen but, it’s not a typical Saturday night if there is no bloodshed,”
***
Back in the room I could think more clearly on what I had and hadn’t see in the media streams. Maybe the police weren’t releasing information about me being taken yet. Not that I was exactly being taken against my will anymore.
“Ouch, damnit !,” Minnie giggled
I looked over to the bed where Minnie was sitting in between Jean’s legs. She had just washed the blood out of her hair and he was carefully combing it out for her .
"If it hurts, why are you laughing ?," he asked, "You've taken to many drugs tonight,"
“Maybe I should cut my hair ?,”
Minnie said ignoring his comment
“No,” Jean replied softly, making a french braid down her back, ”I think men like it long,”
“What do I give a fuck what men think ?,”
“Oh come on, Minnow.” He sighed ,”Don’t you want to meet someone and get married one day ? I was kind of hoping it would be the one thing that would put us back in bitchy mommy’s good graces,”
“Ugh.How about you can get married first ? ”
she suggested
Jean responded with a full hearted laugh.
“I never want to get married,” Minnie said turning around so her chest was lying against his stomach,”If I do it means I won’t get to hang out with you anymore. I like having fun with you, talking to you and waking up to you everyday . I love and trust you more than anyone. I can’t imagine feeling that way about someone I haven't known my whole life. In truth . . . I couldn’t even imagine being married to anyone but you,”
He let his head fall down to hers and kissed her lips
“I love you more than anything too, Minnow” he
said softly kissing her again," But you are being ridiculous,"
Jean looked back up and Minnie looked down and for the first time I saw something like sadness on each of their faces. Not that they let the other see it.
The bedroom door suddenly swung open.
“It’s called knocking, sister” Jean
said as Sara walked into the room.
She leaned against the wall and her eyes wondered to me, “What the fuck is wrong with you ?,”
“Nothing,” I said.
“I gave him some transcents,” Jean admitted
She folder her arms and stared at me
“Let me guess, Daddy Gray's not using all the king's men looking for you ? But, who care because you can now get porn on your simstim cast and greedy business men can make a shitload of money ," she said sarcastically, "Well, I guess your parents can grow a new one of you, right ? I mean it’s true most glitterbabies come with warranties ? It's pretty nice that people are disposable now.”
“Shut up,” I said.
“I’m right though, aren’t I?” she said,”I mean they could just recreate you from scratch ? Maybe one who gets into a real college ?,”
I couldn’t pleasure her with an answer.
“I had a visitor from the Yakuza today “ she said turning back to the Dorys, “ We have an appointment at 7 AM. Saint is staying here you are all coming with me. Be ready on time,”
She gave me a look and then walked out.
“Yakuza ?,” I asked
“Don’t look so confused, brother,” Jean said, “Looks like we have a job,”
