A Fractured Circuit

I jerk my head back and forth as the electro-metal rhythm thumps through my ears. Rubbing my eyes and pulling at my face, I struggle to keep myself awake for the tenth hour of decoding this stupid laptop.  

If I don’t get it done by morning, which is only a few hours away, I’ll have hell to pay with the horde leader, Grim.  

Swinging around to grab another energy drink from the mini-fridge, I let out a growl when I realise that it’s empty.  

I fling myself out of my chair and snatch my favourite pink hoodie from a pile on the floor. Chucking it on, I free my biohazard-green braids, allowing them to drape down my back.  

"Are you coming, Mouse?" 

My cat stretches across our bed, her thin black frame like a shadow only distinguishable by her bright emerald eyes. She lazily slips onto the floor and plods across the floor of our tiny studio apartment. 

"I'll take that as a yes." I shove my feet into chunky, black boots, tearing my pink tights as I do. 

Dodging the wires that drape in front of the main doors, we hurry through the labyrinths of the city of Boar. The sky flashes with a sickly yellow hue, and my eyes burn from the familiar smoky neon haze that seeps through the streets. Even at this time of night, I can hear half-corrupt ads promoting quality cyberware running on a loop through glitching speakers.   

The roar of powerful engines makes me wince as two chrome motorbikes come flying around the corner, sparks flicker through the air like fireworks as they clip a nearby lamp post. Their speed only increases as they fight for first place. I stand back against the stone wall as they accelerate past. 

“Any spare data?” a voice whispers from the gloom. I turn to see a man, hunched over, draped in ripped fabrics, holding out his rusty, prosthetic arm.  

“I don’t carry data.” I respond, as I continue walking, dodging others who hold their hands out in desperation.  

“Keep up Mouse, I know it isn’t your neck on the line, but I won't be around to feed you if you don’t pick those paws up.” 

Mouse trails close behind as we walk past darkened corners where members of Grim's gang often congregate to sell illegal data and mods to the unfortunate people living in the slums of Boar. Most people would kill for a technological body mod to make life more bearable, but getting involved with corrupt sellers and botched deals means being under their thumb. 

Sadly, under their thumb is precisely where I am.  

I have always been good with tech, but after word got around that I had helped out a few friends, Grim caught wind and came looking for me. One of his gang had reported that I could slice through codes like butter. He promised my safety as long as I did what the horde needed. And tonight that is decoding this damn laptop.  

Mouse’s ears flatten as we dodge the entrance of one of Boar’s many raves. The towering bouncer’s red cybernetic eyes scan identification, and neon lights flicker into the road as he opens the metal door plastered with the club name ‘HEAT’. Girls in shiny clothes eagerly wait in the queue showing off new tech advances, and intoxicated men argue, sending blood splatters into the street with their metal fists. I would be old enough to go in a couple of months, but unsurprisingly, the smell of oil and vomit didn’t really entice me in. 

We reach the corner shop, and I throw the door open.  

Mouse slips in first and beelines for the snack aisle. She chews on a few crisp packets before dragging one off the shelf and carrying it in her mouth.  

Tide turns off his built-in earbuds. "Hey Vex!"  

"Working late tonight?"  

A forced laugh tumbles out of his mouth. "Your cat has been stealing from the store again. I assume you’ll be paying her tab soon?" 

I grab three energy drink cans and slam them down on the counter. "Mouse? She wouldn't steal. You must have the wrong cat."  

Tide starts scanning the drinks through the till as he watches Mouse, waiting for someone to open the door, with prawn cocktail-flavoured crisps tight between her jaws.  

"Stay safe, Tide." I nod, as I put two drinks in my pink pockets and crack the third one open for the walk home.  

This should keep me up long enough to crack this code.  

Stepping out of the store, the metallic stench that plagues the city hits me before the cold does. I take a long swig of the sweet oil to refill my flashing red energy bar and watch Mouse trot ahead proudly with her loot.  

Before I can follow, someone slithers out of the darkness.  

"Vex, still awake, I see." 

"Lurking around as usual, Viper?" I wrap my braids up and shove them down my jumper before pulling up my hood to partially conceal my face. 

Viper smirks and steps out into the path. "Grim wanted me to check on your progress."  

"I didn't know he ran a babysitting service." 

Viper's eyes narrow as she steps towards me. She grabs my arm, making sure to dig her sharp black nails in. "We must have the files from that laptop, Vex; you don't want to disappoint Grim."  

I hiss through gritted teeth. "Understood."  

I pull my arm from her grasp and follow Mouse home, checking over my shoulder the whole way. 

➖ 

My gritty eyes strain over the now disassembled laptop as I scratch at my arms.  

The morning mist creeps through the window and my blood turns to stone. 

Fear floods my body like poison.

I know that, for the first time, I don’t have what he wants. 

Before I can think about what to do next, I hear the door. 

BANG 

 BANG 

 BANG  

I try to take a deep breath to calm my body, but the panic begins to consume me.  

The doorknob twists and I hear it creak open 

My heart races as I turn to see Grim’s monstrous figure filling the doorway. His sickly pale skin is highlighted by the early morning sun and his jet-black hair partially covers the sinister sneer that is plastered on his face.  

"I'll let myself in." His sharp voice slices through me. "Where’s the laptop?"  

"Grim, there’s a problem." My legs wobble as the words fall out. 

My dry eyes grow wide as he stomps towards me, every step making the room shake. 

Viper slips through the door, closing it behind her.  

I fall back into my seat as Grim's stale breath condenses on my face. He slams his arms down and I hear his grip tighten on the armrests of my chair.  

He stares into me. "What problem?"  

"The laptop is missing pieces; it won't work properly." I try not to look directly at him.  

Grim laughs hysterically as he turns to face Viper. "The laptop is missing pieces!’" he bellows, as if it were a hilarious joke.  

He turns back to me, eyes wild. 

"’The laptop is missing pieces’, she says." His laugh trails off.  

He releases me from my chair, and paces the room erratically, until he spots something that makes him stop.  

He stares at me threateningly before snatching Mouse from her hiding place amongst the pillows and holds her up by the scruff of the neck.  

Mouse hisses.  

"Please, don't hurt her!" I cry.  

"THE LAPTOP IS MISSING PIECES?" Grim dangles my only companion in front of me like a ragdoll.  

Tears fall from my face and soak into my tights as I plead.  

"You have 72 hours to find those pieces and crack the code."  

“Please, STOP!”  

Mouse scratches at Grim's hands as Viper brings over a large black bag and shoves her inside. 

Each terrified meow rips away at my heart. 

"Your time starts now." Grim flings the bag over his shoulder, grinning ear to ear.  

"See you soon." He swings open the door and disappears as quickly as he arrived.  

I fall to the floor, tears coat my cheeks as my nails disappear into the skin on my arms. Electro-metal rhythm thumps through my ears as I rack my brain about where to begin.