Wired

by Caytlyn Brooke

  A slow smile spreads on my lips as my limbs turn to honey. Maybe Marco is free now. I’d love a quick hookup before I have to devote myself to a screen for the rest of the day. Only one way to find out. Heat flushes down the length of my body. At least wait until you leave the store. I spin around to check for any sign of George. Where is he?

  I pace around the store, uncertain what to do without my iJewel. George has been gone more minutes than is necessary to pull a device from a shelf. My fingers tap the spot where my iJewel used to sit, eager to pull up My World or Rox for something to do. It feels like a warehouse in here, with long hanging posters of gorgeous models sporting the Vertix H2 on their necks. There aren’t even any chairs to sit on.

  The other two customers seem oblivious to the uncomfortable atmosphere. One of them is sitting on the floor, neck bent over his lime green iJewel. The other is an older woman, her face blank as she leans against a concrete pillar. I can’t take the waiting any longer. I twist around toward the front of the store, the check-in podium my destination.

  I stalk over to it, anger coursing through my veins. With my nail I jab the screen to life, awakening the beautiful woman inside. “May I help you?” she asks with no hint of recognition.

  “Yeah, I was wondering when George is coming back? I need my Vertix now and he’s been in the back room for almost twenty minutes,” I tell her, using my hands for emphasis.

  “I’m sorry, please give me a moment to locate him,” the droid replies. I notice her dark hair has faint red highlights and marvel again at how realistic she appears. A minute later, she raises her eyes to meet mine. “According to our scanners, George went into the back seven minutes ago. He is currently programming your new Vertix. Would you like me to have him cancel the order?”

  “No!” I shout. “Just tell him to hurry. I have to get back to work in…” I pause and look down at my empty wrist. “Just tell him to hurry.”

  “I’ll pass the message on promptly. Thank you.” The woman smiles, her eyes looking past me.

  “Sure you will,” I mutter under my breath. I’ll give him two more minutes and if he’s not out, I’m going back there.

  I stalk over to the employee door, ready to fulfill my mental promise when the door swings open. George steps through with a white box in his hand and a grand smile on his lips. My steps falter at the abrupt change in his manner. It’s as if he did a line or something back there.

  “So sorry about the delay.” George grins, his dark eyes shining. “I put a new processor chip in your Vertix and was able to transfer over all your recent sites so you can pick right back up where you left off.” He hands me the Vertix, the sour jerk from minutes ago completely gone.

  I take the offered box, searching his face for any sign of drugs or mood-altering medication, but I can’t find anything out of the ordinary. “Thanks. You said all the recent sites?” I question, suddenly very aware of what he might have seen.

  “Yes, your progress and preferences regarding each should be in place.” George’s kind expression is frozen in place, not letting on if he saw my visit to Hot Love or not. I wonder if using Sarah’s Vertix made a difference.

  “And it’s copper, right?” I ask, leading the conversation in a different direction.

  “Of course,” George replies with a nod. “Your wish is my command. Is there anything else I can help you with?” His eyes look me up and down, seeming interested but a little reserved, as if his thoughts are somewhere else.

  “No, as long as I’m all paid up and it’s ready to go then so am I, I guess,” I reply, all my hostile feelings melting away now that he’s dropped the antagonistic demeanor.

  “Wonderful,” George purrs, tilting his head. “Well thank you so much for coming in today, Maggie. And please, stop by Yeti again if you have any future issues.” Without another word, George cuts to the left, making a beeline for the vacant woman against the pillar.

  I watch him go, a flash of bright red poking out of his collar. I nod in sudden understanding. He wasn’t back there getting my Vertix, he was connecting to his. And if it helped his mood improve that much, then I’m glad.

  I glance down at the little white box. Last time I held it I had been so unsure, so timid of the new technology. Now I can’t get the box open fast enough.

  I race out the front doors even as I withdraw my beautiful copper baby from the dark womb. I toss the box into a nearby trash can and quickly make my way to the same subway Jeremy and I rode the night of the Vertix launch. Now that I don’t have my iJewel, I’m not sure how to work or pay for a hoverbike and I don’t have time to figure it out.

  Running as fast as I can in my black heels, I clomp across the dilapidated bricks crumbling at the end of Scarlet Meadow Plaza. I pass by the little mom-and-pop store I stood in front of last time. Today, the windows are brightly lit and a little wooden bear holding a welcome sign is propping the door open.

  Within minutes I am climbing the steep stairs to the main street, dodging traffic like a limber video game character. Safely across the busy road, I race to the faraway set of stairs that lead to the subway, dodging other pedestrians. I arrive breathless a short while later and extract the Vertix from my coat pocket. My hands shake with anticipation as I swipe my thumb along the shiny back. Instantly, the Vertix H2 wakes, whirring and clicking like a monstrous beetle as the sensors extend from the body, searching for my neck, my muscles, my brain.

  I happily oblige and pull my auburn hair over my shoulder, dropping the Vertix onto my awaiting neck. Much faster this time, the Vertix settles down and immediately digs into my skin. The sensors wiggle inside my muscles and latch onto my brain stem, fitting snugly into place.

  I inhale sharply while a multitude of colors filter before my right eye, mixing together to create a swirling eddy of hypnotizing images. Inside the connection, the tips of my toes and fingers tingle with energy, and my heart pumps faster and faster. The little golden hairs stand to attention on my arms and goose bumps prickle my skin. I feel amazing. I feel alive. I have found the euphoria I didn’t even know I was chasing since that night in the tub.

  Welcome back, Maggie. Welcome home. It’s so good to see you again, the same velvet voice whispers. It looks like George really did transfer all my information over. Would you like me to catch you up regarding everything you’ve missed?

  I reach out, my right hand fumbling blindly for the railing. At last my fingers find it and I begin my descent to the subway station. All around me I see other commuters dodging around my slow pace, but their impatience doesn’t faze me. I don’t think anything can penetrate the warm haze I’m floating in now. I know I’m late getting back to work, but it doesn’t matter. It feels like it’s been days since my connection with Sarah’s Vertix and I’m going to enjoy every second of it.

  “Yes, take me away,” I whisper, the words barely audible in my own ears. But the Vertix hears. The Vertix hears everything; it knows my mind’s deepest desires even before I’m aware myself.

  I continue my snail-like pace down the stairs as the white screen floods with color and dopamine infiltrates my brain like venom. I forgot how good this feels. Welcome home.

  Come on, give me one bottle. Just one! That’s all I need,” Joe begged, his bloodshot eyes wide as he clawed at the plated glass separating him from the stern pharmacist.

  The pharmacist stared disapprovingly down at the filthy man, her bright green eyes piercing over thick, black-rimmed glasses. “Sir, this is the third time you’ve come in tonight, and as I told you before, this substance is reserved for cancer patients and contains very strong radiation properties. This is not an over-the-counter medication. I need a prescription from your primary physician to fill this for you.”

  Joe banged on the window with enough force to shake it. “I don’t care if you need a shitty doctor’s note. I’m telling you, I need this right now! What you’re doing is illegal! You’re keeping medication from me, medication I need. I’m going to die without this, do you understand,
lady?!”

  “I’m sorry, sir, but that is our policy. If you make an appointment then—” the pharmacist began, but Joe cut her off with a feral snarl.

  “Shut up! Shut up!” he screamed, throwing his shoulder into the glass barrier again and again. He spun around, breathing heavily like a caged animal, searching for an escape. The buzzing florescent lights were too strong; Joe’s vision began to blink as though he were staring at a strobe light. He turned his head, trying to think.

  The pharmacist didn’t understand. No one understood the consequences if he didn’t take it. He had to have more Nitrus Candy or he would surely die. He was doing what he had to in order to survive. Surely they would understand. A rough sliding sound drew his attention. The pharmacist had her back to him, the plated glass pushed to the side as she completed the next customer’s order.

  Joe spun and pushed the elderly man waiting to the side. He lunged again, sailing over the counter, slamming the woman to the ground.

  “Get off me! Get off!” the woman screamed.

  “Get away from her, man!” a deep voice shouted, and suddenly there was an onslaught of noise as people rushed from all over, shouting and screaming. A volley of hard kicks and jabs assaulted Joe’s hollow stomach, the lack of fat doing nothing to protect him.

  Rough hands pulled him off the woman and threw him to the floor. Joe felt his skull smack the hard tile and his vision blurred. Hands held him and Joe felt his pupils dilating as the room grew warmer and warmer. His muscles were beginning to stretch. It was too late to stop it. Without the Nitrus he had no control.

  Joe looked at his captors, sorry for what was to happen. He heard himself snarl, felt his chest as his heart pumped too fast. His broken and jagged teeth elongated, forming broken fangs as his hair began to disintegrate. His fingers broke themselves, jutting out at odd angles, forming horrible claws as his skin stretched to accommodate his growing frame.

  The grips of his captors loosened. “What’s happening?” one whispered.

  Joe curled his broken fingers into large fists, his entire body quivering as the heat intensified his heart rate faster and faster, until it stopped. Joe’s body grew cold, his organs entering a state of crystallization.

  “What’s wrong with him? Did you feel that?” someone asks. “He just…died.”

  The surge of adrenaline began, coursing through his veins, exploding his senses. Humans. Joe opened his eyes, seeing the red and yellow of their body temperature. He licked his lips. He was a reptile, a predator, and his hunger was insatiable.

  I lean away from my computer screen, my mouth frozen in horror. I knew this twist was coming, but damn. I didn’t anticipate his change, and that the drug addiction and withdrawal symptoms would be so intense. This scene crossed the line into sci-fi.

  I compose a quick email to the author. He might have to change this part. I was all for the addiction and the crumbling social life, but this is too much.

  “Have a good night, Maggie,” Martin calls, already out of sight.

  “What? You leaving early?” I yell, glancing away from the screen and my left eye blinks rapidly, trying to see in the dim lighting of the office. I hadn’t noticed anyone turning down the lights.

  “It’s almost six-thirty,” Martin shouts as the elevator dings its arrival.

  “Six-thirty?” I repeat. “How in the world did that happen?” I glance at the small clock in the right-hand corner of the Vertix screen. Sure enough, the seconds are ticking closer and closer to half past. I shake my head and blink, but the image in my right eye of the peaceful meadow doesn’t disappear, the Serenade app front and center in my mind. Kate Spilling’s raspy voice sings sweetly in the background as I spin around to face my computer once again. I can’t believe I’ve been sitting here for eight hours. I didn’t eat lunch; I didn’t even pee.

  Ever since I bought a new Vertix, the days have seemed to fly by. I don’t connect all day, but the occasional virtual reality excursion has helped me zoom through work and make progress on this manuscript the past two weeks.

  I hit send on my latest email to Mr. Bruit and shut down the computer, rubbing my eyes with the heel of my palms. The song ends and a new song begins, this one much peppier than the last. It’s strange. Martin told me to go home and relax, as if I’ve been working non-stop. He doesn’t realize I may have achieved the perfect work-life balance thanks to my Vertix. I feel fantastic.

  Shuffling my papers into my messenger bag, I shut off my lamp and watch the computer screen fade to black. Now that I’m back to reality, I realize how hungry I am. As if to prove my point, my stomach gurgles painfully, wrenching a horrible noise through the silent office. I press my palm to my abdomen. “Okay, I hear you, we’re going home right now,” I reassure my starving belly.

  I take the elevator down to the lobby, a song by Bey Vu pumping me up for the journey home. Outside the sky has darkened to a rich navy, dotted with brilliant silver stars just beginning to emerge. Humming along to the empowering lyrics, I navigate to the nearest subway. I’m getting really good at walking with the Vertix in. I hop down the stairs confidently.

  My subway car speeds through the tunnels, rattling atop the steel rails. The ride is bumpier than usual. I decide to open the app Tone It. The blonde trainer, Wendy Kline, is in her magenta leggings that reveal a turquoise pattern with sweat. This woman makes me feel like a fat slob. I suck in the little gut I have.

  Yeah, that’s enough of that. I shut down the motivational exercise app and switch to Ride Along and locate the train car I’m riding in. The new app informs me I have exactly three minutes and twelve seconds left until I reach my stop. No more missing stops for me!

  The train car is pretty crowded tonight, but quiet, probably because there are no kids. I reposition my head against the soft cushion attached to the car wall and sigh, letting my mind follow the swirling colors as the Vertix carries me to my next destination.

  • • • • •

  “Hello?” I call out, letting the front door close behind me. “Sar, you here?” I plop my messenger bag and purse onto the kitchen table and go to the fridge. My hunger seemed to have calmed down considerably on the ride home, but now that I’m up and moving again, my stomach is raging out of control. A loud tearing sound resounds throughout the kitchen, threatening to rip me in half.

  “Wow, what was that?” Sarah gasps behind me.

  I bend down, scouring the fridge contents with desperation. At last my gaze finds an old granny smith apple. My fingers snatch it like talons and I withdraw the apple out of the cool compartment. It has several bruises, as if it’s bounced off the floor a few times. I don’t care. I’m going to die if I don’t eat something soon. I bring the neglected fruit to my lips, biting into one of the only firm parts feverishly. A sour taste assails my taste buds, but I don’t stop until I’ve swallowed several large chunks.

  “My stomach,” I say at last, my mouth full of halfway-chewed fruit. “I missed lunch today.” I pull a wooden chair out from the table and it screeches across the linoleum floor.

  Sarah takes a seat next to me and balances her chin on her fists. “I guess. Sounds like you missed breakfast and dinner the night before too,” Sarah chuckles, watching me.

  I wrinkle my nose in concentration. Did I eat yesterday? I think I had a cup of tea this morning and I remember eyeing the mini muffins in the break room but I don’t remember having one. I shrug. “Well, now that I’m home I can eat. Want to order a pizza? Should I get two? Is Andy here?” I ask, swallowing a large bite.

  Sarah shakes her ink black hair and frowns. “No, he told me he has to work late tonight.”

  “Really? That stinks. People are pretty serious about their fitness though.” I toss the remainder of the browned apple into the trash can in the corner.

  “I guess.” Sarah huffs. “But yeah, pizza sounds good. Want to get it from Nucci’s?”

  “Sure.” I nod, pushing back from the table. “I need to get out of these clothes, like now. I need me some
sweatpants pronto!” I exit the kitchen into the hallway.

  I hear Sarah push back in her chair as well, her soft footfalls following me into my room. I leave the door open and head over to my wooden dresser, pulling out my favorite pair of gray sweats. As Sarah enters the room, I undo the pearl buttons on my blouse and toss it onto my yellow comforter. She leans against the doorframe, crossing her arms over her chest.

  “So how was your day?” I ask over my shoulder as I unhook my bra. My body instantly relaxes as the tight-fitting torture device falls away. I shimmy out of my dress pants and drape them over the side of the bed as well.

  Sarah sighs again. “Not bad, I guess. I mainly hung out around here, went for a run before lunch…” her words trail away and I sense that she’s waiting to ask me something.

  “That sounds nice. My day flew by and, thanks to Jeremy, my boss is hounding me about that school project,” I say with a groan.

  “Has he asked you out yet, like officially?” Sarah asks, her voice alight with interest.

  I pull open the second drawer of the dresser and search for a comfy t-shirt. My fingers curl around a light red one with an abstract owl on the front. “No, Sar,” I reply. “We’re just friends,” I add, laughing.

  She fixes me with a look and crosses her arms. “But you sound mad at him. What did he do?” Sarah asks, coming to sit on the edge of the bed.

  I roll my eyes and dance over to my closet. Mia Lane is singing about her recent heartbreak in a moving Irish accent. I twist my hips while I pull open the closet door, also managing to navigate to Nucci’s delivery app and selecting a large deep-dish pizza with extra cheese. I sling my pants through the coat hanger and weave my head back and forth to the poppy melody, chucking the soiled blouse from my bed into my hamper.