《Ghostified City》2.4 Make money or Die Trying
Advertisement
A descendant of the rock pigeons of old still circled the old bank building, before flying back to the squat and disappearing from sight for me. Inside of the Nirvana Ecstasy building I looked away from the window and back at my two fellow conspirators, who just seemed to have given me the rather big task of reanimating of the human race. Evelith was deep in thought, and Velia sipped quietly from her mint tea from actual plants, expanding on what she had just said.
“Don’t overdo yourself. You don’t have to throw everything away that you still have. Keep on doing your job as long as possible. You need funds. It’s important that enough of us have funds now. Don’t forget: Most people don’t live that long after they lose their jobs or are out of funds for another reason these days.”
That one was new for me. I looked at her in horror, and then at Evelith.
“What do you mean?”
My surprise seemed to surprise both of them. “Well, tell me, what will happen if you stop working?” “Hmm, if I take a day off the robots just fill in for me and take over my shift. Work happens but without me.” She nodded. “And if you’d stay away for longer, or quit your job altogether?” I sighed. “For the factory there would be no problem. But for me there might be. My job doesn’t pay that much. If I skip work for an octoweek I’m out of funds.” She looked at me, anticipating something but I kept silent until she asked the next question. “And what happens then?” “Well, then I’m not able to pay for food, or enter my ap€artment through the fundlock, so I suppose I’m homeless.” Se looke me straight in the eyes now, and was rather serious. “Have you seen any homeless people lately then? Or doesn’t it ever happen that people lose their jobs?”
Advertisement
I scratched my head, unable to answer.
“Old prez Enom has made sure that almost every building has a fundlock. That means that without funds you’re locked out of every building that need funds to enter, and you can’t buy anything anyway. You’ve lost everything, you can’t even eat. You probably can’t even reach your own stuff that you still have, being locked out of your apartment when your rent hasn't been paid, and having no place at all to move it to. The only thing you have left is the clothes you wear. And probably your screenphone with which you can’t reach anyone anymore, since your subscription to the interwebs is over without funds, and you can't message or call anyone either. So you can’t see anything at all but a load of adverts for diverse Thanatoria at that moment.”
She paused to let her words sink in. This was new for me, but went even further. “And if one is as isolated from other human beings as you were until yesterday, young man, there really is nowhere to go at all. Except for that one place from the adverts. All that’s left is choosing the nirvana of non-being. And why not? You’re free to do that, self-determination and all… It’s a logical step. Real Freedom for everyone in life and in death!”
I was looking away from her now, and I might have looked pale in my face when I finally faced her again “The Thanatorium? Forced to go there? That can't be? I thought euthanasia was always a free choice, and no-one would ever be forced to end their life. That’s what I’ve been taught. All the slogans. Self-determination and empowerment: be in charge, take your own control over death and life, and all that stuff… Freedom!” Evelith nodded. “Oh yeah baby, that’s the propaganda indeed, and if people believe that, they’ll easily fall for the services of the euthanasts, or rather the soulless robots that took their place.”
Advertisement
“That is horrible.”
I shook my head in disbelief. She wasn't affected by her words like I was, and neither was Velia. “Maybe, but it’s also just business as usual. This world is mostly run by robots and machines on autopilot, and has been for decades. The infocreen has been doing mostly reruns with the same old speeches from baldie for at least 12 years now, so there’s not even a government left. This whole world is farce with nothing behind it.”
I had emptied my tea, and now nibbled on one of the leaves. It was still tasting strongly of menthol while I was trying to process all this new information. “I had no idea at all. I was just doing my job. I lived as they had taught me. I believed the infoscreen. I chatted with the AI-bots and followed the programs. I…” I stood up, and wanted to say more but I couldn’t. I finally fell on my knees, and I stared at the 2 women in disbelief, finally realising what all the things that I’d been hearing yesterday night actually meant.
The apartment was silent for a while, except for the breath of three people. Outside clouds were gathering again. “Are… Are you sure that there is hope left? How can you still live and smile if you know all these things? Evelith? You were happy this morning when you woke. Why?”
“I was happy because I saw something in you that gave me hope for the first time in years. Even though I knew it would be hard to tell you all of this. But please, believe us that there is hope as long as one of us is here. There has to be hope!”
Her words sounded good, but I didn’t see it at all. All my life has been a lie, the world I’ve been living in was Hades or worse. But it was good indeed to at least have friends now. I fell into her arms and started crying. If I would’ve looked outside now I would have seen two enormous black birds, circling around the temple of Acosmia while the rain started pouring down. But I didn’t see anything and I wouldn’t have cared at that moment anyway.
No-one said much for a while while she held me. I had never felt so human.
Advertisement
Black Cloak, White Art
New chapter every other day! Veteran wizard Greylsan Amberglass, ostensibly on a mission to gather chronicles from The Fourth Council's entowered wizards, follows the trail of a doomed borderland margrave in search of his corrupted and dying land's missing Arcory Stones. The search leads him through the Alliance of the Thirteen Greater and Lesser Kingdoms to frightening truths about how the magic is being conducted in the kingdoms and disturbing answers to own his quest. But nothing is going to stop him. Not wyrms, giants, witches, the source behind his faltering magic or even threats of one of his own. He will finish his quest, no matter the cost. For it may be his last.
8 123Tale of Ryan the Demonbane
There are great heroes sung only in tales such as First Hero Richard, Koel the Bright, Graham the Great and Little Leaf Barry. But this is the story of a certain boy aspiring to become a hero much like any other youth in the land of Vanaris. The land is under constant threat of monsters and demon lords of various power and caliber, apocalyptic events unfolding one after the other. It is only in this world of crisis, that the world would take desperate measures to establish academies designed to train the individuals that would face the endless trials the world tosses at the mortals. This is the story of Ryan Adams, one such individual who would one day save the world from the coming apocalypse. *** Author here. This is my first story, so be sure to comment the things I’m doing wrong and I’ll be sure to implement it into my writing. Word count: 1500-2500 Schedule: Static Changed the cover photo because it is more fitting.
8 140cinderella ━━ euphoria
you're in my dreamsthat's why i sleep all the time.EUPHORIA | SEASON 1(oc x fezco)2019 lvesicks ©
8 98A Gamer But I Also A Realist That Do Not Believe Anything That Not Disprove
Synopsis:The protagonist was abduct and then was given a mission to reduce the war that gonna happen in the other world as a beta testerThis is from http://animetaken.blogspot.my/2015/11/blog-post_9.htmlThe blog is mine
8 146Just a cliché
𝐇𝐞 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐦 𝐢𝐧 𝐚 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐧𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐝. 𝐒𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐜𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐫 𝐬𝐤𝐲 𝐢𝐧 𝐚 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐝 𝐰𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐤𝐞𝐝 𝐛𝐲 𝐚 𝐡𝐮𝐫𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐧𝐞. ⋆✧⋆✧⋆Delaney Lawrence is a girl with the world's biggest heart and no one to give it to. She is a quiet girl on campus who spends her time studying and working. On the outside she seems next to perfect, but looks can be deceiving Sterling Blake is the university's hockey captain with a reputation of sleeping around. He's popular and never in a good mood, with not a grade over a C. However, his reputation may not be as accurate as people assume. When Sterling Blake is late to pick his little sister up from gymnastics practice he doesn't leave a great impression on the coach, Delaney Lawrence. Much to her dismay, she is selected to be his tutor so he can remain on the hockey team. She is determined to get his grades up and be done with this mess, he is determined to make that impossible. Unfortunate as the pairing seems, maybe things do happen for a reason.⋆✧⋆✧⋆Highest Rankings: #1 Love#1 Humour#1 Hockey #1 Team#2 Sports #2 Sports Romance #2 Slowburn
8 687Meeting the Gangleader
One bad-ass gangleader, and one sassy 'good' girl.Let me introduce Adam. He's the leader of the most feared gang in town. He's handsome, and cold hearted towards everyone, until he meets her.Now let me introdue Brittany. She's a good girl that gets straight A's in school. She has abusive parents and is left to take care of her 14 year old sister, Karly. She doesn't trust anyone except her two best friends, Alice and Rebecca, until she meets Adam.What happens when the gangleader meets the good girl? There's twists and turns, and some surprises. Join Brittany and Adam in their journey.~~~~~~~~~~~Hey guys, so I wrote this story as a baby basically. That means that there is a ton of plot holes, misspellings, and honestly it isn't the best book out there haha. Thank you for reading though, and if you do decide to read it, hope you enjoy! COMPLETED DECEMBER 6TH, 2015.
8 219