It is Monday so I should have a flash fiction for
you today, but I don’t. I actually love the image Theo Fenraven suggested for
this week but it didn’t inspire a story in me.
It is quite possible my lack of inspiration is a
direct result of the fact I’ve started writing a new book and I’m totally
submerged in that story-line and those characters. The story, working title
S/m, will be a new departure for me again. It is set in a world not quite our
own and will end up a lot darker than my usual fare. I’m very excited about it,
while also somewhat worried about whether or not I can pull it off. We’ll see.
I’ve decided to share the first 1000 words of this
new story here today. Please bear in mind that it is more or less unchecked and
completely unedited. I hope that won’t prevent you from enjoying it. Any
feedback will be very welcome.
Please visit the Monday
Flash Fics Group on Facebook to find out what others have been inspired to
write based on the chosen picture.
Shit,
it’s almost dark.
Markus picked up his pace, fully aware that
if he didn’t make it home within the next fifteen minutes he’d be in trouble.
The street was almost deserted. He was one of only a few stragglers rushing to
make it back to their quarters before curfew started. He cursed. This was the
third time in two weeks they’d kept him busy until it was near impossible to
make it back on time. The bastards didn’t care whether he got arrested or not.
For him ten others as far as they were concerned and he was in no position to
argue or walk away from a job it had taken him long enough to find.
Ahead of him a large door opened and a
group of night guards marched onto the street. Markus thanked the Gods that the
quickest way home meant he needed to turn left, away from the platoon. As soon
as he’d rounded the corner he set off at a run as fast as the bag he was
carrying would allow. It was a risk. If the guards saw him running they’d
assume he had something to hide. They’d take him down and lock him up before
asking questions. Being caught out and about after dark was even more
dangerous—punishable by death.
His lungs burned as he spotted the door to
his residence, his mother standing on the threshold, a worried expression on
her face. The first chime of six, signalling the start of the night-time curfew,
sounded and Markus gathered the last of his reserves and picked up his speed
despite the heaviness in his legs. He all but fell into his front room and
pushed the door shut behind him just as the sixth chime sounded. He closed his
eyes and collapsed with his back against the door. Somebody—he was too
exhausted to look and see who—grabbed the bag from his hand as he tried to
catch his breath.
“That was too close.” His mother’s voice
held a combination of fear, relief and anger. “Don’t do this to me…to us. We’ve
got enough to worry about without you adding to the burden.”
Resentment burned deep inside him. How dare
she? Didn’t she know everything he did? Had she no idea how hard it was to keep
going? To find what they needed to survive? The feeling receded again as he
realised that she knew all of that only too well. It was exactly because she
knew how precarious their situation was that she feared for his safety. As hard
as their life was right now, it would become impossible if something were to
happen to him. He was the only thing standing between his mother and six
siblings living in relative safety, and death of starvation for all of them. Of
course she worried.
“I’m sorry.” He opened his eyes and looked
at her. “They didn’t give me a choice. It was either stay longer or leave
without the food.”
“That’s just wrong.” Frustrated fury
sounded in her voice, although she made sure not to raise it. “They know
they’ve got you over a barrel and use it against you. What if you had been
arrested? They would have lost you too.”
“Oh Ma,” Markus laughed but it wasn’t a
happy sound. “People are lining up daily to take my place. You know that as
well as I do.”
“It’s just wrong.” The frustration that was
Markus’s constant companion was clearly audible in his mother’s voice. “Look at
what you do for them, the hours you put in and for what? A bag of food that
will barely see us through the week, a hovel to live in, and discarded clothes.
They only give you what they’ve no use for themselves.”
“Stop it!” There was no anger is Markus’s
voice, only resignation. It was hard enough to keep going without his mother
stoking the fires of his discontent. Of course his mother could remember how it
used to be. She’d been ten years old when the world changed. She’d told Markus
and his siblings the stories about her life before technology allowed the
mega-rich to take over the world. There were times he wished she hadn’t. What
good did it do them to know that once upon a time most people had jobs which
allowed them to pay for possessions, that slavery had been outlawed until forty-odd
years ago? The knowledge that his grandparents had at least had an opportunity
to better themselves didn’t make him feel better. It only filled him with a
greater sense of his powerlessness.
Suddenly feeling exhausted Markus looked
his mother in the eye and said what he seemed to say every week. “At least I
have this opportunity, we’re lucky. We’ve been able to avoid the crime lords
and slavery. Without this job we’d have nothing. If you hadn’t taught me how to
read and write, I wouldn’t be able to bring home what we need to survive. I
hate it as much as you do, but the alternative is worse. You know that.”
The anger evaporated from his mother’s face
to be replaced by sadness. “We can’t avoid them any longer. Our time is up.
This came today.” She handed him a letter with an official stamp.
Fear cramped Markus’ stomach. He’d known
this moment would come and had tried to ignore the fact. Hoping he managed to
keep his features smooth, he took the piece of paper from his mother and read
the words.
This
notice serves to inform you that it is time to do your duty as a loyal and
obedient member of our blessed society. One member of your family, aged no younger
than fourteen and no older than twenty-five years, is to report to our Recruitment
and Training centre tomorrow morning at eight.
Failure
to obey our instructions will result in incarceration for your entire family.
