Disclaimer: I don't own any of this. All belongs to amazing writers whose names I couldn't spell right now to save my life. I only own my OFC, whose name you'll learn next chaper.

Ch1- Bright lights, Big City

The lights were growing both brighter and dimmer. Smog above was thicker here, and would continue to be so, blocking out the sun once again. And as it did the city lights grew brighter, multi-colored things like technological insects in the haze. Rainbow leeches. Yea, that was it. Such a pretty picture. But hey, it's hard to write anything pretty when you're walking through a veritable field of rotting death. Points for trying though.

And it was so hard to walk by. Each one was another vial, another 20-100 credits depending on the quality of the glow. We really never did figure out a system for detecting high-quality drug via corpse, or if someone did I was never privy to the knowledge. Yes, I say privy, home schooling's a wonderful thing.

Why didn't I stop? Well, ever stop and think about why no one goes in the wastelands? There's some pretty nasty shit out here. Stuff the city-sluts wouldn't ever dream of. So, harvesting a narcotic that shines enough to use as a flashlight isn't exactly inconspicuous. I might as well put a sign on my bottom reading "feral beasts attack here".

So no, no drugs for me. This was frustrating, not just for the loss of profit, but the need for distraction. Focusing yourself on the sounds of possible "life" nearby could only do for so long. No music, because again, here there be monsters. Nothing. Just me and countless, piles of bodies. How long till my parents were among them? How many days till the Genecops caught up with the rest of the settlers? I didn't want to know. I didn't need to know. What I needed to do was stuff this damn shit aside and focus on the task at hand.

Not dying.

Simple enough. Right.

~*~

Things seemed to have slowed down recently. I figured it was the lack of Amber Sweet throwing me into walls for another hit. But tonight clinched what I had suspected, there were most certainly less women pawing at me than usual.

"Hey, aren't there usually more of you guys? Didn't go past the 90 day limit did they?"

The blonde in red shook her head, hand reaching for the gun as always. "No, they're alright, they went off a blocks down. Something about a cheaper dealer."

"But we don't care," a completely glowed over brunette drolled. "You always bring the best, always get us more."

Everyone knew this was my turf. Either someone was glowing, or this was some crazy prank for them to try and snag another hit of glow off me via alley-way rape. And there was a reason only Amber was allowed in that category. Even I have standards, and I like my women clean and not ridden with disease. It's a high standard I'll admit, but it keeps me alive and kicking.

Much healthier than this Z-peddler would be when I was through with him. Whoever the hell he is.

~*~

"Look, if you don't want it from me, then you're free to look someplace else."

God, I had barely been over the wall an hour and I was already rolling in cred. At least finances wouldn't be a problem.

"It's just…I've never seen glow like that before."

Of course, questioning the product. Figures.

"That's because it's high quality, hard to come by. Hence the price. Look, I wouldn't sell bad-glow, to anyone. I can't have paying customers if they're dead. Bad for business. So, 90 cred, take it or leave it."

And she took it. Hot damn, no wonder Grange and Kendall were always back so quick. Just a shot of the gun and voila, pay dirt. It probably took longer to shop for groceries. Supplies might start to become a problem, but that could be dealt with later.

"Hey, you!"

Oh, more work so soon?

"See you ladies around."

They left without another word to care, why should they? They had what they came for.

As he came closer I realized I misjudged his tone. It was not "Hey you how much for a hit of that glow?" Oh no, by the gun in waistband, leather strap of precious florescent vials securely strapped across his side he was not looking to feel nothing at all. He was looking to bitch at me to get off his turf.

Wonder what he'd do if I told him back home we string 'em for night lights.

~*~

At first glance I almost thought it was the kid, she was so damned small. And her skin, it made mine look dark. If the girl ever shot up on her own product you'd see the veins glow through the skin.

She looked well off enough, judging by the clothes, so she wasn't hungry or desperate for cash. Fishnets with no tears, sturdy boots, clean cut top, and a skirt short enough that my head was already plotting a way for her to bend over and reveal that magnificent ass did not lend to starvation. So, the question still, why the hell was this woman stupid enough to sell on my turf?!

"Hey what?" she answered, not frightened in the least. Oh but she should be. And she was going to, she'd learn to fear the big bad boogey man. Very, very soon.

~*~

Upon closer inspection I could see more colors in his hair then the neon signs of the area. Did I mention he was tall? Or maybe I was just really short. Did the people out here just run taller than normal? It was a possibility. I did practically live underground after all. Could be a factor, that.

"Do you have any idea where you are little girl?"

"In an alley, of Sanitarium Square."

Thank God I bothered to read Grange's map on the way. Otherwise this would be a very awkward moment. Alright, it still was, but it would have been worse.

"Mmhm, and Sanitarium Square's my turf kid. Who sent you out here?"

Alright, that had to stop right the fuck now.

"No one 'sent me', I'm my own employer. And drop the 'little kid' bullshit. Yea, my height sucks, but I'm sure as hell not some kid."

He leered over, circling around me with some sort of comical grace, grinning madly like that damn Cat Alice ran into. Oh God, did he rape small kids? This man could not be anywhere in his right mind. If he ever had one to begin with. Doubt it.

"Really? And who might you be then, little girl?"

~*~

Oh, this was just fun. There are few things I enjoy more than my job; tormenting my competition made the list. Especially when the competition couldn't be more than 16. She looked healthy enough, pale enough, to be all organic too. Doubtful though, chances are she's paying off some life-saving organ transplant. That's how they all started.

"None of your damned concern. And if you call me little girl one more time you'll live to regret it."

"Oooh!" I leapt in front of her, feigning terror. "Big talk for such a petite. Little. Kid."

What happened next I haven't figured out to this day. All I know is she somehow got the drop on me (me!) and the next thing I knew I was out cold, completely dead to the world.

~*~

That was easier then I though. Really, I saw that being much more difficult than I thought. But all he needed was good thwap on the head, and a low-taze with the stun-stick. He'd be back to himself in a few hours. Whether he'd have all his stuff on him by then, I couldn't say. His fault, shouldn't have called my bluff. I don't bluff, ever. Your threats only worth what you're willing to back it with. Mine were worth their weight in glow.

Speaking of glow, I didn't want an enemy. I slipped a spare harvester in the straps of his boot, and left before he began to stir. On my feet for something around 24 hours, I wasn't staying on them any long then I had to. A bed of any shape or size sounded like heaven.

Then I was on the streets again as the adrenaline of it all finally wore off, and everything came rushing back. No, not rushing. Rising, like mental yeast, pushing it down earlier only made its return worse. Much, much worse.

I walked into the first hotel I found, regardless of quality. Then it was just a matter of paying the man at the desk, not running down the halls, and locking the door. I was amazed I held it in that long.

It hit me with my back to the door, bag almost dropping to the ground. I everything, and remembered everything, all in one fell swoop. I let myself fall instead; the contents of that bag were worth much more than my body. Grief and anguish and a thousand other things I couldn't even begin to identify hit me all at once, like a pack of corpse-dogs, only much greater in number.

I never even made it to the bed.