Mom and Dad always called me a rebel, not that I gave a shit about what Dad thought. Here in Neo Greece? I was able to do whatever I pleased.
I could visit Neo Delos, fly to Neo Paros, see the Olympics if I wanted to, but something kept me here in Neo Mykonos, and I wasn't sure what exactly that was. So I was stuck, in my garage fixing prosthetic limbs legally (and illegally) for my friends, wondering souls and my mother, whose brain was functioning on bio fluid, thanks to my abusive as fuck father who thought one night it would be a good idea, to come home smelling like wine and beat the heck out of her, this all happened when I was very young though, now I was 24, but it doesn't mean I've moved on, I still hate his guts. Malaka.
I lived with my mother only, they split up pretty early on in my childhood, especially after he'd become abusive, but it didn't help seeing his face plastered on every electronic sign I passed on the streets, he was famous for his state of the art cars, and I cringe every time they pass me on the streets. So I couldn't escape Podarkes the great, he was famous in all of Greece.
I sat in my garage, Ellios, my favourite punk band blasting from my surround sound, as I worked on my friends prosthetic leg, it hissed at me when I screwed inwards, and I cussed loudly, blue blood splattering along my face. I groaned and leant back, swearing in my native language, and I could hear my mother tell me off from upstairs, even over my music. I wanted to tell her off too, but she was dealing with enough, bills, the recent death of her own mother and of course, Dad.
That malaka followed me everywhere…
I sighed and stood, placing my screwdriver down, turning my music off and taking a big breath of fresh air from my open garage door. Some of the teenagers on my street were playing Z Ball, what hockey had become over the ages, except the ball would come flying at you at twenty miles per second, and you had to hit it harder than you've ever hit something before, in hopes it hit your teammate in the gut, where heavy armour would (hopefully) protect you from the blow. These kids were nothing compared to what was in the Olympics, and on TV, but it was cute to see them try. I grabbed a cigarette from my back pocket, ahh, these haven't changed at all. These were even more addictive, berry flavoured cigarettes? Best thing to happen.
I pulled one to my lips and leant against the side of my garage, looking towards the night sky. I was so bored in this bustling state, no amount of food trucks, or gambling, arcades and breaking into abandoned E Tech buildings could quench my thirst for adventure.
I guess you could say I hated it here.
I shrugged to myself, and reached to press my garage door button, but before I could, a familiar face appeared out of the shadows and under the street light. 'Kyra!'
I rolled my eyes as I turned towards my door, shaking my head and sighing loudly. 'Roxana its not finished yet, I'm trying my absolute best to fix your dads leg but its taking ages, I don't know what he did to it but man, its busted.'
'No, Kyra its-'
'I mean, did he rip it off and smoke out of it or something? He's always been a heavy smoker.'
'Kyra!'
'What?!'
I turned and faced my dark skinned friend, she crossed her arms, smirked and shook her head my way. Roxana and I had been friends for years, since high school and college, she was a good egg in my books, but appeared at the most random times to bust my balls about something I didn't really care about, im guessing tonight was one of those nights.
'You, me, Thelates.' She started, I groaned and rolled my eyes, that name already made me want to cringe.
'Thelates.' I simply said, 'Really?'
'I know, I know.' She began, clasping her hands together. 'I know how you feel about him.'
'Hes been obsessed with me since kindergarten, weirdly obsessed with me, the kid makes me feel uncomfortable, weird.'
'But he's also rich, incredibly rich and knows the best places around town to drink and party.'
'Drink and party, tch.' I grimaced, grabbing a beer from the mini fridge, I popped the cap off with my belt and took a swig. I know it was quite hypocritical seeing as I was drinking right now.
Roxana stepped closer and took my arm, pulling it towards the outside. 'He's a VIP at the Plastic tonight, and he invited us!'
'Why, what does he want?' I replied.
I wasn't a fan of Thelates, another rich boy with an attitude, getting every girl around Neo Mykanos, partying, doing drugs, convicted felony kind of kid.
As much as a 'rebel' that I was, I stayed away from drugs, that shit was for another time of my life, highschool, bad years.
And the Plastic? That was the most dangerous place around, its where most cage fights happened, people from all around Greece would fight for drachmae, some would come out millionares.
It wasn't my thing.
But Roxana was pushing for it, that's for sure.
'Please come with me Kyra!' she begged, grabbing my beer from my hands, I tried snatching it back, but she took a sip and smiled, the corner of her lips perking.
She knew I couldn't say no.
I sighed and checked the time, a huge holographic clock was above my fridge, every click made me wince, it was nearly 1am.
And I was tired.
I looked towards Roxana and grimaced, and she held her hands together with glee.
'Fine.'
'YES!' she exclaimed, grabbing me and hugging tight. I groaned and pulled her away, patting her head like a child. 'Lets just go, I don't realy want to be seen around the Plastic.'
'Aw, c'mon, it'll be fun. I heard Kassandra is fighting tonight.'
'Who?'
'WHO?!' Roxana watched me in disbelief, shaking her head like some child had just come asking who the president of neo Greece was.
'Kassandra? The mighty Kassandra? From Sparta?'
I blinked, slowly, dull like. 'Who.'
'Ugh youre unbelievable!' she groaned, pulling me again. I quickly sculled my beer and turned off the garage lights, waiting for the door to close before setting off into the night with my silly best friend.
'She's amazing, 6'2, buff…'
I pocketed my hands and watched as Roxana's jacket began glowing bright pink, ew. I hated those colours, and I reminded her all the time, but she wouldn't change it.
I felt the warm glow of my own neon colours, it added personality to my leather jacket that's for sure. I listened to her go on about this fighter, who was probably another junkie drug addict too high to even realise they were fighting.
Ugh, what was I doing?
'How is your mater?' she suddenly asked, I sighed and shrugged my shoulders, glancing up to the sky; cigarette still lit in my lips. 'She's doing fine, living, even though I have to change her bio components every fucking day.'
'its not fair, your pater should be paying for all that blue blood you use, he's one of the richest men in Greece after all.'
'Yeah, and you think he will?'
'No…'
'Exactly.'
'Once the old fart dies, you'll get something right?' Roxana asked the golden question, and again, I shrugged in response to her.
'Maybe.'
It fell silent between the two of us, my mother and father was a well known subject around the city, the story of the richest man bashing his own wife for glory and drunken power. It wasn't easy to miss.
I passed a few younger boys, and they whispered behind my back, but I ignored them.
To be the daughter of the great Podarkes wasn't easy.
We reached downtown Artemis Hills, and I spotted a large crowd near a busy alleyway. A dirty, grimy alleyway that smelt like piss and shit.
Great.
'There he is!' Roxana giggled, waving down a taller boy, with a small head of hair. He was dressed up richly, typical.
Thelates smiled and waved back, his two other friends glancing our way.
'Ah the great Kyra showers me with her presence!' Thelates laughed, moving towards me for a hug, I put one hand up and shook my head, 'No.'
He paused and grimaced, leaning back and then giving a tight hug to my best friend, who was more than happy to hug a buff boy like himself.
'Glad you guys could come, its going to be such a good fight tonight.' He gleefully said, he almost jumped for joy. 'I have so much money on Xenia, it isn't even funny.'
'I'm sure you have so much to lose, Thelates.' I sarcastically said. 'Daddy give you enough tonight?'
Thelates grimaced towards me again and laughed sarcastically in return, 'Very funny, Kyra.'
I wasn't kidding.
There was a loud ring from inside, and all the greasy Greek men waiting outside howled for joy, sculling their drinks before stepping downwards towards the basement of, oh, Plastic was below a brothel, very charming.
I followed Roxana closely, Thelates behind me, if he grabbed my ass I'd grab his dick and rip it off.
It smelt like sweat and blood downstairs, full of men and women passing beers here and there. In the middle stood a huge cage, with some of it barbed. It was high, its top plastered right into the ceiling, and there was already a fight going on. Two men were at it with iron fists, literally. Both of them had prosthetic hands, and every smack could be heard from over the crowd. Thelates brought himself in front, patting backs and saying hello to those around him, before he brought Roxana and I to a seated spot, smack bang in the front.
I sat down, grabbed a nearby beer from a passing waiter, and took a large gulp.
'This better be worth it.' I muttered to Roxana. 'Or you owe me, having to sit next to this jerkoff.'
She chuckled and leant back in her seat. 'From here we'll get the best view of her.'
Her, her her. My best friend was wild about this woman I'd never heard of.
We watched a few more matches, the second was a big buff burly woman with robotic legs, she kicked back and forth like a kangaroo, and at one point they were pinned against the wired fence, id never felt so sick watching skin rip in front of me.
In minutes, the burly woman had won, she raised her arms and cheered, and the crowds followed.
'Now, the moment you've all been waiting for!' the announcer called, 'Get your bets ready!'
'Oh man, oh man, oh man!' Thelates cried, pumping his fist.
'Here she comes, Kyra!' Roxana said, patting my arm and pointing towards the opening of the gate.
'Oh big whoop, I don't see what all the fuss is…'
I paused as I saw her.
At first I noticed her torso, the right side of her chest was completely bionic, a silver new gen arm glowing in the light. She was tall, very tall, like an Amazonian. She wore a sports bra, black, just like the muay thai shorts she wore below, showing off her left leg that was also bionic. Her hair was pulled back in a plait, longingly hanging over her left shoulder, muscled biceps, ripped stomach, my god, she was fantastic.
I swallowed my words and watched her step into the arena, cool, and content.
I was about to lose my breath.
And I was alright with it.
