Chapter 1
Modern day Chicago. The marvel of civilization. A place where everyone and everything was connected. A place where all was available at the touch of a button.
But also a place full of overly frightened people.
Bob was a simple ice cream vendor. Balding, slightly overweight and a tad crazy, yet extremely devoted to his job. Early in the morning, he did his usual breakfast-hygiene routine and then rushed to earn money.
He had his lovely purple van parked out in front of the block of flats where he lived. The sight of it filled his heart with joy. He caressed the door handle. He squirmed in the cosy seat. He toyed with the wheel, bathing in heavens.
But just as he put the key in the ignition, his dream was cut short, for the passersby on the nearby pavement suddenly flinched and cowered. "He's out of control!" they screamed. Some even took to their heels.
Bob didn't understand. In fact, he was hurt a little. Why did they fear him? What was so dreadful about a fortyish bloke driving an ice cream van?
He felt bullied. Their mocking reactions brought him to his childhood years. To times without ctOS and all it entailed. Dark times indeed. There had been no cameras on any corner. No way of seeing boys making Bob's life miserable. No watchful eye which would have dispatched help.
Bob wondered how things would have been if he had been born in this era. Probably much better. However, he didn't keep up with the reverie for long. Busy streets of Chicago dragged him back amongst the living.
Without having realized it, he was traversing the tarmac, approaching a junction. The traffic lights shined green, yet there was a pedestrian brazenly crossing the thoroughfare.
Bob was a calm man by nature. He didn't let this rebellious individual spoil his mood. He stopped the vehicle by the intersection a yard away from the man, who took offence much to Bob's confusion.
"Get back on the road!" he barked at Bob, who could only stare in disbelief.
He shrugged off the ridiculousness of the moment and carried on with his daily mission. Alas, fate seemed to be arrayed against him on that day. When he was brought to a halt by cars ahead, a strange man emerged from a nearby alleyway. He wore a trench coat and a baseball cap.
Bob didn't pay much attention to him. He had seen weirder folks during his lifetime. Yet that was a mistake which he soon felt. The door to his van opened despite having been locked.
"Out!" the man yelled, clasping Bob's elbow and pulling him out. The confounded ice cream vendor was so shocked his body simply folded and allowed itself to be dragged like a ragdoll. In the next second, he was lying on the cold grey road while the thief was dashing away in Bob's beloved vehicle.
Bob arose, shouting at the rude man. Anger clouded his vision. He was a grown person. Not a bullied kid anymore. He wouldn't let anyone make a tool of him. Yet how could he get back the van which was disappearing beyond a corner?
He did the sole possible thing. He grabbed his phone and dialled 911. But his bad luck didn't run out yet. The signal was lost. People in the street moaned and cursed, apparently hit by the connection outage too.
He was paralyzed. Cars were honking. Drivers gesticulated wildly at him. He ignored them. He merely stared at the littered pavements, shabby businesses and worn-down houses. Nobody cared about the mess. They were all glued to their smartphone screens.