"At first it really was nothin', just a few plasmids, to impress my girlfriend, but... but then I kept needin' more n' more. And I cant stop... I... NEED IT."
-Troy Alderson
"Come fill your cravings at the Circus of Values!"
Troy wasted no time to jam the EVE into his wrist. He shuddered as he felt he strength poor into him, filling him with relief. He leaned against the wall, losing himself in the rush. His hand was still twitching from the injection. But still, he wanted more, needed more...
Troy carefully opened the door to his home, and for a moment, stopped and listened for any noises from the house. When he'd determined that no one was awake he slipped inside closed and locked the door. Then, keeping his footsteps as soft as possible began to go to his room. He reached it easy enough, and then fell down on his bed. He let out a yawn the tried to relax, but he only found himself tossing and turning for a few hours.
He did eventually get to sleep. And in the morning, woke up to being hauled out of bed.
"What! What?"
He did held him by his shirt. "Where the hell were you last night! Where did you go!"
"Wh-what? No I was h-here!"
"Bullshit! Don't LIE to me Troy!"
"I'm n-not, I was just, I was-"
"Troy!" Troy smiled, saved by mom.
"Arthur let him go!"
"He was sneakin' out again Molly! Who knows what he'd done!"
Troy's mom just crossed her arms. "Stop being crazy Arthur, Troy's a grown boy, he doesn't need babying!"
Troy's father stared at Molly then glanced at Troy. "Dammit." He let Troy go then walked passed Molly. "One day you'll have to stop protectin' him from the ass whoopin' he deserves."
She ignored him. "Breakfasts ready Troy."
He smiled. "Thanks mom." If there was one thing she was good for, it was dealin' with his old man. He rubbed his eyes.
Thank god for holidays.
He changed clothes then headed for breakfast. His father wasn't at the table. "Where's pop?"
"He's sulking."
Troy walked to the table and started eating. After breakfast he grabbed his coat. "I'm goin' out mom."
"Be careful Troy."
"I will."
Troy walked through the streets, and then moved away from the crowd. Already feeling the tired aches. His whole body was screaming for a boost. Pulled out some EVE and jammed it into his wrist the pain of the needle puncturing his red and sensitive flesh was blown away by the feeling of power. He shuddered and sighed.
Troy walked in the crowd feeling good. "Troy!"
There was Crystal, wearing a gorgeous dress, her hair was pulled back in a ponytail. "Hey baby!" He kissed her.
"Troy, look." She pulled out a fist full of money.
"Where'd you get that?" He asked.
"I just got paid today."
"Oh, you got a new job?"
She smiled. "Yeah!" She the grabbed his hand. "Let's go!"
"To where?"
She took him to a Bathysphere. "Arcadia."
When they reached Arcadia Crystal started taking up a storm. Troy wasn't paying too much attention to her. Just nodding and saying 'u huh, yeah'. She talked a lot, on and on... But she was gorgeous.
"Troy, you don't look so good."
"Hm? I'm fine."
She reached out and touched his cheek. "But you're so pale."
"I'm f-fine Crystal."
"But-"
"I SAID I'M FINE DAMMIT!"
Crystal seemed blown away from Troy's outburst. People were staring. Troy quickly walked away from the eyes that were fixed on him mentally cursing himself.
"Troy!"
Dammit Crystal...
"Troy Please!"
Troy stopped then turned to her "What!"
"Troy I'm sorry, I was just worried... I shouldn't have pried."
He shook his head. " N-no I'm sorry, I'm just really on edge lately."
She nodded. "I understand. Let's just enjoy the rest of our time here alright?"
"Yeah." He took her hand and they went to have lunch.
He kissed Crystal as they reached her door, and then started his walk home.
As he turned a corner he saw them, three of them, getting closer. He ran in the other direction.
"HEY!"
He ran through the door bursting past a couple, running down the street.
"TROY!"
Troy looked around for somewhere to hide, and then jumped down into the canal, hiding in the shadows.
"Fuck."
"Where'd that little shit go?"
"This way."
He could hear them run away, but he stood there, listening for a long time.
With a sigh he started climbing up to the street, when he felt a strong grip on his ankle, and with a hard pull he fell into the water.
Water shot up his nose, and he accidentally swallowed a mouthful, pushing himself up he gasped for air, choking. He barely got a lungful when someone pushed him back into the water. No matter how he struggled he couldn't release himself from the assailants grip.
He couldn't hold his breath any longer and gasped, sucking in more water. His head and lungs were burning, he screamed wriggling, trying to get free.
Troy slowly started to fade away, he could hear his heart pounding, then suddenly he was pulled up out of the water, and someone punched him in the gut. He coughed up the water and gasped for breath, his head was still spinning from the lack of air.
"Thought you could get away with it, huh Troy?"
Troy looked up and saw Jennifer, and mentally cursed. He tried to pull away, but two guys grabbed him and held him steady. "Get away with what?"
She smacked him across his face, and Troy could taste blood. "Don'... Where's the money?"
He was shaking. "I... I got your money, I swear."
"Then why'd you run Troy?"
"I-I mean it's on the way..."
She shook his head. "Too bad cause you need it now. What am I supposed to do, Troy? What am I gonna tell my boss?" Jennifer carefully took out a pocket knife and unfolded it.
"P-please, please... I'll have it Monday, I swear."
"Course you will." She stepped over to him and lifted the knife to Troy's face; he could feel the tip digging into his cheek.
"No! Please! Please, please!"
She looked up at him. "You just don't get it do you Troy? You were supposed to have the money a week ago, how am I gonna make up for that? How do I make sure you get the picture?"
"I got it, I got it, please..."
Jennifer inspected the knife, and then smiled. Troy started to whimper as she motioned to one of the other guys, who started unbuckling Troy's belt and she started lowering the knife to his...
"TOMORROW! I HAVE IT TOMORROW!"
Jennifer stopped, and looked up at Troy, smiling. "Tomorrow?"
"Please, early, like six, please...!"
She sighed then, to Troy's great relief, put away the knife.
"Tomorrow at six, Neptune's Bounty, you better have it Troy." She patted Troy on his cheek then turned motioning to the other three guys. The guy who was holding him still gave him a big shove into the water.
Troy lay in the water for a long time shaking.
How? How am I supposed to get $500 by a Six! But if I don't get it... I'm fucking DEAD...
His legs still shaking, he pushed himself up ran stumbled all the way home.
Before heading into his house he shot some more EVE into his arm, trying to take some of the edge off, then headed into his house. His dad was gone; working late at Ryan Industries, his mom was probably asleep...
He headed into his parents room without making too much noise he started searching the place. His moms purse, the drawers, everywhere. He'd found about $150.
He froze when his mother started moving around in her sleep, and when she was still went to the closet.
He found a safe in the closet, and hacked it.
Now he had $300!
He swallowed and slipped out of his parent's room.
Not enough... oh god...!
Troy grabbed his old football helmet and went out.
He couldn't believe he was doing this. He felt lower then dirt, as he took out Crystal's spare key and walked into her house, he carefully listened for any noise in the house...
Running water, she was in the shower. He could also hear 'It's Bad for Me' playing in her room.
Troy quickly started ransacking the place. When he found her purse he found her wallet, she still had $430!
He stuffed the money into his pockets and made his way to the door, when he heard the water from the shower shut off.
SHIT!
Troy looked around frantically for a place to hide, and ducked into the coat closet. Crystal was humming to the record, and came out in a towel, brushing her dripping hair. "Oh my god...Oh... Oh my god!"
She ran into the front room and he could hear her murmuring, and freaking out.
I'm sorry Crystal...
Troy ran for the exit, he heard Crystal scream, she must have seen him.
He kept his head down and ran as fast as he could and didn't stop until he was far away from the house... He didn't go home that night; he went straight to Neptune's Bounty. And sat there all night, jamming more EVE into his wrists.
Troy felt a tap on his forehead. Jennifer stood there with the three from the night before.
"I'm guessing you got it?"
He reached into his pockets and shakily handed over all the money he had.
She counted all the money, and then tossed him back $50. "Buy yourself some coffee or somethin'." He could see the pity in her eyes...
Troy sat there for a long time after they left. Then grabbed the money and went to the nearest vending machine and bought all the EVE he could.
Then in a daze he started walking home, and shot up on EVE again.
"WHERE WERE YOU!"
His dad...
"All the money we had, WAS IT YOU!"
Shut up...
"Answer me!"
Shut up...
"DAMN IT TROY!"
"SHUT UP!"
Before Troy knew what was happening his dad was on the floor... blood spurting from his head...
1959 October 3rd
"It.. wasn't my fault... I... I just... I'm sorry... I'm sorry mom... dad... I... I'm sorry... I'm sorry... I'm sorry... I'm sorry..." Troy sobbed and held himself, crying. "I just wanna go to sleep... just wanna go to..."
"Look Mr. B! An angel!"
Adam...
"Good girls gather... gather, gather..."
"Give it to me... GIVE IT TO ME!"
She saw him, screamed and ran. "UNZIP HIM MR. B! UNZIP HIM!"
Troy charged at her, and then felt immense pain.
Looking down, he could see the Big Daddy's drill had gone through his stomach...
He fell and stared at the ceiling, numb all over, choking on his blood.
I just wanna... wanna...