Tw: body horror (undead)
After about an hour, the fugitives arrived in a big city. The sounds of traffic washed over them like a great wave, while a multitude of flickering lights blinded them. The air was thick with smog and the smell of garbage. The kids looked out over the edges of the floating boat and could not believe their eyes: the scenery below them looked like something out of a science fiction movie.
The cars had no wheels; they were floating. But that did not make them any less noisy. They flowed in the streets, flying over pedestrians like rivers, never stopping for obstacles, but swirling around them. Armies of electronic billboards battled to be more visible than the others with strobe effects, lights, bright colors, and eye-catching images. All together they created such a powerful light that there was no need to even light the streets with street lamps. Maybe they would go out at sunrise, the newcomers thought. After all, they had no idea what time it was, and right now it seemed like the middle of the night. But how could people sleep in their flats with all that light shooting through the windows?
Pedestrians were hurrying as if invisible hands were dragging them through the streets. There was an unbelievable bustle as everyone talked at the same time. A small blue square could be seen in front of each person's face.
"One is in danger of going deaf with all this noise." Yutani commented. "What are these blue squares?"
"Screens. In order not to fall behind the competition and risk layoffs and poverty, everyone is constantly connected to their company and working at every possible moment. Even when walking down the street." Miss Maia replied, before giggling and pointing her finger at a particularly large screen in the middle of the main street. "Look, Frank, you are famous. You didn't tell me you started modeling."
Frank's profile appeared on the screen: portraying him as he turned to face the camera. Below it scrolled a sign urging citizens to call the police immediately with any information that might help apprehend that dangerous individual.
"Interesting." Frank did not seem concerned or surprised. "I'm pretty sure the environment behind me in this video is the subway underpass of your city." He said, turning to the kids. "That means this government has cameras everywhere, even in the past. I wonder how they deal with the threat of a space-time paradox. But it is also true that if the video is from the past, there should be no problem showing it in the future."
"What is the name of this city?" King leaned so far out of the spaceship that Tricky was almost afraid he would fall.
"City of the Super Runner." Miss Maia replied. She felt strangely happy to be a kind of tourist guide for those strange children. Their wonder and curiosity was amusing to witness. "Inspired by a rather popular sport that originated here about 300 years ago, when sports were still considered useful and enjoyable, before they were banned as a waste of time and a health cost due to the risk of physical injuries." She shrugged. "I have no idea who invented this sport. All I know is they didn't change the name of the city."
"I see." Yutani muttered, still quite shocked by the situation. "That's sad. Does it mean that every hobby is forbidden? Aren't people dying of stress here?"
"Well, yes. There is no free time, because productivity is the most important thing for this society. And the suicide rate is high, but nobody in politics really cares because we are overpopulated. They say we don't need weak people in our system. There are hardly any hospitals, and they only heal the rich, because they contribute more to the economy than the poor."
"What about music and art? Or movies? Or books?" Fresh could hardly believe his ears. What kind of sick society was this?
"All made by AI. Cheaper, faster, no copyright."
"That's so horrible." Jake shook his head. "I could never live here. I would be sad all the time. I can't even see a tree or a doggo."
"All the natural resources were destroyed because of climate change. The environment became so toxic that people were forced to create these huge cities to live in. The only animals left are those used to produce meat and animal products. No pets allowed, they waste too many resources." Frank replied. "For example, I used to have a rabbit as a pet with the excuse that I needed it to eat its meat."
"What happened to it?"
Frank didn't answer. Maia sensed that it was better to change the subject, so she tried to help Frank by shifting the boy's focus to another matter.
"Another thing you might find strange is the body modifications. This mask on my face replaces my mouth because it helps me breathe the polluted air. Frank's mask helps him see better in the dark and from a distance instead of using glasses." Maia crossed her arms, "Like prosthetics."
"Sorry, but how do you eat?" Yutani couldn't help but ask. She was beginning to feel lost in a land of aliens.
"We can remove these prosthetics, but only we can do that to our own bodies."
"Speaking of which," Miss Maia suddenly raised her hand and snapped her fingers to get everyone's attention. "There's something important you need to know. Listen."
Everyone looked at her.
"Our secret base is at the top of one of these skyscrapers. We are hosted by Zoe, a billionaire who gives us her protection. It is absolutely essential that you do not make offensive comments or expressions of disgust when you see her." In response, all the children stared at her with confused expressions.
"She's physically dead, but still alive." Frank added. "The government was looking for a cure for immortality to keep the billionaires alive and useful to the economy forever. She was duped and used by a team of researchers as the first subject of this 'cure' with the promise of rejuvenation. Simply put, it worked on everything except her nervous system. She is conscious, but her body has decomposed."
"Ew!" Those statements were met with a chorus of disgusted and shocked voices.
"But that is horrible!"
"Not at all." Maia shook her head. "It is very useful for us. We have a powerful ally. It is very difficult for the government to search her house, given the mess they have made. They don't want any more lawsuits. Also, Zoe's entire social circle has abandoned her because she is disgusting. No one will come and stick their nose in our business. Zoe deeply despises the government for ruining her life, so she will always be loyal to us, protecting us and giving us money for our equipment."
Tricky could not help but feel a strong discomfort at Maia's total lack of empathy for this poor woman. However, she understood that Maia was probably like this because of her cultural background, having been raised in this materialistic and utilitarian society. But that did not stop her from feeling uneasy.
"Zoe is very sensitive about this issue. If I remember correctly, her husband and children left her because of it. We want to avoid any uncomfortable situation for any member of our team, especially since she is our main sponsor." Frank commented. "We would appreciate it if you would refrain from commenting on her appearance in any way."
"We'll do our best." Jake nodded, already visibly freaked out at the thought of seeing a zombie.
"Thank you."
"Alright, here we are."
They landed gently on a skyscraper. Miss Maia turned off the engine while Frank jumped onto the roof and walked to a trapdoor on the floor. He lifted it slowly and motioned with his head for the children to enter.
"Maybe it is true that sometimes the best place to hide is in plain sight." Yutani said mostly to herself before she started to climb a ladder that led her down. The others gave each other a worried look before following Yutani. Frank and Miss Maia climbed down the stairs right after her and closed the trapdoor with a loud click.
They found themselves in a modern living room that was spacious and elegant. The furniture was in a minimalist style that together created a harmony of spaciousness and simplicity. A beautiful soundproof window looked out over the city, allowing them to observe and appreciate its beauty with detachment and tranquility. There was a scent of frangipani in the air and a soothing background of jazz music that made the environment cozy and pleasant. Miss Maia clapped her hands to signal her presence in the apartment.
"Team! We are back!"
The sound of hurried footsteps could be heard from the other rooms.
First came a charming girl with eyes as green and gentle as two summer forests at the gates of autumn. She had short hair gathered in a blue and reddish bun that covered half of her right face and gave her a strong and proud air. She wore a white dress that hugged the curves of her body perfectly, giving her femininity and softness, but at the same time a rebellious energy thanks to the striped stockings and boots that covered her legs.
"You're back!" She signed with her hands happily before pausing for a moment to observe the newcomers. Her eyes lingered on Tricky in particular, who immediately looked away, rather flustered. Wow, that girl could really make her heart skip a beat. She looked insanely beautiful to her, like a queen. A sweet, shy queen. The girl smiled gently at the newcomers and leaned against the wall, waiting for Maia to introduce her to the new people.
"Hello, Lucy." Miss Maia placed a gentle hand on the girl's shoulder. "Guys, she is Lucy. Our translator. She can decipher coded messages excellently. If you know sign language or you have any desire to learn it she will surely appreciate it."
Lucy nodded and signed: "Nice to meet you all." The group smiled at her, Tricky immediately felt the need to learn that fascinating language as fast as possible. Soon another person entered the living room.
"Hm? Oh! Hi Maya! Hi Frank! And hiiiii new people! New friends! Hello everybody! Let me introduce myself so we can break the ice! My name is Rain, she/he/them pronouns! Nice to meet you!"
Rain looked like the personification of sunshine, and not just because of their colorful outfit or their turquoise hair. As soon as she entered the room, she seemed to radiate light of her own. His voice, smile, and relaxed demeanor had the power to make everyone feel welcome and comfortable, even the most anxious people. They approached the group and shook everyone's hand firmly, smiling broadly.
"Hi!!!! Welcome!!!"
Then she noticed that Maia had Frank's bloody tie wrapped around her arm. "You're hurt! Oh no, Maia! Let me medicate you!"
"You can medicate me later, Rain. Don't worry, it's just a superficial cut."
Rain pouted and shook their head. "You have to be more careful! You can't come back from every mission with some kind of wound!" Then she hugged Frank. "I missed you! You need to be more careful too! I cried when I heard you were captured! I was so worried! Did they hurt you? Let me do a quick medical check later!"
Frank just let the hug happen without hugging back, "Nice to see you again too, Rain. I appreciate your concern, but I am fine. I just need to rest."
"Yeah, like that time some guy almost killed you! You came back here bleeding like crazy and you said the same thing! You need to take care of yourself, you idiot!" Rain shook his head and huffed loudly.
"If it makes you feel better, I'll let you look after me later. But I'm telling you again, I'm fine. You should concentrate on Maia's injury."
"Thanks, and don't worry about it. I can multitask." Rain giggled before moving closer to Lucy and leaning against the same wall.
Fresh didn't know how to react to all these new people. They all looked nice, but how could they be working with a psychopath like Frank? Didn't they know how dangerous he was?
Suddenly, out of the corner of his eye, he saw a dark figure standing right next to him. Fresh visibly gasped and jerked to the side before he saw a strange guy dressed as a ninja standing in front of him.
"Ah! Who the hell are you?"
The guy bent low at the waist while holding his hands together. "Kon'nichiwa, stranger, my name is Ninja. I am a ninja. My mission is to protect you!" He bowed again.
Yutani looked rather confused. "You are a ninja and your name is Ninja?"
Jake couldn't help but laugh. "Let me guess, you have a car named Cat, right?"
"I wish I had a Neko. I can't right now."
Tricky cringed visibly and moved closer to Miss Maia. "Why is he talking like that?" She whispered, trying to not sound rude.
"Oh, don't worry about it. Ninja is like that. I know, he is embarrassing. He is not even Japanese, just a random guy from Liverpool who loves Japan and ninjas. I've never understood if he really thinks he's a ninja or if he's just joking, but it doesn't matter. As you can see, he's good at sneaking up on people and that's a useful skill." Maia replied in an average-loud tone of voice, making Tricky hide her face behind her hands in embarrassment.
"No offense, m'lady. I will prove my worth to you as a ninja! Hi-yah!" he stood on one leg and punched the air in front of him.
"Don't scare the newbies, Ninja." Rain playfully teased their teammate and winked at Tricky to ease the tension. Lucy covered her mouth with her hand and chuckled softly. Frank just sighed.
"Hello everyone!" An intriguing woman walked into the room with a charming smile. Her voice sounded warm and persuasive, and her movements were as elegant and athletic as those of a panther. "My name is Tasha. Nice to meet you."
Miss Maia seemed happy to see her. "Ladies and gentlemen, this is my sister. She's officially our honey trap and spy."
King titled his head. "Honey trap?"
"It means I use my beauty to manipulate people, kiddo. I get information by pretending to be interested in them. You don't know how many people reveal so much after you flirt with them a little." Tasha laughed mischievously.
"Yeah, yeah, we know, sister. You are the hottest girl in the world. Listen, do you know where Bruno is? Did he hear us?"
"Oh yes he did. He sends you all his greetings, but he cannot come right now. He is too busy working on one of his inventions." She folded her arms and sighed. "As always." She glanced at the kids. "Guys, if you want to meet Bruno later, he's in our lab. Third door on the left. He's fun to be around, but he's often hyperfocused on his inventions. Don't get mad at him if he's not very social with you, he's not snobby. He just has his head in the clouds."
Tasha suddenly fell silent and turned her head towards the door.
The sound of shuffling feet became a little louder, while a strong smell became more pronounced. Soon after, Zoe appeared in the doorway.
It was indeed difficult not to show an emotion of shock or disgust at the first impact, but the kids really did their best. Maia and Frank were not joking: Zoe was indeed a walking corpse. Her face was swollen and droopy, and her jaw was dislocated from the jawbone due to lack of muscle mass, giving her a permanent look of despair. Her skin was discolored with a strange shade of green and eyes were glassy, and what was left of her facial muscles hung from her skull.
Two withered pupils scanned the room, watching the people there. Her first instinct was to cover her face at the sight of new people, visibly embarrassed, but she soon abandoned any attempt at hiding, fully aware that it was now too late.
She simply decided to move a little closer to the group. She wobbled on her feet, dragging them and leaving no clear footprints. The zombie walked with a stiff posture from old muscles still attached to her bones.
"Wel...come..." she spoke with clear effort, with strain in her voice. Zoe's speech was breathless, but her chest heaved up and down, mimicking breathing, occasionally remaining uncomfortably still for long moments before moving again. "I... am... Zoe." "I...am...happy...to...see...you...here...ex...cuse...my...appearance. ...I...think...Miss...Maia...has...already...explained...every...thing."
An acrid smell of rotting flesh hung in the air, covered by an almost nauseating scent of lavender perfume. It was clear that Zoe was trying to be as pleasant as possible despite her nature.
The children nodded slowly. "Hi, Zoe. I am Tricky. Nice to meet you too, thanks for having us on your team." She elbowed Jake, urging him to introduce himself.
"I-I'm Jake. Nice to meet you. Thank you, ma'am."
"I am Yutani. Your help means the world to us, thank you. We wouldn't know what to do without you."
"Hi, I am Fresh. Nice to meet you. Thank you, really."
"Hi, my name is King. Thanks for helping us, lady."
Zoe nodded slightly and tried to smile before looking at Miss Maia and Frank.
"Glad...you...two...are...back. Fra...nk,...do...you...have...the...code? Where...is...your...suit...case?"
Frank nodded. "Glad to be back, too. Yes, I have it. They stole my suitcase, but it doesn't contain anything useful for them."
Zoe nodded again. "Good. Now... Rest... and everyone... get a... good night's sleep... ... Tomorrow... morning we ...will... discuss... the situation... together. Rain... please... provide medical care... Lucy...show the girls...their...room...Ninja...please...prepare...dinner and Tasha...please...show the...boys...their...room...Thank...you...all. ...If ...anyone ...needs ...me, I'll be ...in ...my ...room. It's ... a ... cold ... place, ... so please wear a ... jacket ... before ... entering ... or ... you'll ... catch a ... cold."
With that, she turned and dragged herself out the door. Once she was gone, Maia clapped her hands to get the group's attention.
"You heard the President! Come on!"
