Fiction | Cyberpunk

Good | A flash fiction story

99 of 💯

Nyx stared at the two talking, frozen in place, a broom in her hands. She couldn’t believe her eyes. She had never seen Miss Atlanta in person. And Dino was talking to her so casually.

She watched them from a dark corner of the empty bar.

“So you want to buy my recipes?” Dino asked, a strong lisp carrying the words out of his toothless mouth.

He was looking down at a fluorescent green drink. It was resting in a fancy cocktail glass on top of the sleek counter of the bar. He had been perfecting the recipe when Atlanta arrived.

“Yes. I’m expanding Atlanta Beverages,” Atlanta said. She was standing tall on top of high heels, her back perfectly straight, her short silver hair combed to the side with precision. “There are people who live outside of Argon — though I wouldn’t necessarily call them people — and, as it appears, they enjoy drinking too.”

Nyx felt a sting at Atlanta’s words, all the terrible memories of her trip out of the Wastelands and into Argon rushing back to her mind. She had left her home searching for a better place — for a paradise. Instead, she found an indifferent city bathed in bright, colorful lights in a futile attempt of keeping the darkness away. At the same time, even under the bright lights, the streets of Argon were filled with a kind of darkness she had never seen anywhere else.

Argon wasn’t better, just a different kind of bad.

“What do you say?” Miss Atlanta asked. “Of course, with these babies mass-produced you probably wouldn’t have as many customers. But then again, with the amount I’m willing to pay, you won’t need customers.”

Dino glanced at Nyx.

He was the best person she knew in the city. Sure, he basically sold poison for a living, but at least he had a heart. Argon was a fully automated city, with machines replacing humans in most positions. She felt like the blind pursuit of efficiency had automated feelings out of humans’ hearts.

But Dino was different. He truly enjoyed what he did. He liked being a part of the city’s culture and watching people have a good time. He probably knew the people of Argon better than anyone else.

He opened a toothless smile at her, then he answered Atlanta.

“No.”

Atlanta sighed. “Are you sure? It’s a lot of money.”

He looked up at her. “I’m not in it for the money. I’m in it for the people.”

Atlanta grabbed the cocktail glass in front of him. “Well, that’s unfortunate.”

She took a sip from the fluorescent drink and shook her head as the liquid went down her throat.

She coughed. “This is good.”

As she walked away, she looked at Nyx with strong, attractive eyes. Nyx couldn’t move until Miss Atlanta had left the bar. Once she was gone, Nyx quickly went to the counter to join Dino.

“That’s probably the stupidest thing I’ve ever done,” Dino said, then he gulped what was left of the drink.

After a cough, he said, “On the other hand, she’s right. This is good!”

< Forgive Me | Good | Completion >

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