Original Stories Fan Fiction ❯ Artificial Dirge ❯ Chapter 1 ( Chapter 1 )

[ T - Teen: Not suitable for readers under 13 ]

Artificial DirgeDisclaimer: You know the drill: All characters are mine, any similarities between actual people or other works are coincidental, ask me before using any characters or concepts. *Imagine that in the near future, there was a Revolution. Not just in one country though, a Revolution that spanned the entire globe, bringing death and destruction with it. What didn’t get destroyed when the bombs hit, got destroyed when the fire and darkness hit them, burning and darkening the ravaged world for months on end. After it was over, the dust settling over a destroyed world, those who managed to survive rebuilt it. Under an iron fisted regime, new buildings rose out of the ashes of a dead world. Expanding over barren lands, making them alive again with a metallic heartbeat and well oiled veins that branched from the computerized brains of the new world, spreading to the synthetic skin surrounding it and giving it something resembling life; Life that was born of neon and reflective surfaces, holographic sun and plastic flora. Still, life was life, no matter if it was computer generated or not. It didn’t stop life from flourishing again, although it was under a controlled environment. It was that way for a hundred years, and showed no sign of changing. Society was under control, therefore so was the world. *He awoke, but didn’t open his eyes. His neck muscles ached and he was sure something was digging into his cheek. Slowly, he opened his eyes, and found he was bent over a table, his work table to be exact. Papers and pencils scattered around him, one finding refuge under his face, which explained the feeling of something trying to meld with his face. He didn’t care about that at the moment though; all he cared about was the dull ache of stiff muscles that now spread down his back and the exhaustion of a poor night’s sleep. “Hey.” A feminine voice spoke up, followed by a jab on his shoulder. The smell of fresh coffee snuck into his nostrils, perking him up enough to drag his head up into a more comfortable position. “I’m up, Athena, I’m up” He mumbled, feeling the pencil peel off his face and clatter onto the table. His fingers numbly groped for the writing utensil, picking it up and turning his attention to the half finished building design in front of him. “You’re going to work yourself into an early grave if you keep going like this,” Athena commented, leaning up against his desk, sipping her coffee a bit too noisily.“Better to be early than late, that what I say,” He said, stifling a yawn as he rubbed his sore neck. He looked over his paper, frowning. “Which isn’t going to be the case with this. I’ll never get it done in time.” “I don’t think Big Z’s going to be mad if you don’t finish that.” Athena put her coffee down next on the desk. “We have enough blueprints as it is, thanks to those talented hands of yours,” She grinned, leaning in closer and running a finger over the back of his hand.“Don’t flatter me, it doesn’t suit you.” He said, pulling his hand away from her touch as he took the end of the paper, causing the pencils to scatter and fall to the floor as he rolled it up. “Come on Apollo, since when do you know me to flatter anybody? I only speak the truth,” Athena snorted, standing up and putting a hand on her hip, eyes narrowing. “Which is why I admire you,” He said with a grin, putting the rolled paper on his desk before rising, stretching his stiff muscles with a groan. “What time is it anyway?” He asked, rubbing his eyes. They felt dry and heavy.“Only Five,” Athena answered with a shrug, picking her coffee back up. “In the morning.” She added quickly, hiding her mouth behind the rim of the cheap paper cup. “In the morn-Damn, I’m going to be late!” Apollo turned quickly, but exhaustion paired with the sudden movement made his head swim and he grabbed onto the back of the chair to keep from falling over. “Hey, take it easy!” Athena was by his side, grabbing his upper arm with her free hand for extra support. “You need sleep. You’re exhausted.”“Tell me something I don’t know,” Apollo said, raising a hand to his still swimming head. He was more exhausted than he first thought. “I have to go in though, I have to-”Athena stopped him, putting one hand over his mouth and taking the rolled blueprints with the other as she nudged Apollo away from the chair over to his bed. He gave no resistance or protest, only his muscles as he moved the few feet between his bed and chair. “Sit,” She ordered, giving him a light push down. “I’ll hand this in for you. I’ll tell Big Z you were sick, which isn’t that far off from the truth if you think about it.” She said, stopping him before he even protested the little white lie. “I promise this is the only time I’ll do this.”“My perfect record is marred now,” Apollo mumbled, half asleep as he sat. “There goes my promotion.” He leaned over, head sinking into the softness of his pillow.Athena winced as the sudden noise of her cell phone ringing went off. She pulled it off her belt, accompanied by a curse before answering it. She hated that thing, but it was essential to have. “Yeah?” She snarled into the phone. Her expression softened as she was met with a laugh, followed by fast talking. “Wait, what? Okay, okay I’ll be there in a minute. Just…stay there.” She flipped her phone shut, mumbling about how the fad of hundred year old phone models won’t make it to the end of the year. “I’m going to go pick up Denni. It sounds like he needs a ride again.” She hooked her phone back onto her belt and turned to Apollo. He was all ready sound asleep, snoring slightly. Smiling, she turned and walked out, the door sliding silently shut behind her as she made her way down the reflective hallway.*“Atheeeeeena, you drive too slooooooow,” A young man said, a sing-song quality in his voice as he sat on the railing of his second story apartment, swinging a yo-yo between his fingers. He grinned, his almost too many piercings jangling lightly as he looked out over the street, watching as the other cars passed by almost soundlessly; the only noise in the air was the faint hum of electricity as the moved. “Ahh, there you are,” He said, as he saw Athena pull up and park her car by his building.“Hey baby. Got room for one more in your car?” He said, grinning at Athena’s reaction. She jerked her head up, looking like she was ready to throttle whoever said that, until he laughed and she looked up in his direction.“Denni, you little shit,” She said, a smile ghosting her lips and she shook her head. “Come down here. We’re going to be late.”“Okay.” He stowed his Yo-Yo in his one of his oversized pockets before swinging his legs over the railing.“No! Not that way!” She yelled. “Take the stairs!” Her protests were fruitless because he all ready slid off the railing, heading towards the plastic bushes that lined his building. He landed with a rustling thud and a faint noise of pain. Athena was over by the bush faster than the cars that zipped by her, pulling the flexible branches apart quickly, ready to drag him out of there if needed. “I’m fine as usual,” Denni informed her, standing up from where he fell. “These bushes make great cushions. Trust me, I tested them a lot.” He picked a leaf out if his bandana, flicking it away. “Although I think I landed on my Yo-Yo this time.” He rubbed a sore spot on his thigh, wincing slightly. “That’s going to leave a bruise.” Athena raised a trembling hand to her head. “Dionysus, you’re going to kill me one day, with all the stupid shit you do,” She berated him, walking towards the car. “You’re lucky Apollo isn’t here, because he would’ve had enough words for you to write a novel.” “Where is he anyway?” Denni grinned playfully climbing lazily into the car. ”Playing hooky?” “No, he was exhausted, so I’m covering for him,” She explained to him, starting up the car. It hummed to life as the engine warmed back up. “You were too rough with him last night huh?” Athena swerved, nearly hitting into the side of another car. She felt her face begin to burn as she regained control. “No!” “Relax, I’m just teasing. You’re really uptight you know?” He raised his arms above him resting his head on them as he closed his eyes, chuckling slightly. “It probably wouldn’t hurt either of you to get a little rough once in awhile though.” “Shut up.” Her fingers clenched the wheel, knuckles white under the pressure as she kept going straight ahead, not even risking a glance in his direction.