The noises from down the street were starting to grate on her nerves. It wasn't anything unusual, just the normal sirens and screams that drifted in from the Forbidden Zone, but today they were making her antsy. She sat down in the bed to pull on her black combat boots and started to lace them up. It was the beginning of her work week and she was not looking forward to it at all. It wasn't that her job was bad or anything, but she was just so tired of having to work and work and still barely manage to pay her bills with nothing left to enjoy. Tying the last knot, she sighed and walked over to the dresser and grabbed her purse. It wasn't a long walk to her job so she had plenty of time, but even though she did not have to be there for another hour the thought of staying cooped up inside was more than she could handle. She needed to get out of the apartment and away from the monotony that was her life even if it was only briefly. She passed out of her bedroom and saw her cousin sitting on the living room couch painting her toenails.
"Be careful today, Karen. I heard on the radio earlier that one of the nightmares is still on the loose and if it gets past the border then all hell will break loose. You should be far enough away that it won't be an issue, but still don't take any chances." Rachel said as she finished the toe she was working on and put the cap back on the bottle of polish.
Karen shivered a bit at her cousin's words and replied, "I will be careful. I have my tazer and pepper spray on me. If anything seems odd I will haul ass to the nearest emergency center. Enjoy your day off. You suck you know." She laughed a bit as Rachel stuck her tongue out at her and walked over to the door and let herself outside. She walked down the few steps and started down the sidewalk. The sun was bright and warm but she still felt a chill every so often. Lots of people were out today but no one stopped and made conversation. Everyone kept their eyes on The ground and avoided direct eye contact. The news of the loose nightmare must have made everyone more paranoid than usual and that was saying something. Taking a deep breath, she quickened her steps. She only had about six more blocks before she got to work. Her earlier anticipation of a rest in the park near her job was now just a fleeting thought. All she wanted was to get to work quickly and safely.
With one block left to go, she heard the warning siren go off and her heart started to race. All around her she saw people start to run and scream as they hurried towards the closest emergency center. The nightmare would have to be close by for the siren to go off and by the sounds coming from a few blocks away it was a deadly one. She raced up the stairs to Smithson and family Law just as the PA's on the corner started to broadcast. "Please be advised that a nightmare is nearby. It has taken a medium size creature form. Its saliva and talons have proven deadly on contact. Under no circumstance should you engage this creature. We are tracking down the source and expect for it to be dealt with soon. For now everyone is directed to go to the nearest emergency center or building until otherwise informed." The PA abruptly shut off and the silence lasted for a few seconds before what few people were left on the streets began yelling and running again. Karen hurried through the double doors and a security guard bolted the door and turned on the lockdown sign in the window. Steel shutters came down over the Windows and doors with a hiss and clang and the place was sealed.
Karen went through security and was soon heading for the elevators and the fifth floor where she worked. The next eight hours would probably stretch out forever. This is just a perfect beginning to the work week. I am sure that my boss will be in uber dick mode after all this. If I make it through the day without punching him it will be a miracle. She pasted on her fake smile and walked off the elevator and headed towards her cubicle to begin the joy of data entry.
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After the fun in the shower, Nathan was ready to start the day. He got dressed in his usual jeans, t-shirt, and boots and went into the living room. He grabbed his laptop and pulled it onto his lap and booted it up. He checked his banking account as soon as it was running and smiled when he saw that his latest deposit had come through. Fifty thousand bucks. Not bad for a few hours work. If I can get a few more clients like this then I can retire and just live off the interest. It sure was lucky that I happened to run into that man at the bar one night and for him drunk enough to find out just what he is terrified of and what I could do to make it a reality. I still don't know why a businessman like that was in the Zone but lucky for me though. He knows that if he ever says a word to anyone I will kill him too instead of just ask for a contribution like I did. Maybe later I will go down that little cafe outside the Zone and see if I can find another mark. Since I was never registered they have no way to trace me so it might be worth it this time if I can sneak past the guards.
He grinned at his thoughts. When the laws had first come down about nightmares and their makers, everyone that was found to have the gene was made to register so that if anyone was caught not using their suppressor machine then they could be arrested and made to pay for any damage or deaths that occured from their carelessness. After a few months this became mandatory and testing was done in middle schools across the country since the gene usually showed up around puberty. There were also other ways to catch the late bloomers as well. However, in Nathan's case since he was in the first group that the gene activated in before testing, he managed to get away without being discovered.
He set his laptop to the side and went into the kitchen. Opening the fridge he saw that supplies were getting low again. "Damnit, Damia I thought you were going to do the grocery shopping this week. There isn't shit in the fridge worth eating. What the hell?" he yelled towards the bedroom and frowned. This was the second time that she had not done her part of the chores in a month. He knew she was busy and had responsibilities but Goddamn. He managed to do his shit so why couldn't she. True he did not have a full time job since he mostly worked off the computer from home but that wasn't the point. It was about being part of a team and she was starting to piss him off.
He slammed the fridge door and went into the bedroom to grab his keys and wallet. She was lying on the bed reading something or other and he glared at her before saying, "I am going to the store to do the shopping. When I get back I think we need to have another talk. Plus there is something I want us to do that I will need help with as well. I have an idea that I want to run by you and see what you think." He tried to stay mad but just looking at her made his anger start to drift off. He leant over and have her a kiss before leaving with a muttered "spoiled brat" before leaving. He really did love her but sometimes she drove him nuts.
He closed the gate behind him As he hit the street and went over to his car. It wasn't anything special, but it ran and was an upgrade form the piece of shit he had before. He started it up and pulled slowly out onto the road. While the Zone was fairly safe during the day, it still paid to be vigilant since accidents could happen. He knew of a man just a few blocks away that had been killed While driving when a nightmare had blown his car into the air and wrapped it around a tree. Usually his sense told him when a nightmare was close by but not always. It was another aspect of the gene and the specific mutation he had that let him control his nightmares. It also made him hyper aware of others that dreamt and the, for lack of a better word, resonance that their body put out. It was something that not all dreamers could feel, only those that had control. Well that was just his guess anyways. He only knew or thought this since he used to know another guy that could control his nightmares but the Dumbass had pushed things too far with the wrong guy and ended up dead. That was the vibe he had gotten off of him at any rate. Just went to show that while it was nice to have control it did not make one immortal or anything. They were still human and could die just like a null. Fucking shame that.
Shaking his head at his random thoughts, he turned on the radio and flipped the dial until he came across some music that didn't make him want to hit his head against the dashboard. His stomach growled and he pushed the pedal a little harder. The sooner he got this done the sooner he could eat and run his idea by Damia. He hoped that she was agreeable to it. It was risky but the payoff would be well worth it. It would mean only one thing that he wasn't sure she would be ok with and that was leaving the Zone. Travel outside the walls that was not job related or an emergency was prohibited unless you had the cash to bribe the right people but he knew someone that owed him big time and once outside then things would really become fun.
