A car zipped through the desert wasteland on a strip of asphalt. Whether to the left or right nothing but sand and withering plants called these wastelands home that stretched out to orange dust clouds who swallowed the horizon.
To the towering wall ahead and unseen ruined city behind only the strip of road was the bridge between these two points. As he inhaled the cool pine scent, his windows up to avoid the shimmering heat of the desert, the yellow hue casted by sunrise on the orange sky gave rise to a tiresome smile.
It'd been years since he's seen a blue sky. Seeing one again in his lifetime would be too soon for his liking.
His mind drifted away as his hands shook and soon the car followed swerving along the asphalt threatening to plunge into the sands.
His phone rang waking him in time for the back tires to diverge off the road swirling in the sands kicking the dust everywhere. He let it swerve then stomped the gas pedal the moment the back tires touched the asphalt. The white car with blue neon lights and black tinted windows skidded back on to the road.
He sighed then smiled. "Hey mama, couldn't wait to hear from me?"
She sighed before she spoke. "Don't be cheeky. Just wanted to check on how my baby is doing since he'd rather risk his life driving on that death bridge than take a plane with the money I gave him."
"What did you expect me to do when you bought me this car? Not drive it every chance I can? Besides, I wanted to see you so I'm gonna pick you up from the Mid-Town on the Wall Divide and go back to Upper Class District together."
Her tone softened. "Having sugar withdrawals are we?"
"And you said I had a cheesy sense of humor."
"I learned from you. Seriously though, out there is dangerous and the three hour drive must be exhausting compared to a one hour flight."
"The time it takes to get through customs alone with boarding time balances it out, but yes it is tiring."
"I could let you use my private jet."
"Rain check. See you soon Bri."
"Alright Jet, be safe." The call ended with a beep.
He glanced at the shifting sands where his car once was. An iris of blue glared back at him. He frowned turning on the stereo. Reclining into his seat, he stomped the gas pedal. The car swerved off fleeing the scene with a dust trail.
A common trait of the modified cars of this century was that they were built to be as fast as the planes of the pre-apocalyptic era, and the current planes being even faster. A convenient way of travel for those who can afford the privilege.
For those who couldn't, the Bridge of Oblivion was the only way to leave the lower class. Most didn't survive the journey.
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He arrived at the wall cruising through its outer gates as machines scanned the car and him. The men draped in combat uniform stared from him to the monitor that displayed his information including that he held a visa.
They couldn't help but be puzzled. The drivers who'd normally take this route were trucks owned by cheap businesses that'd rather spend on a delivery truck that meet the requirements to survive the journey than pay for plane transport. Or immigrants who braved the treacherous trip to try and sneak past the boarder for a better life, even if that meant a life of servitude. Everyone else would travel by plane.
They let him through to the world on the other side with the inner walls opening to a bustling clean and lively city. Electric cars, clean streets and beautiful towering buildings mixed in with their smaller counterparts giving a more prosperous ambiance. The windows rolled down allowing the fresh air and street food to fill his car. The sight of this thriving environment always left him with a bitter sweet sense of duality.
He loved seeing how successful this place seemed and was in comparison to his home city in the lower class territory. And that was the problem. He couldn't see the reason why the lower class couldn't enjoy these benefits as well. There was plenty enough for all who wanted. It's not like the wealth was being gate keep. But in reality he knew that it was. By both the wealthy who put conditions on the acquiring of that knowledge and the poor who tried to keep you from it. His disdain leaned more to the latter for in his mind, if they were capable of more than just backstabbing, envy and infighting, the rich wouldn't be able to take them for fools. "Badmind fucking crabs in a barrel." He drove off on the green light.
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In a few minutes of driving his destination was in sight. He parked outside one of the few sky scrapers. He didn't bother using the parking lot as he leaned against the humming car arms crossed then glanced at his gold plated watch. I should be early enough.
People stared as they went about their business. He did care about their admiring gaze. The only eyes on this side of the wall that mattered were about to come through those doors.
The doors slid open and out she came in a black pencil skirt, matching blazer and orange blouse. Her blonde curly hair let go in a loose afro. She was talking and smiling with a group of men and women that followed her.
The moment her eyes fell on him she bristly made her way to him smiling as her heels clopped. "Glad you're safe baby." Briar hugged him tightly pressing her chilled body against his. A sweet embrace that made the heart feel at ease. Her fruity scent gave a sense of home.
He glanced at everyone's mixed reactions then broke their embrace. "We shouldn't be doing this right here. What about your associates?"
She hissed her teeth and gripped his rear leaving him tense. "Oh please. After what I've done for this company and the deal I just close today, I deserve a break. Besides I'm off the clock so I don't give a crap. Now come give mama some sugar."
"Yes please." He held her leg and back tilting her down and went for her lips as his hand stroke through her kinky hair. Her soft lips met his brushing and pressing against each other's.
A mix of startled gasped were discern followed by cheers and applause. Even a scoff was thrown in but Jethro already knew who the cynic was but wouldn't concern himself with them. They had no more use to him. "Ehhm, Ms. Blair?" Said one of the men but she didn't budge continuing her lip lock. "About what we were speaking of only moments ago? It'd be wonderful if you could join us." She fanned him off earning a chuckle from the group. "All right Ms. Blair, I'll tell you what. Invite your friend, how's that sound?"
She broke the kiss leaving Jethro looking like a gold fish. "That's a great idea! Oh, my apologies. This is Jethro Julius, my boyfriend. Jethro, this my business associate whose invited us for karaoke. We could go if you're up for it."
"Karaoke? Now?" They nodded. It's nine thirty in the morning. On a Monday! Is what he wanted to say but they'd smell the lower class on him instantly before he'd finished his sentence and that wouldn't look good for Briar. They seem like they want to leave a good impression on her so it's safe to assume that they need to keep her favor. "Hmm. I don't know… We already have prior engagements for the day that are incentivized." He smiled with his eyes closed.
Briar smirked at him seemingly pleased.
The associate nodded with a smile of admiration at Jethro's disingenuous act. "How about I sweeten the pot? In addition to what was in our contract I'll also throw in full access to our sister company that focuses on VR gaming and has one of the best r&d in the upper class territory."
Jethro stiffened. Now I recognize him. He's the owner of the game company my friend and I use to play. This is great since the gaming industry is on the rise thanks to their revolutionary VR tech.
"In other words you want me to save your failing game company as well." Briar folded her arms.
Jethro choked on air. Well I was dead wrong.
The man's hand twitch which didn't go unnoticed by Briar. "Nothing of the sort. The company's standing is still great consider the times-"
"Still?" Her glare intensified.
Now the man was sweating but still held his ground. "It's an asset that has stood the test of time."
She rolled her eyes. "We both know my dogma. an asset that doesn't grow and appreciate in value, is dead weight and needs to be someone else's problem while losses to me are minimal."
She glanced at Jethro. "But as I said before it's up to Jethro."
Intimidating as always, but that's what it takes to be a part of the elite. Sometimes it makes me forget that underneath all that raw experience and power, that she has a softer almost childish side. "You just wanna skip everything and go karaoke." She looked away sporting a mischievous grin making him chuckle. "Anything for you Ma." She pecked him on the lips before he opened the door for her.
Her associates got into their SUV's and lead the way.
As he glanced at her fixing her hair in the rear view mirror he couldn't help but smile and twirled his finger in her curls. "You know when I saw you walking out my heart skipped a beat."
"Fuck off you schemer." She giggled. "You're just saying that because you want me to stop straightening my hair."
"Can you blame me, especially with how gorgeous you look right now?"
"I still say it looks better straight." His eyes darts from the road to her face and down to her ample chest. "What? See something you like?" She smirked.
"Maybe. I'm also wondering why you got all dressed up to spend only two hours at the office."
"Because I have an image to maintain."
"That image didn't matter much when you were trying to stick your tongue in my mouth."
She giggled. "You act like you didn't like it."
"A bit too much if you ask me." He kept his cool ignoring his twitching lips.
Her eyes watch him keenly then smirked. "Little by little I'm figuring you out. Like how your lips quiver when you blush."
"I am not."
"Sure baby. You're lucky that you're cute otherwise I'd be mad about you crashing my gift into a telephone pole." She glared while smiling.
"Was it that obvious?" He smiled with his eyes closed. "I thought because the chassis was reinforced with the world's strongest alloy and barely has a dent, only an expert mechanic could decipher the cause."
"What can I say? I know more about my car than you think." She sighed. Both of them knew the power dynamic between the two so no more words were needed to be said. She pressed a button. "Like this."
~I walk a lonely road, the only one that I have ever known. Don't know where it goes but it's home to me and I walk alone.~
She turned with a look of distraught. "What kind of depressing songs are you listening to?"
He chuckled. "You just hate the Pre Cataclysm songs."
"No, I rather enjoy your taste in music. It's refreshing and unique that you like classical music. I'm even fine with the song, just not the fact that you were listening on your way here."
"What? You think it's going to make me run off the road or something?"
She glared while tilting her head as if saying 'yes motherfucker that's exactly what happened!'
Oh! So you were watching me. His thoughts clearly on display as were hers. She frowned under his gaze making him sigh.
"Look I'm sorry.-" They both said before chuckling.
"Let me go first. I'm sorry to come off a bit bitchy and overstepping my bounds. But I know you Jethro. You wear your heart on your sleeve and that song is a clear indicator that you're not okay." She sighed putting her hand on the wheel as she glanced at the road. "Some people cry, some ignore their pain, I personally drown myself in work without eating then binge my favorite L&A SVU or true crime while others drown their sorrow in music. I know some things are heavy on you but, I'm here for you whenever you're ready to open up." She touched his arm.
Jethro stared at her with astonished eyes and a hanging jaw. His lips quivering as he focused on driving.
"Didn't you have something you wanted to say?"
Between the I's and the You's he repeatedly stuttered to get out made it obvious that he was at a loss for words.
Between the shy "I'm sorry and thank you, Briar" and him clenching his jaw to stop his blush, she couldn't resist leaning and kissing him. Her tongue licked his neck effecting a halt from the car. She fell forward.
His arm out to catch her then pulled her to his chest. "You okay Briar?" His breathing was heavy as the car resumed movement.
Finally he glanced down to his button down shirt opened up by Briar who planted kisses on his chest trailing red lip marks down to his abs. "Briar…What are…you doing?" He said between gasps.
"I love how you have only a little bit of body hair. I wonder if here is the same?"
His eyes back on the road. "I shave regularly."
She smirked. "Well consider my appetite wet," She dived down opening his pants. "As will be this cock."