The Raven Chronicles - Chapter I
Chapter One
The city is always absolutely alive. It’s odd though, all that traffic in the sky and not a single horn going off. It creates an ominous and peaceful ambience, the humming of the FlyTech mingling with the cacophony of human voices down below.
For us mid lives, things were alright. We hadn’t firmly landed in the upper or lower class yet, and had a lot of liberties that both those younger and older didn’t have. Being a mid-life didn’t last forever though. You get one decade as a mid-life before you are firmly placed into the upper or lower class. Of course, if you make it to the upper class before then, you are free to accept and move into one of the upper class high-rises.
I heard that they live the craziest lives in those high buildings. Sex, parties, sex parties, drugs, anything you can imagine. All while looking down from above the sea of drones. Able to see the clouds and the sun clearly. To feel the rain straight from the sky.
The latest you can choose to become a mid-life is on your 20th birthday. Which is what most people do, they believe that with more time before their decade they have a better shot. Some start their mid life as early as 14. It depends on the opportunities available to you and if you believe you’re ready. Everyone must go through their mid-life, even children of the Upper-Class.
Just 1% of 1% get to the upper class. All children of the upper class are cast out on their 14th birthday. The lower class isn’t much more humane. Forced to give half their waking lives to stay warm, most of the lower class is either self absorbed – still hoping on a dream, or entrenched in the puppet show that is world affairs. Only a select few follow their own path. Only a select few want to forge a different future.
The shanties and dirty streets blend well with the rainfall. The hum of drones cutting through the air above harmonize well as you walk through the beaded curtains to the house of Ayla. Ayla is someone who… you wouldn’t exactly call a friend, but she is incredibly useful. No one has ever been as resourceful as Ayla, albeit very rough around the edges. If you needed something done you knew you could count on her.
“Funny of you to drop by unannounced. You NEVER do that.” Sarcastically remarks Ayla.
“Haha, cool it. You know I only come by when I need something I can only trust you with.”
“Yeah, yeah. Out with it. What do you want? I’m kind of in the middle of something…”
She hardly glanced up from her work table, goggles still on, solder gun still firing.
“I need to access the drones. I already shot one down an–”
“YOU WHAT?”
She said ripping off her goggles.
“Are you fucking kidding me Irvin?! Why are you here? Don’t drag me into your shit again. We are BOTH in the last year of our midlives and you are still being a dipshit. You know I am this close to making it right? I don’t need this.”
“I know Ayla, because you’re brilliant. Which is exactly why I need you for this! I want to fly this drone to another city and start a new life.”
Another week in the books! I hope you’ve been enjoying the story. I may or may not continue this story in the new year, but this is the M.O. for now.
I hope things have been well.
Stay warm.
dc
