There's a Certain Loneliness in Your Company

She sighed as she stretched her body out on the couch. She tucked her hands back under her head and rolled over to face the back of the worn furniture that she had passed out on. There were only a few blissful moments of forgetfulness. Only a few moments she had nothing to worry about or tend to. But it was only a few moments. Suddenly remembering the events from last night, she startled awake, bolted upright and rubbed the remaining sleep from her eyes before inspecting the room around her. Her heart was pounding as she glanced to the corner of the room. Nothing. She rolled off the couch, planting her feet on the ground and reached under the coffee table. Her gun was still taped underneath like it had always been. Still not believing herself, she checked the charge. Batteries were still full. Glitch couldn’t rid herself of the confusion that overtook her. Was it really all a dream? But it was so real …

“Tox! Open the door!”

She almost jumped out of her skin as the familiar voice of Skyla was followed by a series of knocks on her door. With a sigh of relief, she pushed herself off the couch and quickly grabbed for the front door.

“Sky!” She couldn’t help but sigh as she saw her only friend standing on the other side. She pulled her into a tight hug, causing Skyla to let out a groan.

“Jeez, you feeling ok?” She chuckled as she patted Glitch on the back before prying her off.

“I’m just happy to see you.”

“Toxic …”

Glitch immediately heard the disappointment in Skyla’s voice. She didn’t have to follow her gaze to know what she was looking at. The empty syringe was still lying on top of the coffee table from last night. Glitch took a deep breath, hoping to explain herself but was cut off.

“You said you would stop. I knew you would get mixed up with those Ritalin Rats. I don’t know why you trust them anyway.”

“No, it’s not that.”

“Did you get a bad batch? Is that why you’re being so weird?”

“No. Please, just hear me out.”

Skyla raised an eyebrow and crossed her arms over her chest, already not looking convinced.

“Please. I … I think I’m in trouble.” Glitch whispered. Skyla’s stance changed from unimpressed to defensive at these words. “Last night, I shot up again. I know I said I would stop, but that’s not the point right now. Well, sort of. I don’t know. I just … I don’t know if it was real.”

“What? Tell me what happened.” Sky grabbed her by the hand and led her to the couch to sit back down. Glitch looked over the room one more time before diving into her story. There was no sign of any intrusion. Full batteries. No blood.

“ONE came here last night. To kill me.” She wouldn’t raise her voice much for fear of who could be listening in.

“What?!”

“Well, someone was going to, but I think I shot them. I mean, I know I did, but … there’s no evidence. I could have been dreaming.”

“What else happened? Tell me.”

“I already checked my gun. The batteries are full. Nothing looks out of place.”

“Glitch, what else happened?” Skyla didn’t let up. Even with Toxic claiming it was in her head.

“Well, I don’t remember it all. He said that I needed to get clean, and then I could join him. He would train me or something. I can’t remember exactly what was said.” Glitch watched as Skyla stood up and began slowly walking around the room, making her more nervous. “But that’s ridiculous, right? ONE would never want someone like me. Even if he was interested, what would he be doing all the way out in Zone 5? I think it was a bad trip. It couldn’t have been real.” She tried once again to convince not just Sky, but herself, that none of this had actually happened. “Right? Sky?”

After another moment, Skyla turned around with a smile on her face and shook her head. “Of course not. You better listen to me next time when I tell you to stay away from those Ritalin Rats.”

“Trust me. I think I’m done for a long time with that junk.”

“Good. Now, who wouldn’t steer you wrong?”

“You …” Glitch replied, also shaking off the eerie feeling and coming back to reality.

“That’s right. Skyla Fucking Danger, that’s who. Now get up, we gotta get on Route Guano toward Zone 3. I was told some Dust Angel there has got the hook up on some Zaps for our guns and some grub.”

“I told you mine was charged.”

“Well, then I’ll get some for my gun. I actually use it. And I know we could use some sustenance. Yesterday was a bust, remember?”

Now that Glitch had calmed down, she noticed how hungry she actually was. She wasn’t going to turn down the offer until she remembered she had used most of her carbons on drugs. Her face tinged with pink as she glanced at the floor.

“How much are they asking?”

“It’s on me.”

“I don’t want you to do that.”

“I insist. You had a long night. Plus, think of it as an incentive to kick the habit. Next time, you’re on your own.” Skyla smirked and held her hand out to her. Glitch smiled sheepishly back at her before accepting her offer and lifting herself up off of the couch.

Halfway to their destination on Route Guano, there began to be more and more signs of the Draculoids. Dracs didn’t go out much further than Zone 4. If anyone was feeling adventurous enough to travel to Battery City, then they would deal with them. No sense in wasting time and resources to travel out further. They let the Tumbleweeds come to them. They’re the ones the Draculoids are worried about. The smugglers and dealers. Glitch hated to admit it, but Skyla and herself fell somewhere in this category. She liked to think of themselves as traders, but she was just denying the facts.

Toxic Glitch wasn’t much of a thrill seeker unless it involved a needle or pills. That’s sort of how she earned her name. It kind of chooses you, in a way. How you live your life as a Killjoy. No one out here uses their real names anymore. They were a thing of the past. Some of them forget their real names all together, while others hold onto theirs, for fear of losing the last bit of identity. The ones who held on to their past lives are the ones who ended up in Battery City. A “Metropolis”. Where people are brainwashed and void of any emotion. Some days it sounded more and more inviting; no thinking. No feeling. Just going through the motions with no responsibilities of your own. Toxic had her own way of dealing with the pain of this life, but she would never admit she was weak enough to buy into what BL/ind was offering. Instead she alienated herself from her family and friends and found herself further and further out in the zones.

The only person who never left her side was Skyla Danger who also earned her namesake. She was a Crash Queen if there was one. She had no sense of fear, and managed to adapt well to the changing world around her. During the Helium Wars, Skyla and her family were separated. After several months of going back through rubble, looking for anyone, brother, sister, father … she gave up. When BL/ind was established shortly after and began “cleaning up” the debris, Zones were put into place. Though they never said it, it was their way of saying these areas were lost a cause; pick a Zone and hope for the best. “The Aftermath is Secondary”. A clever slogan the company took on. They were right.

On her journey through the Zones, she met Glitch who had also lost everything. They stuck together and finally settled on Zone 4, seeing as it was the quietest at the time. Maybe because no one wanted to travel out that far. While Skyla regrouped and evolved into the dare devil she is, Glitch receded and turned in on herself, slowly turning into exactly what the Draculoids and SCARECROW were exterminating: A Zone Rat. After last night’s encounter, or dream, or whatever it was, Glitch didn’t see herself going back to the drugs for a while.

As they rode through Zone 3 in some junky piece they picked up some months ago, they couldn’t help but notice how quiet it was. Skyla didn’t seem phased while Glitch crouched down in her seat.

“It’s pretty quiet Sky. Maybe would should brake for a bit.”

“Maybe. I don’t see any th –” Before she could finish her thought, fire shot right over the hood of the car causing her to slam on the brakes. The car spun a 360 before coming to a halt. She squinted through the dust and saw the infamous Draculoid mask. “Duck!” Sky yelled as she pushed Glitches head down below the dashboard. A blast came through the passenger window, shattering it into the car. “Come on, follow me!”

Glitch felt Skyla grip her hand as she threw open the driver side door and scrambled out. They took off running, dodging fire from behind them. About fifty feet ahead was a busted building they could jump into. Skyla pressed on faster while Glitch struggled to keep up.

“Jump!” Skyla shouted as she let go of Glitch’s hand and leapt through the hole in the wall effortlessly. Glitch attempted the same jump, but caught her foot on the edge, sending her face first through the hole. She threw her hands over her head in protection and rolled into the building with a hard crash. Skyla was already on her feet and glanced over her shoulder at Glitch lying on the floor. “Get up, we have to go!”

Glitch lay on the floor for a moment, her ears ringing with the pain that shot through her head. She faintly heard Skyla calling for her, but couldn’t bring herself to stand up just yet. She knew if she didn’t move the Dracs would be on her. Even that wasn’t enough incentive to get up. She groaned, and tried once more to stand. All at once, she felt her body being lifted off the floor and slammed into the wall.

“Are you guys fucking nuts or what?”

Glitch heard an unfamiliar voice, but didn’t open her eyes. Throwing her into the wall did not help her already injured head.

“Please!” She thought she heard Skyla’s voice call out. The next moment Glitch felt herself being picked up and thrown over someone’s shoulder. Her head was spinning too fast at this point to acknowledge that this was probably the end.

“Keep Running!” The voice carrying her yelled. She finally caved to the pain and passed out moments later.