Dream Light City Chapter 4: Wake up

Read chapter 4 of Dream Light City by jensrichard on NovelPedia.

It's late. It's raining. I'm tired. I pass a poor homeless lady sitting in the gutter next to my building. It hurts my emotions to see her. She is far away in her mind, starving and soaking wet, but she smiles and looks pleased. I wonder what world she is in. I scan her with my pad, and I see her world now. She is surrounded by digital versions of her friends and family. I take off my trenchcoat. I'm almost home, and I have spares. I wrap her in. She doesn't even notice me. … Finally home, but I'm alone. My wife is on a business trip, and my daughter… Well, she's 17. I hope she isn't in too much trouble. I look at the family GPS. Wife is at a hotel, and I trust she is safe. Daughter is at a friend's place. Good enough. I put on my record. Yes, it's a real old-school physical vinyl record. I'm a retro vintage guy. I make a cup of tea and sit on my couch. I fall asleep. … "Dad?" "DAD!" I wake up on my couch. I fell asleep in my wet clothes. "Dad, wake up!" "What, Sally?" "The city needs you!" I feel sick. I do not have the energy to deal with anything. I ignore her. "Look, Dad! There is a robbery ongoing. They have taken hostages, and the police have surrounded the bank." She shows me her phone. I look at my phone. Nine missed calls. I sit up and get a new headache. Sally gives me a glass of milk. My phone rings again. It's the fucking Mayor. I decline the call with an auto text. "On my way." "Wow, that's some fancy shit." She has opened my box. "You got a personal gift from Uncle Mayor and Mr. Bix himself. Nice." I can't deal with this now. She idolizes my stupid brother and that Bix gangster, but that's my fault. I raised her with lies. I stand up. "Thanks for the milk." Then I pass out. My eyes are closed, my head is spinning around, I'm cornered, I'm desperate. I fear the consequences if I don't show up. I hear my daughter, and she is in a panic. "You can't pass out now, Dad. What shall I do?" I point aimlessly around, trying to get the box. "Bix..." That is all I can say. "Do you want me to install the biotech?" She asks. I regret my answer, but what can I do? "Yes." She is nervous and carefully reads the instructions. I feel her searching for the ID chip on my neck as she reads, "...step three. Activate the nanobots." I feel a burn in my neck, I feel how my entire body starts to burn, and I feel elevated. I take a deep breath. I'm reborn! Sally is excited as she sees the effect. "Oh, my God! Can I have one of those too?" I look at her with a clear mind. "For now, enjoy the one you have." I gave her some extra biotech when she turned 14, and we had to install her ID chip. Nothing fancy, only a standard for her to connect with her friends. It's more a fashion accessory with wires and lights than functional. But this shit I got now. It's some high-level stuff, and not just an adrenaline pack, it’s something deeper. "I need to go now, Sally. Thanks for the help." I glance at my record player. She has turned it off and packed the vinyl away nicely. I walk outside, ready to fight the world. My depression is gone. Nothing can stop me now. An ambulance is outside my building. They found the old lady in my coat. Dead. I cry inside as I walk past them.