Encrypted

Chapter 2

As nickolai rolled down the street on his skateboard. He glared to his left, he noticed a group of people crowded around a department store window. He had a nag to stop and investigate. But he knew better “curiosity killed the curious” as he always said. Nickolai thought to him self as he sped down the busy street,

“ I can only imagine what those bystanders were observing, but with what’s been happening lately I don’t want to stop anywhere I don’t have a need to”. After a few blocks he was within visual range of what he thought was a disguised prison. “I don’t want to be here, but the choice is this that or get scrapped up by the Advisors” and for the people who inhabited this worn city, Advisors were like an upscale version of police.” Their like police but I call them jokes” He saw his friend Jason waiting at the intersection glaring down at his phone.

Nickolai was pondering whether or not he was going to shout his name. But for some strange reason he decided other wise. His friend proceeded across the street as the light flashed green “hmm there’s Jason, I wonder if he saw me, ha, I bet he didn’t, he’s always texting that girl of his” his thoughts are quickly halted as he plummets to the ground. His mind stirs “shit…what the fuck...” he glares at the rough cracked street that he hadn’t payed attention to as his mind wondered off. “Just as mother always says” his mothers voice echoes in his head “PAY ATTENTION” he gets a grip back on reality and starts to stumble back to his feet. Before he can get back on one knee a slender feminine arm extends down towards him, it was familiar, it was his friend Maria.

“Took a pretty hard fall there eh buddy?” Maria snickers and helps him to his feet.” Well yeah, did you see that” he manages to mutter as he dust him self off.  Maria gives a stern glare “well obviously dumbass.” Nickolai glares back at her and there is a long awkward pause. Maria was a girl he had managed to talk to in the 7th grade and has been friends with her ever since. “Well what are you starring at?” Nickolai’s visual asphyxiation was then instantly broken. His head fell into a droop as he simply said “thanks”. Maria’s face now expressed irritation “can you ever just make something pleasant... Jeez dude.” The words cut into his self-esteem like a lion charges a gazelle. His thoughts progress “ I should probably apologize all she was trying to do was help”  but as he lifts his head to say something. He realizes that she had already walked away. He then thinks to him self “good one mc lovin…”

He grabbed his board and just decided to walk as his left knee was now starting to ache and as sharp pain surges throughout his leg. As he approached the school he saw a line of CAU (City-wide Advisor Unit) trucks parked outside. “What’s going on?” His Phone rings, its Jason. “ dude CAU trucks are patrolling everywhere, someone else got murdered. Danny told me it was some poor sap in the Nega district”. The Nega district is where people who have been convicted of cyber crimes and are released from prison go. Nickolai thinks then replies “ Wow you know his name?” “ no man I just know he’s dead” nickolai’s blood is racing at this point. “You have any idea who did it? Jason pauses.

“unfortunately I do” Nickolai snaps quickly back “who?!?” Jason is about to speak “ I think it was…”The phone then made an almost ear shattering screech and went dead. “ that wasn’t any accident, phones just don’t do that.” He looked around to see if he could locate Jason. Nothing. As usual. He then looked over to a group of advisors.

The in charge looking one glared down at a piece of paper, then at him, then at the paper. And before he knew it 5 advisors were heading his direction with hyper electric tasers. He was the only one standing there and they don’t use that level of weaponry to just ask some questions.” Something tells me these jokes aren’t here to ask for directions”. The choice was clear.

Get Fried or Run.