“He’s not your protégé anymore, Rudy… he’s clean and he has a future now. He doesn’t even know about our deal,” Fenric snarled, his hands curling into fists. Fenric forced himself to calm down. It was the alcohol in his system igniting the annoyance that he felt at this entire situation.
“You know as well as I that he is only free as long as you keep making these payments,” Rudy said with a smirk as his sipped nonchalantly from his glass.
“And I am making the payments, aren’t I?” Fenric responded, getting back to his feet. He couldn’t figure out whether he was oversensitive or whether the boss was pushing him today.
“For now. I heard you had to sell your car. Things getting a little hard there, Fen?” the boss teased as he refilled his own glass. “Now are you ready to pay?”
The boss’s large scarred hand was extended in his direction. Fenric quickly took it and selected for his AR to transfer $1000 straight into the boss's bank account. The sum of money would keep his little brother safe, at least for the next month. Thanks to Venom, he would at least have enough to pay next months also. If he could just get a little ahead, then maybe he could get his own life back on plan.
When the transaction was complete, Fenric tugged at the lapels of his duster and exchanged a terse goodbye with Rudy before heading towards the exit of the place. As soon as he stepped outside and he felt the rain, he started to relax. The timer that was constantly running on his commlink zeroed before starting the countdown to next month. Thirty days, 23 hours and 59 minutes until his next donation to the underworld cause. ‘Ain’t life grand’?’ he thought as he headed back towards the curb. It was time for a case of beers and forced night of sleep.
Chapter Four
‘What is that music? Where is it coming from?’ Venom thought as she came to. There was music playing somewhere, and she cracked an eye open tentatively. With the pain thudding in the back of her head, she was terrified of the light level. Finding the room dimly lit, she sighed in relief. She glanced around and was glad to find herself in her own bed. There was nothing worse than waking up in someone else’s and not remembering why you were there. She experienced that far too often.
There was an awful taste in her mouth, nausea rolled in the pit of her stomach, and she had a headache to end all headaches. Normally, it took a host of beers and usually shots to get her to this level, not just one little pink pill. Groaning, she rubbed her eyes as she remembered most of what had happened last night until just after calling Xander for help. He wasn’t going to let her forget that for a while. Damn Fenric and that damn drug. It was obvious that Xander had been the one who helped her dress for bed. Normally, she slept naked, but here she was in a shirt and underwear; he was probably trying to protect her modesty from Jacques. If only he knew.
“Well, hello, Miss Pukey,” came a voice from the doorway. She looked around and saw Jacques in the doorway. He leaned on the doorjamb wearing the smuggest grin she had ever seen from him. What had he witnessed last night?
“Morning,” she groaned. Her entire body just felt sore right now. Maybe she could get a few more hours sleep.
“I think afternoon is more apt,” he responded, stepping farther into the room. Panic shot through Venom, and she sat bolt upright, the movement causing her stomach to churn.
“Shit, shit, shit….I had work at eleven this morning,” Venom swore as she threw back the bedsheets and jumped out of bed. As her feet touched the floor, she regretted her action. She had no strength to her legs, so she pitched forwards. Jacques lunged, grabbing her and keeping her on her feet.
“Don’t worry, your man Blue called this morning. He let your boss know you’re a little under the weather and you’ll be in tomorrow. Apparently, your boss said it was about time you have a day off,” Jacques responded as he led her back to the bed, “now lay your sweet ass down and get some rest. No one ever tell you drugs are bad?”
The teasing grin that he had on his face right now really infuriated and embarrassed her. He was loving this, and that kind of made her want to hurt him. As she lay on the bed, her nose scrunched up in annoyance. Somehow Jacque knew about her activities last night.
“When are you moving out?” she asked a little moodily. She didn’t truly want that, but it was more a threat for him to leave her alone.
“When you stop buying such delicious food,” he smirked before heading out of the bedroom.
Alone in the dim light, she closed her eyes and tried relaxing, but each time she moved she would find an ache somewhere else. Venom made a mental note that next time she planned to try a new drug she would check on the side effects first. Reaching out for her AR glasses, a pang of panic ran through her. They weren’t there.
“I’ve got them,” Jacques said, returning to the room. He tossed her the glasses and placed a cup of steamy coffee on the night stand; the scent was like heaven. “You dropped them on the bathroom floor when you were puking. Good thing they didn’t fall in the toilet.”
“What the hell happened when I got home?” Venom asked, preparing herself to hear some cringey horror story.
“Not much of interest. You threw up a couple times, we had to help you dress after you vomited all over yourself, and then we got you to bed,” Jacques explained. Well that was a relief. Usually she did something stupid, so that was an improvement. “You could have told me you were going on a bender, and I would have joined you. I could do with a good night out.”
“God, I wasn’t planning to. It was supposed to be a hacking challenge, and I let one of my co-workers convince me to try a drug and well… it didn’t sit as well with me as I would have liked.” She gave a weak chuckle as she leaned back on the bed.
“Alright, well, you recover and I’ll be next door if you need me.” Jacques left the room again, but this time closed the door behind him.
Venom relaxed back against the bed again. Her soft mattress and silky sheets engulfed her and made her feel like she was lying on a cloud. It had been a long time since she had just lazed in bed. She loved to work and normally forwent sleep just to get a little more done. Even with how bad she felt, her mind was suggesting that connecting into the Nexus Gateway and doing something was a great idea. Logically it wasn’t. She would end up killing herself through Neural Feedback with the way she was feeling.
Everything seemed to be moving so slow right now, her thoughts drifting by so lazily. Almost like a computer struggling to load. After experiencing the effects of the Neep, everything seemed different. Last night each thought had been lightning fast, but today she was mentally sluggish. The aftereffects were a killer, but when she had been jacked into the Nexus, it had been fantastic. Maybe it was only this bad because it was her first time. Summoning her contact list, she typed out a quick message.
::Hey Fenric. Thanks for the assistance last night you asshole. You owe me big time. You can start by getting me some more of the NeuroPep. V::
Even with how shitty she felt this morning, it didn’t stop her wanting to try it again. How would it work if she was immersed for longer? Last night it had only been about thirty minutes. Maybe if she tried a longer stint, then she wouldn’t feel the worst of the effects. If she could master the drug, it would improve her work to no end.
::NeuroPep? Like the money you won wasn’t enough?::
The money! In her high as fuck state, Venom hadn’t even collected her winnings. She groaned, rubbing her temples in aggravation. Maybe she would swing by the bar later and see if she could collect it; a thousand dollars could go a long way.
::Yeah I didn’t get the money. I was far too distracted by the unexpected side effects from the fucking pill you gave me. Now can you get me more or not?::
Venom watched the message icon, expecting a quick response, but when it didn’t come she found herself growing more and more agitated. A tenseness overtook her, and she was almost growling as she waited for a response. After ten minutes, she tore back the covers and forced herself upright. A distraction was needed.
After learning a lesson from earlier, she tentatively got to her feet. When she was satisfied that her legs could once again support her weight, she headed for the bedroom door. Hopefully, a shower would help her feel a little more human. As she headed out of the room, she caught sight of Jacques lazed out on the couch. He saw her in the doorway and quickly sat upright and got to his feet.
“Don’t stress, I’m cool,” Venom insisted as she slowly made her way across the living room. “I’m just going to take a quick shower and then maybe think about food.”
“You sure you’re gonna be ok? Don’t want you to fall and crack your head or some shit,” Jacques responded. She quite enjoyed the slight nuance of concern in his voice.
“I’ll leave the door unlocked, so if you hear a loud bang or something, then I give you permission to come and check on me,” Venom answered simply. She would just have to make sure that she didn’t drop something, else he would be in there in seconds. Their relations were the kind that only occurred when they were intoxicated, and she didn’t need to give anyone the impression she was looking for a relationship. She could barely manage to keep herself functioning, let alone be part of the welfare of another person.
“Alright, I’ll be here. Don’t die; your cooking is too good to lose,” Jacques joked as he returned to lazing on the couch. Venom chuckled to herself as she headed into the bathroom. Her cooking skills weren’t the best, but she could pull of a few simple meals and lived on more than ramen noodles.
The shower was short and sweet. By the time she got out, she was warm, sweet smelling, and dreading to see her water bill after the eight minute monster shower. But it had been worth it; sometimes you just had to treat yourself. When she got back to her room, the first thing she did was check her AR glasses. There was a message waiting. It was from Fenric.
::Silly girl, go and see Aston. I am sure he will sort you out for dollars. As for the NeuroPep I can get you some easily. $20 a pill how many do you want?::
Venom responded quickly, her fingers dancing over the keys.
::Get me 5. I’ll come into work early tomorrow and grab them off you::
There was a moment of relief, her shoulders relaxing a little at the idea of getting more Neep. She didn’t know why, but the draw of the drug was more than she expected. Hacking was her life, and the idea of making it more streamlined excited her. It was the same feeling when she had her neural implant all those years ago. Today she would stay clear of immersion, but tomorrow she would test the drug’s effects fully.
Chapter Five
It was another gray and misty day as Venom drove to the office. She was running late thanks to a side trip to OwnPlace to grab her winnings. Now with her bank balance heavier than before, she was on route. Unfortunately, the distraction had caused her to become caught in traffic. She was going to miss Fenric at this rate. Fenric wasn’t like her; when his shift time came to an end he was out of the office faster than you could say his name. Her fingers were tapping aggressively on the dashboard. Every time the traffic inched forward before juddering to a halt, it inflamed her mood. Irritation turned to annoyance and then outright anger so fierce it was almost palpable. Lucky for her, she was only halfway through hacking the light systems when the traffic parted, allowing her a straight path through. She really didn't need the trouble it would get her in.
After finding a spot in the Network’s parking structure, she practically ran the rest of the way. Her breath was coming heavier than expected as she got into the elevator. How unfit had she let herself become? She needed to go back to the gym. As the doors slid open on the TechPit’s floor, she let out a sigh of relief, seeing Fenric standing there talking with one of their colleagues. As she approached, his eyes caught hers, and the conversation abruptly ended as Fenric headed in her direction.
“Didn’t think you were going to make it,” he said with his trademark smirk as he leaned back against his desk.
“Traffic was a bitch. Did you manage to see your friend?” Venom asked. After he had abandoned her when she needed him the other night, she didn’t want to spend any more time in his presence than required.
“No cheery hello. No friendly banter. Just ‘did you get the drugs Fenric?’” he teased louder than she liked.
Venom narrowed her gaze at him. Drugs were a usual part of life; everyone did them. Whether prescription or recreational, people were either on uppers, downers, hallucinogens, or anything to get them to the end of the day. Venom understood it wasn’t the skeleton in the closet it used to be, but she didn’t want all her colleagues to know what she was up to. A pill of sense or Xcite at Neon on the weekends was one thing, but NeuroPep was in an entirely different league. She was forced to keep reminding herself it was just a test to see the difference between standard immersion and pepped immersion.
“Fenric, I don’t know what bullshit notion you have that you and I are friends, so how about you just shut your cocky fucking face and stop being a fucking prick,” she hissed quietly through gritted teeth. Fenric’s face fell, the confident cocky demeanor gone and replaced by a genuine look of sadness or maybe disappointment. The expression caused an instant feeling of regret and guilt about her outburst.
“Ah, ok. Sorry. Here,” Fenric said, his words now lacking his usual energy. She felt his hand on hers, a small bag being pressed into her palm. With his ID chip in range, she inputted a transfer of $100 into his account. The transaction took milliseconds, and before she could react, he had pushed himself off the desk and was heading for the door.
“Fenric…,” Venom called after him.
“Don’t worry, catch you later,” Fenric responded in a dead tone without stopping. He gave a weak wave before passing through the frosted privacy barrier that separated the TechPit and the elevator.
“Shit,” Venom swore to herself. She rolled back her head and let loose a sigh. She hadn’t meant to upset him, but there was just something about his demeanor that pushed her buttons. Heading straight to her desk, she deposited the bag from Fenric in the top drawer before stripping her hoodie and satchel bag and settling in her chair.
“You’re in early,” came a cheerful voice from beside her. Venom jumped. Swiveling in her chair, she found Micah standing beside her desk. Her heart was pumping like she was a misbehaving teenager who was about to be caught by a parent.
“I had some files left over from my last shift that I wanted to get finished,” Venom answered. It wasn’t a total lie. After a day off yesterday, she really needed to catch up on the work she missed.
“Are you feeling better?” Micah asked with genuine concern. The gentle smile on his high cheekboned face made her melt a little. She couldn’t deny the crush she’d had on her boss since the day she started here.
“I’m feeling a lot better. Ready to get started,” she said with a smile.
“Well, good. We missed you yesterday.” Another genuine comment from her boss before he started to talk about work.
Venom was listening, but she also found her eyes drawn to his shirt, a simple black T-shirt with a hacker slogan in white. It read ‘My software never has bugs. It just develops random features’. She mentally chuckled. Every day he wore something similar. A different quote but the same sentiment. As he leaned forward on the desk, she remembered what was in the drawer, and her mouth grew dry. Only three inches below his hands was the bag with five little pink pills. She felt terrible, like she was betraying her friendly boss. It still wasn’t enough to stop the wanting to take them though.
After a few minutes of chatter, Micah headed back towards his glass walled office in the corner of the floor. Instead of starting her work, she watched subtly as he walked away.
“You should ask him out,” came a timid voice from beside her. Venom glanced over to see Vara sitting at the desk in the cubicle beside her. She had been so distracted by the conversation with Micah that she hadn’t even heard Vara come in.
“Ha. The man with fifth tier clearance is not going to be interested in me,” V
enom said with a snort as she felt the heat rising in her face. “Plus, I heard he’s married to someone upstairs.”
“He’s not married. No ring or anything, and he works too much to be married. See if he wants to go for coffee,” Vara suggested with a little smile playing on her petite, pale face. For a moment, she let herself sink into the fantasy of them sitting at a table at BrewShack talking about something other than work, his thumb gently stroking her hand as....No… she had to focus. He didn’t like her; she was just an employee and he was her boss.
“Vara, leave it please,” Venom said a little snappier than she would have liked.
“Oh… Ok... s... sorry.” Vara’s voice became more timid as the small female grabbed her hood and pulled it up, hiding her short blond hair from view.
Venom mentally cursed. Sometimes she forgot how timid the girl was; it didn’t take a lot to spook her. So that was both Fenric and Vara that she had pissed off today, maybe she should just message a long stream of abuse to Xander and make it three for three. She sighed and settled into work. As expected, there were a lot of jobs to be done. Hopefully, that would be enough to distract her from her asshole mood.
*****
Xander was exhausted. Thanks to the stress of his current team, his darling daughter’s sleepless nights, and Venom’s late night call out, sleep had not been his friend. Hiding in an empty office, his plan had been to close his eyes and attempt to nap for maybe thirty minutes before his next meeting. So far, that hadn’t happened. Instead, he found himself flicking through his Sanctuary feed, catching up with friends whom he just hadn’t had time for lately. There wasn’t much to catch his eye until he came upon a shared news article. It read, ‘NeuroPep claims it’s eighth victim this week’. Xander quickly brought up the article, his eyes darting back and forth as he soaked up all the information.
Caustic (The Seraphim Network - Everyday Series Book 1) Page 5
