Exploring Dark Daring Worlds

  DEAD EAST SAMPLE

There was a split in the thick forest canopy above the cabin; the sky between the trees swirled in an intense purple-red glow. The Sun had persistently hidden behind a darkening vale of thickening dust and ash, worsening the greenhouse effect by the day, courtesy of large object strikes. The clouds looked ready to burst forth a deluge; even though the firmament told a differing story, a drought begged the sky to open. 

Wyatt and Antz poked around under the hood of his silver Toyota Tundra. 

“Do you think it’s the fuel pump, Antz?”

“Maybe, or a clogged saufzwerg,” replied Antz.

“What about the fuel injection?” Wyatt inquired.

“Fuel injection or saufzwerg, don’t matter. We need to go to town and raid a parts store if we want to get out of here.”

“Wyatt! Wyatt!” Roxanne came running up to the house hysterically screaming, “Wyatt! Come quickly! Madison fell in the river while collecting water above the Undead Dam.” The river below was spoiled for obvious reasons. 

Over the years, deadwood and other debris piled up in the narrow passage, generating a massive eddy, and when those from the train massacre floated downstream, they became trapped. 

Wyatt grabbed his rifle and ran along the path until reaching the narrow gap. He then strung the weapon crosswise over his back, climbed up the large boulder, and looked for a way down. The only possible way was to jump across to a narrow ledge; from there, he could work his way down. The distance almost seemed too far to reach, and the ledge was merely inches wide, but desperation drove any logical judgment right out of him. He had to save Madison. 

“Madison, I’m coming for you!” He yelled before taking a step back and lunging across the divide. When landing on the tight ledge, his body size forced him to bounce off. He grabbed for the foothold on the way down, but to no avail, he landed in the murky water below. 

He popped up to the surface covered in a layer of gooey, rotten flesh that floated on the surface. Something poked at his feet; he frantically kicked, stirring up the bone-laden bottom. Not all the dead had turned, but some had become food for the Undead.

Trapped between huge boulders and cliff walls was a pile of massive, tangled bodies; through darkened lips and blackened tongues, they screeched and howled to a near-deafening pitch. Their bloated, dead corpses blocked and restricted the water's natural flow. ‘It was as if a giant beaver had wedged them tightly together, Wyatt thought. 

Their whitewashed eyes fixated on him as he tread through the carnage searching for Madison. Entombed among the wall of blood-drained faces was Madison’s warm complexion. Her penetrating eyes concentrated on Wyatt, seeking help; she cried out, “Save them, Wyatt, save them all…” 

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    REBEL LEXIS SAMPLE

She then slowly leaned and kissed Jason’s bottom lip before Learner interrupted. “Ladies, sorry to ruin all the fun, but please let me borrow Jason for a few minutes…”

“Jason, come sit with me…I have a proposal you’ll want to hear,” Learner said with confidence while pulling on Jason’s arm.

“Learner, I’m not sure about your proposal. I just arrived in the Colony.”

“Trust me, you won’t regret it.”

“I got a feeling I already do… Ladies, give me a few minutes to hear out my friend.”

“I’ll give him right back,” Learner placated while the two men walked away and grabbed a corner table.

Learner placed a smooth oval electronic device between the two and clearly spoke. “Activate protocol, 21466.”

“IDENTIFY?” the device asked in a monotonous voice.

“Learner Rotterdam, Madnet 5150.” 

“IDENTIFICATION ACCEPTED.”

A soft blue laser formed a spherical grid, encasing them in an electronic shield. The anti-eavesdropping device ensured the Membrane would be completely oblivious to their conversation. 

“What’s up with all the secrecy?” Jason frowned.

Learner leaned forward and whispered in a surreptitious tone, “I’m seeking a pilot to remit a load tonight, Jason.”

“Listen, Learner… I’m going to get tanked up tonight.” Jason paused to guzzle from his cup, and before wiping his chin, he continued saying, “So goddamn blotto that those Dronski Twins will unexpectedly appear gorgeous.” Jason jerked his head toward the twins at the bar. 

Learner inspected the two carefully and clamorously sighed. “My friend, you’ll destroy yourself trying to consume that much alcohol.” 

“Let’s hope my liver can handle the pressure,” jested Jason, while judging the overly affable man with suspicion.

Learner laughed before swallowing a mouthful of his malt, and then he said, “The job pays double…look, it’s a three-hour round trip through the Pipe. You’ll be back before dawn.” 

“Wait, double…did you say double? How long have we known each other, Learner…?”

“Almost twenty-five years now, but you’ve been running for me about twelve of them.”

“Yeah, and in all those years when I made a secret run for you, not once have you offered to pay double.” 

“It’s all about supply and demand…and you are in demand, Jason.”

“Oh, seamen cakes, Learner! What kind of shit are you trying to sell me?”

“OK, it’s the customer…”

“Learner…who is the customer?”

“The Vril…they’re in desperate need of…elastic fuel cells.”

“No, sir! Not tonight! Not tomorrow! Or ever! Those crazy Occultists will have my balls for dinner. Anyhow, the Vril…they’re on my Nonentity List…you should know that.”

“OK, I’ll pay you…triple the rate…” Learner paused and watched Jason’s eyebrow raise before continuing. “Aren’t you just a few payments from owning that little Villa in Polari? I know you need the credits.”

Learner was right about Jason, and he knew his weak spot, greed. Jason had made payments for decades on a small apartment in Polari’s level 4.  Although it was only on the 4th level, it was located in one of the nicer sectors. Jason’s DNA rating only allowed him to live or travel anywhere between Levels 1 and 5 in Polari. However, he could only afford to live a comfortable lifestyle on Level 4.

The underground Mega City has a population of thirty-six million, and the majority of inhabitants live between Levels One and Four. The levels became less populated as they ascended. People living on Level Nine live in a god-like state, a vacuum of pure opulence.

Jason leaned back and calculated how much more he could squeeze from the desperate man, and continued to bargain. “If the Corporation found out…I’ve been doing business with the Vril. I don’t know…I could end up in real hot water.”

“Listen, you don’t have to go to the Devonian Enclave. You don’t even have to go past Verve Fault Zone…I’ve got a contact who’ll transfer the cargo before you reach the border…”

“I can tell you’re excluding something here, Learner. What else aren’t you telling me…? Tell me more about the manifest.”

Narrated with multiple digital voices

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Narrated by: F. William Baldwin

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