Story

My mother and father were able to secure a job that was legal and have so far managed to keep bad ties away from them. However, my father was with a gang until he met my mother, they managed to remove themselves from the city they had resided in and into a bigger city. While a bigger city is more of a danger it is easier to hide in from past connections. I don't want to know what my father may have done to remain loyal to his creed. All I can say is he is a very brave man who loved a woman enough to go into hiding and provide the best life possible for her. To not be apart of a clan, creed, or union is means for a very difficult life here in America. Though because of my father's experience we are able to more easily remain hidden and sheltered. He's given everything toward my education - the only guarantee for a clan free life.

Today though, I worry. While I was on my way to my tutor the bus was shared with young men who were obviously associated with one of the city mafia dons despite their scroungy looks and rugged jaw lines. My father told me what to look out for. They ignored the "No hydrogen smoking" sign as each and every one of the four had lustrous dilation in their eyes puffing out evaporated remains in their lungs. Liquid cigarettes are more potent but were foced to be legal in order to prevent another illegal system of drug running & narcotics, not that it wasn't run by a clan lord anyway...

I tried to make myself small as to hide, however these days you just become more of a target while shrinking. They started to walk over to me, muttering their street slang amongst themselves which was different between clans. To speak differently than everyone else is helpful in preserving public privacy. Wide eyed and surprised the bus stopped, right at my stop. The doors opened and I exited out the back second door... not alone. Running up the dark and dismal block to the tutoring school I showed the bouncer my pass and he let me in . I was safe, I was relieved, the young men hung around outside eying the defense they couldn't cross, I was victorious.

The bouncers were were equipped with electric lashes and a small round shield for defense. When a young men moved in more, testing the waters, he was threatened with a last near the soles of his thick boots. The whip had pulverized more of the already poor excuse for a sidewalk.

What I did wrong was retreat to my lesson before making sure they left.

August 9 2077