Cover image
Synopsis
In the near future corporations run everything. There is no middle class, only the filthy rich, and everyone else. A hacker, Ghost, is pursued by an unknown man for reasons unknown to her, in her attempts to escape she finds out she is no ordinary woman, but will it be enough? Can one woman change the world?
Excerpt
The bed rustled as the big man rose to get dressed. Laying in fetal position, I feigned sleep, but the gravity well left by the overlarge man threatened to drag me in, threatened to expose my ruse. After a few moments thrashing trying to get his clothes on, the room went quiet. I felt the man looming over me, staring at me. I kept my breathing deep and regular, even moving my eyes as if in REM, but I didn't think the man could actually see the motion. Then, to my relief, I felt him throw something on the night stand and leave the room. However, I didn't move until a count of 100 after I heard the door close. At a hundred, I clamored to the edge of the bed, draping my legs over the edge, my feet didn't even flinch at the feel of the icy floor. Running my hands through the tangle of blond hair, I looked into the mirror I knew to be before me. It reflected the darkness back to me--emptiness.
Something scurried across the top of my feet. Amazing what one can get used to. Standing up, the sheet fell from my nakedness, and I fled to the bathroom. Turning on the vanity lights, half of which were burned out, I pretended to look at my reflection, someone I didn't really want to see looked back. Blue eyes expressing disappointment, dirty blond hair falling across half a face that most men found beautiful. I peered closer, not seeing it, shrugged and turned on the shower, hot, really hot. Clamoring into the stream of water, I crawled into a corner of the tub, letting the water wrap me in its cleansing embrace, I curled into a ball and cried.
The steam rolled out of the bathroom as I walked out into the room feeling reborn. I got dressed, throwing my hair into a ponytail, then drew open the light deadening drapes to let the darkened day into the room. I went to the dresser mirror to paint my face, and decided I didn't have the energy to do it. I went to the nightstand and looked at what the man left me. If he paid what we agreed upon, it would be enough. It was more than enough, scooping up the cash, I picked up my tattered jacket and left the room.
