CHAPTER 2
Riven
Alone On Your Planet - The Haunt
Evening settles over my loft as neon lights spill through the towering windows, casting shifting colors across the exposed brick and concrete.
The three of us are sprawled in different spots.
Sitting on the floor with my back against the couch, I sip my wine while Charlie is stretched across it, her head resting in Jules' lap.
“My last client was crying over an earlobe piercing. People are really getting sensitive.” Jules says, stretching before sinking back into my couch.
I chuckle, shaking my head.
“Don't even get me started. I had a man, a grown ass man,” I insist “crying over the line work of a heart. I didn't even fill it in.”
I sigh, pinching the bridge of my nose.
“People are sensitive because everything's painless now. They are used to the nano bots stitching their wounds back together stitching in a matter of minutes.”
“I know, Riv.” Jules nods solemnly “But it's our world. We were born into.”
I shrug and take another sip.
“And if you’d stopped reading books about how Kairo was before the technology,” Charlie gestures around us vaguely “you'd probably appreciate things more," She adds with a shrug. “Just sayin', Riv.”
I grunt and sigh.
They're both right, but I can't help it.
I like thinking about how the world used to be, no holograms, no drones, no robots—just simpler and more authentic.
A world where people weren't obsessed with making everything faster, easier, cleaner, where pain actually existed.
“Yeah, yeah... whatever.” I wave them off. “That's why I opened the studio, I wanted to give people something real.”
“People don't come to the studio just because of the atmosphere you created,” Jules says. “They come because they leave with something permanent that was made by you or me. Because Charlie gives them genuine warmth. Because we're human, not machines.”
“I know.” I drag the word out and rub my face. “Thank you for working with me, I wouldn’t have made it without you two.”
“Are you kidding me?” Charlie props herself up on one elbow, lowering her voice dramatically. “Who wouldn't want to work for you?”
“Shut up.” Jules flicks Charlie's forehead with a chuckle. “Besides the paycheck, we've known you for eleven years. We'd be pretty terrible friends if we weren't here.”
A small smile tugs at my lips as warmth settles in my chest, it feels good to have had them by my side for so many years.
I push myself to my feet, smoothing my clothes.
“Enough of this emotional shit,” I grin. “Want to go out? My treat.”
Charlie practically launches herself at me. I grunt and stumble back a few steps before somehow managing to keep us both upright.
“Yes! A drink! A drink!” she shouts.
“Get the fuck off me,” I threaten, dead serious despite the hint of amusement in my voice. “Or I swear I’ll make sure your makeup looks like you pulled your head out of someone's ass.”
Jules just smiles softly and peels Charlie off me by the back of her dress.
“Alright, let's freshen up and get ready. You two can raid my closet,” I say, already heading for the bathroom. “Then we'll head out.”
Charlie dramatically grabs my arm.
“You're too kind!” She sniffles theatrically. “Lending us clothes because we're so poor.”
“Poor?” I stop in the doorway and arch an eyebrow. “Is that why your shoes cost three thousand credits?”
“This is couture!”
I roll my eyes and disappear into the bathroom.
An hour later, I step out of the bathroom wrapped in a towel.
My makeup is done, sharp black eyeliner and dark kohl making my heterochromatic eyes stand out even more.
My hair is brushed back into a sleek low ponytail.
I glance toward the mezzanine and find the two little demons already dressed in my clothes.
Jules is wearing a black denim skirt with a fitted bodysuit, high socks, and heavy boots. Charlie went for a tight black mini dress with a slit along the thigh and platform sandals that make her look way taller than she actually is.
“You two cleaned up nice,” I tease while taking the stairs. “We can almost tell you are women.”
“Ha. Ha. Ha,” Charlie says painfully slowly, dripping sarcasm. “Funny, Riven. Very funny.” She rolls her eyes.
“Exquisite as always, Riv,” Jules adds lazily from the edge of my bed. “You planning to change, or are you trying to traumatize the entire bar by showing up in a towel?”
“I won't traumatize anyone." I pause, smirking as I look between them. "Well... anyone except you two."
I grab the first thing I see that looks decent enough to wear outside and pull it on.
The bodysuit hugs my body like liquid, its sharp cutouts revealing just enough skin to feel dangerous rather than delicate.
Thigh-high platform boots add weight to every step, making me feel taller, colder, untouchable.
Straps cinch around my waist like restraints turned into fashion, giving the whole outfit an even sharper edge.
“Now,” Jules says with a low whistle. “You can traumatize me anytime you want, Riv.”
“Damn, girl,” Charlie gasps, jumping off the bed. “Please marry me.”
She drops dramatically to her knees in front of me, clasping her hands together like she's praying.
I scoff and snort, shaking my head.
“Yes, I will!” I answer playfully
My comm suddenly buzzes on the kitchen counter downstairs.
I look at them and they look at me.
A full five seconds pass before all three of us bolt at the exact same time, practically fighting our way toward the comm.
I hate when they get their hands on it.
Not because I've got anything to hide, but because if Liam sends me anything, they'll never let me live it down.
Jules reaches the counter first, she snatches the comm and taps it open causing a waist-up hologram video projection.
I'm probably going to shove her head into the freezer until her eyebrows freeze off.
Liam appears instantly, his silver-white hair is combed perfectly, except for a few intentionally messy strands falling in front of his eyes.
His grey-blue gaze lands on us wrestling around the kitchen, and he smiles.
Fuck.
I pry Charlie off my arm and shove myself in front of the hologram.
“Hey, babe!” Liam greets “Hey, Jules. Charlie.”
“Hi, Mister—” Charlie starts.
I immediately elbow her out of frame.
“Hey. Why'd you call? How are you?” I ask, slightly out of breath.
“Well, I'm good,” Liam says softly. “I was actually calling to see if you wanted to go out tonight, but I can see you already have plans.”
His eyes drift over me, then the girls.
“You look beautiful, Riv.” He hesitates. “But isn't that outfit a little...” He trails off. “Forget it, you’re perfect.”
I force a small smile, but it doesn’t reach my eyes.
“Yeah, thanks.”
Out of sight of the hologram, Jules and Charlie are making exaggerated rolls of their eyes behind Liam's back.
I sigh.
“So, we were about to head out,” I reach back and rub my neck “but you can come over tonight and wait for me if you want. I won't be out too late. Or... I'll try not to be. You know how they are.”
“Yeah, I know.” Liam nods. “Don't worry about it. Alright, let's do that, babe. Have fun tonight.”
The call ends, and his hologram disappears into static.
I glance down at my outfit, a flicker of discomfort settling in my stomach.
I like it. So what's the problem? Too revealing?
I'll wear whatever I want. It's girls' night, and I feel hot in it.
I look up at the girls, they're standing there with their arms crossed, waiting for me.
We exchange a glance, nod in silent agreement, and head out.
Ending up in one of District 6's dance bars—the entertainment district—might not have been our smartest idea.
The crowd is a chaotic mix of drunks, drug addicts, chromeheads, and Belows from the Lower Layers.
Not that the Uppers are any better.
Once they start partying, they're usually worse, carrying themselves like the whole world exists to indulge them.
The music is so loud it feels like the neo-phonk is trying to burrow into my skull and start paying fucking rent.
The DJ isn't even human, probably some advanced AI running on perfect calculations and the stolen styles of dead artists.
I'm definitely drunk or maybe I am.
All I know is that everything feels light, easy.
Dancing with Jules and Charlie beneath flashing holographic lights that paint our skin in shifting colors feels like an escape.
My mouth starts to dry out, so I make my way to the bar and order a water.
The bartender hands me the bottle, and I drink like I haven't had a drop of water in days.
In reality, I just finished my wine and whatever Charlie bought us—it was blue and pink neon mixed together, but not turning purple, that’s was like alive in that glass, just swirling together.
And tasted like bad decisions.
I sigh, wiping my mouth with the back of my hand, content and ready to head back to the girls.
That's when a pair of hands settles on my waist from behind.
I tense instantly.
What the hell? Who's touching me?
I hate, being touched without warning. Whoever it is, is about to get punched.
The stranger leans in, warm breath ghosting over my ear.
I catch the scent of him, it’s sharp, sour, and smell horribly disgusting.
I grimace and turn my head away, I'm already slightly intoxicated as it is, I definitely don't need his breath.
“Hey beautiful,” he purrs “What are you doing here all alone? Don't you have a boyfriend?” He squeezes lightly my waist.
My jaw clenches so hard it aches.
Who the hell does he think he is?
I'm not some easy prey just because I'm sitting alone at the bar.
I turn slowly to face him. He's tall, with dark hair and blue eyes, his cheeks are flushed from alcohol, and he's at least twice my size.
Maybe more.
I don't stand any chance if he decides to drag me somewhere, and certainly not since I’m drunk as well.
“Move your hands.”
“Don't be like that beautiful.” He leans in again, and starts moving his hands near my ass. “Don't you want to have fun with me? I could make you feel really—"
I don't let him finish, I drive my knee up as hard as I can, straight between his legs.
The man folds instantly with a strangled gasp, before I can even think, instinct takes over.