Ai's POV

If you want to navigate the Outside after sunset, an enforcer vehicle is the best way to do it.

It's also the most boring way.

Jax, not a man of many words, is silent for the longest time as we drive. I end up staring out the cab window just for something to do. Lights trail blaze across the barrier, fading with every metre. Where we are heading there are no lights; Outside they attract bad things, and require electricity. Not much of that to be had out here, apart from inside the cracker.

In fact, most of the front cab is tech – 360 night views of our surroundings, blinking satellite maps, and dozens of switches and sensors – illuminated in a sickly-soft, green glow. There are even butt-ends of several machine guns intruding into our headspace, hacked into the roll-cage, all of which I'm sure are illegal.

We drive in darkness for a while. Then, we head away from the river, connecting with the snaking side road which takes us straight to the bulbous end of the East Bank – a cluster of streets at the bend, over a mile long. A hive of vamp activity known as The Slice.

I'm spaced out, eyes locked on the sheen of water keeping us company along the way, when Jax speaks.

"Remember to keep your eyes hidden."

"Sure," I reply, as nonchalantly as I can.

I wait to see if Jax will impart more words of wisdom, but he doesn't. We lapse again into awkward silence. Acutely aware of how close we are in the cluttered space.

I've known Jax my whole life; I grew up seeing him and my brother hanging out together as teenagers. At one time, I quite fancied him, but now he just scares me. His gangly features have filled out and he's about half a foot taller than my brother. At some point growing up, I can't remember when, he stopped smiling.

As we close in, Jax switches the dash to real-view and the green screens melt away. What was once derelict, has been rebirthed into a busy bottle neck for Outsiders blow off steam. Stolen electricity hums here, providing fake sunshine and signage. Bars are open to the streets; roadhouses full of grifters, gang members, gunners, and all sorts of other shady clientele - the sort you'd never see Inside. Without realising, I'm scanning every door-way and window, every face and figure, for a glimpse of the familiar.

Where are you hiding Shae?

An EVe Outside is a rarity. Usually, we're a cloistered lot, us evolved humans. On the other hand, vamps are rife here, or hybrids to be politically correct. While they appear human, much more so than vipers, they're bigger, stronger, and more athletic. I learnt at school hybrids have no gene to inhibit growth and muscle development. Their bodies naturally build themselves. No training necessary. They even age slower. The physically superior offspring of two very different species.

But unlike sapiens or vipers, hybrids assimilate their energy only from blood, sapien blood. The fresher, the better. Lucky for us, they're also sterile; nature reigning in numbers to hinder them from dominating, taking over the world.

That, and we also built a wall.

We continue driving the wrong side of that wall, until we pass a few places with glowing red signs, indicating they sell blood from the source, among other things. Blood brothels rely on free trade, both from sapiens and vamps. Within 'their' walls, we're are free to offer an open vein, or two, in return for credit. Apparently, house security will prevent vamps from accidently sucking you dry.

Right.

Nearer the end of the bank, night-life thickens, and the streets pack tight with bodies; clawing to get to the middle where it's much safer than the edges, especially at night. We take a sharp right, into an enclosed outdoor parking lot. And pull into a reserved space, within a row of classic petrol engines – all beautifully restored relics from before – tucked behind a couple of slick-looking, antique sports bikes.

Jax shifts the beast into park, as though we're meant to be here, eyeing a monstrous building behind us in the rear view mirror.

I turn around to look.

Oblivion. A viper owned night club, the only one on the East Bank, large enough for secret rooms and private quarters, where any kind of black trade can happen; gambling, bloodletting, prostitution and even leaching. So I've heard.

A few humans loiter in the entrance, which isn't guarded, drinking and digitally absorbing drugs straight to their cortex. I see no vamps, but that doesn't mean they aren't inside.

Jax begins a ritual I've seen my brother do a million times; selecting weapons and securing armour.

My empty stomach twinges and I bite my lip.

"Are we going into Oblivion? What's the plan?"

"The plan is... you stay here."

"What? No. Daemon said I could. I'm coming with you." I glare at him.

Jax squints at me, then takes my gun out my pocket and hands it to me, then gets out, long legs first, closing the door. He strides off to front of house.

A click and a whir locks me in. Securing me behind steel and tinted glass.

Lights in the interior wink out, one by one.

Leaving me alone in the dark.

Leaving me fuming.

***

Author's Note - 

Thanks so much for reading, commenting and liking!

It means the world!

Sorry, it's much shorter that usual. I had to find a natural break in the prose to make it work!

Let me know what you think so far, i'd love to hear your thoughts on the story.

Hope you're enjoying it!

Lis x