Soul Shock by Potter Daniel

Author:Potter, Daniel
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Fallen Kitten Productions
Published: 2022-10-29T00:00:00+00:00

The Gaslight District was established during the height of the hyperflu, when Portland was in a total lockdown. Some tech investor decided that his favorite punk band’s show would not be canceled and bought this ramshackle venue over a thousand bio-warfare-rated gas masks. They even had bladders to store drinks. Everyone but the performing band was required to wear one at all times. It was a citywide sensation. A joyful triumph over pestilence. It worked for about two months before the city shut it down for lax enforcement of the “mask on at all times” policy.

The bouncer didn’t give us a second glance as we stepped through the doorway in artfully cut jeans, tied up t-shirts borrowed from Cindy and a random assortment of jewelry. The only thing that really set me apart from the crowd was my purse, which doubled as a Secret carrier. Compared to the Salamas, this place felt like a backyard clubhouse assembled by a bunch of middle schoolers equipped with nail guns. Painted chipboard walls shuttled us into the bar area; instead of tables, large beer barrels served as surfaces to place store beer and cocktails served in plastic cups. Cloth banners bearing band names hung from the ceiling with typography either painfully plain or too chaotic to actually be read. A bare four hundred feet from the bar sat the stage, bracketed by speakers so large that looking at them made my ears ring. The show started in half an hour, and people swamped the bar.

I didn’t see Joy, but after beer and sweat, her cloying fragrance impregnated the air, like a territorial marker. Perhaps she was backstage with the band? According to the bill, the Lovely Wreckers were the only act. Their merch tables were mobbed.

We weren’t here for the show, though; we had our own trick to perform. Locate Joy, then smuggle in a six-foot-four man wearing body armor so he could stab her with a magic sword. Cliff had insisted that he needed the armor, and he might be right if things went south. Fortunately, this tinderbox of a club seemed to obey some of the fire codes. Besides the main entrance, there were plenty of fire exits that were unguarded. Victoria and I selected the best one to sneak him in through, and I texted him to let him know the plan. After that, we purchased two sets of ear plugs and settled down to wait.

When the MC announced the Lovely Wreckers, that crowd screamed so hard it caused feedback to squeal over the speakers. Fans streamed from the bar toward the stage, and I spotted Joy. Not alone this time, either. The councilor wasn’t there, but in his place was a cluster of very fit-looking men and women; a few of them wore orange gi’s advertising Blossom’s Mixed Martial Arts Gym on their back.

“Expecting us?” Victoria asked.

“Expecting something,” I mouthed back. “I’ll keep an eye on her; you go let Cliff in.”

With a nod, she slipped from the table toward the emergency exit.

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