Prologue

My life changed on December 29th, 2030. Perhaps it was the work of some mystical being or just my terrible luck. Regardless of how I looked at it, I despised the change. They called it New Dawn City, but there was nothing 'new' about it. The place was hailed as a fresh start, a rebranding of an entire city that had been infested with drugs, crime, gangs, and all sorts of violence. You name it, and you'd probably find it just down the street from the local market.

But let me backtrack a bit and tell the story—or at least the beginning of it—as I experienced it or as it was told to me. As I mentioned, it all started on that fateful day in December, in New Vegas.

"Sorry, hun, I'm going to be a bit late tonight. Things got a little hectic at work today," Huey muttered as he walked down the dimly lit street in the middle of the night. It was cold, and with the changing climate, it was only going to get colder in the future. He hated that and wished they lived somewhere warmer, like Old Plebo, or somewhere in the southern part of the USA where heavy snowfall was a rarity.

"Yeah, I know I promised, and I'll try to make it up to you as best I can," he said, spotting the café across the street. "I've got to go. I'll talk to you when I'm home." Without waiting for his wife to respond, he bid her farewell and hung up the phone.

Traffic was non-existent at this time of night. Frankly, the entire city was dead after sunset. People rarely left their homes once the sun went down—that's how bad things had become. Yet New Vegas was still better than their old hometown. Huey didn't even want to think about that place.

A chime rang out as he entered the small café. There were hardly any people inside, just an elderly couple sitting in the corner. He appreciated the quietness, not just because of the lack of people, but also because it gave him a sense of security, something the world lacked these days.

Glancing down at his watch, he realized he was early. It was five minutes to nine, more than enough time to order a drink.

The red-headed waitress smiled at him, revealing her unnaturally white teeth. She seemed older than him, maybe two or three years his senior. However, her curvaceous body contradicted any signs of old age. 'The things I could do to you,' he quickly deprived himself of such thoughts about another woman.

Clicking her pen, she leaned forward across the counter. "What can I do for you, handsome?"

"It's been a while since someone called me handsome. Thanks, I needed that," he replied, shifting his gaze from her to the menu above, quickly scanning its contents. Partly to see if they had made any changes, but also to divert his attention. The way she was leaning, he was certain something was bound to pop out of her blouse at any moment. His wife would kill him if she knew he was paying attention to another woman's assets. But damn, they were certainly appealing. "I'll take a Blackshot with a bacon cheeseburger."

"Coming right up."

The view from behind was just as captivating as the front. How was this place so deserted? Huey couldn't fathom the reason, but he was grateful for it. If someone caught him staring, he'd be labeled a creep. A faint chuckle escaped his lips when he noticed the old man in the corner eyeing the redhead's derriere.

"What's so funny, doc?" a voice asked from his right. Glancing at his watch, he realized it was already nine. Right on schedule.

"Nothing," Huey replied in a hushed voice. There was little time for small talk now; it was time for business. Sliding his hand across the table, the newcomer placed his on top of Huey's. Huey withdrew his hand as the newcomer discreetly pocketed whatever was exchanged.

"Is this everything?" the newcomer inquired.

"Everything that's relevant," Huey confirmed before turning his gaze to meet the man's eyes. He was young, at least twenty years Huey's junior. The young man effortlessly sported the quintessential bad boy look. It suited him, although Huey still had no idea what those Chinese symbols on the side of his face meant.

"Don't forget, you didn't get it from me," Huey quickly reminded the young man.

"I ain't stupid, doc. No one's going to know where it came from," the young man replied before placing his hand back on the counter.

Silence prevailed as the waitress returned with Huey's drink. She smiled at the young man, and he responded with a wink. It was evident from the way she bit her lip that she was tempted to throw herself at him.

Huey cleared his throat to grab her attention. "How much longer for that burger?" he asked, interrupting her silent conversation with the young man. They communicated without uttering a word, but their gaze and body language revealed their connection.

"Shouldn't be too much longer, darling. Let me check," she replied, the shift in her address from 'handsome' to 'darling' not going unnoticed by Huey.

"Does that ever work for you?" Huey inquired, observing the curvy waitress walking away.

His eyes weren't the only ones fixed on her figure; the young man was also eyeing her. "I don't know, never tried it before. But I'll let you know later." Huey shook his head without hesitation. He didn't need the details, although that didn't mean he didn't want to hear them. Even at his age, there were certain wonders of the world that never grew old.

"Thanks for this," the young man expressed his gratitude to Huey.

"Whatever you need, I've got you. Besides, it's about time those corrupt fuckers get what they deserve," Huey replied.

"I hear that." The young man shifted his gaze towards the returning waitress, who held a plate in her hand. Resting on it was a juicy bacon cheeseburger that looked appetizing, making his mouth water. The sway of her hips only added to its allure.

"Here you go." She placed the plate in front of Huey.

"You gonna order something or keep eyeing my food?" Huey teased the young man, noticing his lingering gaze on the burger.

The young man pulled out fifty dollars and handed it to the waitress. "Nah, I think I'd rather have something else," he replied, glancing at the waitress. "This is for him, and this is for you."

She looked at the money and noticed there was something else along with it. He gave her a nod, then swiftly left without a word. Huey couldn't even get a chance to say goodbye before the young man disappeared through the door. "Oh yeah, this is good. Compliments to the chef," Huey praised after taking a bite of his bacon cheeseburger. Was it as good as the one his wife made? No. But was it better than any of the fast-food joints scattered throughout the city? Absolutely! It was a godsend after having consumed chicken for the past week.

"Aren't you a bit too old to be hanging out with such young friends?" the waitress inquired as Huey continued to enjoy his meal. She couldn't get the image of the young man out of her mind. Huey knew that look in her eyes and couldn't help but envy the youth of this era.

"Aren't you a bit too old to be attracted to someone so young?" he wanted to retort but held his tongue.

"Sorry to break it to you, but he's not my friend."

"Then can you tell me if your 'not a friend' is single?"

Huey chuckled and looked at the woman. She had to realize that she could be his mother. Apparently, good looks and a great physique were all it took to make women feel flustered. "Last time I checked, no," Huey replied before gesturing to her pocket. "You'd better hurry, he won't be in town for long."

She left him to his meal and disappeared around the corner. A few seconds later, he heard someone, presumably the cook, scolding her for trying to leave. However, that clearly didn't deter her, as he heard a door closing.

"Fucking hell," Huey muttered, laughing as all sorts of images ran through his mind. He chewed his food with frustration, feeling the meal losing its appeal. It left a bitter taste in his mouth for some reason, and he couldn't bring himself to finish the burger.

He left the restaurant, pulling his jacket tightly around him to ward off the cold. He despised the chilly weather, especially tonight when the temperature was expected to drop below ten degrees. There was no snow, just a biting wind that threatened to freeze one's fingers upon contact.

As he walked, the streetlamp down the road flickered intermittently. "All the money they put in, and they can't even fix a light bulb?" he grumbled, reaching into his pockets to find his keys. However, his pockets were empty. "Where is it?" he muttered, searching his pants pockets in vain. All he had was his phone. "Don't tell me I dropped it in the cafe when I sat down," Huey realized, contemplating turning back.

Just as he was about to retrace his steps, he heard the faint hum of a motorcycle in the distance. He dismissed it, assuming it was just the sound of street races that were common in this area at night. New Vegas had its share of attractions, but it was still a city mired in problems. Huey figured it was better to make the most of the situation than dwell on the negatives. After all, it was an improvement from their previous hometown.

Suddenly, a bright light blinded him, causing him to squint. The motorcycle was hurtling down the street toward him. Before he could discern the figures on the bike, gunshots pierced the air, reverberating off the surrounding buildings and jolting people awake. Huey instinctively dropped to the ground as blood stained the dull gray concrete, turning it a vivid shade of red.

And so, my life changed on December 29, 2030. It was the day I lost my father, and the police had no leads to pursue. His case was as good as cold, and living in New Vegas, I knew all too well that the local law enforcement was a lazy bunch who rarely lifted a finger. Maybe I'm just venting my frustrations, but I have every right to be upset. Don't tell me otherwise!

As I stared out the window from the passenger seat, my mother played some awful music she claimed was a classic from her era. We were heading back to a place I once called home, a place I had escaped. Funny how life works. Just when you think you're free, something pulls you right back in.

I rolled my eyes and let out a sigh. "Welcome to New Dawn City," the sign read. Underneath it, the words "The city of change" were displayed.