The Spot

Standing alone in the bathroom, the sound of running water resounding through it, Marcus washed his hands and splashed water on his face as he looked in the mirror. The voices of students in the hallways faded away as he lost himself in his reflection.

Knocking on the mirror with the back of his knuckle, Marcus began reminiscing about his past as the sound of the knocking caused memories to resurface in his mind. He remembered the days of he and his friends first attended school, their laughter filling the halls as he remembered pranks, events, and conversations they shared.

A smile softly grew on his face as he whispered, "What good times…" As if snapping him back to reality, a chime from his phone broke him out of his reprieve. Pulling it from his pocket after wiping his hands on his pants, Marcus read the notification as he walked out of the bathroom into the noticeably less crowded hallway.

…

..

.

Deep in the city, a transit bus stopped on the corner of an impoverished and noticeably dilapidated neighborhood. Stepping off the bus, Marcus was greeted by the waiting figure of Damian looking at a holographic screen displayed before him from his wristwatch.

"Finally, I've been here for 20 minutes. Did you and Nat have a lovers quarrel again?" Damian said, a smile growing on his face as he leaned shoulder forward to interrupt a punch from Marcus.

"Shut up about that" Marcus smiled while they both laughed for a few seconds. Beginning the short journey to their destination, they gazed at the scenery around the once prosperous neighborhood from the years ago now almost deserted except for a half dozen stores and apartment buildings housing those capable of affording it.

"This place was nice when we were kids, I remember when we lived in the high rise, enjoying the scenery and luxury that came with it." Damian softly said as they reached a high-rise building with boarded-up doors. The name said Continental, yet some letters were missing, evident that time has taken its toll on it.

Pulling on the handles causing the doors to open as if the boards weren't there, Marcus turned on the flashlight for his phone to navigate the rundown lobby. Stepping on old papers and pieces of ceiling tile that fell with time, Marcus and Damian kept the conversation up, following their memories as they walked through the corridors and towards the staircase.

As they walked a well-known route, they passed by tents and sleeping bodies, as other disheveled people wearing tattered clothing walked the halls, a testament to the safe haven the building had turned into for the homeless. Though there were rooms these people could occupy, their bodies were unable to deal with walking multiple flights of stairs as the hunger and weakness they felt were fighting their ability to ascend the massive stairwell.

The building, while forty-plus floors high, was only home to hundreds of homeless residents of this neighborhood and others. The building was set to be demolished and the neighborhood re-established as a well-off mid-income area of the city, yet nothing was done as the city seemingly forgot the idea.

"It was nice here, but that scandal of mismanaged funds and shady building repairs as well as an underground gambling ring on the top floor had the owner put in jail and the building closed," Marcus said, his arm covering his nose as the smell was becoming worse the deeper they walked.

Reaching the stairwell, a slim set of dust-covered stairs lined with a single rail for safety, the duo smiled at each other. "Ladies first," Damian said, making Marcus roll his eyes as he went first, though not without responding with a chuckle, "Asshole".

Climbing the dust-covered stairs, the duo sighed as their legs began protesting with every floor they passed. Stopping on the 10th, the two friends walked the corridor with slow steps and labored breaths. Taking a moment to catch their breath, they continued while continuing small talk, it was only until they reached a room that was numbered 1023 that they stopped.

"Home sweet home isn't that right Marcus?" Damian said as he momentarily locked eyes with him. "At a time it was home, not anymore though," Marcus responded frankly.

Opening the door to the room, the duo stepped into a room, unlike the rest of the building. It was abandoned and not suitable for living as dust and other items littered the floor, yet there was a window open that kept the room flowing with air as some chairs sat beside it. The light from the setting sun created a nice orange-turning-pinkish red effect in the sky as it gave light to the room.

"Finally!" Damian said as he walked to one of the chairs, and sat down with a breath of relief. Looking over as Marcus took a seat in the other chair, the two sat and relaxed as they looked out the window at the city.

The view, while not spectacular, gave a unique shot of the city from above most other buildings in that direction. It created a sight of the sprawling rooftops of the various buildings, advertisements facing inward as in the center between two buildings was a shot of Lacoa, the nightlife district of the city.

"How long until the sun finishes setting?" Marcus asked, not wanting to travel through this neighborhood at night as the police don't patrol it as much.

Looking at his wrist, Damian searched for when the sun would finish setting before opening his school bag and taking out a self-refrigerating lunchbox. "We have about 30 minutes."

Nodding, Marcus accepted a cold water Damian had extracted from his lunchbox, taking a deep mouthful of it and swallowing as he waited a moment to feel the coolness flow through his body. "Damn that's nice"

As they relaxed and gazed out the window, Marcus began drawing the scene in his sketchbook. Noticing it, Damian kept quiet as he played music from his watch before taking out a sketchbook of his own and continuing an already-started drawing. The music being a nice background piece for both of them to enjoy along with the peace and serenity the spot brings.

As time continued to fly by Damian spoke up as his wrist chimed a few beeps as the room got progressively darker. "Time's up, we should go," he said as he began packing the snacks he and Marcus were eating.

"Alright, just let me-," Marcus said as he gazed out at the city as the lights from the various buildings and streets began cutting on. Seeing the sight, Marcus was tempted to try and sketch it but settled with taking a picture. "Actually it's fine, let's leave"

"Are you really not going to finish strong and get a guaranteed job at a corporation when we graduate?" Damian asked, his face void of emotion as he put his bag on his back while standing up.

"I told you already, I don't plan to let this city remain this way, I need to pull the veil back somehow and I can't do it as one of the corporate sheep," Marcus responded softly before taking one last look at the city as he tapped Damian's shoulder and walked to the door of the room.

"I get it, we lost our place here to the corrupt nature of this city and needed to move. There is nothing that is making you want to stop getting great grades other than your desire to not join a corporation." Damian stated, turning around with a sigh as he continued.

"The city hasn't cost you anything other than a temporary home. You listen to those podcasts that talk about the latest Lost attacks, gang turf wars, random murders, and everything else not covered on the news but nothing explains your dislike of corporations."

"It's the corporations that fund most of the things happening in this city!" Marcus said as he glared back at Damian, the coldness in his eyes causing Damian to become momentarily stunned.

"These mega companies finance the bloodbaths experienced in the streets every day. They sell off-the-market cybernetics to gangs and buggy cybernetics they make for cheap on the street or sell weapons for the next gang showdown. It's infuriating me that nobody is doing anything about it!"

"What can you do about it then?" Damian questioned. He wanted to know Marcus's plan and decide if he should support him or let him go down his path alone.

Looking past Damian, to the city glowing in an almost ethereal state, Marcus took a breath and said, "I don't know but I will figure out something! Someone has to light the spark of change in this city, if nobody else will do it then I will!"