Sparkle Like Bowie

"Hey Sparkle, could you please stack those shelves?" Cola asks me. It's always the same thing, it's like the world hasn't changed at all. Well apart from the fact she calls me Sparkle and not Alexandria, Alexandria Bowie.

My old name, I'm not going to let them take it from me like they have to so many others. Cyanide Cola doesn't even remember her old name, all she remembers is that it started with an H. It doesn't really tell me much, like she could've been called Hayley, Hannah or Haven.

"Sure thing Cola." I reply and she gives me a warm smile, Cola is like a mother to me. My mom died in the Helium Wars, that was so long ago. I don't really remember her face, I fear I'm forgetting all of her. I'm probably the only killjoy without a weapon, Cola says I don't need it because I don't do any fighting. I see a lot of it though, when I venture into Battery City to watch people do their daily lives. Hell you wouldn't expect me to be twenty two at all, Cyanide Cola doesn't want my 'innocence' to go away.

She doesn't really know my past, I mean like stuff about my dad. I miss him, he doesn't even know I exist though. "Hey, are you okay Sparkle? You seem out of it today." Cola says and I smile at her, "yeah I'm just thinking about stuff. Can I go on my break?" I ask and she nods, "don't go to far." Cyanide Cola says and I smile at her once more grabbing my skateboard and walking out of the store.

Route Guano isn't that far from Battery City, so basically I've got the whole city scoped out since I can't go anywhere else. My favourite place to go in the boring city has to be right next to the headquarters.
I like watching the citizens go about their daily lives, observing the draculoids. No one shows any emotion, it's quite depressing really but oh so interesting at the same time. "Uh Sparkle?" Cola says and I look at her, "are you just going to stand there?" I snap back into reality. "Oh no, no I'm not. Sorry Cola." I say before skating off towards the city.

I arrive at the city and there's a certain creepiness this time. There are usually some bots or citizens walking along the streets, I walk through the ghost town and an alarm signals. 'STAY INDOORS, DRACULOIDS WILL BE SEARCHING EVERY HOME FOR POTENTIAL DANGER. DO NOT WORRY, JUST TAKE YOUR PILLS.' A robotic voice says and I smile, something interesting is happening. I skate over to my usual hiding spot on the roof of a building right next to headquarters, I don't really know what those pills are and why people always have to take them.

I swiftly climb up the building and sit by the ledge. The dracs rush out in rows, holy fuck. I've never seen this many at once, I kinda dig their masks. They are vampiric and hot damn they look cool, even though I get told they are dangerous. And that I shouldn't go near one, heh I get told a lot of things. Cyanide Cola really needs to stop worrying so much.

'ALL DRACULOIDS GO TO SECTOR THREE.' The robotic voice echoes through the city, 'KILLJOYS SPOTTED IN SECTOR THREE.' Sector three is on the other side of this building, I scurry over to the other side and watch as the Draculoids line up guns pointed at the road. Ha that's pretty stupid, killjoys are not deaf. If they were to hear the alarms then they'd go on another route, that's the smart thing to do anyway.

"I wish they'd hurry up." I say holding my head in my hands, the dracs haven't moved at all. They are just standing there guns pointed to the road, suddenly I hear the blaring of music. Fucking hell. Are these killjoys stupid? They're going to be killed! "IT'S CRYIN', BLEEDIN', LYING ON THE FLOOR. SO YOU LAY DOWN ON IT AND YOU DO IT SOME MORE!" The music blares from the car as they zoom through streets, I stand up and I see the vehicle.

It's a Trans-Am, there is a giant spider painted on the front. It looks so rad against the blandness of the city, quickly they turn down a narrow alleyway. I run over to the over side to try and see the car once more. "YOU WANT IT ALL BUt you can't have it...." The music grows faint as the car exits the city. "I better get going." I say to myself climbing down the building.

I run my hands through my hair and begin skating out of the town, I have not seen that car around here at all. Maybe they come to Cola's shop whilst I'm out, or if I'm asleep. I like to dream, dream of the way things would be if Blind Industries never existed or if I had my parents still with me. My mom never had a killjoy name, dad did though, 'Ziggy Stardust'. I imagine that if my mom became a killjoy she'd have something feminine, gorgeous and deadly as her new name, probably something like Poisoned Bow or Viper Rose. I miss her, I still remember her name 'Leah Anne Bowie'.

I skate onto Route Guano and notice the same car is on the side of the road, hidden. Well almost hidden, I skate over to the car and look inside. It's so much brighter first hand, it's beautiful. The Trans-Am is empty, I look over to Cyanide Cola's shop and see two other men's bodies inside. 'Maybe it's them,' I think to myself and walk towards the shop.

"Ah, welcome back Sparkle." Cola says giving me a smile, the two men turn around to face me. One of them, the short one, well he is taller than me, has black shaggy hair and a monster mask on the top of his head. The other is taller like seriously taller, he has a lanky frame and blonde hair that has been combed back. "These guys are; Fun Ghoul and Kobra Kid." Cyanide Cola says gesturing to the men, Fun Ghoul gives me a big grin and Kobra Kid just awkwardly waves. "Hi guys, I'm Sparkle Boom and welcome to mine and Cyanide Cola's shop!"

Fun Ghoul continues to talk to Cola and Kobra Kid searches the shop, placing a few items in the faded and slightly broken basket that he is carrying. "So Cyanide, are you seeing anyone?" Ghoul says leaning on the counter where Cola is standing behind, I stifle a laugh. Cyanide Cola is probably dating the meanest killjoy out. Toxic Bullet, he works in Sin City. Think of a mob leader but without the killing of other killjoys and he is the leader of all of Sin City, I've met him plenty times before. Cola and Bullet are like my foster parents, Cyanide Cola would be my caring mother and Toxic Bullet would be my scary father who'd scare off any boyfriend or any boy in my life.

"Ever heard of Toxic Bullet?" Cola says and Fun Ghoul turns pale and gulps, "the one who's in charge of Sin City?" He asks and Cola nods whilst smirking, "well I was just saying to see if you are good enough for Bullet." Ghoul says quickly and I burst out laughing, Kobra Kid smiles slightly walking over to Cola and she looks at all the items, "whatcha got for trade Kobra?" Cola asks and I walk over to stand beside her. The basket has blonde hair dye and red hair dye, also some of that disgusting power pup and a packet of crackers. "Do you guys have any gas?" Kobra asks and we nod.

"Sparkle take Ghoul out the back to get some gas," Cola says and I nod. Taking Fun Ghoul around to the back of the shop, "why don't you have a ray gun?" He asks, raising an eyebrow. "Why did you try to pick up?" I ask smirking and he turns red. "I don't have a ray gun because I don't need one," Fun Ghoul frowns. Not frowning like he is upset, just that he is deep in thought. "How do you go into Battery City then?"

"I don't." I say and he smirks, "oh so the killjoy I saw on the roof of a highly dangerous Draculoid factory wasn't you?" I gulp at his words, "fine. Don't tell Cola, she doesn't like me going in there for some reason. I don't have a ray gun because Cyanide Cola doesn't want me to have one." Fun Ghoul gives me a confused look, "she seems very protective." He says and I nod.

After giving Ghoul the correct amount of gas we head back into the shop. Cola is happily chatting to Kobra Kid, "right that'll be four batteries." Kobra Kid hands over the batteries and the two killjoys head off.
"Right, Sparkle. I need you to go out tomorrow," Cyanide Cola says and I stare at her wide eyed. "You'll need to be safe, I'm trusting you with this. If you need someone, Toxic is going to be hanging around with the boys. Okay?" I nod, smiling at her.

I can finally go out, go somewhere that isn't Battery City. I am getting some freedom.

Notes

YAY! The first chapter is up!! Constructive critism is welcome also super kind comments bc yknow my ego needs to be stroked once in a while ;)

-xoxo B