The security eyed her, then the street kids who he knew were marking her in a way that said, leave her be with a steely eyes, no nonsense gaze. From her peripheral vision she noted the street kids were heeding the warning, for now, as they turned away feigning disinterest, smoking their illegal cigarettes huddling against the chill wind. A feeling of relief swept over her as the automatic door closed behind her. Then, she saw more guards and more hoods scattered throughout the midway of the mall itself and in mock defiance, held her head high as if to say, I am not afraid of you, back off.

Further along she noted how store after store was deserted, empty shells, mere husks of the businesses they had once been, signs upon the windows, “come see us at out new location” followed by the web address. For a moment she felt stunned. She knew it was happening, she had followed the progress of these things on the net herself and thought, well, she had thought it just meant there were so many more businesses out there that the net was just a place for many new ones, or that the many businesses were both on the net and still active offline as well. She never once thought that the net sites would ever replace the physical stores. But, the more empty storefronts she passed, the less she could deny it. She shivered at the larger scope of it all and what it meant to the future. Well, that’s why you’re here, right? The beautiful landscaping in the midway had become brown and discolored by neglect, filth coated the skylights that had let the sun in to give them life while the debris of careless humans was left to become a toxic layer over the areas below them. Cigarette butts were scattered in a lazy patterned carpet here and there along the walk. The place reeked of the filth of stale, spilled beer and soda, long since left to become brown stains upon a floor that had once gleamed from daily care. At least the lighting is still intact, she thought gratefully. She was about to give up hope of finding any business still here when she heard music further ahead.

The store was a small ethnic clothing shop of Imported Indian clothing, the typical tie dye cotton and crepe dresses she had favored in her college campus days. The music playing what she imagined was authentic in its ethnicity. The proprietor was a short, balding Indian man. His surprise at seeing someone as well dressed as she was written all over his face. He recovered quickly and asked how he could what he could help her. “I’m not here to shop” she began and seeing his face change to a sadness she had not expected, she added, “but perhaps I could find something after I speak with you?” He lit up, “Yes, yes, miss. What would you speak with me about? I am but a humble business man, who, as you see, is seeing little business in these difficult times.

“That’s is what I wanted to talk to you about. I must admit, I had not known the malls were suffering so badly as this.“

“They are going the way of the market place, I mean your “downtown” as your people once referred to them. When the malls were new and put so many places together for convenience, closer to the homes of their customers, the downtown areas became abandoned ghettos. Now, with everyone shopping from their homes, there is no need to go out and expose oneself to the crime that has spread everywhere, it is the malls that are the becoming the new ghettos where the criminals can go when it is cold, even the homeless who were the first to come here dare not come anymore. Come, let us sit, I have fresh tea in the back, I will get it for us.” He led her to a stool behind the counter. She couldn’t help but notice the form lying on the counter, it read: Regency Internet Web Service, and thought sadly, he’s next. After the walk through the mall, she could hardly blame the man.

“So, you are a reporter then?” he said, setting tea and cups before them. “Magazine or Newspaper?”

“Magazine… and E-zine, of course,” she added, feeling a little guilty though not sure why.

“I should have guessed that. What paper prints anything resembling the newspapers these days? Now, all they care for is politics and only what they are paid to print. Ah… but you do not need me to tell you this.”

“Well what I’d like to do is just ask you a few questions. Do you mind if I use my recorder?” she asked. He shook his head, “Not at all, dear lady.”

“First I would like to know how long you have been here, in this location?”

“I have been here near to six years now.” a heavy sigh followed. “I will be sad to leave it. Even though there is nothing left outside the shop, the shop itself has become… well familiar and a part of my spirit and the spirit of all who worked here will remain long after I leave it. It must sound silly to a modern woman like you, but there I feel as if I am deserting the very spirit of the shop.”

“I would think you would be happy to with what I have seen walking in here. But no, what you say does not seem silly to me at all.”

“It is more than that, my dear. You see, now there will be work at home and that will largely be record keeping, the real work to be done by others, strangers who will build my new store on the computer net. I will have no place to go, no place where I will be needed.”

“But won’t you enjoy the new freedom of having time to do what you wish?” She knew the answer before he spoke. She had interviewed retired people in the past and this was not so different.

“No, my dear, my work was my pleasure in life, to be needed, to serve. But I think you may already know this?” His bright, wide smile warmed her with its sincerity.

“Yes, well. I guess my next question should be something like… when did this mall start losing its stores?”

His gaze became unfocused a moment as he thought of times past. “The Net became active in 1992, yes?” Close enough, she nodded. “I think here it was in 1999 when I saw the first small business stores close, the chain stores were the only ones who could afford to stay in those days. Some of the smaller stores went to the Net but most just went under. I saw the chains had also all added their Net addresses to their windows as they, of course, already had the best of both worlds. But, in as few as four short years even they were losing patrons. No one bothered to leave home to shop when it was so convenient to shop from home and the Net was still somewhat… how you say… more fun?”

“A novelty, yes, many still thought of the Net as a playground and a new toy all in one.” She supplied, he nodded, “Yes, yes, that is what I meant.” He continued. “Then as the poorer people were the only ones left to come to the stores, it was the only answer, as those shoppers could not purchase enough to keep the stores in business or stole more often than buying. When they had to pay more for their space than they were taking in, there was no other way. Much as I am also learning. But, I would still stay and try, the poorer folk have always been good to me and my wares never so far above their means but… it is the crime. Many of the poor have given in to thieving as so often happens. Not all criminals have chosen that path, many are forced to it…. bad credit means no plastic or checks, no credit means no Net shopping. And even the food markets are becoming warehouses, supply and delivery for the Net orders. At least the government saw that the poor were given plastic versions for there food commodities program. I would fear for my life on the streets were that not so.”

“So, now that there are no more chain stores, I suppose, without them as a draw, less patrons means less security as well.” She added, thinking of the lone uniformed man she’d seen on her way in and the other few looking more nervous than intimidating.”

“Indeed, dear lady. That is so. Have you no escort with you today?” he asked, suddenly concerned.

“No, I hadn’t thought it necessary. I’m sure I will be fine.” Hearing the fear that had crept into her voice, she hastily added, “I did some security guards surely that will help.”

“If you wish, I can call for him to walk you out when you leave.” “No, really, I’ll be fine, please don’t worry.” He smiled and bowed his head. “As you wish.”

“Is yours the only store left in this mall then?”

“No, there are three others but I don’t expect they will be able to hold out long either. It is the way of things; it is a new world and one must adapt and change with it or be trampled underfoot. Some things in life, my dear aren’t new changes at all, it is just the manner of the change that is new. Whether the change will be for the good or bad never really matters. As all things in life must change, the only surety in life is that the balance will always re-establish itself in the end.”

Alex Fisher woke to the usual alarm at exactly 4:45 AM and got up with his usual morning vigor. He could see his breath in the cold room, just the way he liked it. He went trough his daily routine without missing a beat: gooseflesh all over his naked body while he made the coffee; let the dog out to pee; grabbed the morning paper which he set upon the table next to his computer; which he turned on; where he would have his 2.3 cups of coffee after his shower. Some would think him a bit anal for the way he handled his morning but he was never too interested in the opinions of others, unless of course it affected him at the office that is.

The beeping of his computer message minder alerted him as he re-entered the kitchen/office. It was just a reminder to shop for a birthday gift for his niece. He pored a cup of coffee and sat down at his keyboard. Hmm, he thought, what to get her this year… she is what, 16. Mmm tough age. Then it hit him, of course, music and she can pick her own. He logged on to the CD Now Web site and entered all the information to have the gift certificate E-mailed to her directly then entered his credit card information and hit submit. Then he remembered he needed a few groceries and decided to get them now as well. He scrolled through the different stores that offered digital delivery security. He chose one and began scrolling through the products isle by isle, just as he would once have walked down each one. He chose oranges, cheese, milk and a pork roast, then at the last minute added a package of Oreo’s to go with his milk and set the delivery code for his door and a time range for that delivery, then once more entered his credit card information, then the submit key. That too was done. Technology is awesome. Once he would have had to take the time out of his busy day to actually go to a store and physically pick out and pick up these things. Shaking his head, he wondered how he had ever managed to get through those primitive times. He switched his computer to off-line working status so he could begin the work here that he would later finish at the office. Pulling up his spreadsheet of cost comparison that he’s been working on, he turned on the alarm to let him know when it was time to leave for the office and got to work.

As soon as he went off-line, the hacker turned to his partner in crime and said, “He didn’t order jack today, this one, not even enough to feed the dog more than a day. Well, maybe that meat roast, but that was a small one too.” He reset the delivery code and copied the credit card information for later use. Man, we have got to find some big spenders here pretty quick, man. I still think we could skim a little more off some of these cards, even if they do notice, they’ll likely just use the insurance group to remove the charges they know aren’t theirs.”

“Yes, and the insurance people will monitor the card closer, making them all but useless to us, unless you want to do time over a few bucks. ‘Never take more than you need,’ he quoted. You know that. And, we will find better spenders, just reset the dialer and come look what I found in RL, right under our noses.”

“What, a car in a parking lot?” he replied as he looked where his partner pointed. “Nice wheels though, what’s it doing there?”

“You should’ve seen the babe that got out of it. She went into the mall, do you believe that. The car alone is a good target, but, a femme of means in that mall… she’s either extremely brave, on a major mission or extremely stupid.”

“So, what’s your plan man? Asked the first hacker. “I’d like to go see what she’s up to.”

“Well, you have a good time risking your hide man, I am not going in there with you. It’s way too risky, even for us.”

“It’s daytime man, the serious creeps are sleeping somewhere, now is the best time. And besides, she went in. You mean to tell me a femme has more balls than you?” he rocked back laughing.

“No, man, but you said yourself she’s likely stupid. I think she may have a death wish or she hasn’t been to a mall lately and is in for some painful educating.”

“All the more reason to go see, maybe just being there could help.” “Ya, help get us creamed so as not to be able to point out a creeper in a line up. Are you nuts, man? What’s with the chivalry bit, you have a suit of armor in that closet to go with the balls you’ve grown all of a sudden?”

With a look in his eyes his friend had never seen before, he replied, “No, and I am going anyway, alone if I have to.” Grabbing a light jacket and an old broken baseball bat, he headed out the door without looking back.” He was halfway down the stairs when he heard Jason yell, “so wait up will ya?” He smiled, pretending not to be relieved as he answered, “ya, man.”

The mall had the dead silence now of a morgue, no elevator tunes now, thought Greese. He didn’t need to check to see if his pals were there behind him, they always were. They were lost without him, a bunch of losers with no guts. He was their guts, their brains and their leader in all things. He smiled a self satisfied smile, that’s why I get first take on anything we bring down. That babe looked to be worth a few bucks and maybe some plastic to sell. He was hoping for both but the plastic would be better than the cash. Hardly anyone took it and even food tamps were plastic now and not worth the cash they one were. But, even if he had one he’d not use it, only a hacker dared to use stolen plastic, anyone else was sure to get nailed before they could walk away from the front gate of the food warehouse. Some hacker had said that a stolen card gave a signal all it’s own and there were newcops in every warehouse now just waitng for stupid thieves to try it. Greese didn’t trust hackers but he wasn’t ready to test them either, not with the new brainwipe he’d heard was all the rage in the joint. It could be hype, he knew, but he had seen a few old pals get out and they all acted like ‘Stepford wives.’ They even had jobs and plastic, legal like and in their own names..scary man. His thoughts stopped dead as the light of the store came into view. He held out his arm to halt the others and pointed to the floor, meaning, we wait here.

Aaron and Jason were trying to look as inconspicuous as they could as they passed the security guard who had now entered the mall, radio at the ready. Good, thought Aaron, maybe I won’t need to thump anyone after all. Then the guard started to follow and he was relieved even though the guard probably thought he was trouble. His bat was hidden under his jacket but he knew it wasn’t hard to see it’s shape sticking out. He was a little surprised the guy hadn’t stopped him to ask stupid questions. Then he saw the gang hanging all relaxed like and looking back for comfort saw the guard was gone. Catching Jason’s eye he mouthed, referring to the absent guard, chicken shit. Jason nodded and pointed to his chest as if to say, me too.

One of the girls stood up when she spotted them, which drew the attention of the other four. She nodded to the black guy with the buzcut and he nodded back, as if he had lost interest . She has one hand in her leather coat pocket and likely on something sharp. Aaron thought, irritated, where the fuck is the guard anyway! Well, walk slow pilgrim, he told himself and look lame and non-threatening. When he was less than ten feet away, the greasy one waved a signal and they all lined up against the wall, all except the bad girl who started walking toward he and Jason, smiling like the grim reaper in an ICU ward.

The babe came out the door nearest greasy in time to be grabbed and gagged by one of his big hands. Then the shit hit the fan as Aaron ran headlong into leather babe, knocking her flat before she could get her hand out of her coat. He jumped over her and headed straight for greasey pulling out his broken Louisville slugger. “Batter UP” he yelled like a battle cry and swung. He thought he felt bone crack at the impact, greasy went down in a heap and he turned to face the three more. Jason had leather queen in a bear hug so she couldn’t get her hands free of her pockets. He crouched and said, “Come on, I’m way out of practice for the series. Come ON!” They all stood there as if they had no will of their own and then he looked back as the babe tapped his shoulder. The guard was there behind them and his gun was drawn.

“You can put the bat down now Hank.” He said, I’ll take over here. Maybe you can escort the pretty lady out to her car? Mind you, mind your own manners and get her there safe yourselves?”

“Sure thing, man. That was just what I came for.” He felt chagrinned when it occurred to him it was true. “Come on Jace, let’s split this scene.” Jason let go of the girl then and shoved he away from him, just in case….he knew she was really pissed off. Then he walked backward while watching the guard cuff the greasy dude while speaking to the store owner.

“Are you ok lady?” asked Aaron.

“Yes, I am, thanks to you. Do you do this kind of thing often?”

“No way, I am a coward by nature, I was scared shitless, how about you Jason?”

“Worse, man. What got into you, you looked crazy and that’s probably what made the others stand still ‘til the guard came up behind ya. Man, you were bad!”

“Uh.. thanks, I think.”

“Well, thanks, both of you, really. I’m Mary and you are?”

“Aaron, and this is Jason. I saw you go in from our window and knew it was going to be bad for you if you were alone in there.” He frowned then and added, “What made you go in there in the first place? Don’t you know how dangerous it is in the mall, any mall these days?”

“No, I guess I didn’t. I went in to interview a store owner about why malls are falling apart and shopping in them is a thing of the past. I hadn’t imagined they were so bad and so deserted. I thought there would still be lots of stores….. “ she looked almost lost for a moment.

“Haven’t been to any for a long time, huh?” Let me guess, you shop on-line and just thought it was an option, the “in” thing and not the only way these days. Right?”

“Yeah.” “Yeah, and did you know that if one can not get plastic because of bad credit, he either learns to hack, turns to a life like ol’ greasy back there or becomes a brand new man with a stolen identity to get good credit?”

“No, I guess I lead a more sheltered life than I had thought.” She replied. “So, what do you do?” she asked.

Deftly evading her question he said, “I was just going to ask you that. You said something about interviewing the store guy, you a reporter?” “Yes, I am a reporter.”

“Oh man, I never thought I’d meet a reporter who didn’t know the score on the streets.” Interjected Jason.

“Yeah,” said Aaron, “that’s grim, ya know?”

“Well, I am a freelance writer and so I don’t get much chance to the leg work on a story. I just get to write what others tell me.”

“And, I see by the look on your face, they feed you like a mushroom, ya know, keep you in the dark?”

“Well, I’m not from here and where I am from, well, it’s different.” She tried.

“Not by much from what I hear on the Net. Getting to be like this all over.”

She knew there was truth in what he said and still part of her wanted to believe things could not possibly be as bad as all that.

“She doesn’t believe you, man.” Observed Jason.

“I know, but she’ll learn fast and hard if she keeps wandering alone in places like this.” Noted Aaron.

“Well,” she said as she approached her car, “I fell like I owe you something for rescuing me, like a damsel in distress.” Aaron looked down at his feet as if he’d like to shuffle them like a little boy, she almost chuckled. “But, perhaps there is something I can offer, money? Something?”

“No!” Aaron said a little too quickly. “Really, it was nothing, just glad we could help, right Jase?’

“Right, yeah, glad we could help…ah…Mary.”

“Wait, here,” Jason dug in his pocket and pulled a homemade business card out and handed it to her. It read: Aaron Jameson, Computer Systems Analyst, complete with E-mail and two phone numbers, and, she noted, no address. “If you ever need a hacker, just post k?”

“I just may, does that include escort service through rough neighborhoods?” She asked, smiling.

“Well, maybe, how about advice about a neighborhood before you go there?” Jason suggested, also smiling.

“I’ll keep that in mind, I could just E you every time I need to wander more than as few blocks from home. Now, that would be silly of me, wouldn’t it.”

With a serious frown, Aaron replied, “No, not silly at all, honest.”

Mary had just turned the key in her car door when something occurred to her. “Would you two mind being interviewed for my article?” They exchanged glances and Jason did a little dance, Aaron and Jason, famous! Yeh, man, I can dig it. Aaron smiled and shook his head bemused and added, “Sure, why the hell not, but where?”

Mary opened the car door then and said, “Trust me, I’ll buy you lunch. Hop in, we’re atta here! What kind of food sounds good, Tai, Italian, German? Name your poison men.”

“You mean other than McD’s burgers? Cool!” offered Jason.

Aaron said, “I haven’t had real Italian since Fazoli’s went under in this hood.”

She smiled a secret smile as she thought of the best Italian eatery in town, they’re are going to flip, she mused. “Porta Bella it is, then.” She knew without looking the look that must have passed between them then. As they drove out of the mall’s lot, three police squads were entering.

That's it, all I have for now, but I will try to get on with it, k? Hugs ~JA

On to The Vampyre Tale?
Or, One more Short Story, The Wish