This was good.
This was big.
My mind raced. It was hard handling my thoughts as I ran to the parking garage. I passed several cars before seeing mine in the distance, a black Honda civic, tucked between a blue Prius and a small ford pickup truck.
I ran up, inspecting my car. It looked nice. It didn't look like a rapist van at least. The kid should think this is okay.
I unlocked my trunk, searching for my work camera case. My truck was always filled with trash and papers from work. I felt the handle, taking it out, closing the trunk and making my way to the driver's side door. I unlocked it, sitting inside, closing the door.
Silence.
I sat there for a moment. This is what my life now as come down to. Kidnapping a child so I could get a chance at viral fame. Maybe this was a bad idea.
Maybe not.
We had an idea.
We had the technology to show it.
Now we had to find the stupid fucking kid.
Shoot.
Drop them off.
Done.
The only thing I had to figure out was how to convince him to get inside my car without Adam scaring him.
I'll cross that bridge when I get to it.
I turned on the car, reversed, and drove my car to the entrance. A new question appeared: Where the fuck could we find a kid, find a kid that will believe we won't try and murder him?
I rolled out of the parking garage, stopping at the drive way. I looked at my fuel gauge. Less than a quarter of a tank.
That's plenty.
Adam jogged down the sidewalk, he reached for the door handle, and climbed inside. He still seemed timid.
"All aboard the success train," I said, trying to ignite Adam's enthusiasm.
"Choo...choo." he said closing the door. "So, where do we find this kid?"
We couldn't just find any kid. This had to be a kid that would say yes.
"It can't be a girl," I said. "No offense, Adam, but if I didn't know better, I might assume you be a rapist."
Adam just stared at me, before saying. "Yeah. None taken." He looked out the window in disbelief.
I was just being honest.
We rolled down the street, I peered from sidewalk to sidewalk, searching.
"You want to find one where we live?" Adam asked.
"Uh, yeah. It's easier. And I mean it's a shorter distance. We can get home faster."
Adam leaned over, looking at my fuel gauge.
"Plenty of gas huh?"
"Shh." I hushed him. "Not important right now."
The car crawled and we searched, sidewalk to sidewalk.
Empty.
I gassed it a bit. I didn't want to look too suspicious.
We came to a red light. We waited, still looking out the windows, cars rumbling by in front. Adam rolled down his window, it was getting hot in the car. I didn't have an AC. It was one of the first things I sold after I moved here.
I rolled down my window, hanging my elbow outside. The cool air embraced the inside of the car. We waited, and searched.
The light turned green, and I made a left moving down the street. Parked cars were shoved close and neatly next to each other. Living in Los Angeles does have it's odd perks, living here does teach you how to park.
"Where are they?" Adam asked, still searching out his window.
I made a right at the next corner. This was weird. Where the fuck were they? It's a Saturday, and usually there was plenty of kids of all colors playing outside.
"It's alright." I said. "We'll just drive around until we see one."
"Alex, gas."
He was right.
Maybe that time has come now. Netflix and the internet has won. Kids no longer understand the concept of what it is, and what it means to play outside, the one things mankind has fear all along has now become a re—
"Look!"
Adam pointed passed the windshield, in the distance there was a small Asian kid leaning against a tree, he looked down at his phone, adjusting the hat on his head.
Perfect.
I turned immediately, parking the car alongside the curb. I grabbed the camera case from the back seat, setting it down on Adam's lap. He opened the case, taking out the small HD camcorder I use to film the law firms events. He stuck himself out the window, saying. "Alright, ready."
Let's do this.
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Going Viral
Short StoryAlex is tired of the Hollywood bullshit: The actors, directors, all the constant, "Oh, look at me! I'm a writer! I'm an Actor! I'm a Filmmaker! I'm ready to get down on both knees and open my mouth wide for that one lucky person who wants to unload...