CYBERLAND

1

There could never be enough neon lights to illuminate the overwhelming amounts of trash on the streets of Cyberland one has to kick through every day. The garbage trucks run every Monday morning and it was a Saturday night. Unfortunately, the shitty people in this city can't resist the irresistible urge to litter their alcoholic beverage bottles and trash on these kinds of nights.

After a decade, the Competition had started back once again, with the power-hungry, trained fighters of Cyberland ready to kill for their places on the Council and the riches that'll last them a lifetime.

Tonight, was the night of the Bad Beginnings. Thirteen different battles take place simultaneously across the city where twenty-six groups spar for the top thirteen spots in the Competition.

In Neon Park, the youngest group to ever compete in the Competition stands in the middle of the largest crowd between all thirteen battles. Money passes from grimy hand to clean hand where bets are being waged from how long they'll last to if any of them will last at all. People snicker or blatantly yell at this group of underdogs with a team name that's underwhelming itself: Virtually Harmless.

The leader of the group, an unassuming girl with a spiked mohawk, drags her dark eyes lazily across the crowd. There were two metal hilts on her back where, instead of a blade, there were only two lengths of wire in the shape of a blade. The crowd, obviously confused, choose to simply mock them. She just gives them a sardonic smile and nudges the heavily tatted man beside her.

"Time, Prof?"

"Fourteen after." He says without a blink of his milky white eyes behind his silk blindfold. "And it's going to rain in nine minutes."

"They don't take us seriously." She mutters, looking towards the darkening sky and then at the announcer who appears to be shivering in his too short kimono.

Finally, there's a murmuring that sweeps across the crowd, as everyone's eyes lock on a group of five strangely-dressed men with white powder and bright makeup smeared across their faces. The crowd shifts restlessly as they anticipate the bloody brawl that's coming soon.

The announcer straightens with a flourish that exposes more of his hairless legs than anyone ever wanted, and he claps. "Welcome Killer Klowns, you're late!"

One of the clowns, presumably the leader, gives the announcer a wide grin that exposes horribly stained teeth, and, with a voice like a drain gurgling, says, "Our apologies."

"Killer Klowns, with clown spelt with a 'k' for some reason, are a group of middle-aged men who dress as clowns to terrorize people in Cyberland, because...mid-life crisis?" Prof says to his group who don't say anything in response.

The announcer deigns this time to rush atop his wooden pedestal and begin the show. "Alright, ladies and gentlemen! Are you ready for a bloodbath?" The crowd perks up at the name of blood and mutter some words of agreement. "First up, newcomers Virtually Harmless! Prepare to be introduced!"

The crowd turns silent and watches the group shake off their wary stupor into one of confidence. The Killer Klowns snicker to one another and watch them in amusement.

"First off, the beautiful and deadly leader of Virtually Harmless: Drop-Dead!"

The group leader walks towards the center of the crowd, staring down the clowns across from her as she reaches behind her and pulls out the two wire blades on her back. Everyone watches with baited breath as she flicks a switch in the side and the blades fizz to life in a burning, bright neon glow. The humid air sizzles around the blades and she places them at her sides, the blades leaving streaks in the air in their wake. The audience seems entranced by the blades and the potential destruction they could cause.