CONSUMER

Page one teaser

The wind was bitter and The air burnt with salt cracking my lips open. The sun was clouded and suited the mood perfectly. I felt like cattle but being herded towards so-called salvation. I was not built for this life. I was promised perfection . From the second my fragile limbs touched the cruel world I was given a silver spoon to gobble it up like  pie. For people like me, the world is edible. But now we are all cold and scared. Reduced by the world to mediocrity, to slogging along on concrete. The world had span, power and opulence where seen as a target placed on our backs.

We were hunted like dear wounded by our arrogance we felt safe and secure in our penthouses and gilded gates. Pollution had forced populations in zones where the Air was less potent. The middle class was wiped out in moments buried under the ash of burnt Forests. There was no us and them. People starved on the street as we gorged. And they saw green!

Jealously was poison and the dangerous class bathed in it. They had lost their humanity. And the world had become hostile to the civilised. That's when the Icarus corporation had offered a solution, the Axiom Fleet. Five of the largest ships ever built. One hundred million dollars for a second class ticket. They were designed to travel the globe each year stopping for supplies at hidden locations. The Ultimate luxury stowed away at sea far from the claws of the deprived.

The ships where truly impressive there crystal white hulls towered even hirer than the turrets swamped with armed guards. The hull curved towards the front but in the distance, you could not see the main deck or the tip that was completely obscured. It was impressive even to someone accustomed to grandeur. The Axiom 1, I thought it was a stupid name however, why not the ark? By the looks of the crowd of people, they had plenty of bovine. I felt like tossing that thought to Andre but I doubt it would have impressed him.

He was too stern to hardened. Especially in the last few months. He had seen unspeakable things and done much worse all in the name of protecting me. Back home I had a whole team, but the Icarus had only allowed us to bring one bodyguard, and as my head of security Andre was an obvious choice. I could tell however that this had been hard on him, he was not like us not born into ignorance he knew hunger and he knew hardship, that's what made him perfect. He was just twisted enough to understand those who wanted me dead without being one of them. I loved him for it.