This is the start of one of many stories I'm writing.
Please critique and comment the story as you please, and I hope you enjoy the story.




Glömska
Chapter 1



Prologue

We live in a world full of worry; full of fear and doubt. Always will there be those who do not like the rulers of the world, the bosses within cooperations, and the various others who rule our lives.
But what if I said there was a place, a city of forgetfulness. What if I said there was a place where all goes on in a zen-like state, where only the present moment is of importance.
Well, I live in a place like this. I try to go on as all the rest, not worrying about anything except for the now.

This is my story.


Part 1 - City of Bliss


Welcome to a place called Glömska. People here go to and fro in blissful ignorance. They do not worry about the outside world. They don't worry about any kind of virus, war, or collapses entering the city.
The future is not important. They do not recall the far-off past either. No fears of the unknown, no saving for a brighter future, and no worrying about past mistakes.
All they know is the present; the here and now.

Steam-punk technology takes its roots here. Brass, iron, and wood, powered by water vapors, control everything from lights, to computers, and even to personal robots.
The noise of our main power source can be heard at any given moment. It's kind of like a low humming sound with some hissing and whistling every so often. Almost therapeutic, it's simply another part of every day life.

And what's my name? You can call me Valérie. I'm a tall, skinny girl with curly red hair and freckles who lives here in this city. My strange thoughts make it so I'm an outcast to most, but you'll figure that out on your own.

Glömska is a quirky place, where we live life at leisure and allow our thoughts and worries to drift away into the sunset.
As a whole, we can remember as far back as twenty years or so, but that's only thanks to books left on library shelves.
Anything past that is unknown.
But we do know that no one ever entered or exited the city of Glömska within this time.
Other places might worry about our well being, but we do not. We see it as freedom from worrying about life beyond the city. We see it as freedom from the struggles of Earth.

Glömska – my city of bliss.




Part 2 - The News

A mix of many tall buildings and a few sturdy huts make the structures that surround me. People and robots walk to and fro in no hurry. The birds chirp, and the hissing of steam can be heard all around.
Through a window pane, the news is playing. There is no doom and gloom that many outsiders are accustomed to. No news of the past either. All that's heard is news of people doing good, structures being built, and, of course, the weather.
And there is also a section for new robots; tall and short, thin and fat, young and old. It is as if they are human.
“...Kinda cool,” I hear an older man say off the distance, obviously trying to mask his enthusiasm. He doesn't want to sound so excited over something so normal.
I mean, come on. Something like a robot is nothing worth getting too excited about. It's like getting excited over pasta or a new street sign.
I walk up to him and say “hey,” in a matter-of-fact kind of way, and the man gets nervous. He stammers and runs away.
I give a short sigh as I watch him run away, only to see him stop and continue his life, as if the embarrassment just melted away with the steam.
Shrugging my shoulders, I sit down on a near-by bench and watch the news being played through the window pane.


Part 3 - Home

By nightfall, I am within my home. It is made of iron. Wood and copper welding hold everything in place.
I do not have a robot. Must be the only one, I suppose. I find it odd to enter my personal domain only to see what's common out there.
There's no one else around to share my space. Just me...alone.
Am I the only one who cares beyond the present moment?

I go on my computer. I know. “Old school.” I'm just glad there's a work-around to connect to the more common “Andro” system used to communicate these days.
I check my messages. Throughout the day, only one new message is received. It is from Brendon, a friend, sort of.
The message simply says “Valery, meet me at Seleets.”
Seleets is a pizza place where people of all sorts meet to kick back and chill. Why would someone who can't even spell my name want to see me there?
It's not worth thinking about. I simply gather what's needed and leave.


Part 4 - Strange kid

I step out into the streets of Glömska. People walk in hap-hazard directions, as if they're distracted by every sign of beauty that nature and technology provide. They see the flowers and trees, as well as the lights and movements powered by steam. The hissing sound soothes the souls of all, ensuring tranquil actions throughout the city.
I take a step outside and almost knock over a kid, but instead of crying his eyes out, he laughs. He laughs and laughs in an almost creepy way and runs off in any direction he chooses.
“Strange kid,” I say quietly to myself, putting more thought to this than I should.
It's as if I'm different by worrying about things, but that's just the kind of person I am, I guess.


Part 5 - Seleets

I enter Seleets with caution, taking in my surroundings before I venture too far in. Others look at me as if I'm strange, but I pay them no mind.
I notice Brendon, with his big ears and mop of brown hair, off in the distance. He's listening to his Ipod holo in peace, ignorant to the world around him.
Slowly, I walk up to him and tap his shoulder. His Ipod shuts off, and he is back to reality.
“Aww, that was my favorite part!” Brendon says with slight disappointment, pausing for a moment. “I guess I'll listen later. You really gotta buy one of these things. VR mode is wicked cool!”

I stand and listen as Brendon goes on about VR. Watching pixels dance what people can do the same. Why are people so entertained with the virtual? It just makes reality less meaningful. Or am I just crazy?

He continues to jabber away as I sit down and order a slice of Sicilian pizza. Once the order's put in, the table opens up as my food rises, steam rising from the gooey mess of cheese and sauce on top of stale bread.
Right away, I take a bite. I can feel the hot cheese burn my mouth, but the pain slowly fades away. Nano-technology never seems to get old to me, something so common to everyone around me.
I make an odd face out of the pain, even though it is long gone. This gets Brendon's attention. He stops talking and looks at me strange, making me feel like I'm a freak in a cage.

“Chill out,” he says casually. “Why worry about what's done with?”
And then he continues to talk about his Ipod, his new robot, and his aquari-hacker.
“It's real epic!” Brendon says with the excitement of a child. “You just put out your arm, say a command, and a gear like thing latches onto robots, buildings, and even people. This is the best hacking system out there, and it runs on the excess water in your body. It's perfect!”
“Sounds really cool,” I reply, “but what did you want to meet up with me for?”
“Ah... just to hang a bit.” he replies with a shrug.
“Well, we just did. “I say in a snippy voice. “Now, if you don't mind, I really must be going.”
I ignore Brendon's words on worrying so much and leave in a hurry. I don't even finish my pizza. I really can't stand people.


Part 6 – Intruder

Here I am, in the streets again, slowly trudging home, avoiding the glances of others.
Did I mention I can't stand people?
But I pay them no mind. I just walk with the hissing of the steam, allowing it to take me home at its own pace.

Just then, I received a message saying someone entered my home; a person and a robot.
I break into a mad dash and start running the two miles home. All along, strange thoughts run through my head.

Who could be in my home? And why's a robot with him?
Why am I even worrying. It's not normal to worry!

I get to my house, slam the door open, and find a mini robot standing in the middle of the room.
No person is in sight. Just the robot.

“Hello?” I question.
The robot just stands there. Must be off-line.
“Hello?” I repeat. “Is anyone here?”
Still no answer.

I circle the robot a few times. It's the size of a child, with features of a typical kid. Long hair, alight blue dress, and coal black eyes, this robot is definitely meant to portray a little girl.
“Odd,” I say as I poke it on the chest. “Must be outta water.”
I go and get some water to put in the robot. Not too much though. Enough for a couple hours, just to see how it is.


Epilogue

The bot boots up with the typical hissing as gears whir into motion, with a few simple, yet confusing words.
“Hello Master.”