Re: World

By Jason DeGray

Diego Castille is just trying to get by in the corporate slums of Nuevo Rio. When he runs afoul of a powerful exec, he finds himself running for his life. He'll do whatever it takes to save his skin, even if that means getting a new skin altogether. But sometimes in Re:World, what goes in isn't what comes out.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Universal Butterfly
• Release date: Aug 9, 2018
• ISBN: 9780990548461

Book preview

Re: World

RE:World

UNIVERSAL BUTTERFLY

Albuquerque, New Mexico

http://universalbutterfly.com

This book is a work of fiction. Any references to historical events, real people, or real locales are used fictitiously. Other names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the author’s imagination, and any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

No part of this document may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, with the exception of quotiations and citing, without prior written permission of Universal Butterfly. Requests for permission to make copies of any part of this work should be submitted to Universal Butterfly via their website at universalbutterfly.com

First appeared in Twisted Yarns as ReWorld.

Cover Design by Jason DeGray

Printed in the United States of America

Copyright © 2018 Jason DeGray

All Rights Reserved

ISBN: 978-0-9905484-6-1

Other books by Jason DeGray

The Dark Goddess

The Ruined Man

Absolutely True Retellings: The Saga of Shamus

Twisted Yarns

A Hollow Monk’s Dreams

RE:World

By

Jason DeGray

Chapter One

Re:World International is fighting for a better tomorrow. We saved the world from the brink of total disaster. We stabilized the population, secured our resources and assured our children a bright future. A global future full of fresh life, renewed minds, and recharged spirits. We are the soul of humanity. With holdings in all of the former Americas, Re:World is one of the global market’s leading corporate personas and a member of the Corporate Council’s Big7. Want to make a difference? Apply today! Re:World is now taking applications for—

Diego clicked off the televid and slid out of bed careful not to wake the sleeping woman next to him. She murmured, turned and settled back into sleep. Diego shut the bathroom door and turned on the light, looking into the mirror. Curly black hair framed a handsome round face with sparkling blue eyes. You, sir, are a sexy beast, he assured his reflection. He fingered the jagged scar across his chest (a lifelong reminder of the cost of infidelity) then opened the medicine cabinet and started digging for good pills.

Shower. Hot, he ordered as he searched. Nothing. She must’ve caught on to him and moved them. Bitch. He shut the medicine cabinet and stepped into the steaming shower.

Maritza woke to the sound of the shower running. Diego. She smiled and stretched languidly, her tan skin shimmering in the light of the full moon. She briefly wondered if he figured out she’d hidden the drugs on him then turned back over and dozed off, lulled by the white noise of the shower.

Maritza! Slut! Where are you! Are you with him right now?!

Maritza’s eyes popped open and instantly filled with terror. Impossible. He was at the Big7 meeting in Reclaimed York. He’d be in session at Lady Liberty for the next week. There was no way…

Maritza!

She could hear him in the master bedroom tearing through drawers and closets. He would start looking in the guest bedrooms next. She jumped from bed and rushed to the bathroom where she met Diego at the door, their eyes a mutual reflection of fear and panic.

You said he was at a Big7 meeting!

He is! Or was! Or is supposed to be!

By all the Forgotten Graces! boomed the infuriated voice from the next room. Maritza!

The adulterers were fucked. And neither liked the feel of it. There was nowhere for Diego to hide nor could he escape through the window from seventy floors up. He was a dead man. And Maritza wouldn’t be much better off.

The door to the adjacent bedroom slammed and heavy feet clomped down the hall toward them.

Quick! He’s coming! the mistress insisted. You have to hide!

Where?

Here! Maritza shoved her lover into the cramped space beneath the mattress, leapt onto the bed and turned on the televid. When Rory burst through the door, his face red from rage and over exertion, she feigned a yawn.

Ror? What are you doing home? I thought you were at Lady Liberty.

I was. Or am. Or am supposed to be. His eyes darted around the room. What are you doing in here? Why aren’t you sleeping in our room?

I can never sleep in there without you, she pouted. It just doesn’t feel right.

You’re lying, growled Rory. Where is he, Maritza? Tell me and I’ll go easy on you. Hell, I may even forgive you and send you off to an internment camp. Just tell me where he is.

Who are you talking about? she asked all innocence and sweetness.

Rory snorted in derision and began a systematic search of