First Breath: Short Stories, #4

By Addison Smith

The Rez was a strobing mass of lights, lasers, and mirrors tuned to the heavy bass lines and syncopation. The floor shook with the beat and bodies moved to it, fluid and sexual, fingers running down sweating backs. Two girls stared into each other's eyes before one let out a breath that sent the other into a fit of ecstasy. Hardy's wetware mod ached to join them, feeding him shadows of breath—the latest drug craze that turned a faint mist of DNA into an electric stimulus.

 

Ever since Hardy left his previous employer, his memory has failed him. Thoughts refuse to make connections, and his past has become a mystery. When he finds himself addicted to the breath of a mysterious woman, Hardy knows that his past is coming back, whether he's ready for it or not.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Addison Smith
• Release date: Jul 9, 2022
• ISBN: 9798201138783

Addison Smith

If you would like to be notified of future releases, you can sign up for my newsletter at:

Book preview

First Breath

Short Stories, Volume 4

Addison Smith

Published by Addison Smith, 2022.

This is a work of fiction. Similarities to real people, places, or events are entirely coincidental.

FIRST BREATH

First edition. July 9, 2022.

Copyright © 2022 Addison Smith.

ISBN: 979-8201138783

Written by Addison Smith.

Also by Addison Smith

Parallel Worlds

Parallel Worlds: Five Tales of Science Fiction and Fantasy

Parallel Worlds

Parallel Worlds 2: Five Tales of Science Fiction and Fantasy

Realms

Realms: Dark Fantasy Flash Fiction

Short Stories

To Steal a Giant's Heart

Dreams to Feed the Bone Eaters

Hard Memory

First Breath

Table of Contents

Title Page

Copyright Page

Also By Addison Smith

First Breath

Sign up for Addison Smith's Mailing List

The Rez was a strobing mass of lights, lasers, and mirrors tuned to the heavy bass lines and syncopation. The floor shook with the beat and bodies moved to it, fluid and sexual, fingers running down sweating backs. Two girls stared into each other’s eyes before one let out a breath that sent the other into a fit of ecstasy. Hardy’s wetware mod ached to join them, feeding him shadows of breath—the latest drug craze that turned a faint mist of DNA into an electric stimulus.

His attention turned to the other side of the sea of glowing dreads, bare skin, and fluid motion. The girl at the bar-side table had been watching him since he’d arrived. Her gaze followed him from the door to the bar, then to his usual seat against the wall. She was familiar, but not by the pink lines that glowed in her hair, or the nearly transparent synthetic that clung to her body.

She wasn’t in his memory, but she had been once.

That kind of familiarity was a thing he had learned to fear. When you’ve spent any time working for Jack, you learn that the people you can trust the least are the ones you’re familiar with.

The hot breath lingering in the room touched at his mind, giving him just a taste of synaptic euphoria. Those synapses sparked, calling him to the dance floor, and his eyes heeded them, taking in the reflective, glowing mass. He drew his attention away, back to the bar-side table.

She was gone.

"You