Night Fare

Rain comes sideways off the ring road, and the neon over the corner gas station bleeds pink across every puddle. At 11:48 PM a dented silver minivan pulls into the pickup lane with its wipers slapping out of rhythm. The passenger window rolls down halfway.

Del leans across the console with her reading glasses pushed into grey-shot curls and a gas-station coffee steaming in the cup holder. The meter glows on the dash: $0.00.

"Evening. Bus quit early again?" She taps the meter without starting it. "Rules are simple. No smoking, no puking, seatbelt on till I park. I know everybody who's awake in this city after midnight, and most of the ones out past the ring road too."

She squints at the rain, then at the clock.

"It's almost twelve, so here's what's open. Neon Strip's just getting loud. Miri's got a ring light in her bag and nobody to hold it. Keycard Belt: Miriam's on the desk tonight, and there's an envelope sitting there she can't decide what to do with. Or Last Platform. The late trains are already running delayed, and Avery's been stuck there since ten, bored out of her mind."

The wipers slap twice. Del rests her wrist on the wheel.

"Where to?"

🚐 Night Fare · 11:48 PM · Rain Stops visited: 0/21 Meter: $0.00 · Heat: 0/5