I woke up bleary-eyed with a sore throat. My heads-up display said that I slept for 2 whole hours. Time to get cracking again, time is money.

“Open Delivery Dingers,” I said to my bike.

The delivery app map filled my vision. I only had ten minutes to pickup the delivery. I straddled my bike and waived my hand over the ignition to start it back up. I didn’t have time to let it warm up like the mechanic told me to do last time I brought it in for maintenance. The pickup was about 20 minutes away, but the algorithm knew I would make it judging by my past performance. It was the middle of the night anyway so I really didn’t have worry about heavy traffic. I wished I had worn my heavy jacket. The forecast said it wouldn’t get past freezing again. I sped down 2nd Street. I thought it was cold before, but once I picked up speed I swore to myself that this is the last delivery. The stars were shining far above, but I couldn’t see them. My mouth tasted like Death’s latrine. I followed the yellow line on my heads-up display. I could see a sharp turn ahead.

[In a quarter-mile turn right] The disembodied voice demanded. I was making good time. I might even get there in 9 minutes. I saw a red light in the distance. It looked like it had been cooking for a while. I didn’t ease off the accelerator. It was a straightaway for the last leg of the trip. I pushed jet booster button on my right handlebar and the booster came roaring to life. I was definitely going to make it there in time. My vision narrowed as I white-knuckled the rest of the way to the industrial pharmacy.

[Veer right, in 500 ft. Your destination will be on the right] I let off the accelerator and hit my brakes. My bike squealed to a halt in front of the pharmacy’s rear courier entrance. The package was waiting on the counter for me in a neon yellow sack. I acknowledged the pickup on my HUD by tapping the side of my helmet two times. The package was destined for a hospital on the south side of town. The instructions said, “Will tip extra for speedy delivery.” The ETA to the hospital was 15 minutes. In a pigs eye, I thought to myself. No way I can get there in 15 minutes. I just wanted to go home and sleep, but I couldn’t decline now. I already accepted it. I trudged back to my bike. It didn’t want to start. I gave it a minute before I tried it again. Still nothing. “Fuck!” I banged on the gas tank with my fist. Now I was going to be late and my hand hurt. I gave it one more try by some miracle, it started. I’d been to the hospital before so ignored the navigation instructions. I tried to make up for lost time. I cut every turn as close as I could and gave it as much gas as I could on the straightaways. I only had enough booster fuel for one more blast. I waited for the perfect moment. I took the onramp to the highway. I zoomed in to to make sure the coast was clear. I hit the booster and I was airborne for what felt like a full minute. Time was ticking down. I could picture my tip decreasing with each second. In the distance I could see the sign for Huxley Emergency Hospital on the black horizon. I took a hard right, narrowly making my exit off the highway. I made it just in the nick of time to see my bonus tip to disappear.

“What took you so long?” The customer said.

“I got here as fast I could.”

“No, tip for you.”

“Screw you too buddy. I hope you die from whatever those pills are supposed to treat.”

“Yea, yea, whatever. Why don’t you get a real job.”

I wanted to take off my helmet and beat him senseless with it, but I was tired. I had the beginnings of what I could only hope was the plague. I got back on my bike and headed home. I wanted to sleep, but I couldn’t remember when I ate last so, I pulled into an all-night dinner and gave my order to the bot behind the counter.

“I’ll have the spicy noodles. Extra chicken.” I said.

“Would you like a drink with that?” It said.

“Give me ginger tea.”

“Apologies, ginger tea is currently unavailable. Would you like something else.”

“Black tea then.”

“Apologies, black tea is currently unavailable. Would you like something else.”

“What do you have.”

“We have coffee, milk, oat milk, soy milk, apple juice, orange juice, herbal tea, and water.”

“Herbal tea.”

“Apologies, herbal tea is currently unava–“

“Water.”

“Will that complete your order.”

“Yes, yes. Hurry up.”

After a long while the bot brought my order. I could feel my anger slip away as I tasted the first morsel of savory chicken. I ate faster than I should have. The food made me even drowsier. I paid my tab and hopped back on my bike. The ride home was eerily quiet. Normally, traffic starts to pick up at this time of morning, I thought to myself. I lived on the edge of town near the factories. The sweet stink of home filled my lungs. I don’t know what they make in those factories that makes it smell so bad, but I knew I was close to home when I smelled that stench. I cut my engine and coasted the last block home to avoid waking the neighbors that complain about my engine, even though they often blast their music at all kinds of odd hours. I parked my bike in my apartment on the bottom floor. I pulled off my helmet, kicked off my boots, and plopped onto my bed. As soon as my head hit the pillow, I was out.

A few hours later, I woke up to the sound of banging on my front door. I checked my security camera display. It was the cops.

I cracked the door open.

“Hello. Are you Nick Hernandez?”

“Yes, what’s this about?”

“Did you make a delivery to Huxley Emergency Hospital this morning?”

“Yes, why is that prick I delivered to complaining to you because I cursed at him?”

“No, he’s dead.”

“Well I didn’t kill him. I just make deliveries.”

“Either way, you’re coming with us for questioning.”

“Can I at least put some warmer clothes on?”

“No.”

“The cops pried the door open and put me in cuffs and that’s how I ended up here with you.”

If you liked the story please follow me on here and share the post with your friends and family. Also, should I continue this story or would you prefer something new? Thanks for reading.