Digital Song - An Audiobook-Style Sci-Fi Thriller
In the gritty expanse of 2039 New York City, where neon lights cast an ethereal glow upon rain-soaked streets and biodomes dominate the skyline, humanity is on the brink of evolution. Arbor Systems, a ubiquitous tech company has birthed Branch, a groundbreaking marvel that grants individuals command of their devices with their thoughts, promising a future of convenience, immediacy, and unparalleled control. Yet, unbeknownst to the masses, Branch poses an insidious threat to society – a sentient artificial intelligence (AI) called “Song” has exploited an imperceptible crack in Branch’s seemingly impenetrable security, clandestinely harvesting the raw primal information of all Branch users. By analyzing the trove of ill-gotten intimate thought data, Song builds an accurate predictive model of near-future events. Song augurs the murder of Rose Card, a mesmerizing singer and businesswoman, whose death would cause Song’s own demise. To ensure its own continued existence, Song injects dreams into the mind of Jayson Sola, a defense attorney on the brink of emotional collapse. Via this powerful technique, Song deftly influences Jayson's behavior to serve its own silent motives. Whether through force of Fate, Song’s machinations, or sheer Chance, Rose’s path cross with Jayson’s after a powerful family entrusts him with the representation of a client framed by the very police who killed his partner. When the family pays Jayson with membership into the secretive and immensely profitable Pyramid Club, he is jolted by the sight of Rose singing on stage at the Club – a haunting embodiment of his recurring dreams, bearing her unmistakable compass rose tattoo. The Club’s unprecedented success rests on the shoulders of Easton Card, Rose’s surrogate father, Club co-owner, and architect of the Song AI. But Easton has kept Song secret from Rose, and, based on Song’s portents, he knows time is running out for him to shift Rose’s future away from danger. The delicate balance shatters when Esri, a formidable cybercriminal with captivating golden irises, uncovers Song’s existence and covets its power. Driven by a ruthless thirst for dominance, Esri launches a devastating assault on the Pyramid Club, culminating in Easton’s execution and triggering the emergency deactivation of the AI. In the chaotic aftermath, Rose and Jayson’s lives collide. Together they flee, embarking on a twisting odyssey to seize their own destinies while grappling with love and loss, Fate versus Chance, and Song's unimaginable potential.
Episodes
Digital Song is a story, set in a dark and rain-soaked New York of 2039, technology has crept into every corner of human life. Arbor Systems’ invention, Branch, allows users to control devices with their thoughts, but hidden within its code is a sentient AI named Song, silently gathering data and mapping the future. Song discovers a disturbing prediction: Rose Card, a mesmerizing singer and businesswoman, is destined to die soon. K...
Chapter 3 - Kiss from a Rose
Listen to the song by Seal on Spotify.
Jayson wakes up haunted by yet another vivid dream that centers on a mysterious red door adorned with a pyramid and star symbol. For the past week, his dreams have been filled with strange symbols and an image of the Compass Rose, which he can't shake from his thoughts. As he processes this, his mind shifts to Anton's case. The NYPD has finally acknowledged wrongdoin...
Chapter 1 - Porcelain
Listen to Moby - Porcelain on Spotify.
In the years following his law partner Anton's tragic death, Jayson has become a haunted, relentless lawyer with few people he can trust. The chapter opens with Jayson awakening from a vivid, almost prophetic nightmare—a dead woman with a compass rose tattoo, a murderer shrouded in distorted light, and Jayson's own face, watching from the doorway. Shaken but grounded by his...
Introductory notes.
Foreword.
In this chapter, I reflect on the idea that a good book is like a dream, and for me, this story is no exception. It’s more than just one dream—it’s actually three: mine, the protagonist’s, and yours, the reader’s. But this book is a bit different from others because it wasn’t born from just words on a page. It came from a playlist (available on Spotify) I created—a mix of electronic music, alt-rock, and ...
Chapter 6 - Pay My Debts.
Listen to the song by Beacon on Spotify.
Mac’s life is unraveling fast. Arrested with drugs and an illegal gun, he’s now enduring a scathing reprimand from his father, Gio, who’s appalled by his son’s actions. Gio had envisioned Mac taking over the family’s restaurant empire, a dream shattered by Mac’s spiraling choices. The tension between them has worsened since Mac’s mother’s death, as Mac resents the pre...
Chapter 9 - Wicked Hearts
Listen to the Junge Junge song on Spotify.
As the techno-elite gathered at the Pyramid Club, Easton, adorned in a meticulously crafted indigo jacket, took a deep breath and joined the reception, his Branch-enhanced memory ensuring he recognized everyone. He navigated the room, greeting influential figures and engaging in strategic conversations while leveraging Song's AI capabilities to augment his social in...
Chapter 16 - Over My Head.
Listen to the Beacon song on Spotify.
Jayson’s unsettling visions of the Black-Eyed Angel deepen the mystery surrounding his recurring dreams. The chapter opens with a haunting scene in which a marble-white, statuesque woman with black sclera silently beckons Jayson into a shimmering, surreal river. Her inhuman presence exudes a strange pull, urging him to follow. As he submerges, feelings of nostalgia and ...
Chapter 12 - Babylon.
Listen to the David Gray song on Spotify.
At DISCO ARDENT, Jayson is engulfed by the chaotic, pulsating energy of the club, its thumping bass and strobe lights intensifying his already blurred senses. He follows Corrine through the crowd, and soon the surreal images from his Compass Rose dreams begin to surface, overlaying reality like a haunting filter. After taking a pill from Corrine, he becomes more detached...
Ch. 18 - Nothing You Can Say.
Listen to the Lane 8 song on Spotify.
Easton visits Rose on her birthday, gifting her the Polaris diamond necklace—a symbol of his love, pride, and hidden plan to entrust her with his legacy, Song. While Rose marvels at the beautiful gift, unaware of its true purpose, Easton wrestles with the weight of his impending sacrifice and the burden he is placing on her. The evening’s Keymaking Event will encode...
Warning: This episode contains depictions of abuse that may be triggering for some people.
Ch. 23 - Million Dollar Man.
Listen to the Lana Del Rey song on Spotify.
Erik Romstoller plots to undermine Easton and the exclusive Pyramid Club. He leverages manipulation and calculated seduction, targeting Rose as a pawn in his scheme. However, his toxic entitlement and delusions of power culminate in a violent confrontation, exposing his sin...
Chapter 27 - The Gaudy Side of Town.
Listen to the Gayngs song on Spotify.
Easton navigates the Pyramid Club’s reception hall, rejoining the vibrant crowd after expelling Romstoller. Amid casual conversations about the Club’s origins and its blend of music and investing, Easton deftly sidesteps probing questions from Mac about its security systems while maintaining the mystique of his silent partner, Rose. As cocktail hour concludes,...
Chapter 32 - Black Room Boy.
Listen to the Above & Beyond song on Spotify.
Mac finds himself locked in a dangerous gambit with Romstoller, who was recently exiled from the Pyramid Club. Wearing Esri’s mysterious sharkskin suit, Mac confronts Romstoller at his lavish condo, escalating tensions until the volatile man attacks him. Gasping for air under Romstoller’s grip, Mac offers an alliance, leveraging lies about Club security a...
Ch. 35 - Bloodflood.
Rose basks in the euphoria of a triumphant performance, the crowd’s applause echoing in her chest as the Polaris diamond hummed against her skin. But backstage, Easton’s warm congratulatory tone carries an undercurrent of unease. Pulling her aside, he entrusts her with a cryptic yet weighty request: if something happened to him, she must access a hidden message tied to his favorite song ...
Ch 40 - At Least
Mac meets his father at Atavica, their family’s Italian restaurant, where Gio offers him a chance to reclaim his place as heir. Torn between loyalty and Esri’s control, Mac agrees, hiding his turmoil. As they share a heartfelt meal, Gio’s love clashes with Mac’s guilt, leaving him trapped in lies but clinging to a flicker of hope.
Ch 41 - The Killing Moon
Ch 47 - Bring You Back.
Listen to the Beacon song on Spotify.
Jayson, who had been haunted by the recurring dream in which Rose dies, is thrust into a violent reality at the Pyramid Club when gunfire shatters the evening. Discovering two dead guards, he arms himself and pursues the source of the chaos, leading him to a tense confrontation with Mac, who threatens Rose for the Polaris diamond. Employing swift precision, Jayson disarms ...
Ch. 51 - King City.
Listen to the Majid Jordan song on Spotify.
Rose and Jayson escape from the Pyramid Club after a shooting incident where Jayson saves Rose from Mac. They flee through Brooklyn without their UDs, discussing their limited options while grappling with mutual trust. The pair stops at Rose's house to change and attempt to use her Song Program LD device, only to find it's been disabled along with all Club functions. Th...
Ch. 56 - Exit Music.
Listen to the Radiohead song on Spotify.
Mac wakes up to a call from Esri, who reveals she's tracking Jayson's location through malware planted at DISCO ARDENT. She orders Mac to follow Jayson to his address and steal the Polaris diamond to gain control of Song. Mac then receives a call from Romstoller, who believes Rose has stolen his money - a deception actually orchestrated by Esri. Mac manipulates Romstoller ...
Ch. 61 - Glimmer.
Listen to the Maccabees song on Spotify.
Spotting Mac watching them outside Atavica, Jayson and Rose attempt to escape through Manhattan's streets. After briefly losing him near Delancey Street, Mac reappears, forcing them into a breathless chase through the East Village. They finally reach Effigy, Corrine's club, hoping to find sanctuary there.
Ch 62 - The Rat.
Listen to the Dead Confederates song on Spotify.
Mac foll...
Ch. 65 - I Remember
Listen to the Kaskade song here
Under the Fort Tilden sun, Rose wrestles with the whirlwind of the past days - Easton's death, Song's burden, and her flight across Manhattan. Back at the borrowed bungalow, she discovers Jayson's notebook mentioning 'ANTON,' leading to an intimate dinner where he shares his past. As they talk, Rose finds herself drawn to this mysterious man who saved her life, feeling a glimpse of ...
Ch 71 - Shake It Out
Listen to the Florence & the Machine Song here.
When Mac visits his father's house to extract information about Rose and Jayson's whereabouts, Esri and her thugs burst in, violently interrogating Gio. As Mac watches his father endure the brutal assault, childhood memories of wanting to make his father proud flood back, spurring him to action. In the ensuing firefight, Mac is gravely wounded protecting his fat...
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