Noah was blinded.
Not just his sight, but every sense. The flickering multicolored light spilling from the sphere above was too heavy, forcing his eyes to squint.
Music thundered in his ears, its vibrations rattling his skeletal frame. Around him, the unblemished crowd moved wildly, bodies grinding together, faces twisted into expressions he couldn't understand.
As he pushed through, his eyes were drawn to a girl pinned between several men. Her designer clothes, studded with shimmering accessories, were worth more than several of Noah's lifetimes.
The sheer amount of credits being burned in this place was beyond his comprehension.
He swallowed as he noticed the glass in her hand.
'I wonder how much they're skimming off just from that drink.'
Given the entry fee alone, Noah had no doubt a single night here could drain his hard-earned savings dry.
'Focus, focus,' he chanted internally, shaking his head.
Noah swept his gaze over the circular pit packed with bodies, then up toward the elevated floor above. That was where the high-grade patrons gathered—the VIPs. Even if they were generous enough to let him in, the price would be obscene.
How was he going to find Tina in this sea of people? But why would she be dancing here when she owned this place?
'Stupid me,'
The thought of leaving crept back into his mind.
His hand fumbled for the communicator in his pocket, then stopped.
'I'll leave after asking someone where the owner is,' he thought as he moved along the wall, careful not to be swallowed by the perfume-choked bodies that reeked of synthetic jasmine and lies.
On both sides of the entrance, counters lined the wall, stools placed close together where people drank and shouted over the music. Noah had no intention of buying anything, but he was certain this was the only place he could find the club's workers.
He took a seat at the counter. As he looked around for someone to speak to, his eyes met a girl wearing a revealing uniform.
A white shirt cinched at the waist, a strange collar fastened around her neck like the other bartenders. Her eyes lit up, and she chuckled.
"Oh, boy. Which hell did you crawl out of?"
'What? I thought I was—' Noah's gaze dropped to his clothes.
For once, he was wearing something intact. Then he remembered the quality.
'Whatever,' with his expression hardening, he looked back at the grinning bartender.
"I, um, I'm looking for someone."
Despite his cautious tone, the girl smiled brightly. She had a decent face, and with the right skincare and other treatments, she was practically one of the prettiest girl Noah had ever seen.
Of course, his sister was cuter.
"Heh, good luck with that." She nodded toward the writhing crowd. "I mean..."
"No, no, um... She is the owner of this place." His heartbeat climbed the more he spoke.
The girl's mouth suddenly closed, and her expression turned to pity.
"I'm sorry, sweetie, but," she placed her elbow on the counter, leaning toward him, "whoever told you to meet here? Well, they lie."
"What do you mean?"
She pursed her lips, hesitating.
"It's a Marshall. The owner of this place."
A sharp ache settled in Noah's chest.
"Tina Marshall, I know. That's who I'm asking for."
"Woah, woah, easy there."
As if he had said something obscene, the bartender glanced around before lowering her voice.
"That's very bold of you."
1. With her so close, Noah couldn't help but notice how precariously she spilled from her bodice. He jerked his gaze away, feigning total indifference, but the small smirk on her face told him she'd caught him.
"You're not from here, are you?"
Noah just nodded.
It had been years since his world had shrunk to factory–home–repeat. And never left the true extraction zone since Tina bought this place.
"Figures." She leaned in again. "Word of advice."
She gestured between them. "People like us? We don't mingle with them."
Noah frowned and followed her gaze. Three men sat on the upper floor. Those were the same people he met at the entrance.
Their faces were tense and eyes fixed on the entrance. Noah gulped as he asked.
"Who are they?"
No answer came. When he turned back, she stared at him like he had grown a second head.
"Seriously? Have you been living in a hole?"
"Yeah, something like that." Noah shrugged.
The girl stared at him for a little longer before shaking her head. "Those are the young masters of the bronze-grade guild, The Crane. That's the guild that supervises the district."
Her eyes lingered on them before she mumbled out loud. "Wonder why they're here."
The girl fell silent. Noah kept his eyes on the three men and spoke without turning.
"Didn't you say not to mingle with them?"
"Hmm, I think I like you."
Noah turned stiffly. Her eyes were narrowed now, a playful smile resting on her lips.
It was better than that monster like man from the bus, but—
'I really need to get out of here,' he thought.
Suddenly, the dome fell completely silent.
The music cut cleanly, the vibrations vanishing as the lights snapped to a stark white. The sudden quiet sent a strange, hollow calm rushing through Noah.
"Oh," the bartender said lightly. "I think you're in luck."
She straightened herself with a smirk, her eyes becoming excited.
"Miss Marshall is paying us a visit. And it's probably because of them." She added.
Noah's heart became wild.
At her words, his gaze flicked to the upper floor. The young masters were already gone, moving toward the pit below. Around them, people stopped their crazed behavior and turned to the entrance.
A figure emerged from there. Her golden locks were dancing against the wind as she entered hurriedly. She looked delicate and fragile with a face like a doll.
Despite being restless, Noah's body refused to move as he just watched.
Soon, she was surrounded by a swarm of people before peeled away as the young masters arrived.
The music turned on, different from before, but the light stayed on them as they spoke, smiling before she was escorted away by three men.
"See? Told you," the bartender's voice came, but Noah wasn't listening; his head was spinning as he was breathing heavily.
'I—I can't do this.' His legs trembled as he planted them on the floor, and dropped back onto the stool as the girl caught his arm.
"Hey! Where are you going?" The girl's voice, blurred along with the music, whispered that he hardly understood.
"Listen, uhh, I don't have plans to work in this place for long, and I actually make good money, so—" Suddenly, as the girl spoke, his attention turned to her. His hand was grasped in hers. "I don't do this, but I'll be done with my shift in ten minutes. Why don't we—"
Noah pushed his hand back. Clearing his throat, he finally found his voice.
"Ex—excuse me, I need to... use the bathroom."