by Gideon Mills
A knock sounded at her door. That was a rarity for Amita, and it startled her. Back on the street level, she never had visitors. Not even Samantha had popped in often.
Amita walked over and checked herself in the mirror before opening the door. She had never worried about how she looked before. Amita wore a sundress. The upper levels were warmer. She left her long brown hair down and it rested freely over her shoulders, something else Amita hadn't been able to do before. The dress was a little longer than she anticipated. Being short had so many disadvantages. As Amita stood, she couldn’t help but pat the outfit self-consciously.
She opened the door, and Marcus’s smile greeted her. “Hello, beautiful.”
Her heart fluttered. No one had ever called Amita beautiful before. She smiled. “H-Hello,” Amita stammered out. She was anxious, and him saying that made her even more so.
“Let’s go,” he said. “I want you to see the city.”
“All of it?”
“If only. Not in one day, and right now, I can’t get you up to level five.”
Amita frowned. She had been hoping to see the sun for the first time. Many of the people on the lower levels never did, but the Mara Corp did have a way for people to survive without it. Not that most people understood the how of it. “Oh.”
“I’m sorry. I really am.”
“Keres?”
“Pretty much.”
“Ugh. I don’t like being watched or that you’re being watched.”
Marcus shrugged. “It is what it is.”
“Doesn’t mean I have to like it.”
Marcus guided her to the street. Amita was expecting a car, but instead, she saw a motorcycle. Now, Amita was even more worried about the dress.
“Don’t worry. You’ll be fine.”
Amita guessed her concern was evident on her face. She thought she was good at hiding her emotions; living on the strett level one learned to mask their fear of the Security Force fast. Otherwise, the brutes would torment them.
He had two helmets, and they put them on. Marcus sat on the front and had Amita get on the back. It was easier than she anticipated. The cybernetic leg made a lot of things easy.
Once Amita was seated, Marcus fired the bike up, and they were riding off down the city. The buildings flew by. It was crazy how fast they went. Amita had never moved this fast before. It was exhilarating. The wind hissed around her.
Amita pressed against Marcus’s body with her arms wrapped around him. Never in her life had Amita been this close to another person—not one Amita wanted to be close to, at least. His vanilla aroma enveloped her. It made her happy.
Never in her life had Amita been this happy. It didn’t matter that her life had changed, that the world had. Marcus had an effect on her, one she couldn’t explain.
Without even seeing him, he had affected her. It wasn’t like Amita to rush in to save a person, but she had felt a pull to the group. One she hadn’t realized at the time, but now, Amita understood. Not knowing scared her. Not as much as Keres did, or the city. But she didn’t like not knowing what that pull was. Why was Amita drawn to Marcus? It didn’t matter. Amita was going to let it happen.
He stopped miles away on the edge of the city. Amita had never been here before. They couldn’t leave the third level, but she could see out over the river that ran south of the city. They stepped off the motorcycle and took off the helmets.
Amita walked to the railing. In the distance, she saw it. Maybe not the way Amita wanted to, but she saw it. The sun was in the sky. Amita couldn’t believe it. Her jaw dropped at its beauty.
“I thought you would like this. Best I can do.”
She turned to him and hugged him. “Thank you. Thank you so much.”
“For you.”
No one had ever done anything for her. Amita loved hearing him saying that. It melted her heart. She nearly broke down in tears, but Amita was able to hold herself together.
“You there,” a voice said from behind them.
Amita turned to see a Security Force member standing not far away. His posture was an aggressive stance. Seeing him sent her back to being back on the street level of Detroit. To the fear they instilled there. She was sure that he was using his modifications to scan her and Marcus.
She peered at Marcus, and he had the same look of terror. He had used the SF to get them off the street level, but it was clear that it wasn’t always good to have them around.
“Step away from the railing,” the Security Force member said.
Marcus glanced at her. “Listen to him.”
Amita nodded, backed away, and stayed as close to Marcus as she could without touching him.
The Security Force member eyed them. “Reports of vandals in the area.”
“Just looking at the river,” Marcus said.
“This is a restricted area,” the man said.
Amita glanced at Marcus.
He shrugged. “Sorry,” Marcus said. “I didn’t know.”
The member pulled out a tablet and a micro printer. A second later, a piece of paper was in his hand. He strode to Amita. “Only a warning.”
Amita gulped. A warning on the street level was a death sentence. One more step out of line and a person was carted off and never seen again.
The security officer left without another word.
Marcus looked at Amita. “What’s wrong?”
“A warning. I’ve never gotten one before. I only have one left now.”
He tilted his head and glanced at her, confused. “What do you mean? I have dozens of them.”
Amita froze in place, shocked and unable to comprehend what she’d just heard.
“That can’t be possible. Every person who gets two is carted away and never seen again.”
“No, they aren’t. Warnings are no big deal.”
“On the street level, they are a death sentence.”
Now, it was Marcus’s turn to be shocked. He seemed lost for a moment. “No. That isn’t right. We were told that all levels had the same rules.”
“Guess not.”
Now, more than ever, Amita was angry. She was upset with the city, with all of it. Different rules for different people. It should not have surprised her, but it did. The Mara Corp was oppressing people and getting away with it. She wondered what they were doing with the ones they took away. Maybe they weren’t being killed after all. They could be put into prison.
“Let’s get out of here,” Marcus said.
Together, they jumped back on his motorcycle and explored the city. It wasn’t as fun or thrilling anymore. Not that Marcus had lost his pull on her, but Detroit had. The rest of it no longer looked as pretty or stunning.
Amita saw the filth in it, even though it wasn’t the same as the street level. The droids she had built did a good job keeping this part of the city clean. On the surface, it was a paradise, but below that, it was nothing but hell.
Seeing it through different eyes was amazing. The modifications altered the way Amita saw the world. It was both scary and refreshing. She saw it in a new light, and was horrified by it all. The colors were deeper, or sharper to her. Everything had more detail than before, and that didn’t take into account the fact that she could see farther than before.
As Marcus dropped her off, Amita turned to him. “Is it possible for me to go to the first level?”
He nodded. “In theory, you can, but you saw what they did to me. You’re like me now.”
Amita pursed her lips and thought about it. Marcus had a point, but she was from there. And Amita had a friend that she needed to check up on. To make sure Sam was okay.
“I have to see a friend,” Amita said.
“I know you have friends there, but they might not like you anymore.”
Samantha wouldn’t hate her, and Amita knew Sam would want to learn that she was okay. Amita had to check on Sam. She just had to make sure her only real friend before Marcus was okay.
“If you say so,” Amita said and crossed her
arms. “I think I might go check it out.”
“No.” His voice was firm, and he glared at her through his helmet. “In no uncertain terms are you to go.”
“I can protect myself.” Just with the way the modifications allowed her to see who was a threat and not. That alone was enough, and it instilled a confidence in her. One that she hadn’t had before.
“I thought that too, and look how that turned out.”
He had a point, but Amita had been born there. One of them. The people on the street level would have to accept her. Amita was sure of it.
“Fine. I won’t go.” Amita lied to him, but it was a necessary lie. She didn’t like it at all. And she hoped to not make a habit of it.
“Good. Be safe.”
10
Mischief Afoot
Marcus rode away, glancing in his mirrors to see Amita standing on the curb. As much as he would like to think she was going to listen to him, there was little doubt in his mind that she would ignore him.
That was one of the things that Marcus liked about her. She was stubborn and knew what she wanted. It amazed him that she was from the street level of Detroit, and yet she attacked like she was from the upper levels.
Not that Marcus had much experience with people on the lower levels, but she was breaking every mold of how he had ever thought of them. She was special and growing on him more and more.
Speeding through the third level to get to the fourth, and then to the fifth which he called home, Marcus thought about it. He would have to divert and go back to the elevator that connected the street level to the second level.
There was no doubt in his mind that Amita was going to attempt to see her friend, and there was little doubt that Amita was already on her way to the second level.
“Fucking stubborn woman,” Marcus muttered to himself.
Making a quick adjustment, Marcus went to the second level elevator, and then to the one that would reach to the ground floor. This was going to be fun.
At the spot, Marcus parked and pulled off his helmet. He wasn’t sure how long it would take before Amita arrived, but she would.
Marcus wasn’t sure how he was going to make use of this time. His choice was taken from him when his buddy William called.
“It’s been a while,” Marcus said.
“And whose fault is that,” William responded. “I’ve stopped by your place more than once, but you have been gone. I think your cat is getting lonely.”
Marcus cursed under his breath. It had been a while since he played with the little thing. Soul was a precious cat, but as much as Marcus loved the kitty, Soul couldn’t compare to Amita. No one could.
“Been busy,” Marcus said.
“You always say that.”
There was some truth to what William said. Marcus had vanished more than once from his best friend’s life. Marcus would get lost in his work, or in his family. It was one of his few negative traits, but he knew about it. Marcus was trying to be better about it.
“What have you been up to?”
William laughed. “It’s more like what have you been up to. Who’s this Amita? And why in the world did you pay for her to be upgraded?”
Marcus suppressed a groan. “It’s all your fault.” At least in part it was William’s fault for daring him to go to the street level and interact with the Streeters. “If you hadn’t dared me to go to the street level.”
“Sorry about that,” William said. “We had no idea you would get your puny ass kicked.”
“I didn’t want to hurt them.” That was part of the truth, but not all of it. There had been a lot of people and Marcus wasn’t sure what would happen if he did fight back. There was a small chance that he might get in trouble with Keres if he did.
William laughed. “Right. Well, I saw that Keres is looking to place your young protégé.”
“Amita is not my protégé.”
“I see.” William was very adept at reading between the lines with people, especially Marcus.
“Anyway,” Marcus said. “If you want to hang out, we can.”
“That would be great. Talk to you soon.”
Marcus let William go, and not too long later, Amita appeared in front of him.
She didn’t appear too happy to see him. “What do you think you are doing?”
Marcus shrugged.
“Did you follow me?” Amita asked.
“Nope. Been waiting for you.”
Amita groaned. “Seriously?”
“I know you.”
She gave Marcus a look of confusion and then a smirk. Marcus loved the way she got when she was flustered. “I guess you do.”
“Amita. It’s not safe. I promise at some point we can go check on your friend. Just not now.”
“Why not?” Amita pouted. Hoping it would get her what she wanted.
“Dangerous. I want numbers. I want a few people; more than just us.”
“Fine.”
“Good. Get on. I’ll take you home.”
Later that night, Marcus was at his place when a knock sounded on the door. He knew who it was. Soul was at Marcus’s side as he went to the door and opened it to see William. His friend’s beard was thicker than before.
William had his shit-eating grin on his face. “I feel like I haven’t been here in years.”
“That’s because you haven’t,” Marcus said. They almost always met at William’s place or Luke’s place. “No Luke?”
William shook his dead. “No, he’s working overtime. My dear cousin is being over the top again.”
Marcus nodded. “Keres can be like that. She’s been all up in Amita’s business.”
“I know.”
William walked into Marcus’s place. Marcus loathed living so close to the rest of his family, but he had little choice. His mother and father were both powerful and important people. Until Amita, Marcus hadn’t disappointed them, and that meant staying close.
Maybe now that he might have upset them, they would be willing to see him leave the nest.
“Soul,” William said. The man bent down and gave the cat a rub on the head. Soul loved it, purring loudly. It was nice to see the cat happy. “Make sure your human doesn’t do something stupid.”
Marcus grunted. “I think you’re more of a bad influence on me.”
William shrugged. “Very true.”
They went deeper into his place and sat down. William liked to talk. He pestered Marcus on Amita, and what it was like on the street level. They talked for hours on that subject.
“I’m gonna have to meet this Amita,” William said. “She sounds very intriguing. Maybe I can make her see the light, and how amazing the good part of the Mara family is.”
Marcus rolled his eyes. The bearded man was teasing him, and knew that Marcus had strong feelings for Amita. “Please,” Marcus said. “You don’t stand a chance.”
“You never know,” William said. “A lot of women love the beard.”
It was true that William didn’t have any issues getting women to his bed, but the man had not found someone he loved. Marcus had, and he wasn’t going to mess that up.
“Ha ha.” Marcus gave William a dirty look.
William waved his hands in front of himself. “Fine. I won’t make a move on her, but I’m going to meet her. Keres is trying to get her a job at her company.”
“I know.”
“I mean like at her side.”
Marcus cringed. “That’s not good.”
William nodded. “Not good at all. I’ll see if I can pull some strings to make that not happen.”
Every once in a while, William was able to outmaneuver his aunt. That was how he was able to move to level four and get the job he had. Many thought it was a punishment, but in reality, it was William tricking Keres. Though if Keres thought that was what he had done, William would be in a lot of trouble.
“Thanks,” Marcus said.
“Any time.”
By the time William left, Marcus was tired an
d barely made it to his bed. He would have to check with William on Monday to make sure that Amita was safe.
11
Work, oh my
Monday, Amita was picked up by Marie and driven to the fourth level. The ride over was tense, as Marie didn’t say a word to Amita. It was awful. Amita had grown up being used to having Samantha join her on Amita’s walk to work. Not having that was going to make life not as great.
After a twenty-minute ride, they arrived at a tall building that was almost all glass. It was the most wonderful building Amita had seen yet. Not just the glass but the height. Level four was taller than the other levels. Making out the bottom of five was difficult. It made Amita wonder how long it would take to get to five.
“What is this place?” Amita asked.
Marie ignored Amita and exited the car. Amita followed Marie, in awe of everything around her. Even though Amita recognized the nastiness of the city, it still had so many things that made her step back and take it in. None of that even brought to mind the ability to use the modifications to get even more information about the city and people.
Inside the building, it was no different. The floor was more impressive than any Amita had ever seen, so open, and decorated with a design that overwhelmed her; bright purple stones lined the area, with a ceiling that reach up to a height that she couldn’t even guess. The entrance was grand and inviting. She couldn’t stop staring at it all in complete amazement.
A Security Force member sat at the desk. He looked up and saw Marie. “Hello, Miss Jameson.”
“Morning, Tom,” she said.
Amita was going to work wherever Marie worked. They continued to an elevator. Knowing Marie was regular here wasn’t reassuring. With how cold the lady had been to Amita, she wasn’t sure she wanted to work with her. Even the ride up wasn’t fun. Nothing about this was pleasant.
They stepped off on the third floor. Amita had never been in a building so tall. Just the thought that she was so high up in a building was scary.
It didn’t matter that Amita was even higher than multiple levels of the city. They were so high in the air. With them being so high up, they should have been freezing, but they weren’t. Mara Corp must have been pumping lots of heat here.
