Static cackles at the tip of my nose forcing me to open my eyes as I jolt up in bed. I nearly head-butted Yu. He smiles, one of those smiles I remember when we were young, I wish that I could hug him. I don't know how the developers make him, he has more human-like traits than the usual artificial intelligence.
"It's time for work. I have been trying to get you up since an hour back." Yu folds his arms on his chest, and glare at me.
"I don't feel like going to work, can you call in and tell them I am sick?"
"No, we used the last of our sick-work credit a week before when you want to have a lay in."
"Oooh I hate this." I whined, thumping my pillow aggressively.
Yu winces and backs away a step. I close my eyes and breathe in through my nose and release the air from my lips. This isn't fair, why can't I ever have what I want in life? I glare at the ceiling, imagining that it's the universe, or whoever is responsible for making my life the way its heading.
Static crackles on my skin and I stared at Yu's hands, he hugs me, I close my eyes and lean into his comforting touch like always, for a moment I felt safe, protected from everything and everyone. Nothing could harm me.
But then I open my eyes and reality slams into me with the force of a train cruiser, sharp and fast. I suppress the whimper and slowly got up from the bed to have a quick shower. Mr Xi is going to be very angry today. I lean my head on the shower, dreading when I turn up. The shower turns off, and I level a glare at the shower head, and grudgingly step out of the shower. That's it for my water rations.
I hastily slap on some clothes and rush to my landing pad, I jump in my cruiser and shot out of there like the hounds of hell were after me. Not even bothering to check the hovering screen filled with missed calls. Air traffic was light, not the usual jam it is at early morning rush hour that I'm used to
I stared at the enforcer cruiser stationed at every level and wondered what's going on, usually there very few enforcers stationed in the lower levels, only in the elite levels. In there it's tighter than a wine drum on a pirate's cruiser.
I cruise in the street for the treasury auction house, and fly my cruiser into the parking lot. I jump out and lock the door, I sprint for the appraising department fast, praying that I don't find Mr xi there.
Miraculously I ran into the appraisal room, and set my bag down, and push my glasses on. I slid on my gloves, I forgot to do that last night, I stared at the pinprick of dried blood on my finger, I haven't cleaned it. I made a mental note to do that before it get infected.
"Where have you been? I thought you wouldn't show up." Jinx says to my left. Adjusting her glasses and tucks a strand of almost straight grey hair from her pretty face. Her slightly slanted blue eyes, surveying the room, and stray on the door expecting Mr. Xi to show up.
" I overslept, was he here."
"Not yet, I had Imsy cover you" A replica of me waves beside Jinx. "Word in the building is that he's mad about something that happened last night. Everyone is staying out of his way and keep their head down."
"Thanks Jinx, I owe you one, you too Imsy."
"You better remember that I want a play date with Yu." My image morphs into a ten-year-old girl with pig tails, huge grey eyes, a cute face, wearing pyjamas. She harumphs and folds her arms on her chest, pouting.
"Alright, I think I will make that happen Imsy, you choose the date and let me know."
"I'll hold you onto that."
I chuckle and turn back to my work. Jinx's chuckle was cut short when her eyes land on whoever's in the doorway. I follow her gaze and gasp.