Escape - Chapter 4.1
Chapter 4.1
“Oh, hello, Dr. Kyle. 15th floor. Are you heading to work?”
“Yes.”
Their greetings were brief. They weren’t exactly close. Dr. Kyle, with his stark glasses and bright blond hair, worked in the research department and, if Adeline had to add another descriptor, was an acquaintance of Damian’s. He was the “cold and handsome” type, a type Adeline particularly disliked. Those analyzing green eyes of his made her uneasy.
And if she was right, Kyle didn’t particularly like her either. He’d probably figured it out already—her friendly tone was solely due to their mutual connection, Damian.
Ding! The elevator chimed cheerfully, illuminating the buttons for the 3rd and 15th floors with a soft beep. Seeing Kyle move toward the back, Adeline deliberately positioned herself near the buttons. It was only a two-floor trip, thankfully. If it had been the morning rush with the Security Force, they would have been stuck together much longer.
District 13 consisted of 30 sub-levels. The Security Force was stationed on Level 0, where the entrance was located. Levels 1 through 3 housed the military’s medical and research departments. Levels 4 through 7 were for the power generators. Levels 8 through 11 were dedicated to cultivating plants and raising livestock. Levels 12 through 15 were home to various businesses and the school. Finally, Levels 16 through 30 were residential. The deeper you went, the hotter it became, so the lower levels were more affordable.
The fact that a young newlywed couple like her and Damian could live on the 17th floor, a prime location, was entirely due to their affiliation with the Security Force. The rewards for risking your life were quite sweet.
Still, the residential area seemed unreasonably vast. The population had significantly decreased after the Great Massacre, so why weren’t they redeveloping the living spaces? She’d have to look into the housing platforms of the district candidates in the next election.
“15th floor,” the elevator announced. Lost in thought, Adeline had already arrived.
“Well, I’ll be going now. See you around.”
“Yes. Oh, Adeline,” Kyle said, stopping her as she stepped out. He had a strange expression on his face. “Would you mind giving Damian a book for me?”
“…Uh… sure. Of course.” The elevator doors closed before she could properly respond.
She could deliver it, but he hadn’t even told her the title. He was such a strange man. Well, whatever. Damian would figure it out.
Adeline shrugged off the thought of Kyle and quickly scanned her surroundings. The 15th-floor shopping district was as pristine as ever. It felt unreal, like a meticulously decorated dollhouse. The entire floor was brightly lit, making everything gleam. Pretty objects were displayed in every window, and the air was thick with the aroma of freshly baked bread, a tempting scent that could easily enchant any child.
Turning a wide corner, she spotted the massive jewelry store and weapons shop. Blinded by the dazzling display of glittering jewels and daggers in the enormous window, she blinked a few times before finally pushing open the door.
Jingle.
“Welcome! Oh, Adeline? It’s your day off?”
“Yeah, I’m looking for a watch strap.”
“Hmm, for your husband?”
“Yep. Preferably gold.”
“Oh, I just got something amazing in today! Come take a look!”
Her old friend, Lilith, had quit the research department to pursue her entrepreneurial dreams. She’d poured all her earnings into her business and now owned the most successful jewelry store in the district. It seemed to suit her. She always had a good eye for merchandise.
“What do you think? Look at this unique and beautiful design. Pieces like this are incredibly hard to find.”
The “amazing” item Lilith presented was an intricate gold chain watch strap. It would look perfect with Damian’s gold watch. Adeline could already picture Damian wearing it with his uniform. The gold would match his epaulets perfectly. It was stunning. She had to have it.
Thud, thud!
Her inner gavel came down hard. But as always, the real issue when shopping wasn’t whether she liked something or not. They’d just bought a house, which meant there was still the important matter of…
“I love it. So, how much?” Adeline asked, looking directly at Lilith, who suddenly tensed up, forcing a smile.
“Well, not to brag, but… Lilith, you know how much Damian and I love this store, right? Of course. We got our rings here, so you should give me a discount. Even considering our personal friendship, this much should be…”
“Oh my!” Lilith gasped dramatically, covering her mouth with both hands. This effective gesture spoke volumes to both the merchant and the customer.
“You know how much Security Force officers make.”
“Security Force officers make a ton…”
“This much.” Adeline held firm.
“…Adeline, there’s this story about a wife who loved her husband so much that she sold her hair to buy him a watch strap.”
“Ah, is that what you want? You should have just said so.”
“No, what I mean is, when love is that strong, the price doesn’t…”
“This much.”
Having known Lilith since she started her business, Adeline knew exactly how much profit margin she was adding. She also knew that despite her pouting, Lilith would eventually accept the offer.
