Chapter 7: Code

Shannon's POV

I look at my phone to check if the address that Milly sent me is the same place where I am standing right now. My eyes are full of amusement as I look at the huge and grandeur tower of a building in front of me. I am currently at the entrance of Velican, a known lavish condominium in Huxley.

"I don't think this is the place," I whisper to myself. I can't believe that I am inside Messier 58, a messier that is only accessible to the upper classes such as elites, eriles, plutocrats, councils and the president. Now it makes sense why Milly gave me a golden badge yesterday, because I wouldn't be able to go past the sentinel of the main gate of Messier 59.

I scan the area and see some bystanders that eye me curiously. Of course the scene will be very foreign for them, I just arrived in this area without a car nor a fetcher. There are still buses inside this messier, but I think they seldom see someone going inside the Velican that walked out from a bus.

I am not really convinced that this is where Milly wants me to stay for the whole semester. I am very vocal to her about my hostility with the upper class.

I immediately called her to confirm my confusion. "'Sup, Rei! Have you arrived safely?" she asks me.

"Milly, what is this? Why am I in Messier 58 right now?" I ask her in an unamused voice.

"I know you don't want to associate yourself with the upper class, Rei, but we have no choice right now. Don't worry, your new home is a vacant unit of my cousin. No one lives there so you won't encounter any elites!" she convincingly explains.

I sigh. I don't want to accept it, but I know she's right. I don't have the right to be choosy and to demand right now. I try to cheer myself up. I'll just have to bear it for four months, I think I can do that. "Fine, but remember to visit me here."

"I'll try to borrow a golden badge soon. Sorry I can't help you in arranging your things." A hint of sadness layers her voice.

"I'm cool, I don't have a lot of things anyway. I'll call you later, Milly," I say before hanging up. After three deep breaths, I begin walking inside the building.

The marble flooring quickly welcomes me and the big chandelier on the high ceiling greets my presence. The classic interior of renaissance architectural design on the lobby area didn't fail to amaze me. It's been so long since I saw this kind of interior design because almost every establishment nowadays has a modern style. This is kinda fresh for me. I think this design also highlighted the splendor aura of the whole condo. It makes me wonder if the unit I'll be staying in have the same vibe with the interior and exterior of the building.

I swipe the ID card that Milly gave me into the card censor of the elevator. I was startled when the elevator suddenly lit up.

"Welcome, Neron Brooks."

I automatically gear myself with my fist and get into a battle position. I scan the elevator without moving.

"Going to the top floor. Do you want some music, your majesty?"

I heave a sigh when I see that the lady, who's talking, is just a hologram. Should I speak? But I'm not Neron. Is this a voice command? What if I get arrested? I create countless scenarios in my mind, the pros and cons if I speak. After a minute of thinking, I decide not to speak.

"Top floor, the great penthouse. Enjoy, your majesty."

I roll my eyes as I hear what the hologram said. Your majesty my ass. Why do elites love special treatments? I can't believe Milly's cousin has his own elevator in this building. I didn't have to press any floor button because the elevator automatically recognized my floor number because of the card.

The elevator itself can occupy up to 15 people, I can't believe it was made just for personal use. Just how rich is her cousin? The elevator was sparkling inside and out. I guess it's covered by some sort of gold steel. Who knows? Maybe it's covered with real gold.

It took just about two minutes before the elevator door opened. I step outside and walk on an emerald red carpet along the hallway of unit doors. It didn't take too much time for me to find the unit I'll be staying in. I enter the unit's password on the door lock and slowly walk inside my new temporary home.

Different emotions play inside my head upon entering the unit. Of course, I'll admit that this place is really pretty. Actually, the word "gorgeous" is an understatement. The whole unit is the exact opposite of the classic style from the lobby and hallway area. From the high tech appliances and voice controlled system, to the modern accent decor on the walls; everything about this house screams luxury.

But, that is also the reason why I can't help but feel furious. How can the upper class afford to live in this kind of fancy place when the peasants from Messier 75 can't even have a decent place to live in nor any proper food to eat everyday.

I drop my bags on the carpeted floor of the living area. I have to remember that I am inside the bastion of the upper class, I can't just freely act and say what I want to. I need to be careful, especially since I am living here illegally.

The unit has three rooms, and since the master's bedroom is too big, I decided to occupy the second room that is smaller compared to the master's. Actually, my new bedroom almost has the same size of our whole dorm room, so I really have plenty of space.

I finished fixing my things immediately since I don't have a lot of stuff. When I felt content with the way everything looked, I walked outside the room and decided to cook lunch for myself.

"Yeah, I can totally see that no one is living here," I say to myself. There's no food inside the big refrigerator, but the good thing is, the kitchen tools are complete. Since there's no food I can cook right now, I decided to go outside to eat at a nearby restaurant.

I am strolling around the street of Vera looking for a good diner, but every restaurant I have seen has the same prices on their menu. Are they eating gold or what? Why are the food so expensive here!

Upon spotting a convenience store, I look at my wallet and make my way there. I settle with only buying a cup of instant noodles. Even though this store is for lower classes that work here in Messier 58— per my observation, the price of the items are still pretty expensive. After paying for my purchase, I head back to the unit.

I'm walking to the lobby, on my way to the personal elevator, when a hand suddenly grabs my arm and halts me. "Excuse me, miss. Can you bring these things to my room? I can't carry them because my nails are newly done," She says, while eyeing her red painted nails.

I stare at the woman with disbelief. She lifted her eyebrows while staring at me, irritatingly. "Why are you just standing there? Move it, bitch!"

I exhale three times and try to maintain my composure. I slowly unclench my fist before talking. "Are you perhaps talking to me?"

"Seriously?" she scoffs. I just look at her with a blank face. She's eyeing me from head to toe before fixing her gaze at my face. "Are you deaf? Or perhaps, dumb? Of course I'm talking to you, imbecile! You should be thankful that I chose to talk to you out of all the slaves around here!"

My grip tightens at the plastic bag that I'm holding. I roam my eyes around and notice some elites curiously eyeing the commotion, along with some clerk, which I presume is the "slave" she was talking about. I shut my eyes and exhale one more time. I slowly take out the badge from my pocket and show it to her.

"Oh, you're an elite? My bad, you don't look like one," she mocks.

I irritatingly smiled at her. She was about to walk past me but halted when I spoke. "You don't look like an elite either. You look like someone who rose from the dead while the burial is still happening."

I eye her from head to toe. Her black skimpy dress doesn't even match her shoes, her face that looks like a sack of flour decided to pour itself on her, and her black lipstick only made her lips look bruised. I scoff and stifle a smile as I walk past her.

Her eyes widened when she saw where I was heading. She was left in awe as she heard what the hologram said. "Welcome back, your majesty."

I victoriously smile before the elevator door closes. I really hate elites, damn it!

I place the plastic bag on the table with a foul mood. Something savory would really be a mood lifter, but I guess instant noodles will just have to do. "I can't believe that I am this broke," I sigh deeply. Either way, I have no choice, I still need to eat to replenish my energy from the tiring events these past few days. Especially after that not so elite encounter with that undead of a woman.

It's Sunday, which means that I have no classes today. That leaves me to my predicament of being stuck inside my huge hive. Staying inside the house the whole day is a new experience for me, but I have to adjust so that I can get used to my new environment.

It's around five in the afternoon when I decided to convert the third room into my drawing area. I saw a play room while I was roaming around, but I realized that it's not a good idea to go there. As much as possible, I don't want to touch anything that isn't mine and get used to the way they live. I'm just staying in this place for a while.

I display all my artworks inside the room and hang my huge canvas on the wall. I am placing the painting on the wall when the edge of the wood where the canvas board is glued catches my attention. It seems that it was damaged because of the fire.

I carefully place the painting on the desk and flip it back as I try to restore it. This painting always reminds me of my dad and his favorite advice to my younger self.

"Edrei, remember. No matter how much you change, never forget who you really are."

That is why this painting of our family portrait that I drew when I was young is really important to me. This is the only thing that was left for me, and this artwork always reminds me who I was and who I am still.

I meticulously remove the cardboard backing and separate the board from the main canvas. With the use of my precision tweezers, I successfully detach the fabric from the damaged cardboard. I was about to get a new canvas board when I noticed something at the back of the used cardboard backing.

I look at the text closely so I can read it clearly.

Here I lie in peaceful slumber

Albeit my heart remain in eternal chaos

The truth I once lost

Will be yours to uncover

My brows furrow as I try to understand what the riddle meant. Is it even a riddle or just a random passage that I am just making a fuss out of? Even so, I can't help but wonder if my dad's the one who wrote this. Ever since I did this painting, he's the only person I know who touches it. So if I were to suspect anyone to be the author of that "riddle", it will only be him. Does my dad want to say something to me? Is this a hidden message?

At the end, I just shrugged it off. If my dad wants to say something, then why did he put it inside the painting where no one can see it, right? Or, what if it's his intention to hide the message to anyone but me? Argh! Never mind!

After restoring the painting, I carefully hang it on the wall next to my other artworks. I stretch my arms while going out of the room. I am already at the front door of my room when a sudden realization hits me.

What if it's not a simple message? Is it somehow connected to my father's death?