Chapter 41 (Side story: Flin 1)

My eyes flutter open. I'm hit with dazzling crimson and majestic blues all intertwined within the hotel's ceiling. I lob my forearm over my eyes to block out the expensive view. I could never get used to it. I was not a rich man. No, I was a poor man with money. I could enjoy the pleasures and delicacies, but I could not find myself living in them. At the end of the day, it was street fun and mama's cooking that was best for me.

I haul myself off the ground and tilt my head to see the royal bed that I was supposed to sleep in. It was bigger than most rooms and softer than a woman's breast. Only for me, it made me think of all the things that I let go of in my life. Unlike Micheal, I don't use those regeneration pills to regress my body down to when I was thirty. I prefer to keep my age. To feel the sluggishness that washes over me. To trace the myriad of scars and wrinkles that have creased my body. To look in the mirror and say to me, "I'm almost there." Almost to eternal peace.

The carpet feels like a mini-massage as I drag my toes through it. The shimmering colors o the walls seemed to pop out to me, even more, when I was half asleep. I think they're supposed to wake the person up, for me, they were just a nuisance.

I trudged my expired body to the large mirror that covered a good one-fifth of the right wall. I look at myself. The reflection was almost unrecognizable if not for my sharp jawline and straight nose. Over the years, I chose to get surgeries and implants and all the things this world could offer to hide me from the once allies who converted into my enemies. After most of the surgeries, I was hoping for the worst to happen. But, nothing ever did happen. My face, body, and mind were all still the same. I just looked like any other naturally aged old man. It was amazing what could be done with technology these days.

I sized myself up. Medium, black hair which was parted in the middle. It also had some streaks of well-groomed white and grey hair on the sides. My eyes were a lot brighter than they once were, shining with an opaque intensity. My face was fair, but still carried its fair share of aging and scars. One of the most memorable ones traced my jawline. That fateful day, if the cut hadn't hit my jaw, my neck would've been sliced. I chuckled. All the bad days become a joke when you survive them. I didn't grow beards; I think it's too hard to eat and maintain them. I had an okay physique when I looked down. I wasn't fat by the old standards, but my experience was starting to show itself near the torso and chest. I sighed. I should retire soon.

I slid into my white, fluffy bathrobe and walked over to my bathroom. I brush my teeth with a million-dollar toothbrush and walked out to the hotel corridor. A red carpet led me to where I wanted to go- Micheal's room. After all, he was my boss. His room was right around the corner.

Pictures of famous people- scientists, poets, valiant heroes, and morbid villians- hung on the antique walls. I looked at them and found it amusing that Micheal and I weren't up there alongside them. We were the most infamous of them all.

As I neared my destination, the vibrant carpet became duller and darker. I braved my foot forward. *Squish* It was water. For fuck's sake! I told him not to take the room with the aquarium right above him. The glass wasn't sturdy nor tempered enough to deal with his dumbass antics. I broke into the mahogany door and yelled, "Micheal! You okay?!"

The first thing that I saw was blood on the bed. I dashed over with my cell in hand in case I had to phone the medical people. If Micheal was in the predicament, an average bot from the sky wasn't going to save him. My feet quickly and cautiously through the glass studded carpet. My bare feet got even colder as I waded my way into the room. When I was close enough to the bed, I peered over and saw a little red fish flopping. Its blood swarmed the entire mattress. I looked behind me to find Micheal sitting in a plump chair. His own bathrobe was drenched in splatters of blood and water. His head rested on his hand, and his right leg was crossed over his left. He sat there quietly, looking at the dying fish. The path towards him was filled with beautiful, dead fish and floated glass. I refused to walk over to him. I spoke to him from across the room, "Here's your pill."

I tossed to him a small pill that I had given to him before in the control room during the games. He caught it with both hands and swallowed it. He nodded his head in thanks. He then solemnly said, "I gave that fish freedom." He pointed lightly at the redfish. "Now it's suffocating in its freedom." He looked up at me and asked me, "Do you know what that means?"

I looked at him and the fish and said, "It means that it's time for my break." I walked out the door and said, "You'll see me later this evening." I left without an answer.

***

I went back to my room and got dressed and washed, and we all know the drill. It was only the second day of the Evolution Games, and Micheal's in his little trance of his.

I waited patiently for the elevator to stop by my floor. One of the small lights lit up and made a *Ding*. I looked above the elevator to see that my floor was up next. The doors opened horizontally. I looked inside for anyone before I stepped inside; other people meant awkward conversations or uncomfortable silence. It got to me every time. I liked the peace and the quiet, the way the world stills for me for a matter of seconds that felt like a lifetime.

I pressed one of the flat buttons. Ground floor. I wanted to take a nice walk today in the sun and the upbeat weather before the sky falls tomorrow. The interior of the elevator was as luxurious as the hotel's rooms. This one was the smaller kind, about six or seven could fit in here without hitch. The metal walls were shining a rustic pink. The floor was a marbled-looking carpet. So much carpet in this place. I wonder how many people or robots would have to vacuum it every day. Other than those two appealing features the rest of the elevator was pretty bland when compared to the hotel chain's brand. I waited and waited and sought no one until the elevator started to slow. I opened my eyes and saw the bright light on the number twenty-two. I cursed under my breath. I was so close until the end of the ride, but now I had to bear the company of another human being. I sound weird for my age. I know. I know.

The elevator slowed to a stop, and I decided to get out and wait. The doors slid open to reveal a young and beautiful girl and next to her was a taller and more mature woman. I stopped where I was, I stopped in my tracks. I didn't know what to do. They walked through to the elevator and waited right beside me. The girl said in a sweet voice, "Ground floor, please!"

I looked at her and responded, "Of course! I was heading there myself!" I pressed the ground floor button once more. Was it really her? After all these years? Could it really be her? I stole a couple of glances at the duo and thought maybe. The girl was in her teens. She had golden hair that was let loose down to her torso. He wore a bright pink outfit with matching white shoes. Her eyes sparkled a heavenly blue and her facial features were perfect. She carried a little purse that had R&T engraved on it with golden letters. Redart High school, one of the best in the country. The other woman, presumably her mother, also had blonde hair, but it was cut short to her neck. She also had the same features as her daughter. Or rather, her daughter had the exact same features as he mother. They were both beautiful. The mother wore a blue dress with a black and white shawl over her shoulders.

The girl caught me eyeing her and looked at me with bright, ocean eyes. I spoke first, "Sorry for staring, but I noticed that the purse you were holding was from Redart High school."

The mother spoke with a pretentious tone, "Of course it's from Redart. Any would have noticed that. But, what is it that you were staring at?"

I noticed that I was in a bit of a pinch. I said, "I was looking at your blinding beauty, ma'am." The woman blushed and tried to hide it with her shawl. The girl giggled when she saw the redness on her mother's cheeks. I continued, "That, and I used to have a daughter that went to Redart as well."

The girl's interest was piqued, "What was her name?"

I shifted my gaze a little lower, so I could meet her in the eye. I said, "Lily."

The girl jumped with joy, "Me too! My name's also Lily!"

I laughed, "Well, nice to meet you, Lily. My name's Flin." I took out my hand for her to shake. She shook it with much vigor.

The mother, surprisingly, gave out her hand. "Esmerelda."

I shook hers as well, and said, "Nice to meet you too." She gave me a pretty smile. *Ding* The elevator reached the ground floor, and all of us left together at once.

Lily tapped me on the shoulder and said, "We've got to go this way." She pointed to the right.

I faced both of them and said, "Alright. Well, I guess we part ways here. I've got to go the other way." I pointed to the left.

Lily and Esmerelda both waved and said their goodbyes as they walked away. I stood there for a couple of seconds. Watching my granddaughter fade away in the crowd.