Noia nods and swallows another cough. “I’m fine, thank you.”

He nods and gestures to the seat next to you. “May I?”

“Please.”

He seats himself and holds out a hand. “I’m Rowan.”

Noia grasps his hand and shakes it with a smile. “Noia.”

“Sorry about my, ah, rant there. I got a little too much in me.”

At first Noia stares down into her drink but then she peers under his hood. “Actually, I was thinking something similar before, well.”

Rowan’s eyebrows lift. “Really?”

She twists her glass on a pool of condensation. “Don’t get me wrong, it seems like ETHR is doing some good and they’re involved in keeping up peoples’ spirits with messages of inspiration and hope even with all the regulations from the GA but about it just feels off.”

Rowan snorts - it’s more of a rush of exhaled air than an indication of sarcasm.

Zuiter snorts and grins at her. The snide comment slithered from his lips and burned her ears.

Rowan pushes back his hood and leans an elbow on the bar top. “So you’re not just another ladder climber after all.” His smile came easily.

“What made you think I was rolling in money?”

Rowan nods at her stamped hand and she rubs a thumb over the green ink.

“The access card I was given was a…loan.”

“Loan, huh? What great feat did you pull off to earn a bolt?”

“It’s more like what they’re anticipating I can do.”

Rowan gives a slow nod. “But you doubt your employer.”

“I’m suspicious of him, yes.”

A buzzing from Rowan’s pocket draws their attention and he pulls out a green mobile phone. He checks the screen and sighs. “I’m sorry, I have to go but I’d like the chance to talk to you again. May I leave you my number?”

“Uh, sure.” Noia pulls out her mobile. He taps the top corners of their phones together and a new notification window pops up on her screen.

Rowan rises and touches her elbow though he leans away through the crowd. “I look forward to hearing from you.”

“You’re awfully sure of yourself.”

He smirks, pulls up his hood, and disappears between the jumping bodies and flashing lights.

Noia finishes half her drink but stops when she starts to feel the heat boiling through her chest and up to her cheeks. One last sip and she pushes the drink away and stands, grabbing the back of the chair when she finds her sense of balance off.

It’s been a while since you’ve had spirits, she thinks, and these new world concoctions are amplified by the sugar…

She feels she is sinking and the flashing lights and pounding music were not helping. Time for a break.

She makes her way back through the double doors to the elevator and pokes in another button. When the elevator starts to move she clutches the side rail, glad for the smooth mechanical movement of the thing. It was almost organic. It must be the springs…

Ding!

Noia frowns out into the garage space.

She steps out for a moment and blinks under the bright lights. The elevator closes behind her. The cars are packed in here. Some are shiny, polished while others have traces of spun up dirt, scratches, and dents. Behind her there is a large painted B3 on the wall next to the elevator. Other bright paints decorate the walls and pillars of the garage – they are even on the ceiling and floor.

Everywhere except the corner where a ramp would have descended to B4. The lights are off at the previous ramp area and the lights directly around the section are dark but some flicker.

Ten steps closer and she can hear the faint echo of music from the club.

Twenty-three steps closer and she can finally see the descent walled off just under the B3 level with large blocks of cement.

The elevator bell calls back Noia’s attention. A couple gets out, laughing and leaning on each other, glow paint dripped and dried on their skin. They kiss and then make their way down the aisles of vehicles. Noia steps back into the elevator and jabs a button, keeping an eye on the couple before the doors close.

She explores a few more floors – all of which are residences – before closing her eyes in a moment of spontaneity and pressing a button at random. The doors open to reveal the entrance area of basement eight. The bouncers nod her past when she shows her stamped hand and this time she finds herself drawn to the edge of the dance floor. An enticing bass soon has her swaying side to side and just as she is about to back away to the bar she is grabbed by the wrist and pulled into the jumping crowd.

Noia bumps against several elbows and hips until she gets the hang of bending and contouring her body around the dancers. By then the pressure on her wrist was gone but try as she might to edge out of the crowd she is foiled by a hair toss here, snaking arms there and the constant shift of bodies. She thought it would be too hot this far in the floor what with all the body heat and endorphins circling around but there is cool air winding around them from an unseen source. Noia can feel the music better here and inch by inch she’s pulled along with the bodies until she finds herself jumping and grinning with them.

A young woman with lighter hair than Noia grins at her between the slanting shoulders and waves. Noia waves back. A head toss, hip sway, and spin later they’re closer. The dancer offers Noia a glow stick bracelet and Noia accepts it. They are closer now and caught in laughter when the song reaches a peak. The crowd jumps and roars around them under a fresh wave of fogger mist and glitter that tumbles down from the ceiling.

Someone bumps into the young woman and Noia catches her.

“It’s getting crazy!” the other shouts in her ear in good humor. Her bright hair extensions fall over Noia’s arm and shoulders. “Want to stay out for another song or do you want to grab a drink?”

Well? What do you think? Follow the survey link below to vote!!