Page 20 of Code Bound
“Red,” Cipher finishes. “Yes. Here, in the Harrow, the environments are built reminiscent of Earth. Earth’s sun is not a red dwarf star. It is a G2V main-sequence star, or a yellow dwarf. Despite being classified as a yellow dwarf, the sun’s light is actually white, but it appears yellow through the replicated atmosphere.”
“Earth?” I repeat.
Cipher sighs. “It is such a shame they do not teach you anything in Dross these days. Earth was a planet located within the Milky Way Galaxy where humanity originated from. It was abandoned in the year 2632 due to being severely damaged by human activities.”
I don’t award his condescending tone with a response, instead I square my shoulders, and drop off the platform so that I can walk over to Locke. “You know shit about this place?”
He studies me with a raised brow. “People don’t usually linger near each other here I’ve heard. It’s dangerous.”
“What’s that mean?” I ask, staring at him. “You gonna kill me?”
“Death by fellow players is as common as death by Harrow, player two million, six hundred and three thousand, three hundred and thirty-three,” Cipher chips in. “It would do you well to remember that.”
My scowl deepens. “I have a name, too. If you’re going to be talking to me all the time, use it.”
“Ah,” Cipher breathes, his tone taking on a strange quality to it. “It would be my pleasure . . . Vespera.”
I point my finger at Locke. “Don’t try to kill me, or else I’m going to make your body look like a Harrow Gate.”
Locke smirks. “I would never.”
But he definitely would. If deadly was a man, it would look like him. Black Abacus members aren’t exactly upstanding citizens and his ink marks him as untrustworthy immediately.
But that barcode tattoo on his face?
That says I’ll need to watch my back closely. It wouldn’t do well to find a knife in my back before I’ve figured out how to survive long enough to meet up with Dox.
CHAPTER8
VESPER
Ilinger near the platform, staring up at the door behind me like it’ll suddenly reveal my best friend if I stare hard enough. The platform is raised above the lush forest life so I had to step down into the foliage. The bright green leaves brush against my trouser leg, begging for me to run my fingers across them. I give in immediately. I touched a tree once, dead and lifeless. The trunk had been scratchy and hard, and there had been no leaves on it. As my forefinger and thumb run the leaf between them, I take in the soft, velvety texture of it, and commit it to memory. It’s softer than I expected, and when I rub too hard, moisture builds up on my fingers, staining my skin green.
“Is this the only door into the Harrow?” I ask out loud, expecting either Locke or Cipher to know the answer.
Locke doesn’t even bother trying to answer. He’s focused on the trees around us, as if he, too, is trying to commit it to memory.
“No,” Cipher begins. “There are three doors you may spawn at. Players are randomly placed at each one once they enter.”
“Are they close?”
“The other two doors are located in other regions. The map is quite large,” Cipher answers. “But your chances of survival are thirty percent higher in the Verdant Nexus. It is the best region to begin in.”
“Okay,” I nod. “Can you tell me if another player I’m expecting came in after me somewhere else?”
Cipher hesitates. “I cannot tell you about other players.”
“Can you at least tell me if anyone came in after me?” I try.
There’s a long pause that feels like Cipher is thinking about his answer. “You were the last player into the Harrow,” he finally admits.
“Fuck!” I snarl, kicking at the platform.
Locke studies me closely. “Your friend?”
I nod. “She was right behind me. The fucking guards. Those fucking Luxe bastards!” I clench my fists, remembering how Orion was right behind us. “If she gets hurt because they wouldn’t let her come in, I’m going to slaughter all of them.” I hesitate and look up as if that’s where I can find Cipher. “You can’t look into Dross, can you?”
“I no longer have the ability to see The Cradle,” Cipher answers.
