Page 87 of Light Leech

Blue approached. “Are you serious, Kyo? He was there the whole time.”

“I know, but I didn’t see the hands, you plug? I figured he was entourage or something.

“What are you doing here all alone?” Red scowled as she approached. “Look at this mess. We’re going to have to shut this down early.”

“Quit whining, Koro.” Kyo, the yellow one, waved her back and raised mine and Naoma’s hands to her eyes. “I want to know about this. Is this why you left Reef?”

Koro pointed at the blue one. “Kao, go hold the line while I keep Kyo focused.”

Kao touched two fingers to her forehead in a salute, then approached the front of the line with her security guard. She signed a variety of merchandise as another guard pushed the line back down the stairs.

“We’ll wait for Kao,” Naoma said. “There’s a lot to cover and I’d rather not repeat myself. It’s been a long day, you plug?”

“In this business, when isn’t it?” Kyo asked.

“You still are in this business, right?“ Koro asked. Before Naoma could think up an excuse, Koro turned back to shout, “Kao, close it already. They can wait a while if they really want more.”

The guard beside Kao closed the line. Kao returned to our group. “We have a meeting with Crystal in an hour so it’s best to stop here anyway.”

“But what about the people we missed?” Kyo whined.

Koro groaned. “There are always people we miss. We go over this every time. Do you want to go out there and sign on your own?”

“Can we go somewhere else?” Kao asked.

Koro took the lead towards the elevator. “There’s a Wavelength on the twentieth floor.”

“Pulse,” Naoma said. “I’d take that over more exposure.” She pointed to the crowd watching us through the windows. Even through the tinted glass I could see the red of neurospace recording in their eyes.

Kyo rolled her eyes. Kao pulled Naoma along towards the elevator, forcing her to drop our hands. Kyo pointed at me and Naoma. “I still want an answer.”

“When we get up there.” Naoma let out an airy laugh.

“Promise?”

She nodded.

“What is Wavelength?” I whispered.

“Only the peak of the peak have access, you’ll be fine as my guest.”

“And it is?”

“A lounge for people like us”—she pointed to the people out the window—“to get away from people like them.”

Chapter fifteen

Correction

“Congratulations to you seventy-five finishers!”

Ralia smiled at me, but I could see her exhaustion through a painfully still visage, despite the artificial construct that was her face. With her outer features being more artificial than natural, perhaps this emotional projection was truer to her soul than her outer shell.

Those who had boasted about their wisdom prior to the race bore similar visages. We stood, waiting for another announcement. While no voice came, walls appeared on either of the crowd, then narrowed to push us into a hallway-wide path. The dark red glow emanating off of them did little to settle my increasing anxiety as to what would follow.

I didn’t want to dwell in my thoughts.

“Haning in?” I asked Ralia.