An alarm went off and a girl with dark chestnut hair rolled over and hit her Personal Device, her brown eyes opened slowly as she turned the device over and saw the time, seven-thirty-six. She groaned for a moment, rolled back onto her back, and looked up at the ceiling. Outside she heard the normal noises of cars moving punctuated by the occasional gunshot. She sat up and got out of her makeshift bed, A large couch that if you looked at it funny might just finally fall apart. It was better than the last one, being a little more spacious at least.
The girl walked into the bathroom and wiped the mirror to see her tired face staring back at her. She was up late going over applications to other colleges that she had not tried yet. Also, you know, finishing her homework for today. She got dressed and checked around the area for any sort of belongings that were around or clothes she may have missed. She grabbed a large duffel bag, put her sundries inside it, checked her uniform in the mirror, and found nothing out of place. The last few bucks she had for laundry seemed to have paid off. She checked her Personal Device or the shorthand, PD. She did not have to work tonight, which meant more studying. Or, maybe she should look around the area to see if there is another place to sleep for the night. She already spent a few more nights than she should have in this location. After thinking it over, she grabbed her duffel bag of stuff and left the place. It was not hers, it was not even her family’s as it was abandoned years ago. While no one says you cannot stay in it, patrols tend to come around and check them, and the promise of new paying tenants is a constant. For people like Maria Espinosa, it meant until she made some headway in life with a career and money, it was a constant state of movement and traveling light.
She walked out of the building and looked around seeing no one, she walked around a corner and stashed her duffle behind a dumpster, tomorrow was trash day so it would be safe there til after school. Tonight she would return and look around to see if another spot was worth moving to. If not, she may risk one more night in this building. If she does, would this be the time she’s discovered? Maria had been on her own for about seven years now. When she was ten, her mother died of an illness. She had a roof over her head then, but after her passing, she was placed into the orphan system, as it was known in her former country. She withstood in it for about three years until she finally had enough and one night made a break for it. She managed to make it over the border due to her father who died near the end of the war, Probably due to her dad being from America. She had to take a DNA test so she was allowed access to the chain. She crossed the border into the former United States and made herself home. However, the nearest city on the chain was a couple hundred miles away. Finding passage or even the ability to afford the ticket, as well as protection inside the city proved to be a challenge. She was not thrilled but the small little border town had a decent school. She bribed one of the kids whose father had some influence with a date, pushing pride and ego aside, to do what it took to survive. She did admit that she enjoyed his company, but found his friend a little more attractive. That two-year stint ended badly and well, now she was not even a blip on the social radar. This was alright though, she had good grades and a respectable record, and maybe that was going to be enough to get an offer for a scholarship. From there she could use her skills in art and design and maybe just maybe with a little luck finally find some stability.
The young woman walked through the gates of the school and scanned her Device. It confirmed it was her and she was allowed access. A PD or Personal Device was something everyone had. The antiquated term for this would probably be a smartphone. Now with advances in technology, most information stored on the phone was able to be held within a few microchips, and memory storage was so small. If you had the money, which most people did, you could put the items into an array of objects or devices such as a piece of jewelry with built-in holographic displays. The world was virtually at your fingertips. If you did not have money, however, you probably bought a basic shell. Which was what looked like an old smartphone. It was durable and did what it needed but lacked personal flair. She crossed the schoolyard and saw people talking and going about the normal motions of school life. She was so glad she would soon be out. Having to survive the world now and removing the obligations of school and other things that come with it seemed like a blessing. Opening the locker door she found all her school books and some art supplies she stashed here hastily organized. Taking out a few books and checking the condition of her supplies, the woman deduced the supplies could be used tonight with no worries.
Maria stowed her books in her bag and then closed her locker. She tossed her backpack onto her shoulder. The shoes she wore clacked against the ground as she moved towards her next class. Weaving between the crowds, and sometimes through them, Being a squatter and poor made you kind of...blend in, fade into the background, and not call attention to oneself. Maria was hoping something would pan out so she would not have to worry anymore. With that said though, she did not see a way out either. She was ending her time at school, she applied to colleges trying to find a way out, but almost all of her applications seemed to have been forgotten or rejected She was not holding out a lot of hope. at this point, she was wondering if she was gonna be able to even survive the summer to make it to college in the fall.
She stumbled into class and set her bag down., It was art class and it was one of the few classes that the young lady found some solace in. The other was a study hall where she was usually just losing herself in a book. But here, she was able to exert her creative desires. The bell rang and the students began work on their projects. Maria had a canvas of a beautiful sunset she saw outside her apartment. Well, the place she was currently staying so she could still be considered a resident of the area. She found the image oddly comforting. She drew it and added accents to the sun giving it a darker hue.
"Miss Espinoza?" A faculty member called out. The dark long hair of the young woman swayed as she turned her attention to the call. It was a guidance counselor and they motioned for her to follow. Walking over Maria felt a few of the boy's eyes on her as her body went into motion. Most enjoyed her walking away than her walking towards, though she supposed a few enjoyed that view too. But she had no interest in the guys here who did.
"Yes?" The counselor looked at her and turned his head back and away from the class as she walked toward him
"I have good news, it seems a college got one of your applications and wants to interview you here!" Her brown eyes widened with joy, she even stood a little taller as she was trying to process the news.
"N-Now?" She asked and he nodded "I, um need to get my things, do they need to see any work I've done? I mean all I have is that picture I'm working, on right now."
He shook his head "They got your submissions and they just want to perhaps iron out a few things with you, ask about where you're from, what your plans are, and the usual interview things." She nodded and ran to her seat and grabbed her things and followed him to the offices he opened the door, she hurried in and adjusted her dress to make herself more presentable.
"Room nineteen, I think that is where they are waiting, and good luck Maria!" He smiled at her and walked away. She took slow and steady steps to prepare herself and get ready for the interview that could change her life.
When she walked into the room a woman was sitting there, her business suit didn't hide anything. Matter of fact it looked like her top was a dam about to explode. The woman with silver hair cut short looked up from her PD and put her yellow eyes right onto Maria. She smiled a sly confident smile and stood right up "Miss Esponosa I presume?" She nodded and the woman walked over and shook her hand "Lovely to meet you, I'm Miss Silver, please have a seat."
Maria sat down and put her book bag on her lap and Silver sat at the head of the desk and looked back at her, eyes locking into hers "I must say, I saw your work and I was very impressed. I also looked at your application, and I do have a few questions."
"Please ask away, Miss," Maria replied and Silver sighed a little and put her hands on the table like she was about to give a lecture.
"I want to make it clear here Maria, I will be asking you some questions that may make you uncomfortable. They are about your past and other things. I want to be crystal clear with you that these questions may hit closer to home than you think. So, I want to make sure you are okay with me asking these questions?"
Maria looked at her a little confused and her head went down a little unsure and kind of scared. She nodded to her and braced herself for what may be coming. Silver reactivated her PD's holo and looked over some notes
"You currently have no place to live, yes?"
Maria was surprised by that one "Well I um, live in…"
"You are not paying rent, you're squatting. And if I am right you have no family due to the conflicts that have ravaged your country?" That one took her by surprise, no one knew she was from another country.
"I, I am from…"
"You’re not from the chain, your father may have been from what was at the time the United States your mother was not. And if I am right, he was in the war and he didn't make it. Also your mother-"
"Don't," Maria said, tears in her eyes and her hands clenched "Please, I...I come from nothing, I have no family, I am here because my father died in the rain...ARE YOU HAPPY!?"
Silver frowned a little, she did not reach over to her but she sat back knowing perhaps it was too much "I'm sorry, I guess when I get into it I sort of lose tact." Maria looked up at her wanting to scream but did not "The fact of the matter is, we can offer you a full ride with your situation, where most may if they knew this information turn you in, I have no intention of doing that."
Maria looked confused, she may be a bit slow to pick up on some things but she also knew blackmail when it was in her face "So, what do I have to do? I can't kill anyone, I'm not gonna sleep with someone to pay my bills, and I sure as hell have no interest in paying a favor in twenty years that I won't be able to refuse for fear of my family."
Silver chucked a little "You watch too many holos, Maria, we do have some things to discuss, but I would rather do it in private. Why don't you come with me? I'll take you to lunch and we don't have to hide under the whole school thing anymore...well for now anyway."
Maria looked out the window and back to Silver, she knew this was a bad idea. But, she also knew when she was in check, and she much rather be in check than in checkmate. "That sounds okay." Silver smiled, got up, walked over to the door, and opened it. Maria gathered her belongings and walked through the open door. On the other side, a man with dark eyes and hair along with very sharp features handed her counselor a card. He walked over to Silver and nodded, then proceeded to leave ahead of her as Silver waited to catch up.
"Who was that?" the young lady asked
"An associate. He more or less is like a driver for me. Not scared by him are you?"
Espinosa sank her head a bit. "He did look a little scary." Silver comforted her as they walked.
"I can see that, but you got nothing to worry about. I did ask him to fix a drink in the car for us, figured you were a bit thirsty."
They approached a limo that looked rather impressive. The man was in the driver's seat waiting, Silver opened the door and Maria got in to find rather comfy seating and two drinks for them in a holder. Silver slipped inside and closed the door and the car lurched with motion.
"How about a drink to your future?" Silver handed Maria a glass. It looked like a cola. She smelled it, and did not find anything funny in the aroma and smiled "Sure, to the future!" They raised the glasses and she sipped it as Silver set hers down.
"Tell Healey I have a recruit, we'll take her to the holding area with the others. Gold can look after this one while I return to New York." Maria looked surprised at her, she seemed confused and suddenly a little lightheaded. She sat back in the car and she swore she felt her head spinning. She looked at Silver as her vision began to blur.
"Don't worry" Silver said, sitting back "You'll be going to a college, just not the one you thought" Her voice became lower as Maria drifted away.
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