The Engine What Runs the World: Chapter 2, Page 1 (Unedited)

The pass to the Second Above arrived two days after Marla had given him the case. He didn’t waste any time between receiving the pass and getting everything ready to go to the surface.

He now stood in the center of the tower on the surface floor. Everything was polished white and clean. Nothing had any sort of scent, or personality to it. Smoke believed the tower to be luxurious despite the lack of any discernable personality. He pressed the pass to the sensor and proceeded to push the button to the second floor. He smiled as the lift opened and he walked inside.

The underground allowed anyone to live on any floor provided they had the skins; some lived on lower levels, especially the seventh, eighth and ninth below due to poverty or the unwillingness to grow as a person. This was okay by Smoke’s standards; everyone lived different lives and as such was subjected to their own trials and tribulations. At least people had the option to go above their floor if they had the skins to survive. There were no keys or passes required.
A bell chimed as the steam hydraulic lift came to a halt and the doors opened. He stepped out of the lift and walked forward. His card would only work for the occupancy it had been assigned and it would only work once so he’d have to be sure to get everything in one go.

He continued down the halls unimpeded or interrupted until he found the door showing the six black crescent moons in the shape of a floral circle that matched the symbol on the card. He pressed it against the scanner and waited. He could hear a chime ring around the residence several times before it finally stopped.

The door opened shortly after the chiming ended thus showing a male house servant. He was dressed in a black livery uniform with a thin scarlet trim. He was a young man, couldn’t have been more than twenty. “Can I help you?” he asked with a soft voice that told Smoke he had recently been taken from one of the lowest levels of the underground. He stood stiff as though waiting to be chastised for some unknown mistake.

“Yes, I’m Smoke Callahan. I’m expected,” he said bringing his thumb to his chin. A hand sign for the servant to know he was under Smoke’s protection while he was around.

The servant nodded as his demeanor eased and spoke, “Please wait here while I confirm this.”

Smoke placed his hands in his jacket pockets as the door closed behind the servant. He let out a long drawn out sigh. He didn’t like waiting, especially for the people of the tower who really had nothing better to do. He was a busy man after all.

Several minutes had passed before the door had opened. He knew the servant would have informed Marla or any member of the household almost immediately. This was a power play and he knew it. They’d make him wait and show him how much more important they are than him. He’d play their game, two million skins were enough he could wait and play along, no matter his distaste in waiting, it was nothing more than a fool’s game.