Free Web NovelChapter 28: Unearned Detestation
"The name’s Rhea," she said, taking me down the streets. "This is the 72nd District, which you seem to have already been acquainted to."
I nodded my head. "Yeah, I’ve heard about this place, but it surely does... live up to the legend."
"Yeah... I wouldn’t be too thrilled by the sight of this place either. I’m not here by choice." She shrugged her shoulders with closed eyes.
"Wait, what do you mean?"
"Oh--uh... I just-- you could say that I’m here for work."
Okay, I suppose it’d be rude to inquire further, but still...
"Who were those jerks anyway?" I asked. I stood still, making sure that my expression was one of scrutiny.
"Nobody that I knew. You’ll find that there’s a sort of pecking order in this district, and there’s plenty of men who think they’re higher up than they actually are. He could’ve been a pimp, or a merc, or any number of things."
A merc?
She caught on to my questioning gaze, tapping my shoulder. "Sorry, I shouldn’t use terms you’re unfamiliar with. I can’t walk you through all of them, but I’m certain you’ll learn them in time."
Isn’t she supposed to be showing me around?
"Ah, here we are!" She pointed to a rickety, broken down building. It was stained with too many colors to name, not to mention the odor...
I covered my nose. Bile filled my throat, making me bite it down. Disgusting.
"This is the Villa, where the more highly established book rooms."
"Ah, so a hotel."
"Not quite. It’s not that nice." She pushed me to the side, taking me elsewhere.
It continued like that, where she showed me different places. Firstly, was a strip mall. Next, another place for housing. After that, an establishment to purchase weapons.
To be honest, I was starting to find myself liking the place. It’s definitely nothing like home, but perhaps I could actually start making a living for myself here.
Which brings me to another matter...
"Say, Rhea, how do you feel about this place?"
She hummed to herself for a couple seconds before answering. "I suppose... I hate it!"
She said it with such a vibrant tone that I coughed from surprise. "W-well... thanks for you honesty, I suppose."
"Oh, sorry!" Waving her hands in front of her, Rhea shook her head. "I’m always told that I’m too honest! I know that’s not how I should present a new place to a traveler."
"Traveler? What makes you think I’m just traveling?"
"Ah, well, it’s just your getup. Your clothes are a little disheveled, and your hairs all frizzled. Plus, you just have the constitution of one."
I’m taken aback. This girl really has no filter.
"Shit, sorry! That’s not what I meant, I mean, I’m not saying that you look bad, in fact I would say you look nice, especially with that hair of yours, not to mention--"
I held out my palm and excused her. "It’s fine. I know what you meant."
"Good, then believe me when I say that men like you, you think you can get tied down to a place, but give it a month. You’ll find yourself in a new place, getting walked around by a person like me." Her current tenor was a juxtaposition to what it was just moments before. She was monotonous, her body language stiff and stern.
"You’re saying that as if you know me." I scoffed. "I think I could get accustomed to a place like this."
"And that--that right there. I’ve heard those words a million times." She tapped my shoulder, waving her hand forward one more time. "When you decide to leave--and you will--I hope that you’ll know what it is that you want to do. Otherwise, this kingdom will eat you alive."
It was a nice, clean establishment. A hotel by the look of it. fгeewёbnoѵel.cσm
"This is the best inn you’ll find in this city. I recommend we stop here, there’s not that many other places. Though, if it’s outside of your budget, I could show you to another inn," she said, walking away from me.
I pushed my hand into my pocket like I’d find anything there. The truth is that I’m broke, and it only set in for me when I noticed how late it was.
"I--uh..."
What do I tell her? That I’m broke?
Metal clanked as the feeling of small, cold objects fell into my hands. Rhea gave me four silver coins?
"What’s this for?" I asked.
"Look, Mr., I’ll tell you right now that I’m really good at reading faces, and the one thing I know is that men like you never have money." She smiled, waving her hand. "This is goodbye. You don’t have to thank me."
As her footsteps rung through the streets, tension built in my chest--the words kicking my sternum in their desperate plea to escape.
Ah, screw it! freёwebnovel.com
"Wait, Rhea!" She turned around, raising one eyebrow. "I already know what I want to do!"
"And what is that?" she questioned.
"To become strong!"
Smiling, she spun away from me and continued walking. Before she was out of earshot, she said one last thing: "Good, then work towards that."
I stood still for what felt like an eternity before dropping the coins in my pocket and continuing on my way to the hotel.
It had a big sign saying "Baxter Inn," with a big, cartoonish mole hugging the typography. Interesting, I’ve never seen a place like this.
As I made my way inside, a single person sat at a desk opposite to the entrance. He was big, with light-nickel skin. He was bald, wearing dusky, stained overalls. From a single glance, you could tell that he was someone who worked hard to maintain their physique.
Perhaps I could get like them? Not so brutish, though.
"Hello, sir. Welcome to Baxter--" as he spoke, his face changed, like he was reacting to mine. "You... I know you. You’re from that Borne family, and you assaulted that woman."
"What?" My stomach churned, swigging so badly that a green, putrid liquid pushed through my esophagus. I coughed from the sudden acid, holding a hand over my mouth to contain its release.
"Take a room, but don’t talk to me. It’ll be two silver coins."
Hesitant but unwilling to continue the conversation, I dropped the four silvers. "I’m staying for two nights," I said.
"No, you’re not." The man drew two of my silvers at me once I’d turned my back. "You’re not staying in my establishment any longer than that."
