Page 53Concrete

It was kind of difficult to think of what to do next. Esmeralda was really happy with her shirt, noticeable in the way she held her bag like a little child. Gleefully smiling. I was wondering if I could go to the apartment or room that Seriph had arranged for me and check it out.

But I didn't want Esmeralda there until I knew it was completely fine.

But how to bring it.

"What's up, Amy?"

I smiled at her, she'd seen me pondering. "Well, I'd like to check something out and I can't take you with me. But I'd love to do more with you tonight."

She thought for a moment. "How long do you need?"

I shrugged. "An hour, perhaps."

She smiled. "Alright, at the docks in an hour then? I'll show you something!"

I smiled back. "See you in an hour then!"

We both went our ways and I read the message send to me. It was very conveniently accompanied by a small map of part of the city, pointing out the street. It took me a little while to find it, but it wasn't very difficult. Perhaps Seriph had known of my trouble to find the mansion. I really had to find a solution for that.

The house itself was nothing what I expected.

Part of me expected something a little... grand.

Not a fairly unnoticeable building among others, with several floors of apartments. The message had told me exactly where to find the key and how to get in. It was kind of predictable with a main door and a lockable door for me. It wasn't as solid as I would have liked it, but Seriph had kept her word.

Once inside I found it a lot more impressive. For several reasons.

The first nice thing was that there was a bathroom with a small shower and my own toilet. The walls, both of the bathroom and the living-room, were mostly solid concrete with either tiles or wallpaper on it. Though it made it look cold, it also made it quiet inside. There were two windows, very small and surprisingly well covered by drapes. But, though convenient, it wasn't what made me really happy.

Seriph had left me a gift.

It was impolite to look a gift horse int he mouth, but I spend some time looking around, checking every corner, before I allowed myself to dive unto the final extra of the room. The bed was nice and comfortable, the closets empty but clean. No holes in the walls, no cameras, microphones or otherwise and, considering the glass was double pane with heavy drapes, invisible from the world.

Seriph had really outdone herself.

There was a simple desk with, what I considered, a grand gift. Not in size, obviously. It was a factory sealed box containing a small laptop. A very small laptop, light and sleek in white plastic. The box and a corresponding manual, charger and other things but they weren't important as I just wanted to see it work. So of course I took it out.

There was a network cable that I connected it to and a power socked that looked inviting.

When I turned it on, I got some questions for a language, user-name and password, what color I liked and if I wanted to register on-line with their customer service thing. Of course I didn't do the latter, as it was completely unneeded.

Once it started up though, it immediately occurred to me it wasn't a normal laptop. Everything looked different about it. And it took me a few moments to figure out how to get onto the Internet. Once there though, the search engine displayed also showed me a link to something I really needed.

Maps.

I spend a minute typing in my own new address and giggling like a fool when I saw the close up top-down pictures of the street. It was like owning my own personal orbital laser system and I was looking at a program to decide what place to lay in ruin. Not that I would really fire at myself. I wasn't that crazy.

It was hard shutting it down. Like a new toy I wanted to play with it as long as possible. But someone would be waiting for me in a while. I did another round in the apartment, making sure that nothing was listening or watching me. While I considered Seriph to be clever enough to put something in the laptop, a simple and calming though finally seeped through.

Anything she'd try to do to spy on me, besides the obvious, could be traced back to her. So all she'd hear from me would be what I spoke to the Voice. It suddenly made sense.

I just hoped I wasn't wrong.

I put the clothes I bought away and smiled. Everything about the place was simple, but it was more than I needed. It had a shower, something I was very grateful for, and a laptop. The bed was a nice luxury as well. So, all in all, i was happy.

Closing and locking the doors behind me, I headed for the docks with a big smile on my face.

At least her mind isn't wandering on other things anymore.