Shanazer stepped out of the registration booth. The sun warmed her cheeks as Olivia rushed to greet her with a bright smile and eyes full of hope. Shanazer, however, remained still—her face calm, her body giving nothing away.
Olivia frowned slightly, unable to read her friend's mood. She finally asked, "So… how did it go?"
Shanazer hesitated. Her registration wasn't finished yet. The staff had told her they'd be in touch. She wasn't sure how to explain that to her best friend.
"Mmm…" she began slowly, "They gave me a Bluetech band. They said they'll contact me soon to confirm if I've been accepted."
Olivia nodded thoughtfully, then her usual spark returned. "You'll definitely get accepted! Let me see the Bluetech band."
Shanazer lifted her right arm. Olivia's eyes widened as they met the soft blue glow of the band. Her face changed—jaw tight, lips parted in awe.
"What is it?" Shanazer asked, watching the shift closely.
"My goodness!" Olivia gasped. "You've already been hired! Only OxyamCorp employees wear this!"
Shanazer's heart raced. Hired? But they said they'd let me know… She blushed and looked down at the band. It pulsed gently like a whisper of something new. She didn't want to celebrate too soon. Silently, she crossed her fingers and tried to push away the rising hope.
Olivia stared at her friend with pride. Shanazer returned the gaze, forcing a smile.
One smile was real, the other carefully stitched together. But they were both tired—the kind of exhaustion that success brings after fighting for so long.
"Let's go home, my friend," Shanazer said quietly.
"Yes, sister. Let's go," Olivia replied with warmth.
They walked side by side, choosing a narrow alley to shorten the trip. The air smelled of old stone and warm dust. A dog barked in the distance. Birds flew past overhead, casting flickers of shadow across their path.
"What are you going to do with your first salary?" Olivia asked playfully.
"Hey, slow down," Shanazer laughed lightly. "The job isn't confirmed yet. Why dream too early?"
"You have little faith."
"You don't know where I come from."
"Well," Olivia said gently, "Then tell me. We've got a long way to go before we're home."
Shanazer paused. She had known Olivia for years but never told her the truth. Her past was dangerous—something she had buried deep, something that might never be safe to share.
Before she could respond, seven men stepped out from an old building ahead. The roof was gone, the walls crumbled, but the danger was solid.
They blocked the alley.
Their faces were hard and sharp. Eyes cold. One, a tall brute covered in tattoos and scars, stepped forward. His voice came like thunder.
"Hey girls," he growled. "If you value your lives, hand over your credit cards, your shoes… and that glowing band on your wrist."
Shanazer's breath hitched. Her chest tightened. No… Not the Bluetech band. It's my only hope. My chance to start again.
She clenched her fists. Fear tried to take over, but she shook herself awake. She wouldn't let go of the one thing that could change her life.
Not now. Not ever.
As Shanazer walked toward the glass booth, Olivia called out, "Shanazer!"
She turned and saw Olivia's warm smile. "I wish you all the best," Olivia said. "My fingers are crossed!"
People in the queue turned to stare. Shanazer felt heat rush to her cheeks—she hated being the center of attention. She forced a shy smile. "Thanks, Oli," she whispered, then walked toward the booth beside the gate.
The booth was made of tinted glass—see-through but dark. She'd watched several people step inside, only to exit minutes later, expressionless and silent. No one looked excited. Were they rejected? Or just hiding their disappointment?
Now, it was her turn.
From behind her, a man scoffed loudly. "She really thinks she can work for OxyamCorp? How disgusting."
Another joined in. "What can she offer? Just another filthy loser taking up space."
Laughter and low murmurs rolled through the queue. Shanazer heard every word. But she didn't flinch. She'd built thick skin over the years. Mockery didn't shake her anymore. She lifted her chin and stepped forward confidently, eyes scanning the booth like a soldier entering unknown ground. Nothing came easy—she'd learned that early in life.
As she reached the booth, the door slid open silently. She stepped inside. Behind her, the glass door closed automatically.
"Place your hand on the scanner," said a calm, robotic voice.
Shanazer looked around cautiously, then spotted a glowing board with the outline of a hand. Green lines flickered across its surface like electric veins. She inhaled deeply and pressed her palm against it.
The scanner lit up, followed by a soft ding.
"What is your name?" asked the voice.
"Shanazer Athens," she replied.
"State your age."
"Seventeen."
"Are you married?"
Shanazer raised an eyebrow. Seriously? I just said I was seventeen. Still, it was easier talking to a machine than to a person. "No," she said.
"What is your profession?"
Her nerves had faded. This felt more like a form than an interview. She answered clearly, "Information technology and electronic engineering."
Somewhere, a database scanned her details. A ding-dong chimed beside her. She turned.
A shelf slid open at belly height, revealing a sleek band. It shimmered with blue and purple glass, a single button in the center. Her heart fluttered.
"Please put on the Bluetech band," the voice said. "You will be notified later if you are accepted. You may now exit."
She picked up the band, clipped it onto her wrist, and stepped toward the exit. As she neared the door, it opened quietly, and she walked out.
3:00 AM
The streets were empty, moonlight casting silver shadows across the alley. Shanazer and Olivia glanced at each other. No words were needed—something felt wrong.
"We should've taken the busier road," Olivia muttered, regretting their shortcut.
From behind broken walls, seven men stepped out. Their tattoos glistened under the streetlight. They looked dangerous.
Olivia tried to sound bold. "Our father's in the army! If you touch us, you'll regret it—I've already contacted him!"
Her voice trembled. She was bluffing. Shanazer knew Olivia had seen her fight off three attackers before, but these men… there were seven.
The gang laughed cruelly.
One stepped closer, mocking Olivia's voice. "'Our father's in the army!' We don't care who your daddy is. Now hand over your credit cards, your shoes… and that pretty glowing bracelet."
He licked his lips with a snake-like tongue. Olivia stumbled backward. Her knees felt weak.
But Shanazer? She stood tall.
They won't take my chance away. Not now. Not ever.
She smiled, the corner of her lips curling with quiet fire. "If you want it," she said, voice calm and fierce, "you'll have to take it off my dead body."