Dawn Is Coming

Chapter 10

Akira

I stand in front of the mirror, almost feeling ashamed of myself at how easily I had discarded years of self-deprecating thoughts for love at the girl in the mirror.

Aleiye had dressed me up in a black tube top, showing off my toned muscles. Her makeup had worked wonders on my skin, removing the traces of all my scars. A large, matte coat covers my shoulders, its silver buttons catching the light and shining like tiny stars on the dark fabric. Black cargo pants hang low on my hips, designed not for comfort and practicality but for style. The fabric hugs my hips before flaring out at my calves, tightened around my ankles. My black combat boots had been approved by Aleiye, deemed fashionable enough, though not before she had made me clean the thick layer of dust and dirt coating them. Now Aleiye stands behind me, clasping a silver necklace around my neck that looks ridiculously expensive. I have no doubt that everything covering my body right now was stolen, so I don't bother questioning her on where she got it. If before I would have been bothered by theft, now I opt for keeping my mouth shut, knowing that tomorrow I'll be committing a crime far, far worse.

"That should be good enough." She says, looking proud as she inspects me once again. "And if you want, I can maybe even get Faron to ask Grant to come."

I feel my heart drop at his name. Grant is the last person I want to see... wherever we're going. Speaking of which, I still don't know what that is.

"No, thank you. Where are we going, though? You still haven't told me."

She smirks, cracking her knuckles before she replies with overbearing pride.

"The Chalice."

My eyes widen at the name of the one of the most prestigious night clubs within these walls. When Lyndin had said her manager was taking her out on a date, I had assumed she was saying that the man her division worked for was taking her out to dinner to one of the few shitty restaurants that are accessible to Thrifts. If we're going to The Chalice, then what she was really saying was that the man who owns the entire Engineering Department is taking her and paying for all her friends to go to a club that costs more than a fortune.

I'm shocked that even Lyndin managed to pull it off.

She is just a Thrift, after all.

Aleiye laughs at the flabbergasted expression on my face, shaking her head.

"What did you think? There's a reason we worship her," She proclaims as she heads back to the closet to change herself. Turning back to the mirror, I can't help but admire myself once again, adjusting the rhinestone belt holding the loose pants on my hips.

If not for my lack of robotic parts, I could almost pass for a Centrex.

"Come here, I need to do your makeup." Aleiye orders, unzipping her makeshift makeup bag and pulling out the base. She rubs it over my cheeks, forehead, and nose before blending out the warm liquid with a sponge. I get scolded for blinking when she does mascara and eyeliner, then get stared at for two minutes while she decides what lipstick colour would suit me best. Settling for what she called 'burgundy,' she declares my makeup finished.

"There. Much better." She says proudly, turning me around to face the mirror. My eyes fly open in shock at the transformation. I'd always prided myself on having a pretty face, but this – is stunning.

My fingers brush against my cheeks, finding it hard to believe that this face really belongs to me. Aleiye leaves me to do her own makeup while I stand and stare into the mirror, dumbfounded.

"Th-thank you!" I manage to stutter out, feeling incredibly grateful for the beauty Aleiye pretty much handed out to me. I sit back down on my mattress, my eyes settling on my crumpled military pants lying on the edge. The pockets bulge with tools that I stuffed them with, the grip of Grant's pistol sticking out. I feel a strong urge to shove it back in the pocket, overwhelmed with guilt at stealing it. The moment I remember his betrayal, however, the guilt disperses.

I watch Aleiye put on her makeup with utmost concentration, and I can't help but feel a pang of jealousy despite myself. She has someone to impress; she's going with Faron, her boyfriend, to the most high-class nightclub in the Centrex division. She has someone to impress.

And as of today, I'm officially alone.