"...year 2098, Woooh!
What excitements and new thrilling events awaits us this fresh new year, Karen?"
"I sure am thrrr-illed, Lourde! To see more "news" about the progress of "Mo-lecular Expedition!"
"You're right-"
The voice of broadcasters slowly fade away as i walk down the pavemwnt
*sigh*
I kept on glancing at the apparel shops at my left. Especially the glittering new dresses dressed up on manequinns.
Walking past these awe-inspiring clothes made me feel a bit stale
...since i can't buy a single piece of clothing and have to budget the entire month with only a few paper bills
The next few shops i passed through were cafés, restaus, and anything any broke person could only dream of to be in
*sigh*
I reached for my right pocket to find atleast a stack of quarters to buy me something to chew on
Let me see...
I grabbed what felt like cold hard coins from my pocket and pulled it out
...a button, a bottlecap, and a... a drierlet.
Then at the moment's notice after mourning my near vision of my starvation,
i slammed myself onto something hard.
Like a brick wall.
I shook my head a bit to get myself back together, there i saw a tall wall...
... no, not quite.
A lion, to be specific. Not meaning to be "race-istic", wearing a black suit
The unique race of animalia has sprouted since the 2080's and it continued to grow eversince it's genetic development.
The one infront of me was an example
"Sorry"
I looked down and quickly went on my way.
There was one thing that was a bit off though, and i had been thinking about it for a while now
How was his suit so... hard? It felt like there was pure steel in there.
Never mind, a metal plated suit is nothing to fancy. I think it's quite common nowadays.
Rich people huh.
Quite a number of people were staring at me after that small incident, some were even gossiping with their eyes were all over me
...even after i've arrived at the park there was a bit too much attention on me
So to cope up with the anxiety,
i sat on the nearest bench with a good amount of tree shade.
To cool myself off.
It's not really that hot today, but i just feel a little bit sticky.
I felt my skin, it was quite gross and greasy.
I continued to pinch little slippery parts of my skin
"Excuse me!"
I nearly pinched the skin on my arm off.
"Sorry, didn't mean to startle you"
But you already did.
"Aren't you the madam from earlier?" I asked, she looked quite familiar
"Yes, i am" she smiled
"What brings you to... me?" I smiled back, just to return the polite smile...
*...despite nearly making me tear my own skin off*
"I'm here as your personal guide"
I had no idea what that meant
"I'm your tourist guide"
"Oh! I see. I'm new here but i don't feel like needing a tour-"
"Oh no! Look at the time, we're running late-"
She grabbed my arm and pulled me off the bench
Then i noticed we we're suddenly walking a bit too fast
"I'm sorry but i think we're walking a bit too-" i almost stumble on my steps
We walked nearly half across the park, making it to the sidewalk
"We're here!"
Tere was already a grandious black car glimmering under the sun, waiting infront of us
She opened the door of the car for me
"She gestures for me to go inside"
"O-okay." I nervously panted
I went in and the door had sddenly slammed shut
It was so loud that my head vibrated like a giant bell being pounded by a hammer
I heard a small click thereafter.
I tested to open the door out of curiosity but...
... it was locked. I testified it and tried to open it twice...
Thrice...
Quadruple of times... but nothing.
It really was locked.
My heart then started to race
An unbelievable flood of fear struck my chest, making it sprint like running after a marathon
"Ummm... excuse me?" I asked the man in the driver seat
"Yes?" He replied in a low tone
"Why am i here?"
I tried to smile but unfortunately my lips quivered
"Would you be so kind tell me your name?" He asked
"K-kyouri kuma."
He turned around from his seat
"Hi"
The ambiguous face, that color of the suit looked quite familliar. Texture, the faint smell of leather
It had to be him. It had to be.
It was the lion i bumped earlier.