The atmosphere at Old Dale's pub was thick with chatter and the rich, savory scent of pub food. Amid the dim, warm lighting, tables were laden with platters that threatened to overflow. Conversations swelled and receded like tides, giving the place a lively, if somewhat chaotic, ambiance.
"Remember, order off their dollar menu," Amanda instructed Caleb, her voice tinged with a stingy sort of caution.
"Are you kidding? You've just liquidated my entire life," Caleb retorted, "I’m getting a cheeseburger."
Amanda sighed in exasperation. "Fine, you ungrateful little brat. But no drinks, got it? You're having water."
They settled into one of the rare vacant tables, its wooden surface sticky and scarred from years of use. When the waitress arrived, her eyes slightly weary but her smile genuine, they placed their orders.
Amanda, who was crunching on her fries as though settling a personal vendetta, suddenly piped up, "If you decide to start coding AniCodes, you’re paying for it yourself."
The term AniCodes was the modern lingo for mutated animals, a sinister transformation that had occurred worldwide. Following a devastating release of a mutagen, animals had morphed into dangerous creatures. Ironically, GeneSynth had come to the rescue with their AniLink device, essentially a smartphone that could convert these creatures into coded data for secure storage.
The waitress returned to drop the check face-down on their table, before briskly moving to attend to another group. Amanda flipped the check over and her face flushed red in disbelief. "Thirteen dollars for a burger?" she shouted across the room at the waitress, who was midway through taking another table's orders.
The waitress paused, excused herself to her current patrons, and returned to address Amanda's query. "Yes, that’s because you ordered the Blaze cow burger. I saw you point right at it on the menu."
Amanda bristled. "I pointed at the Plain cow burger. Are you trying to scam me?"
Caleb rolled his eyes, silently mouthing an apology to the waitress, who was visibly becoming less tolerant of Amanda's antics. "You pulled this stunt last time too. You're paying for what you ordered," she declared before briskly walking away to tend to her other tables.
"Just pay for it, Amanda," Caleb sighed, "You can’t finesse your way out of every situation."
Amanda hissed back, "Well then, you’re not eating tomorrow." She threw down exact change on the table and yelled toward the waitress, "No tip for you!"
Exiting the pub, Caleb walked with his head down, a sense of dread enveloping him. He prayed that Amanda’s antics wouldn’t be a regular feature of their outings.
Two blocks later, they arrived at Amanda's apartment building, a dilapidated structure that seemed to sag under the weight of its own despair. The air in the hallway was a potent cocktail of cigarette smoke and stale urine, a malodorous welcome.
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As they reached Apartment 2B, Amanda flung her arms wide, a misplaced sense of pride beaming from her face. "Welcome to my humble abode! My room's down that hall. You, however, will be making the couch your bed."
Caleb took it all in—the peeling paint, the faded carpet, and the general air of neglect. It was a fitting space for Amanda, he thought, a physical manifestation of the emotional squalor he felt was coming to define his life.
*****
Later that night, the hushed darkness of Amanda’s apartment was punctuated only by the discordant rhythm of her snoring emanating from her bedroom. Caleb, eyes acclimated to the gloom, reached under the sagging couch cushions and retrieved a small, black box. It had a sort of gravitas to it, as if holding a world of possibilities and secrets. It was the sealed AniLink box, a mystery that had tantalized him since its handover earlier in the day.
With cautious fingers, Caleb found the pull-tab on the box's underside. As the lid lifted, he felt a strange mix of anticipation and apprehension. He expelled a relieved breath when his eyes fell upon the device's dormant screen, only to sharply inhale when he spotted a folded note tucked into the underside of the lid.
Carefully, he unfurled the note and began to read.
Dear Mr. Hightower,
We offer our deepest condolences for the loss of your mother, Danica Hightower. She was not just a dependable employee, but an extraordinary individual. We acknowledge our company's role in her untimely death and hope you find it in your heart to forgive us.
Enclosed is a yet-to-be-released AniLink, pre-registered in your name, and fitted with an upgrade chip. For any questions, a representative’s number has been pre-loaded onto the device.
With utmost regret,
Daniel Clayton
Caleb's brows furrowed, his mind reeling. What had happened that was so egregious that GeneSynth would gift him such a valuable object? He was aware that a standard AniLink cost a small fortune, and an upgrade chip was not pocket change either.
The upgrade chips can be used to enhance an AniCode’s abilities. A weak AniCode could be saved by even a basic chip.
Fumbling slightly, he activated the device. It greeted him with a radiant display featuring the GeneSynth logo, then transitioned to a home screen full of app icons. Eager but cautious, Caleb tapped on the 'Database' app, hopeful for a pre-loaded AniCode. His heart sank as he was greeted by an empty screen.
Switching gears, he navigated to the 'Upgrade Chips' section. He barely managed to keep his grip on the device when he saw the words "Ultimate Chip" emblazoned at the top of the screen. He couldn't believe what he was seeing. Such a chip could make him a fortune—enough to free him from his aunt's mercenary clutches forever.
His heart pounding, he prepared to delve further into the chip's information when a creaking sound echoed through the apartment. Amanda’s bedroom door swung open. She looked almost comical, her hair sticking out wildly in all directions like some sort of demented sea creature.
"What are you up to?" Amanda demanded, her face contorted into a familiar scowl. "It’s almost one in the morning. Wait, what are you hiding? Is that the AniLink?"
Reacting quickly, Caleb hid the screen from view as he brought out the device. Amanda's eyes widened, gleaming with avarice and sudden cunning.
"Just think of the money you could rake in with coding competitions! You could make enough to pay for your own keep!" Amanda's voice was tinged with greedy excitement, her eyes darting restlessly as if her mind was already calculating the dividends of her newfound investment.
Caleb looked at her, then back at the device. It wasn’t just an AniLink anymore; it was a box of opportunities and dangers, especially if Amanda ever found out about the "Ultimate Chip." His future, precarious as it was, hung in a delicate balance.