CHAPTER 1 : The Death of the Billionaire

"What? I don't understand why I have to go there?" I confronted my father. "I am the only son of the System's co-owner, I hold enough virtual money on my bracelet to be taken and robbed. And you're telling me that this is for my own good?" I questioned, raising my voice.

I rushed to his office as soon as I heard from my godfather, Hugh, that he wanted me to leave 400 and head to Median, and for what? To see the world?

Scoffing, I smacked my palm on my forehead. I can feel the vein on the side of my head popping, my breathing ragged, I can't find any solution to calm myself down.

And my father? He's sitting on his chair and looking at me with his uninterested eyes, clasping his hands above his neatly organized table.

"Why don't you take a chair? Let's talk this through, hmm?" His composed aura made me feel even more irritated.

Releasing a hard breath, I dragged myself down on the chair adjacent to his table and crossed my arms, waiting for his either further explanation or his tormenting lecture.

"You left your teenager stage two winters ago, Nickel. I remember you giving your word to me that all the fun things, in your perspective, you had when you were young will be left behind."

Suddenly, my palms sweat, knowing where this will lead.

"I know Hugh would always save your dependable ass, and that means you don't respect me as your father, you don't take your life seriously, and you need something to learn." His words were enunciated, and just as sharp as a needle, everything was thrown at me, piercing my skin, catching me guilty.

"By what? By making me step a foot on that dirt land?" I chuckled mirthlessly. "Dad, you can't do this to me. Do you know how those people think? All they have in mind is greed and-- and to rob!" My patience is tested, and it reached the limit.

"Don't you dare raise your voice on me, young man!" Just as short-tempered I am, my father is worse. He thinks he's the superior and I'm nothing better than him, or anyone else. "What makes you think I decided to put you in that place?"

"Because you never wanted me?" I stated like a fact.

"I put you where you should belong because you were never a man of your words," he corrected me, ignoring what I just said. "You keep those illegal drugs under your bed. I don't even need to go through your stuff because the moment you step on that door, I can already smell the same smoke you had when you decided to be a junkie."

Clenching my jaw, I looked away. I hate this!

"You know what you did wrong, and you know how your pride is taller than this tower. I will not ask you to write a novel of apology, but I need you to do as you were told." He tapped his forefinger on the table at every point of his words.

My father knows how I hated leaving this city, or in fact, I never dared passing through the borders.

The smell is different, it was combined with poverty, sickness, and their bloody crimes.

"At first light tomorrow, you will join the Linus troop to make rounds in the Median, distribute the rations and never leave not until seven trucks were emptied, do you get me?"

This is ridiculous!

I am not his robot, I am not his servant, I'm his motherfucking son! Whose father would send his own flesh and blood to a cursed place? Just Nicholas Coin.

"If Mom is still alive, she wouldn't agree with this," I muttered through my breathe, holding grudges over him.

"Your mother died because of you."

I can hear the fury in his tone, the hatred in his words. What am I to him anyway? No one, just someone he never wanted to see.

Standing up with a senseless low laugh, I looked at him. Our eyes met, and it's leveling each other's strength of hate, and neither of us win, not lose. We have the same height of pride, and I don't claim losing over him.

"Remember that you made me this way, Dad. Mom knew that. So stop showing the world that I'm a failure as son, because you're already a failure as a father from the start," I said, turning my back on him and slammed the door behind me.

Fuck this life!

When was the last time I decided for myself? I don't remember.

He seriously wanted me sent in Median. Those average people are not far from being worst such as the people coming from the Omission. They have sickness, communicable, they won't be able to exist if it weren't for the medicines provided by the Palace, and those greedy motherfuckers still asking for more than enough.

Last time I heard from Hugh, a small community from Omission tried to raise up their voice to have more than just the Junkyard. They never knew how to be grateful, they still got somewhere to take money from.

"I assume that it didn't go well," Dolores, my father's loyal follower, commented as soon as I kicked the door open of the villa. "The clothes you requested from downtown have already arrived, just a few minutes after you left. I put it in your room."

Nodding, I marched upstairs with my heavy steps.

Plopping myself on the edge of the bed, my eyes diverted on a small framed picture of the only person that could understand me.

My mother.

Five years have passed, and my father still blames me for what happened. It wasn't just him who despised me so much, but me as well.

It was indeed all my fault.

"Wish you were here, Mom," I whispered, my eyes lowered at the bracelet I have on my left wrist.

The numbers tell that I hold millions of virtual coins, and that's my lifetime worth. There are no banks that could protect this money of mine but me. I would never trust anyone this wealth. No one will ever touch the richness my mother gave me before she breathed her last breath.

My father may never know how to see my worth, but I know to myself that I'm no worse than him.

Night came, the whole streets of the city is bright. An important celebration is happening.

Every A-listers in 400 are invited including us, even the people coming from the farthest Nabe, Maven, are considered as guests.

A feast for the long running peace between all five Nabes, I wonder how long will it last?

"What's in your pocket?" My father's voice filled the gaps of silence inside the limo with his question.

"My patience," I replied bluntly, keeping my eyes glued outside the window, wishing I could've just in someone else's shoes.

"When we get there, I don't want to hear you talking to me with disrespect," he chided, sipping his scotch as he flip the cards that consists of his speech.

"Don't worry, you won't even see me there."

The limousine stopped right in front of the red carpet, the flashes of cameras began blinding my eyes as I stepped out of the vehicle.

My father's smile appeared on his face, waving his hand in the air as people chants his name like he's some kind of a royal these people would kneel for.

Living in this lavish life, I want to spat on it. I need something quieter, where I could live without my father's endless lecture, sniff my coke, and smoke my weed.

I want to be somewhere far away from dirt, far away from this toxicity, and away from these boring events.

Just as I entered the venue, my father immediately left my side, leaving with a warning with his eyes that I ignored. If he's used to neglecting my existence, I can do it back to him.

A lot of faces greeted me with their smiles that I can't mirror, but with just a nod and sewn lips.

The chatter from the whole venue filled the empty spaces of noises left by the soft sound of the cello and piano played live by the corner.

Many people attended the anniversary event, celebrating the 60th year since the New World System had started.

And this party itches the bottom of my feet.

"Nickel." A familiar voice of a middle-aged man called my name from behind me.

When I turned, my godfather's face welcomed me with a wide grin on his face that was basically covered by his weird shaped white mustache. He's in a navy blue tux, holding a glass of champagne in his hand, and clad in everything that exudes his wealth.

Failing to copy his beam, I answered his offered handshake. "Uncle Hugh, good to know that you made it. I thought you were stuck trying to figure out how to manage the Levies."

"Those soldiers know their rules, they were trained to follow what they were told. And guess what..." He placed his hand on my shoulder and patted it twice. "We're growing."

"I don't think I'm part of it," I snorted.

He hummed in suspension, arching his blond eyebrow on me. "Certainly you aren't. What was that I heard from around that you're storing 'ice' under your bed?"

A confident shrug was what I gave him. My father must have talked to him about it. How does news got their own wings? "Did Dad tell you about it?"

His wince says it all. "Your father and I have been buddies since we were young. Of course we would tell all headaches to each other."

"Headaches," I scoffed.

"Don't be offended, you know you are."

Shaking my head, I took a drink for myself. "He's going to send me to Median."

"What's wrong about that?" He asked. "You know, sometimes, you gotta meet new people, find yourself familiar with the surroundings. The more you become open with the world, the more you know better."

"I don't need to go there to know what's in there, Uncle."

"Uh-huh?"

Taking the champagne with one gulp, I glanced at him. "Do you remember the time when you said that if I'm in trouble, all I gotta do is tell you what I need?"

Getting what I'm trying to say, Hugh let out a soft laugh. "I've been covering up your ass since you the day you fell in the traps of sin, son. You know that I always have you back, but if your father's into this, I don't think I can help you."

"Come on, Uncle. I know you won't let me down." A negotiation is being swapped, I know Hugh would help me.

Sighing, he looked at me like a father should and offered me a small smile. "I won't, as long as you don't prove yourself guilty even before you get a warrant." He gestured his hand on a direction, leaving his glass on a waiter's tray and led the way. "Nicholas mentioned to me that you snapped at him and got yourself a warning. What was that all about, huh?"

Couldn't control my annoyance, I looked away and felt how sour my face is. "I said no when he forced me to distribute rations at Median, and then he started talking to me like how he usually do. I fucking hated it, so I shouted on him."

"That's what you should control about yourself."

"Easy for you to say, you're not the one being seen as a mistake," I sighed, pocketing my hands that are shaking. "I know he still blames me for Mom's death. I can see it in his eyes," I snickered and watch how everything around me goes on like nothing's wrong. "I don't even have to look at his eyes, most of the time, he's telling it to me himself that he hates me."

"Your father has gone through a lot of things, Nickel. If you only know how he's always been the best and top at all things, you would be proud of him."

Getting over with him boasting all my father's achievements, I sucked my inner cheek and asked, "And the story of how you always ended up second?"

"Well, there's a perks of being second, actually. Even though you're always forgotten, can't you not see? You father put me in this position, and I'm loving it."

"I don't see how that story connects with my problem."

He laughed and patted my back. "What I'm saying is, I know that you are understanding him with the best you could, but never forget that he's the reason why you were never sent to train with Levies."

Scoffing, I shook my head. "He only missed that part because he knows I would fail the training on purpose and he didn't want to bear the shame on himself."

"He can be the greatest Dad if he chose to. Things just happen for a reason, son."

"Yep, they're a bunch of shits," I groaned.

"I get that, but you should apologize to your father. Learn how to volume down your pride and be a good boy," he chewed me out in his calmest way. "Nicholas is getting old. Who knows maybe this year he would turn senile and won't transfer all his wealth to you and give it all to me."

"For sure, he'll give it all to you." Caring less, I shrugged. "I'll apologize tomorrow," I replied just to blow off the topic that makes my nose wrinkle.

"You know, I'm also heading to Median tomorrow to supervise the divisions. You don't even have to worry about a thing."

Muttering my silent gratitude, I just let this off and escape from being flaunted with mistakes even more.

As we walked to the balcony, he took his cigar from his inner jacket pocket and lit one up. "Want to know something?"

I hummed in response, knowing he's got plenty of lectures to say before letting me go. What else can I do? If I don't get along with my godfather, he would surely strip me off naked in front of my father's eyes and face the embarrassment to myself even more. But what was left for me to be ashamed for? My father already collected all possible reasons and throw all on me until I'm dead and cold.

"Before your mother died, she knew that your father won't be a perfect epitome for you. That was why she asked me to look after you," he began, blowing smokes in the air. "I put up with you with everything. I covered up for your crimes, camouflage the sex services you wanted, drugs, knowing your father will definitely skin us both alive once he find out."

"What's to put up now? He already knows everything." I leaned on the banister and let my eyes wander through the view of the city.

"I know." Hugh nodded, staring at his smoke that he clipped with his thumb and forefinger. "Because your father got eyes and ears everywhere. I told you, somehow, someday, he will know. He's got power in this System, he's influential. He could demote me from my job, but that's okay with me. The question is, once he disowned you, will you be able to adapt working your ass in the Junkyard?"

Tall buildings everywhere, cable vehicles, and all the shit this world have made are before my eyes. The sky is being it up with colors. And hot air balloons that offers a beautiful view of the city, either they are restaurants of a something better than a sky scraper.

The Palace created all better technologies that's worth no many men could afford. This place owns the whole System, as for this district. And I have no plan on leaving this lavish life.

Many people below 400 would die to take any elite resident to rob us and take wealth for themselves.

There won't be any way for my expensive shoes to step on that dirth place. Never.

"Well, I'm a person who would fight for my life if I have to. Which will be no need to happen, since I got my godfather saving my ass all the time," I said, referring to him. "I could give you boxes of tobacco by morning."

Like putting a cheese on a trap, I waited for him to get what I'm trying to say.

I know Hugh, he's also an influential man. He's responsible for the growing amount of Levies protecting the Palace and 400. The criminal rate stayed at one percent, and that will stay the same if he doesn't offer my head to my father.

All I know is, he's the only man I could trust aside from my barber.

"You really know how to shut my mouth," he chuckled like an old man. "Very well, your father's speech is about to start. We have to be inside or your father will sulk tonight."

Rolling my eyes at his josh, I followed him from behind. Inside, the crowd have gathered by the center as the lights were all turned to the stage where my father stepped up, with the demeanor that never left his face.

From where I am, I could the see way he flashes his bracelet which worth the sum of at least more than a hundred elite member of 400. He's that wealthy, and I always get the latter.

"Sixty years ago, the world was close to withering," my father began his speech, his voice echoing through the hall. "But with our unity and our will to survive, we created districts as continents, Nabes as countries."

Grunting silently, I'm thinking of not listening to his repeated speech over the years since he took the lead for every celebration.

Slipping through the crowd, I saw Hugh frowned at me, that I ignored, knowing he would only tell me to stay and listen.

I am not on the mood for this shit. I will ditch this event if I want to.

But as I pass the balcony, my eyes found something strange from across the building. One that was still under construction, one that there weren't occupants lives yet. A shiny reflection. It's aiming at the direction of the venue.

"What was that?" I asked to myself and was about to report it to one of the Levies present on the event, when the glass wall broke then screams followed.

"Nicholas!" A female shriek caught of attention that drowned the fed in fear noises of the crowd.

Everyone started to scatter everywhere, looking for a way out.

The Levies started to take actions and radioed the situation.

My eyes found Hugh, who's being pushed to the exit by his guards even when he's pointing at Dad's direction, wanting to help.

"What?" I muttered and turned at the stage where the feedback of the mic had my ears ringing.

At the stage, where I found Dolores kneeling on the floor with blood stain on her white blouse. Holding my father in her arms.

Dad's bodyguards were down on the floor, dead. And my father....

Rushing to him, the sight had me frozen. Blood carpeted the stage, staining the sole of my shoes. My hands began to shake, not from anger anymore, but from shock.

"Get down!" One of the Levies threw himself on me to drag me down as another bullet was fired.

My eyes were glued at my father, choking on his own blood, looking back at me.

No, this cannot be happening...

"N-- Nickel, s-- son." My father never called me his ever since I was born. "Reach for my h-- hand."

He managed to lift his hand in his weak state, and I reached for it without question. "Just hang in there, Dad. We're going to get you to the hospital." I could see how blood gushes out of his chest.

"Be safe, trust no-- no one," he warned me, followed by the beeping sound of my bracelet, telling me that money was transferred to me. When I saw it, my millions became... billions. He gave all of it to me.

"No, no, Dad, look at me." I pushed the Levi who's keeping me down and crawled to my dad. "This is yours, and it will all be yours--"

"Listen to me, you will lea-- leave 400. There is no safe pl-- place here." A tear fell from his eye. "I'm so-- sorry for failing you, son. I'm..." His eyes dilated, and his grip on my hand loosened.

"No, no, no. Dad!" I shouted at his body, waking him up. Waking myself up. This is a nightmare. This shouldn't be happening. "No, Dad. I need you. I'm so sorry, Dad!"

"Sir, we have to go. It's not safe here."

"My Dad needs hospital, we gotta take him there."

Gunshot continues to hit everywhere. Falling debris hits my skin, but I care not.

I wiggled off from their clutch and hugged my father's corpse, not caring how his blood would stain my favorite tux.

But my weakened body couldn't take control. I was lost in my emotion and confused on how to take a step forward to my uncertain path.

My father's dead. I'm now alone but my story is far from being over. It just had started.