Layerings, chapter one

Under the Royal Family level, there are four headquarters and twelve quarters, as the number increases their importance decreases. The first headquarter is called general headquarter. It is the best place to live. Importance of headquarters and quarters define the level of happiness to all inhabitants of Layering.

Levels are connected by elevators. Elevators are situated in the Elevator’s Hallway. By entering the Hallway, your code will be recognized. To upgrade, a certain amount of resources is needed. To travel, allowance and ticket are required.

Behave well, upgrade quickly!

Chapter One

‘Under the Royal Family level, there are four headquarters and twelve quarters, as the number increases their importance decreases. The first headquarter is called general headquarter. It is the best place to live.’ This was written on the first and the last page of every Layering handbook. “Importance of headquarters and quarters define the level of happiness to all inhabitants of Layering.” Margot finishes the paragraph without looking and shut the book. “Bullshit,” whispered to herself. “Who and how can define happiness?” She felt happy, or at least, she considers herself happy.

The book was describing the beauty of headquarters. She loved to read about it, to get lost in the descriptive world and forgot about reality. She always imagined herself walking in the wide streets on the top levels while wearing an impressive dress. She dreamed about meeting famous people of headquarters and about spending the incredible amount of resources in the same way as the inhabitants of top layers did. The lack of illustrations in the books allowed here to dream about it, the descriptions were unbelievable, supposedly precise and easy to follow. Her favourite part focused on the parliament buildings at the royal family level. Those buildings were built upper then anyone could imagine and covered with eyes which were looking at all directions. While they wink, it was possible to hear whist of their eyelashes. During the night their iris sparkled, on sun they had rainbow reflections.

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Living in higher quarters meant a lot to many people. There was reasonable easier access to basic needs such as the possibility to buy or exchange stuff, pick from various options or make a request. Also, the possibility of higher education was a tempting option. It offered wider possibilities to earn sources through specializations to upgrade faster. Studying on prestige institution also added bonuses to behaviours. On the other side, there was higher centralisation of power and a bigger impact of supervisors. Everything was strictly regulated by many rules.

It was possible to move upper and upper in the quarters unless the breach of conducts. Even the tiniest rule could push you lower and banned you in progress. Temporarily or forever based on the severity of the breach.

There was also a possibility to move lower, but not so many peoples have done that. Actually, nobody has heard about someone downgrading voluntarily either permanently. If there was a chance, downgraders were always coming back.

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Margot wished to attend the extraordinary events and glorification of happiness, which were illustrated on the walls of Elevator’s Hallway, the colourful halls with luxury lighting at the hill of fame. She imagines herself being driven there in one of the silver editions of private cable cars, walking on fluffy carpets, sitting behind the table, drinking luxury vine and eating delicious food while listening to famous music. “Margot, the pearl of the 6th quarter,” she laughed. The idea was foolish. She felt suspicious about all those descriptions, especially with the passages about gaining happiness. Sometimes she felt it as a part of a social game and her imaginations just increase her feelings.

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Lilith, a young intern from second headquarter, was interrupted by a tall strong guy in his thirties called Tyrant during one of the proclaimed parties organized by a 6th quarter Cheap hostel on the corner of a Side Street. The party was more about drinking than dancing, but Tyrant didn’t let her go without a hot dance performance on the shabby dance floor. She loved dancing, but this was too much. The happiness in her eyes was very obvious when sweaty Tyrant finally walked her towards the smelly toilets. She didn’t need to go, but she needed to get there. The knowledge of the loose grille at the window was now very useful. She never thought to use this cheap trick before.

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“Tyrant loves dancing girls. Especially when they are sexy.” Margot drowsily replied to Lilith’s complaints about that night. “There is nothing to worry about. He just loves to look at us.”