High- Rise

She had been a pawn in their game. She got what she wanted, what she needed really, but at what cost? Angrily she threw the leather black notebook in her hand at the back of Jasper's head but his reflexes were spot on as he grabbed the book from the air right before it made contact with his fiery red hair.

"Ah, ah, ah careful Frankie", he leered at her, "you know this holds all your dreams." And ever so gracefully he dropped the book at her feet before exiting the room and locking her behind the steel door she'd walked through so many times, that now held her captive.

Frankie had half a mind to tear the darn notebook to shreds, but she knew Jasper was right. This book really did hold all the hopes and dreams she'd conjured starting 7 months ago when her life changed. Changed for what she thought would be the better, but was actually the beginning of her end.

Carefully she opened the book and began to review her own story starting 3/3/3031.

*******

Frankie hopped up the steps of her building, holding her backpack tightly by the straps to avoid having it ripped away from her by a thug. Now that her father, the most powerful fraudulent crypto-currency provider in their city was dead, she had no protection. His network of men all abandoned the oaths they took as soon as they realized the money died along with him. Lacking the basic necessities, Frankie, her mother and siblings were forced to move to the high-rises. Government provided buildings that were built when the planet's population became uncontrollable.

Frankie was no stranger to crime. As the oldest child, her father had trained her very well. She kept a studious appearance, turtlenecks and leggings often gracing her small frame. Inside she was a fireball, well aware of her surroundings and ready to stand off with anyone who so much as dared to look at her incorrectly. She scanned the barcode etched into her arm to call the elevator to the ground floor, all while simultaneously tracing the outline of the knife sitting in a holster on her thigh.

She saw a shadow emerge behind her and remained still as a tall man with bright red hair stood directly next to her. The smoke emerging from the end of his cigarette made her eyes water but she kept them dutifully trained on the elevator watching the numbers slowly decrease as it paused on 75th floor.

"I had to come see you for myself, you look like the Czar alright."

Frankie's breath hitched in her throat as she took several large steps back from the man. He knew her father. But even worse, he knew who she was.

The man dropped his cigarette and crushed it into the linoleum floor with the bottom of his shoe. "Don't get all worked up kid. I'm not here to hurt you. I'm here to offer you an opportunity. I'll get straight to the point. I worked closely with your father. We both know that his death aint been easy for your mother. I see you skip school everyday to try to hustle up some change to keep food on the table-"

"Why have you been stalking me?" Frankie interrupted him fiercely, slipping one hand under her skirt to grab the handle of her knife. But he kept talking as if she hadn't said a word.

"Anyway, I'm Jasper. I can offer you some money. All you have to do is fight. As the Czar's kid, I know you're trained." He glanced at her hand as the edge of the knife caught the reflection of the fluorescent lighting above. "With some...extra touch ups, you could be just the champ we're looking for." The elevator doors opened with a ding and he tossed a small business card at her. "Call me."

Frankie dragged the card across the floor with the bottom of her shoe as she backed into the elevator. Never taking her eyes off this so-called Jasper until the doors closed.

After hours if internal debating, Frankie decided to finally look at the business card. On it was the simple image of a gold crown with a ruby in the middle. She let her thumb slide over the ruby and a holographic image sprang onto the wall, displaying a phone number. There was no context, but Frankie knew she was good at fighting. And if fighting was what she had to do to be able to feed her younger siblings, so be it. She waited until her family was asleep to dial the number.

"I knew you'd call."

Frankie made a face at the arrogance of Jasper's tone. "You don't know anything about me."

He ignored her again, "meet me on the staircase, floor 23, in 15 minutes."

He hung up with no further explanation. Frankie hesitated. The stairs were banned unless there was a fire. As they didn't require a wrist scan to be used and so could not be monitored. She shook her head, and continued to pull on her sneakers, since when did she listen to any rules?

She ignored the consequences that were sure to follow and didn't think twice about the camera blinking in the hallway as she entered the corridor and skipped down to the 23rd floor. Jasper was already there, this time sipping loudly on a can of soda. Frankie made sure to keep her distance, still unsure of this man's intentions.

"Here". He shoved a piece of paper into her hands. She looked down to see a check for $20,000 casually sitting in her palm. She looked up with wide eyes, but Jasper barely flinched. "It's not fake. Let's start there." He tossed the can over the railing, clearly unbothered by the idea of any noise possibly getting them caught. "You cash that, there's no backing out."

"Backing out of what?" Her hands started to itch but she refrained from scratching or dropping the check.

Jasper finally made eye contact with her, his forest green eyes void of emotion. "The fight ring."

Frankie had heard of the illegal underground fight clubs but always thought they were a rumor. They were similar to the gladiators she learned about when she did attempt to attend school. Bets are placed, victor takes all. Hardly a tough decision for someone battling to raise a family in the high-rises.

She was still slightly taken aback. "Don't they fight to the death?"

Jasper snorted. "Then don't die. Look this is perfect for someone with no conscious, or emotional attachments. You keep earning money and no one ever has to know. Like I said, you're already partially trained. I have to go. Think about it cupcake."

"Don't call me cupcake."

Jasper had already started to walk away but called over his shoulder, "when you cash that, I'll find you."

6 months later, Frankie was leaving the ring, wiping sweat and blood from her brow as the sound of the screeching crowd grew softer and softer. She no longer viewed her many opponents as other people, they were just obstacles to her true success. She glanced to the left as the bookkeep Jasper had assigned her frantically counted a wad of cash, and a small smile settled on her lips. She'd have to write this in the journal she'd been keeping. A small black notebook her father had given her for "when her time came" he said.

Entering her dressing room, Jasper was already perched on the couch and upon seeing him she shooed her team away and told them to come back later.

"Win 80 for the champ huh?" He grinned at her.

"Well we both like money so what choice do I have? Anyway, I'll have enough to move my family out of those awful high-rises soon." Frankie sat on the floor and chugged a bottle of water to alleviate the cotton mouth she had from breathing so heavily.

Jasper stood, "About that. We need to talk."

"About my family?" She was confused. Jasper had become somewhat of an acquaintance outside of her fight manager. He didn't know her deepest thoughts though and had certainly never asked about her family. As she finished the last gulp of water a tall woman in a business suit came gliding into her dressing room. Just as she went to tell the unknown woman off for entering without permission, Jasper began to speak again.

"Yes, about your family. You see they can leave, but you aren't going anywhere."

Frankie's head spun around so fast that her braid smacked her in the eye. "Excuse me?"

Jasper gestured to the other woman, "Frankie, meet Gloria. Gloria, Frankie."

"I don't care about pleasantries Jasper, tell me what is going on right now." She stood now, hands balled into fists as her heart began to stutter.

"You see cupcake, we're building an army." Jasper gestured between himself and the woman. "And I had to pick you. I needed someone desperate and dumb. You didn't question me any further once I dropped two things you love the most into your hand, money and violence. You're just like your father. You seriously didn't wonder why I took no precautions? If the fight rings are illegal why would I lure you to a heavily watched staircase? Why would I talk to you so openly about your mob boss of a father in front of a public elevator. I said you were partially trained, just not in the fighting department."

"An army?!" Frankie was starting to get lightheaded but refused to give in to the child like fear she was feeling. She wished her father were here.

Gloria finally spoke up. "I'll take over from here. You see Frankie dear, an uproar is coming. The planet is completely overloaded with people and there's not enough for everyone. A revolution is on our hands and the government knows it. That's why we need an army at the ready to fight our battles for us. I mean, do I look like I want to battle hooligans?" She scoffed and shook her head before continuing to speak. "Anyway, a group of scientists created the high-rises years ago when unemployment began to rise and the cost of living skyrocketed, to influence desperation. Desperate people take desperate measures. And part of that project was the fight ring. We had to make it a "rumor" so anyone who was drawn by one of our hook and lures, such as Jasper here, would think they were being offered a great opportunity and take it."

Jasper interrupted her, "And it really is a great opportunity, fighting for your government."

"Please J, don't interrupt me. Anyway dear Frankie. Every year there is a victor, but there is always someone who eventually comes that's better. Each fighter that maintains the title for at least 9 months is chosen for battle and suddenly "dies" in the fight ring but they are really moved to a facility for military training. You have certainly exceeded our expectations. You however have 3 months left. Refuse to fight and you're family will be tried for your father's illegal actions and receive the maximum penalty, death. Now, we've given your mother enough time to heal emotionally. She will be offered a well paying job and moved into the city as our thanks to you for your service. You however will "runaway" from home and remain here to begin your training."

Frankie's eyes began to water, "but...why?"

Gloria laughed in what seemed to be a psychotic way, "my dear girl, we must maintain control. Those who wish to die in revolutionary war, that's there business, but we can not allow the elite to lose control. Now go shower, you have much to learn, and more money to make."

She had been a pawn in their game. She got what she wanted, what she needed really, but at what cost?