Chapter 1
My dreams have started coming true. I'm published finally. With growing sales and my first book labeled a success I am packing my bags to enjoy the winter in a resort cabin in the mountains. All quiet and great views. Even better all expenses paid for in light of my new status as a selling author. I get to be put up in my location of choice to relax and reflect on my next creation. The publishing company really has high hopes for me and they're not afraid to show it. My cabin will be fully stocked and if I do get lonely or bored I can book an excursion free of cost or use the company card for a night on the nearest town. I might take part in activities but for the most part I enjoy my time alone far more than most. I love the peace and tranquility of seclusion.
All expenses paid was offered in many various choices of locations but it was I who decided on my setting opposed to the popular alternative of clear water laced white sanded beaches. The publisher one of if not the most renound fiction author publishers of the western world. The name behind the fame tied even more so to many other companies and multi billion dollar empires. Connected by direct ownership in other endeavors as well in family name to other major corporations. Old money making new money and reportedly known as the 1% percentile of common society.
In the meeting with the board and ceo of the company in light of my success to celebrate and praise my continued high demand I meet the extremely handsome and distinguished man behind the billions. It was he who after being passed around to toast and cheers to success and the ongoing sales of my books that I finally landed on him lastly who shook my hand as he towered over me in testosterone more than in height. He offered a slight lift of an eyebrow and a fleeting twinkle of eye as him warmly took my hand. The whole moment seemed more intimate than it should have. Him pausing with my hand in his for seconds longer than normal as his eyes bore into my face with the scrutiny of someone beyond their years. It was then he told me of the gifted vacation from him and his company to me. Just one of the many small thank yous for all the money I've made them he said. I know my sales are great. And I have more to come. But even I wonder how that amount of money can seem anything but small and insignificant to the kind of money behind this man. I nonetheless accepted the compliment with a thank you and a small flush of skin.
Packing all my warm clothes and a few nicer things I decide less is more and if I need something new I can always use it as an excuse to get out and go somewhere to buy it. Shopping can be appealing at times. My flight leaves in four hours and a friend of mine should be pulling up soon to cart me off to the airport. I like to get there early. Usually I grab something to eat and read till it's time to go.
Hours later I'm sitting at a table outside a bistro Cafe in the airport finishing up what I ordered and doing some reading. I decided to check what I could about the cabin I'm staying in. Apparently the resort owned locations all over isolated parts of the mountains. Each location had anywhere from 3-5 cabins on property. Each being a football field a part from each other. So isolated yes but total alienation from other humans no. But peace and tranquility still a very feasible and obtainable. Regardless I still like it and close proximity of other cabins doesn't really damper my mood or expectations.
I continue on from the resort's website to my personal account to view my specific chalet. In a few clicks I pull up on my screen a three level mini log mansion equipped with a large jacuzzi on the top deck and a indoor/ outdoor optional pool. Glassed in the pool can be transitioned into an outdoor pool by the push of a button. The glass panels all open up and slide into hidden crevices to expose your indoor heated pool to an outdoor heated pool looking out at snow covered mountains. This getaway seemingly a little fancy for my blood. Nonetheless I plan on soaking up every moment of my time there.
As I continue to look through my accommodations my flight is called and I jump up expecting to get in a line to board. As per usual with any airline.
Although little beknowest to me I approach the desk labeled above with digital letters confirming my flight. Observing my surroundings as I approach I realize I'm singular in my arrival. Odd.
My first thought being luck cannot be the reason I'm the first to arrive at the terminal.
The well put together flight attendant greeted me all smiles and positivity.
"Ms. Richardson, welcome!"
Taking off guard with a fact that she already knows my name I decide to smile and nod leaving my vocabulary at a minimum to none more from Surprise than anything.
She carries on not missing a beat with "please follow me right this way, I have been assigned to direct you to your personal flight on DMP's luxury jet."
My ticket in hand she totally disregards like it's an irrelevant piece of paper, turns on her heel and starts off elegantly down a carpeted flight terminal. I follow intrigued and hesitantly behind her. At the end of the tunnel I'm brought to a closed door. The smiling attendant reaches for the handle and opens my entrance to the outside. Stairs lead down to asphalt instead of over to a commercial airline plane. Transfixed in my position as I am the lady puts her arm out towards the outside palm open. In a gesture meant to get me going. "Here I will lead you out to your transportation and get you settled in the jet, from there you will have a personal attendant to accommodate you on your flight." Like a fish out of water I imagine I appear to her. I follow her gently tapping heals across the pavement to a sleek glossy all black jet. She stops and turns to me smiling once again at the bottom of the black carpeted stairs leading inside this miraculous contraption. At the top and just inside the entrance stands a well dressed somber man. "Mr. Rodenfall will take over from here as I leave you and assist you during the commute to your destination. Farewell!" She bids me ado and takes her leave with the turn of a heel. Her clicking fades as I stare up into the plane and at the monotone face of Mr. Rodenfall. He stares back without flinching or blinking. I inhale deeply and make ascent. Upon entering the cabin I notice the black glossy theme carries over to the inside cabin of the jet as well.
" As you see the jet and all of its luxuries are at your disposal. In the back is a door that leads to a personal bed and bathroom if you need to refresh or rest. Here in the front is the living area where I shall be seated for your convenience. Although I have my own chair up front here the rest of the living area is yours to use." I stare out over the inside equipped with sofas and cushions, a huge television, wet bar, the nines. He carries on as I gawk. "Dinner will be prepared an hour after take off but there are snacks and refreshments available whenever you desire. I am here as you flight attendant and will tend also to any needs or wants until you land. Any questions?" I shake my head slowy. He nods and turns towards the cockpit. I watch still standing as he knocks on the door and disappears behind it. I slowly rotate around obsorbing my surroundings still as he exits the cockpit seconds later. "We will began take off. Please find a buckled seat to secure yourself in. We should be in the air within minutes and you may then freely move about." He goes up front to his area and seats himself in an seat resembling a recliner and straps himself in. I do the same several seats back. I lay my head back and close my eyes.
The dinner on the jet plane was better than most dinners I might pay for in a restaurant or even cook at home. I feel asleep again shortly after. The second time I'm awakened in the very comfortable overstuffed reclined seat by a white gloved hand contacting the rounded point of my shoulder with a light shake by my assisting attendant who resembles more of a butler hovering over me with a stoic expression. "We will be starting to descend within minutes if you will ready yourself and buckle in our arrival estimation is less than a half hour." The butler communicates his obligations in a monotone voice. I try to shake my grogginess as I do as he says. It is well into the night closer to morning really and the windows of the plane only show a view of complete black. Only when I feel us descending do I notice lights from the ground below highlighting the landing strip with a red and orange glow.
Just as I was told shortly after we land in what seems to be a small and deserted airport of sorts. The butler stands and assures me all my luggage is handled for me other than my bag I have onboard and will be waiting for me at the cabin when I arrive. He then bids me an unemotional farewell and leads me off the jet while pointing a couple hundred yards away to an all black helicopter matching the jet I came from like they were born of the same parents. I walk the short distance to the helicopter where another fine tuned female awaits all prim and proper and polite. "Hello!" She says as I am walking up. "Welcome! I am your next and last liasion. Here to escort you to the cabin via helicopter. It's but a 10 minute ride or less this way and way easier than the mountain roads." I smile back at her upbeat greetings. Now face to face her I thank her and she and I board the helicopter. Once inside she helps me get settled and shows me how to the helicopter headphones before sounding off to the pilot that we are ready for take off. "Where will we land once we get closer to the cabin?" I ask as I ponder all the luxury I've witnessed in less than 24 hours. "The cabin's rooftop has an attached helipad. It's way easier and less time spent traveling. The mountain roads from the airport can take well over an hour. When the resorts were built they all were installed with private helipads for convenience and the cost of travel surprisingly doesn't differ from ground to sky. What we pay in helicopter fuel is even in the money that would be paid for time and gas to transverse the roads. An hour of paid employee time the company to drive a guest to their location plus gas added in costs the company more than a ten minute helicopter ride there and back." She finishes.
I realized I was staring transfixed with my mouth slightly agape. I quickly recovered and nodded expectantly. With a rapid smile i turned towards the outside of the copter where glowing discreet embers start to give life to the view from the incoming sunrise. The terrain below was riddled with mountains dipping into lush green valleys and meadows. Dense forests added to the alien feel of the wild and untamed. Untouched.
As a avid reader and writer turn professional fiction author things since the beginning of my venture that pulled astonishment from me at every corner have just recently started to have less of an impact on me. Which in turn elicited less of a surprise from me as we lowered onto the helicopter tarmac that although I was already aware of, still upon landing was more impressive in person than by word of mouth. I could get used to this.
Across the rooftop on the opposite side of the pad laid a glowing blue lit lap pool and heated jacuzzi garnished expertly by patio furniture and an outdoor fireplace. Glass railing hip high encircled us for obvious reasons but did nothing to block the magnificent view made more so by the now full onset of the coming sun. The sunrise making the whole scenery something of fairy tales. I look forward to the raw inspiration of natural beauty to fuel my story telling brain storms.
She remains silent letting me take it all in. I realize this as I also figure out she is waiting for me to step out first. I do so and she doesn't follow and as if expecting my confusion she says, "The stairs set inside the lounge area lead to a door with facial recognition and the stairs ont he on the outside edge of the roof lead to the side entrance. There is also a garage, back door and front door. All use the same facial recognition."
"Okkkay, so which one ..."
"It doesn't matter, I am just making sure you know that before I leave you. The closet is the one we can see from here, the stairs in the middle of the roof by the lounge area that go directly inside. Upon scan at the door an AI hologram will appear it's a preset program that will give you a personal tour. You can skip parts and speed up the process upon entry or skip it entirely it's up to you. The whole establishment is highly secure and state of the art without invasion of privacy. A smart home. Your voice can activate locks,lights,music,tv,heat and air,and anything else you can imagine. Self cleaningas well. The robotics go unseen and never appear when you are around. Meals are your responsibility to arrange. The kitchen is fully stocked and groceries can be ordered or if you choose to eat out either way it's all paid for. Your spending card and the number for a driver will be left for you inside somewhere. I'm sure your AI will inform you. Any questions? She beamed pearly whites at me from the confines of her seat inside the black bird. The sun still glowing behind her in oranges and gold's made her look celestial.
I must have been silently gawking for an unusually awkward moment because I noticed her smile falter slightly before I responded. " Uh h..umm..no..yea-h uh is it safe...I mean it freaks me out a little..th..the.."
"The AI is state of the art yes but it's not dangerous in any way. It does not learn or evolve on its own. There is nothing to worry about. You will see."
" So it's not not lie some Resident Evil, Matrix, i-robot, diabolical technology!"
I try to laugh it off. Feeling embarrassed I thank her and make my way to the stairs not ten yards away.
The wind from the helicopter hits me after a couple strides and I turn slightly shielding my eyes as I look up and for some reason wave goodbye.
Continuing on I make the rest of my way to the door. A screen faces me at eye level. I lean in closer wondering what exactly to do. The screen comes to life and a good looking woman appears on the screen. She welcomes me by name. Her voice fluid and without accent. Humanoid and creepy just as I expected. I cringe and say "Hello" out of reflex. As soon as I have spoken she, the screen rather, responds in a deeper more robotic voice with, "Voice verification confirmed. Scanning facial aesthetics now. She smiles on the screen and blinks out. A green digital horizontal line runs up and down the screen the screen blinks out again and she's back. All this is seconds.
" Good! We can begin. Next time you enter you will be verified almost simultaneously within feet of my monitor screen. I am Ali. Or so I have been named but you may change and modify that as well as many other things to your comfortability and liking. " It pauses and I go to grab the handle to the door assuming it's unlocked. It then continues as I open the door. "All outside entrances are equipped with scan and handles that detect your fingerprint as well. Scans can also dectect stress and my intelligence is programmed to detect certain triggers and signals for emergency or crisis prevention purposes. Cameras are everywhere around premises and you can control and turn off all cameras inside the house but you can only view the outside cameras. Those cannot be turned off. My help can be moderated by you as well to assist you in your daily life at any and all times or used only when you activate me by voice or you may choose to not enjoy the luxury offered in seclusion with such technology. All yours to decide. If you wish to continue with a tour just say tour when ready."
I just want to rest. A hot shower and comfortable bed in a dark room. listening to "Ali's" introduction i had drifted into a dimly lit hallway of sorts but coming from the rooftop I overlooked the of heart the place. Surrounding me is glass and wood logs. Cabin sleek. Modern rustic. Vaulted ceilings are obviously the focal point of the architecture for the front entry to the "cabin", all glass and only geometrically interrupted by cabin logs. Square and triangles made up a kadiiscope of windows from floor to ceiling. And I was at the top of that wood and glass ceiling in a hallway bridge lined only in thigh high glass. Directly across I notice leads to a beautiful arched entry. I pause still absorbing what Ali just said. This bridge hallway seems at least a couple stories high making me walk slowly at first, vertigo threatening my composure. Shaking it off I look staight a head and.within a couple of steps I'm at the archway.
"Ok Ali can you light up my pathway please and show me my room for now"
Milliseconds later "Sure. All you half to do is step through the archway and the light will come on and I will appear to walk you to your room."
I walk through and she appears as well as a soft glow illuminating a stairway down on either side of the hologram of Ali. Two stairs down and two doors in this landing big enough for a studio apartment.
"I have a master suite picked for you with a great view. The cabin has two masters and two guest rooms as well as many more rooms dedicated to different things. Would you like me to escort you to the suite chosen or would like to see the other choice?"
"No no..just it's fine...take me to the one you picked Ali. Thanks"
"Of course. The door on the right leads to the master selected for you. It is unlocked but has the same security as the other door handles."
For your fingerprint only. I nod and dismissing her as I go for the door. Once inside I exhale and immediately feel beyond drained after the day. My luggage is there waiting for me on a king bed with a million pillows and a ridiculous royal looking canopy all dramatically draped in rich fabrics. Regal and surreal looking my room with ornate architecture combined with modernization left the estate feeling alien. Who were these people? What of all the riches and dramatics being displayed on me? I'm sure only the richest and prestigious people could afford to stay somewhere like here. Where all the mansion cabins the same as mine?
By the time I personally decide to stop pondering everything I am neck deep in a hot bath. Finally feeling the excitement of the day float away so does my consciousness.
Waking up from a vivid dream that fades more and more with every second that grows away from the time of my sleep. I relish how real it felt. At the same I take in my surroundings of an empty tub and the bathroom lights no longer dim but almost unbearably bright. I squint as my thoughts re-aline and the fog lingers around sleep. I assume almost at once that the AI has drained my tub and turned the lights on full. Probably a safety thing. Pulling myself up the lights automatically adjust back to normal. It's still night and I am very grateful for this and waking up to be able to enjoy the rest of my rest in a cloud of cushions and covers.
Barely dressed and still not fully awake I stumble into my room intent on the bed. I glance out the huge window in my line of sight almost subconsciously not really paying attention to it but just staring. Right as I go to turn my head and lay down I see distinctive figures silhouetted on the mountains in the background. I double take wide eyes. Sure that I imagined it as the distance is too far to make out. But there on top with sky deep blue behind I see figures of something or someones descending to the opposite side. It was fleeting. I am tired. And what do I care?
