The currency of Survival

I woke up in the middle of a muddy grassland. The mud was still wet from the recent rain, sticking to my hands, face, and hair, which clung to my face, neck, and shoulders. I looked around and realized I was on the edge of a forest. I stood up, my hand supporting my weight. I examined the rest of my body for any injuries or marks but found none. I also quickly looked at what I was wearing, and It was a short teal gown to my thigh. Was I at the party? I couldn't remember anything about myself, not even my name, where I was from, or how I had ended up here. I wondered if this might be a dream, as dreams often obscure the journey to a location—a sharp pain shot through my foot, confirming that this was real. Also, I confirmed I had no shoes on.

"Hello!" I called out, my voice sounding pristine and somewhat rebellious. Nothing felt familiar. I decided to move toward the tree line in the distance, where I could see the sun, though I needed to find out if it was rising or setting.

As I climbed, I made out structures ahead, eventually recognizing a fortress with two towers flanking a large gate. Men patrolled the towers. Instinctively, I raised my hand to show I was unarmed. It was a futile gesture, considering I couldn't hide anything. As I pondered this, random thoughts of hiding objects in unusual places crossed my mind, but I brushed them aside and continued toward the gate.

Radiant Refuge, written on the giant board right above the gate.

The tower guards instructed me to enter, and the gate opened. I found myself face to face with a giant of a man, fully armed with defensive gear and a large gun. I looked up at him and had to angle my head to see his helmet-covered face.

"Are you all right, sweetheart?" he asked, his voice surprisingly pleasant.

"I'm not sure," I replied.

"You have lovely eyes, blue like the sea," he added.

I had yet to learn what I looked like. "Thanks, but I can't remember my face or eyes," I confessed.

"It's alright. Go ahead and walk toward the counter. The Counter Master will assist you," he said, gesturing to his left. I followed his direction and walked in. I heard the gate close behind me, and the area grew darker, but windows lighted the counter room. I spotted a large clock and a calendar; it was 9 a.m. and March, which explained why I wasn't feeling cold despite my short clothes.

"Come here," a well-dressed man in his mid-thirties called out. He wore a shirt, a black waistcoat, matching pants, and shoes.

"Are you the Counter Master?" I asked.

"You can call me Orion. Orion Bookkeeper, ID 58-1-67097. And you are?"

"Don't remember."

"Welcome to Radiant. You will need a name and ID to enter the Refuge." He handed me an apple from his table, and I eagerly accepted it. After taking a bite, I realized how hungry I was.

"How about some comfortable clothes too?" I requested.

"I'm afraid you'll have to earn those," he replied, walking over to me with a device. He placed my left wrist on the device, causing me to yelp, "Ouch." as the device pressed to my skin.

"Your ID is 93-2-00001, and Elara Frost is your registered name. Number 93 in the batch, you are the first newcomer we have had in 18 years." The device printed my ID on my wrist. Just then, Orion grabbed my hips and kissed me briefly. It left me somewhat stunned.

"This is for the apple," he said before stepping behind me and slapping my buttocks.

"And that's for letting you use the shower."

I stood there, unsure if this was inappropriate or if I liked it. Orion pointed to the right.

"The shower is that way. When you finish, the Refuge's entrance is just there."

He opened the second door and left, but not before saying, "In Radiant, everything has a price to pay, but it's not money. Food, water, and clothes are the hardest things to earn here; everything else is easy."

After he left, I finished my apple, stripped to nothing, and headed to the shower. It was a small, square room with a ceiling-mounted showerhead, knobs on the wall, and floor-level water outlets. Though powerful, I turned the knob, and cold water soaked me completely. There was no room to dodge it, so I cleaned myself quickly and exited. The Counter room had only a table and no curtains or furniture, not even a towel or napkin. I wore back my thin, semi-transparent skin-colored bra, panty, and then my teal gown on my wet body.

Wet and shivering slightly, I stepped into the Refuge. Immediately, I felt the burning sensation on my feet from the scorching sand beneath me. I pushed the door open, exposing me to the sunlight. People around me went about their business, paying me no attention. They were all minimally dressed, covering only their private parts with simple clothing and wearing slippers or sandals. It seemed like a DIY community.

In the distance, I saw more significant buildings, almost like markets, towering over twelve to twenty floors high. The entire area was bustling with people. With no other options, I walked on the scorching sand, and as I moved further, I noticed people wearing more clothing.

I continued walking and saw more buildings, some with marketplaces on their upper floors. People there had longer clothing, and a few even wore jewelry. On the ground floor of one building, I spotted a small store sign that read, "For Information." It was pretty large, with many stalls, but only four people were talking among themselves.

"Hello!" I called out.

All of them turned to me.

"What do you want?" one of them asked rudely.

"I'm a newcomer."

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