THE ALGORITHM

14.

A simple white shirt paired with denim jeans made Penny feel good. It was one of the most basic outfits anyone could ever wear, and yet she felt very confident. She also felt a tinge of freedom. Wearing color-coordinated clothing reprogrammed her brain. All white for servants, all black for the guards, while the higher-ups wore what they wanted. It was like The Handmaid's Tale, except no woman was forced to procreate.

While the higher-ups wore what they wanted.

Wait, am I a higher-up now? Penny questioned herself. Now that I've agreed to become an employee at Bilal's company. I'm back to wearing regular clothes.

Penny shook her head, disagreeing with her mental discourse. There was no way Bilal looked at her as a higher-up. She was being held hostage and didn't have any authority. He still looked at her as a threat, and he had no plans to compensate her for joining his team.

The sound of the alarm ringing brought her back to reality. She glanced at the security hub and watched as the guard tapped his badge against the scanner. The system's screen displayed a failed attempt, prompting the guard to curse.

"Dammit." He swore, banging his hand against the wall.

Penny eyed him carefully from head to toe with a look of disgust on her face. The guard went by the name of Levi. She stood there waiting patiently with her arms folded. Instead of attempting the badge, the guard opted for the keypad. He entered six digits, immediately halting the alarm's triggering noise.

397208

Penny mentally recorded the code. A soft smirk etched across her forehead as her eyes darted toward the ceiling. This was it. This could be it. She could have the opportunity to go home. She had the freedom to leave her bedroom and go to specific areas of the house. The soldiers were around, but they weren't as strict on her when she first arrived.

Most of the soldiers knew her since they would all pile into the kitchen for lunch. Lately, she'd been trying to keep a low profile. Instead of acting rebelliously, she completed her duties and retired to her room. Scoop accompanied her during the daytime, and she was used to Miguel by night. However, he was no longer on duty. He hadn't been around lately, and Penny wondered if he had been fired.

I hope he was fired. He doesn't deserve to work as a guard. He didn't protect me, he harmed me. Penny said to herself. The next time I see him, I'm going to punch him in his throat. 

Feeling relieved, Levi went to open the door, but it was abruptly shut by a large hand. Penny shook her thoughts away and pinpointed the hand. Immediately, she eyed the person to whom it was attached. Bilal. Her eyes widened in curiosity. She was aware of his presence and knew he heard the sound of the alarm.

Bilal didn't speak immediately, but he made sure to wear an annoyed expression. His lips were pulled into a pout, and his brows were furrowed in disappointment. He openly eyed Levi, who shifted and glanced at Penny, shooting her an uncomfortable look. Penny's brows rose in puzzlement. She shrugged her shoulders while pressing her lips together. Bilal wasn't talking to her, and there was nothing she could do to help him in this situation. Bilal was obviously upset about something, but they didn't understand why.

"What's going on with the system?" Bilal questioned Levi while eyeing the hub. He tapped on the screen a few times, trying to ensure everything was running properly.

"Uh..." Levi fidgeted with his lanyard and held up his badge. Penny realized it was dented and had scratches all over it. "I don't know..." He murmured. Penny hated how he talked. He always talked in a monotone pitch and his speech was slow. "It's not working."