This Piece of Me

[Chrysalis]

Hussaini flipped and examined the card from all sides. He alternated between glancing at it and at the boy, all through an awkward silence. Realizing suddenly that he was in a bout of paranoia, he forced himself to a state of lucidity and focused his attention on the boy, while still fiddling the card between his fingers. The look on the boy's face told him he was expecting something. A tip, of course. Hussaini slipped his free hand into the pocket of his flight jacket, and rummaged through it until he found a few credit chits. He looked at them for a moment, as they were spread across his palm, then looked again at the boy, with a completely serious look on his face.

"You've done me an invaluable service, young man." - The boy extended his hand, and Hussaini poured the chits into it. The boy quickly counted them, touching each one individually and mumbling the numbers. He looked up again, seemingly happy, then quickly scurried off. Hussaini tracked him as he ran down the hallway, shook his head and turned his attention to the door.

He looked at the card once more, then at the door, up and down, looking for a card slot. Having finally located it, he brought the card to it, then hesitated for a moment as he weighed his options. Turn back, or go forward. Always forward, no other path exists. He straightened up and fixed his hair, then punched the card through the slot, and the door beeped, sliding to the side...