The lift creaked and rattled as they ascended to the third layer. Ezra balanced himself on an alabaster rail guard flaked with deteriorating paint. Water still dripped from the grated canopy that covered the platform he stood on. He and Milo gazed up wondering when Subterris would come into sight. Others slumped against the walls and dozed off while Caleb remained alert next to the emergency switch that would shut off the lift in case of mechanical failure. Zoe had fallen asleep and Emma leaned against the woman’s shoulder desperately trying to keep her eyes open to little success.

Ezra sorted through a mental checklist. New gear, find a safe place for Emma, Morltin test, and find Marcus. The last part would happen whenever the opportunity presented itself, but he wouldn’t tell Milo that. He needed to remain focused and not get into another argument. Milo was right in the sense that they had little info on Marcus’s allies, yet the only way to get info was to find them. He knew Milo feared Marcus even if he wouldn’t outright admit it. But I’ll protect him, Ezra assured himself. No matter what happens Marcus won’t take another life.

Metal groves clicked into place like mechanical clockwork as the lift began to slow. As Ezra squinted his eyes, he could see shabby structures jutting from the walls of the abyss. Rays of daylight diffused through the heavy fog like the arms of an angel reaching down to weary travelers. A shadow passed overhead and a loud horn bellowed in the distance. Ezra hurriedly searched for the source of the noise but only saw more silhouettes swim through the clouds. Among the dilapidated buildings, people stirred on porches that clung to the houses near the lift. A week ago Ezra would have thought it impossible to live on the walls of the abyss. He wondered how they managed it.

“Approaching cloud cover,” Caleb announced. “Everyone please hold onto something. I don’t want anyone falling off.”

Ezra gripped the railing tighter than before as they hit a thicker layer of fog. Far off the sounds resembled the airships he had occasionally seen in Deepburrow. The airships were huge ballooning pieces of metal that made him doubt their ability to even get off the ground. His mind buzzed with excitement at the possibility of seeing more than one.

Suddenly they burst from the clouds and bright light filled the space around them. On all sides a city bigger than anything Ezra had seen surrounded them. In a cavernous space buildings crowded together and climbed on top of one another as if desperately reaching higher. The dull browns and grays Ezra had grown accustomed to in Deepburrow gave way to brilliant blues, gaudy greens, and vibrant purples.

Airships streaked across the clouds as they made their way through the giant ring of air that separated the city. Milo leaned forward as his eyes widened at the thrilling sight and Ezra’s mouth hung open. Everything was beyond his expectations.

They ducked as a figure whipped past them. Raising their heads they saw a man in gleaming white robes leaping across the clouds. A swirling symbol was embroidered on his back.

“That’s an Abyss Jumper,” Milo exclaimed as he pointed to the man who was nearly out of sight.

“Don’t go running after him,” Caleb said. “He probably has a skill that allows him to walk on clouds.”

Milo glared at him. “I know. I’m not an idiot.” Turning from Caleb he playfully nudged Ezra and lowered his voice. “But I’ll figure out a way. You’ll see me hopping across those clouds before the end of the week.”

“Oh really? You think someone with an anti-gravity skill would have already figured it out.” Ezra taunted Milo with a raised eyebrow.

Milo immediately shot back. “You know my limits or did you already forget my skill description? Only inanimate objects. I’ll have to get creative but before you know it I’ll be flying well out of your reach.”

“I look forward to the day,” Ezra said as the lift came to a stop.

Caleb roused the sleeping passengers and the grated fence behind them clicked open. One by one they left and headed towards a walled checkpoint. Guards, wearing blue double-breasted military tunics streaked with white along the collar and cuffs, watched the refugees apprehensively. One man with a layered silver shoulder piece affixed to his right stepped forward to question Caleb.

“We have been commanded to stop the entry of anyone coming from the second layer. State your business and be quick.” The guard’s gruff voice warranted everyone’s attention.

“Move aside!” Hugo pushed through the crowd holding the beacon with one arm. “How dare you impede such important scientific progress.”

Several guards reached for swords at their waists. They didn’t seem like normal swords. Ezra noticed the hilts glowed like amethyst as their hands drew near. The captain glared at Hugo with disdain.

“One of you, state your business this instant!”

“We…” Caleb began before Hugo cut him off and shoved a laminated card, that peeled at the edges, into the captain’s face.

“Dosser & Dod research division. Under project Aegis Alpha. Does a dim wit such as yourself understand the importance of my safe arrival?”

Anger boiled up inside Ezra. The pathetic man he had seen the last few days was no more. What right does he have to act so self-important?

Concern or perhaps confusion washed over Caleb's face as Ezra saw him mouth the words, “Aegis Alpha.”

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The captain squared his jaw and frowned at the card Hugo incessantly pushed closer. After a few moments, he raised his arm and closed his fist. Without a word, the metal walls slid open. “You are free to go. All persons please enter single file so we can scan for dangerous and illegal materials.”

The survivors shuffled into a line and passed through the security checkpoint. Hugo was taken off to the side and continued to argue with the captain. After much-heated discussion and many requests to examine the item Hugo carried, they relented and let him through. On the other side of the gate, Ezra saw Hugo harass a young man in uniform to take him to the communications room. They scurried off as Hugo continued to berate the poor man.

“Hopefully that's the last we see of him,” Milo said.

“Yeah,” Ezra responded distantly as the words Aegis Alpha ran through his mind. “I hope so too.”

Gravel crunched under Caleb's boots as he passed by with his leather notebook in hand. A studious concentration darkened his face.

Ezra tapped Caleb’s shoulder to get his attention. “Do you know something about Aegis Alpha? When Hugo said something about it, it seemed to bother you.”

“First time I’ve heard of it,” Caleb said as he violently snapped his notebook closed. “It’s just you don’t name a project Aegis Alpha without comparisons being drawn to the A.S.H.O system.”

Milo cocked his head to the side. “Why’s that?”

“Well the full name of the A.S.H.O system is the Aegis System of Higher Order Operations,” Caleb explained. “We don’t use the name Aegis lightly.”

“You would think Faulpher-tek would research something like that. What’s a biomedical company like Dosser & Dod got to do with the Aegis system?” Ezra wished he could forget all about that sad old man, but the mysteries surrounding Hugo clung to his mind like moss to a rock.

Caleb pondered the question for a moment and then shrugged in defeat. “Your guess is as good as mine.”

Zoe came up from behind Caleb and placed a hand on his shoulder. “A church of Elysia is only a thirty-minute walk from here. We should visit before nightfall. Audrus would appreciate it.” She pulled out an ash-dusted mirror with swirls of gold inlaid on the back.

It’s the same mirror Audrus used to signal the camp when I arrived, Ezra realized.

“I haven’t been in a church in decades but we owe it to him,” Zoe continued.

Caleb solemnly nodded and stared up the winding road ahead. “It seems like everyone else can manage from here. Let's go.”

Emma peaked around Zoe’s leg and nervously clutched the woman’s orange robes. Zoe put her hand on the little girl’s head. “Oh and one last thing,” she said. “Could you two look after her for a bit? I have some things I need to take care of first.”

Zoe bent down until she was the same height as Emma. She whispered a few words of comfort and wiped a smudge of dirt from Emma’s cheek. After Zoe was done with Emma, she approached Ezra and leaned closer to whisper something into his ear. “Try to find her somewhere safe to stay. The life of a sky-seeker is something a child shouldn’t bear.”

Ezra blinked at her words and was about to ask if she would come back. Her smile gave no answer and only begged him to complete her request. No other words passed between them before she and Caleb were on their way.

Milo seemed to understand and immediately went to Emma. The little girl was silent as she stared after Zoe.

“Let’s go explore the city,” Milo said in a playful tone. “This is where you live, right?” Emma nodded and Milo continued. “Then you must know some interesting places. Come on, hop on my back. I’ll give you a piggy-back ride.”

Emma didn’t move and Milo picked her up until she instinctively grasped his shoulders. “Is Zoe coming back?” she asked.

Milo glanced at Ezra as if he had an answer. He shifted the weight of the little girl and began to walk. “You two made a promise. I’m sure you’ll see each other again.” Milo pointed up the road with a grin on his face. “Now, onwards and upward!”

As they made their way up the road, the outskirts of Subterris came into view. A bustling street lined with buildings and shops haphazardly stacked on top of one another narrowed ahead. The aroma of food Ezra had never smelt before wafted to his nose. Greasy smells stuck to his face and fragrant smells that made his mind wander as he imagined their source. All of it culminated to overwhelm his senses. The people walking the street were as varied and wild as the scents. Some wore robes in a myriad of colors similar to Zoe's, while others wore heavy armor that clanged with every step. A few glances here and there were spared for the newcomers, but everyone seemed so busy and wrapped up in their own worlds. Any person from Deepburrow would be intimidated, but Ezra was now a sky-seeker. These were the type of people he would spend the rest of his life with.

Wrecked structures appeared more often the further they got into the city. A shop’s roof splintered in half, an apartment slumped into a pile of rubble, and blackened walls barely clung to the foundation. Despite the destruction, Subterris looked like it thrived. Was this all the Sky-razors doing, Ezra wondered as he remembered the news Owen had told him weeks ago.

“That’s Daddy’s guild,” Emma said as she pointed to a tiered structure with a glass dome on the top.

“Doesn’t the top of that kind of look like the lighthouses down in Deepburrow?” The puzzled expression on Milo’s face was quickly replaced with an adventurous smile.

“Yeah, but it shouldn’t get as dark up here,” Ezra said. “Why would they need a lighthouse?”

“Because they’re called the Light Bearers. Even if the world shrouds you in darkness the guild gives its light to all.” Emma recited proudly. “My daddy told me that.”

Milo pushed Emma up higher on his shoulders. “Let's head there first. To the Light Bearers, we go!”

Ezra followed behind them. The pair was filled with so much energy they were almost hopping down the street. At the front of the guild’s headquarters, two massive arched doors hung open to the afternoon breeze. Sky-seekers passed in and out while conversation and laughter flowed from inside.

“Do you want to get on my shoulders?” Milo asked as he tilted his head towards Emma. “You’ll see better.”

She nodded, and Milo helped her climb higher. Eyes wide with curiosity, she scanned the room. Ezra took in the sight of so many sky-seekers all in one place, and his heart beat faster. Whether he was anxious or excited, he could not tell. Maybe it was a bit of both. A boy with black hair passed in front of him and his senses went into overdrive. Only for a moment, until he realized the boy was not Marcus.

Breath, Ezra repeated to calm himself. You couldn’t face him in a crowded area like this anyway.

He continued looking while making sure he didn’t fall too far behind Milo and Emma. Against a far wall, Ezra spotted a middle-aged man staring at him. He wore a white dress shirt with the sleeves rolled to his elbows. Stubble lined his square jaw, and he briefly flashed a smile. I know that man. Ezra searched his mind until he finally realized who it was. That night at the illegal weapons shop. The man who scared off Hubert. Douglas.