"This is... hard to believe," Nova said, completely astonished by the view.

At that moment, Nova started to grasp the city’s situation better. Despite his disdain for Angelo, he began to feel empathy for people like him.

The city was a massive metropolis with few options from birth, and the only escape seemed to be suicide if the world outside was overrun by monstrous beasts.

"Is this a good idea...?" he thought, swallowing hard as he gazed at the daunting slope before him.

Fear clouded his eyes, and he struggled to look away, fists clenched in frustration, feeling he might be heading into something worse than the city itself.

The pain in his forearm reminded him of his promise to himself and Nathaniel's memory.

"I'm pathetic," he muttered, then turned his gaze back to the abyss with renewed determination, punctuated by a loud "CLAP."

Nova slapped his cheeks with both hands, intensifying the sharp pain in his forearm.

"Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!" he screamed in reaction to the pain.

"Ow..." he groaned, feeling embarrassed. "At least no one saw me..." Trying to stay positive, he glanced around and saw an old woman standing nearby.

She was around ninety, with long white hair, barely five feet tall, dressed in biker clothes, and so wrinkled her eyes were nearly closed.

Nova stared in silence, having not heard her approach.

"Is she a ghost?" he wondered. She fit the image of a ghost: pale, old, and haunting desolate places.

Perhaps she had leaped into the void in a past life, her ghost now wandering the outskirts of town, trying to tell her story.

"Why do you shout so much? Can’t you see the ghosts are resting?" a rough, brittle voice rasped from the old woman’s lips.

"Shall I tell you the story of those spirits?" she added, smiling mischievously and making Nova faint from fear or exhaustion.

----------------------------------------

It was several hours before...

Nova opened his eyes again to find himself in a small waiting room, lying across three chairs. Struggling, he turned his head to survey the surroundings.

The walls were in disarray, with faded paint peeling in places, and were adorned with an assortment of maps, their edges tattered and yellowed with age.

Amidst the clutter, a few photographs stood out: one featured a peculiar airship with an elaborate, almost otherworldly design, while another showcased a striking red-haired woman with an enigmatic presence.

Nearby, a small reception desk with a tarnished brass bell rested against the wall, its surface cluttered with miscellaneous items, and to his surprise, a brown-haired woman was seated just one chair away.

"Ah... you’re the girl from last time," he said, recognizing her. He mustered the strength to sit up and place his feet on the floor.

"And you're a wanted criminal," she replied curtly, her tone disinterested. She wore a small camouflaged puffer jacket in shades of green, a white t-shirt, denim shorts, long striped tights, and green sneakers.

"Yeah... something like that," Nova said, not bothering to argue. He was just relieved she hadn’t fled upon recognizing him.

"I want to apologize for being rude the other day when you tried to help me. Thank you," he said with a soft smile. The woman turned her gaze toward the reception desk.

"Marlene! He’s awake! Can we go already?"

The shout made Nova glance at the reception desk, where he noticed a door beyond it.

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Suddenly, the ghostly figure from before reappeared, this time wearing a smile and aviator glasses.

"Ehhh boy, haha! You really scared me when you fainted," the jovial old lady said as she crossed the room and stood before him.

"You scared me!" Nova thought.

"You look better now. Youth just needs a bit of rest to recover, how enviable!" the woman said, grabbing his face and squeezing his cheeks to inspect him closely.

Nova was unsure whether to be grateful or embarrassed for thinking she was a ghost. If anyone could read his mind, they’d know he was still haunted by that thought.

"Ah, thank you for your concern, Mrs. Marlene," he said hesitantly.

She seemed uncomfortable with the formality. "Kid, Mrs. Marlene was my mother. Just call me Marlene," she exclaimed, squeezing his cheeks tightly before releasing them and smiling again.

"Anyway, you were lucky. I was going to steal your stuff like everyone else at the city's edge, but then I found the map you brought."

"You were going to do what?" Nova began, but Marlene ignored him.

"Not many people know about this place, so stealing from a customer wouldn’t make sense. You want to go to the lands below, right?" she asked eagerly, awaiting his confirmation.

"Um, yeah, wait, is this the inside of the hut with the Freedom graffiti?" He had no trouble piecing together Marlene's words, but he was still surprised to realize it was some sort of travel agency.

"Yes, welcome to Freedom Airlines. I’m the owner, the pilot, and the receptionist," Marlene said, extending her right hand with a V for victory.

Nova took in the scene once more: photographs of a younger Marlene standing beside what looked like an airplane, contrasted with the same woman, now elderly and possibly with poor vision, who was set to help him descend thousands of feet. If things went wrong, it could mean death for both of them.

"Wait, you’re the one who’s going to take me down there, aren’t you very—mmhhmm!" Before Nova could finish, the brown-haired girl quickly covered his mouth to stop him from saying something foolish.

"Very what?" Marlene asked with an expression that made both of them shiver.

"Very overtrained, haha. You know, for your experience and clear beauty, Miss Marlene, I envy your skincare routine," the girl said with a forced smile while still covering Nova’s mouth.

"Isn’t that what you meant?" she asked Nova, removing her hand from his cheeks.

"Ah, yeah. I was just surprised. You look as young as you do in the photos," Nova replied, struggling to smile. He wasn’t thrilled about risking his life but felt compelled to say something positive.

"Ohhh huhuhu, it’s true. People still say I have the same charm, though not much has happened yet," Marlene said, her murderous intent dissipating.

"I usually attract young boys like you, so don’t fall in love, kid," she added, winking flirtatiously. Her wink was so droopy from age it was barely noticeable.

That day, Nova died a little inside.

"Anyway, now that he’s awake, we can leave, right?" the girl interjected, beads of sweat visible on her forehead at the sight of the old woman’s flirtatiousness.

“What a rushed girl,” Marlene sighed, shrugging slightly. “What can I do? We young people want everything immediately."

With that, she headed towards the door behind the reception desk. "It’s been a while since I’ve taken my baby out. Follow me," she said, walking with a somewhat comical gait due to her short stature.

Nova and the green-eyed woman followed her through the door and into what appeared to be an office with stairs leading down. They descended the spiral staircase, with Marlene leading the way.

"I didn’t realize this place had a basement," Nova remarked.

"There are many things that aren’t as they seem. If the authorities knew about this agency, they’d shut me down immediately. That’s why I only offer my services to people I trust completely," Marlene explained, deepening Nova's admiration for Nathaniel.

"Did you know Mr. Nathaniel? He gave me the map," Nova said.

"Yes, I remember Nathaniel. He was one of my investors and often came by for a flight. What’s become of him?" Marlene asked, noticing the sadness in Nova’s eyes.

“He died… not long ago,” Nova replied slowly, as if he, too, were trying to come to terms with the reality.

The sound of footsteps descending the stairs was all that could be heard. Even the brown-haired woman, unaware of the gravity of the situation, felt some sympathy for Nova.

"It’s a pity," Marlene said regretfully but chose not to elaborate further. They remained silent until they reached the bottom of the stairs.

At the bottom, Marlene flipped an old switch, and light flooded the scene, revealing an old garage. A modern aircraft, identical to the one in the photographs, stood beside a long runway that extended toward a large hole, through which a strong, cold wind blew.

"Welcome to Freedom Airport. Today, your trip is free in gratitude for Nathaniel’s memory," Marlene said with a melancholic yet cheerful tone. "So, what’s your plan? A quick trip around and back?"

"No, I want you to drop me off on dry land," the brown-haired woman and Nova said in unison, surprising Marlene with their synchronized intentions.

"What? You want me to drop you off at Etheria Farms?" Marlene asked, confused by the request.

"No, outside the agricultural perimeter," the girl clarified.

Nova didn’t fully understand, but he inferred that a part of the surface was dedicated to supplying the city with basic resources.

"I want the same thing. If there was a map showing the way to the next city, I’d appreciate it," Nova added, bowing slightly in his request. Marlene, already thinking the two were crazy, was further surprised.

"Hahaha, my first customers in years, and they’re suicidal. Can I at least ask why you want to go outside?" Marlene asked, laughing, clearly amused.

"It’s personal... but to summarize, I want to become a TN agent," the girl said, somewhat embarrassed.

"That sounds challenging. I hope you’re chosen by the Synchrony. And you?" Marlene asked Nova.

"I want to explore this world without regrets and live life to the fullest," Nova said with a touch of embarrassment but enough confidence to impress Marlene, who then thought of Nathaniel.

The two women looked at him in stunned silence. Marlene was reminded of her own youthful ambition, a time when she had dreamed of exploring the world beyond the city but had met with failure.

"That’s a difficult task... it’s a big world, Nova," Marlene said, using his name for the first time.

"But if you succeed, come back and tell me about this ‘other world.’"

Afterward, Marlene went to get a map for Nova, and the three of them boarded the airship.

The vehicle resembled a compact, futuristic airplane, about the size of a large van, with sleek, aerodynamic lines and glowing accents that suggested advanced technology.

Its exterior featured streamlined panels, while the interior was designed for efficiency, with six plush seats arranged in two rows of three.

Access to the cabin was via a hatch seamlessly integrated into the roof, revealing a modern space equipped with state-of-the-art controls and displays.

Once the passengers were seated, the hatch closed automatically, and Nova took the seat behind the pilot, enjoying a prime view through the glass.

"Guys, strap in and get ready," the pilot said with a smile as she started the engine.

The engine's loud, constant vibration echoed along the runway, more like the hum of thousands of bees than a typical engine. In an instant, the plane took off.

"Last stop, the outer zone!" the old woman shouted cheerfully, steering the plane at high speed.

In the blink of an eye, the small plane surged forward with incredible speed, and the poor light of the underground garage gave way to a stunning panorama of the night sky.

Nova and the woman were awestruck by the view.

"Activating cloak," the old woman announced, pressing a button that made the plane vanish from sight.

"Prepare for descent, boys," she continued, pulling the wheel to initiate a free fall.

Nova felt a strong sense of vertigo as the ground, thousands of feet below, came into view.

"Wow, this is amazing," the young woman exclaimed, smiling at the old woman. To her surprise, the old woman was asleep at the wheel.