Run. Run. Run. Don’t stop running.

The thoughts repeated over and over in Keiko’s head as she sprinted across the rooftops of the City of the Future. Or rather, what had once been the City of the Future. At one point, Haven had been the promise of what could be. A neon paradise that would usher in a new generation for humankind. Now it was more of a graveyard for despair than any beacon of hope. Any that remained in the city did so out of obligation rather than choice.

Well, almost any.

Keiko eyed the gap between buildings ahead of her, fist clenching in determination. To any typical inhabitant of Haven, the jump would be deemed suicidal. An impossible distance guarenteed to be a one-way ticket to the concrete hundreds of meters below. But, whether she liked it or not, Keiko was anything but typical.

Her boot planted solidly on the building’s edge, propelling herself into the air. Her dark brown hair flowed behind her as she sailed over the gap between buildings as if gravity had temporarily become nothing more than a vague guideline as opposed to physics that governed the world. She landed with a thud, rolling onto the gravel rooftop before standing. Despite a few dirt marks, she was nonetheworse for wear.

She turned, her eyes scanning the opposite rooftop with baited breath for any sign of her pursuers. A moment passed, then another before finally she was satisfied enough to let out a sigh. Her hands went to the satchel currently strapped around her torso, making sure the contents were secured.

“That should buy me some time,” she muttered under her breath.

Her pale visage shone in the night. Her shadow illuminated by the neon lights emanating from the billboards that surrounded her. As far as she was concerned, they were nothing more than a weak attempt at portraying the vivid life that the city was meant to have. Rather than dawddle on her thoughts she turned on her heel, making her way towards the building’s fire escape.

While she descended into the city, her senses were filled with all the things that were muffled as high up as she had been. The sounds of transportation, the murmur of street vendors, the taste of fumes emitted from various vents around the city. It was inescapable. Once you entered the city, Haven swallowed you whole. As much as Keiko might find herself at odds with the powers that be, she. couldn't deny that this was her home. Life would certainly be easier if she could.

When she reached the street level, Keiko glanced around her, taking note of the different faces going about their business. There were times when she wasn’t sure if paranoia was what kept her alive or kept her on edge. It was only after she felt satisfied that no one was paying her any mind that she began to move down the street. As she walked a navy colored raincoat materialized over her jumpsuit as if out of thin air. She pulled the hood over her head and shoved her satchel under the coatinto, her eyes scanning the streets as she moved.

They said it was possible to be anything or anyone in Haven. In her experience, Keiko found that statement was only partially true. It left out that becoming anyone or anything was possible – for the right price. A city barely surviving meant there was no shortage of opportunist. Couple that with a corrupt government posing as law enforcement and sprinkle in the few people who were just trying to get by and, well, there was a reason many saw Haven as an ironic name.

You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.

"Son of bitch…" Keiko mumbled under her breath.

Twenty yards ahead of her, two figures clad in midnight-polished armor emerged. Sentinels. The enforcement arm of the whatever could be called a government in this place. In reality it was closer to the armed thugs of the people who sat at the top. Given free reign over the city, they had a habit of making anyone’s hairs stand on edge. In a face off with Sentinels it was were often better to cut loses than to take them on directly. If not particularly overwhelming in their individual strength, their numbers were suffocating. They also happened to be the group that Keiko was trying to escape.

Keiko pulled her raincoat tighter around her as she walked. She kept her head low, violet eyes darting around for possible escape routes. Some would call Haven a concrete jungle, others would call it a prison. Trying to figure out which exits were dead ends versus which offered salvation was just as much part of life as knowing who was trying to scam you with fake Cryo. The artificial drug was one of the most sought after substances in Haven. Ironically, she doubted Sentinels would stop her before they stopped a peddler.

“Relax,” she could almost hear Aiko’s voice in her mind, “Just don’t panic.”

That was easy for her to say. Keiko had always been the most tightly wound member of their crew. Which never helped her avoid looking suspicious. Just keep your head down and don’t make eye-contact. It was a mantra she repeated over-and-over in her mind as each step. Act like you belong. Wasn’t that what Meili was always telling her? That was easier said than done when you spent most of your time brooding atop various rooftops.

She risked a glance. It wasn't far now. Just a few more steps after they passed and she could make a run for it.

"Hey!" the robotic voice emitted through the guards helt.

Shit.

Keiko stopped in her tracks but didn't turn around. Her hands clutched at the satchel beneath her coat. She couldn't go in now. She wouldn't.

"Let me see your user card," the voice from behind her demanded. "Hey, I'm talking to you!"

A gloved hand reached out, yanking back Keiko's hood. That was all it took for her to move into action. Before the Sentinel could bark his next demand, Keiko spun in the air, a roundhouse kick connecting with the side of the Sentinel's heading him tumbling to the ground in a heap.

"Is that good enough for you?"

By the time his partner recovered from shock to reach for his communications device, she was gone. sprinting down the nearest alley. She could hear his call over the radio.

"Rogue ve in sector 76!"

"Just great."

In no time this place would be swarming with Sentinels. She made a turn and skidded to a halt in front of some piles of trash. "This is a terrible idea," Keiko muttered to herself.

Still, what choice did she have? Quickly taking off the satchel she wore she buried it beneath piles of trash. Noticing a stray cat standing to the side, she reached out to stroke its orange fur.

"Watch over this for me, okay? I'll be back for it."

With that she took off running down the alley, the sound of approaching Sentinels hot on her heels.