The lunchroom was a cacophony of voices, laughter, and the occasional sound of trays clattering against tables. It smelled like stale bread and something vaguely metallic, a scent that Kite had grown used to in the undercity’s “prestigious” school. The lunchroom’s flickering fluorescent lights cast an uneven glow over the cracked tiles and dented steel tables. Kids moved in waves, pushing and shoving past each other, their voices blending into a sea of chaotic noise. Kite hesitated near the doorway, clutching his tray tightly, his heart pounding like a trapped bird in his chest.
He stepped forward, weaving through the crowd. Human kids and chimera children filled the room, their hybrid features, a mix of human and animal traits, creating a patchwork of diversity that was both fascinating and intimidating. A girl with cat-like ears swished her tail as she passed by. A boy with scaled arms and glowing eyes growled at someone who bumped into him. Kite tried not to look directly at anyone, keeping his gaze fixed on the worn floor as he shuffled forward in the lunch line.
When he finally reached the counter, he grabbed the first meal handed to him: a protein slab with some sort of grayish mash and a carton of lukewarm milk. His stomach twisted with hunger, but the noise and movement around him made It hard to focus. Clutching his tray, he scanned the room for a spot. The tables were full of clusters of kids laughing, shouting, and trading food. He spotted an empty corner at a table with peeling paint and uneven legs and made a beeline for it.
Sitting down, Kite kept his head low as he began to eat. He stabbed at the mash with his fork, forcing himself to take a bite despite the lump in his throat. The noise felt like it was pressing down on him, each shout and laugh making his skin crawl. His hands trembled slightly, and he gripped his fork tighter to steady them. The metallic taste of the food did little to calm his nerves and sweat began to bead on his forehead.
From the corner of his eye, he noticed movement. Rad, the biggest kid in their class, was walking by with his tray. Rad’s broad shoulders and scarred knuckles made him an intimidating figure, and his perpetual scowl kept most kids at bay. Kite froze as Rad’s gaze flicked toward him. For a moment, Rad hesitated, his eyes narrowing as if considering something. Kite held his breath, his heart hammering even faster.
But Rad merely snorted and turned away, choosing a nearby table. He sat down alone, stabbing into his food with an air of defiance. Kite exhaled shakily, trying to calm himself, but the tension in his chest refused to fade. He hunched over his tray, focusing on his food, though the fork felt heavy in his hand.
“Heya, Kite!” The cheerful voice made him jump. His head snapped up to see the girl who had waved at him a few days before as she slid onto the bench next to him. Her small frame was almost dwarfed by the oversized, ragged clothes she wore, and her messy pinkish brown hair hung in uneven strands around her face. Her pink irises glinted mischievously as she placed a single apple on the table in front of her with an arm that was covered in dirty bandages.
“Ava?” Kite blinked, his eyes widening slightly in surprise. “Oh, hey.” His voice came out more nervous than he intended as he quickly looked back down at his tray, his cheeks flushing faintly. “You look like you’re hiding from a pack of feral chimeras,” Ava teased, leaning her elbows on the table. “What’s up with you?”
Kite hesitated, unsure how to respond. “I, uh, just… don’t like the noise,” he muttered, taking a quick bite of his food to avoid talking more. His hands were still trembling slightly, and he hoped Ava wouldn’t notice.
She didn’t seem to care. Picking up her apple, she took a loud, exaggerated bite, the crunch cutting through the background noise. “Well, it’s just me now,” she said with a grin, her pinkish skin glowing faintly under the harsh lights. “So, you don’t have to worry about all of them.”
Kite glanced at her sideways, her carefree demeanor both confusing and oddly reassuring. For a moment, the noise of the lunchroom seemed to fade, and the corners of his mouth twitched upward in the faintest hint of a smile. “Thanks,” he said quietly, taking another bite of his food. Ava smiled back, swinging her legs under the table as if she hadn’t a care in the world.
Ava tilted her head, her sharp eyes studying Kite as she bit into her apple again, juice dribbling down her chin. She wiped it away with the sleeve of her oversized shirt, her grin never faltering. “You know, you’re way too quiet, Kite. All these other kids running around, screaming their heads off, and you’re just over here, trying to disappear.”
Kite shifted uncomfortably, his fork pausing midair. He could feel her gaze on him, probing like she was trying to crack open a safe. His heartbeat picked up again, and he focused on his tray, forcing another bite of the grayish mash. It tasted like wet cardboard, but it gave him something to do besides talk.
“I like being quiet,” he muttered, barely loud enough for her to hear. “It’s… safer.” Ava frowned slightly at his words, but it was fleeting, replaced almost immediately by her usual mischievous smirk. “Safe is boring,” she said, leaning in closer. “What’s the point of sitting here by yourself if it’s just gonna make you miserable?”
Kite finally glanced up at her, his emerald, green eyes meeting her bright pink ones. He opened his mouth to respond but was interrupted by a loud crash from across the room. A chimera boy with ram-like horns had knocked over a tray, sending food splattering across the floor. The lunchroom erupted into laughter and cheers, kids pounding on tables and shouting taunts. Kite flinched at the sudden burst of noise, his shoulders hunching instinctively.
Ava didn’t even blink. She threw a glance toward the commotion and shrugged. “Just another day in paradise,” she said lightly, taking another bite of her apple. Kite envied her composure. The noise was like nails scraping against his skull, but Ava acted like it didn’t even register. “How do you do that?” he asked before he could stop himself.
“Do what?” Ava tilted her head again, her messy hair falling over one eye. “Just… ignore everything,” Kite said, his voice still low but tinged with genuine curiosity. “All the noise, all the people. It’s like it doesn’t bother you at all.”
Ava laughed softly, a sound that somehow cut through the chaos around them. “Easy. I don’t care what they think.” She leaned back, balancing on the edge of the bench as she waved her hand toward the crowded room. “All these kids? They’re just noise. Background. What matters is what you think, Kite. And right now, I think you’re overthinking everything.”
Kite frowned, her words stirring something uneasy in him. It wasn’t that simple. It couldn’t be. The stares, the whispers, the constant feeling of being out of place, they weren’t just noise to him. They were suffocating. But Ava sat there like she was invincible, like nothing could touch her. He wanted to ask how she did it, how she carried herself with such casual confidence, but the words stuck in his throat.
Instead, he asked, “Why are you even sitting with me?” His voice was quiet but carried an edge of vulnerability.
Ava grinned, her pink eyes sparkling mischievously. “Because I can. And because you look like you could use a friend.” She took one last bite of her apple, then spun it in her hands before placing the core neatly on her tray. “Besides, you’re interesting. All these other kids? They’re boring.”
Kite blinked, her bluntness catching him off guard. “I’m not… interesting,” he said, his voice trailing off. “That’s what makes you interesting,” Ava countered with a wink. “You don’t even realize it.” Before Kite could respond, Rad’s voice cut through the noise. “Hey, runt!”
Both Kite and Ava turned to see Rad glaring at a smaller chimera kid, who had apparently wandered too close to Rad’s table. The kid, with rabbit-like ears and wide, frightened eyes, quickly scurried away, clutching his tray. Rad shook his head and went back to eating, his scowl deepening.
Kite swallowed hard, his anxiety creeping back. Rad was always on the edge of causing trouble, and Kite wasn’t sure he wanted to be anywhere near that kind of attention. He turned back to Ava, who was watching the scene with an unreadable expression.
“See?” she said quietly. “That’s why you need to stop worrying about what everyone else thinks. Most of these kids are just scared or trying too hard to look tough. None of it matters.”
Kite stared at her, her words hanging in the air. For a moment, the noise around them seemed to fade, and he felt a strange sense of calm. Maybe Ava was right. Maybe he was overthinking everything. Or maybe she was just better at pretending.
He took a deep breath, his chest still tight but a little less so, and picked up his fork again. “Thanks,” he said softly, glancing at Ava. It wasn’t much, but it was the most he could manage.
Ava smiled, her grin softer this time, and nudged him playfully with her elbow. “Anytime, Kite. That’s what friends are for.” The two children sat together in a rare moment of silence, the din of the lunchroom continuing unabated around them. Kite felt his nerves settling just a little, the warmth of Ava’s unexpected company creating a fragile bubble of calm. He stole a glance at her, watching as she leaned back slightly, her bandaged legs swinging idly beneath the table. She looked so carefree, yet something about her always seemed just a little… off, though he couldn’t put his finger on it.
Without warning, Ava grabbed the apple core from her tray and slipped it under the table. Her movements were casual, almost playful, as she cradled it in both hands.
“What are you doing?” Kite asked, his voice tinged with both confusion and curiosity. He leaned forward slightly, trying to see what she was up to. Ava didn’t look up. Instead, her pink irises began to glow with an eerie, otherworldly intensity, casting faint streaks of light that reflected off the dull metal surface of the table. A sly grin spread across her face. “Magic trick,” she said simply, her tone playful but laced with an unsettling edge.
Kite tilted his head, unsure whether to take her seriously or laugh it off. Before he could press her further, a sudden movement caught his attention. Rad, sitting alone at his nearby table, had frozen mid-bite. His usually scowling face now bore an expression of wide-eyed horror, his fork slipping from his fingers as he stared at Ava.
“What is she…?” Kite’s voice trailed off as he turned back to Ava. She chuckled softly, the sound low and devious, as her hands moved beneath the table. Whatever she was doing, Kite couldn’t see it, but he could feel a strange hum in the air, like a low vibration crawling up his spine.
“Catch,” Ava said suddenly, her grin widening as she tossed something into the air above the table. Instinctively, Kite’s hands shot up, and he caught it with a soft thud. His eyes widened as he looked at what he was holding. The apple core, once gnawed and discarded, was now a perfect, fully regrown apple. Its skin was smooth and gleaming, a vibrant red that seemed almost unnatural under the cafeteria’s harsh lighting.
“It… It’s fully regrown!” Kite exclaimed; his voice louder than he intended. He turned the apple over in his hands, inspecting it from every angle. There wasn’t a single blemish or sign that it had been eaten before. It looked as if it had just been plucked from a tree moments ago.
Rad’s face was pale as he watched from his table, his usual tough demeanor replaced by something closer to panic. His gaze darted between Ava and the apple in Kite’s hands, as if trying to piece together what he had just witnessed.
Ava leaned forward on the table, resting her chin on her hands as her grin took on an even more mischievous curve. “It’s a trick I learned a while ago. Magician’s secret,” she said, her voice light and teasing. Her pink eyes dimmed slightly, returning to their usual glowing hue as she watched Kite with amusement.
Kite stared at the apple, his fingers brushing its smooth surface. He felt a strange energy radiating from it, faint but undeniable, like the lingering heat of a flame. “But how…?” he started, his voice barely above a whisper. He wasn’t sure whether to feel amazed or unsettled. Something about the apple didn’t feel right, it was too perfect, too flawless, as if it didn’t belong in this world.
“Don’t overthink it, Kite,” Ava said with a soft laugh, brushing a strand of messy hair out of her face. “It’s just a little trick. No big deal.” But Kite couldn’t shake the feeling that it was a big deal. He looked up at Ava, his silver-gray eyes meeting her glowing pink ones. “Why give it to me?” he asked hesitantly, the apple still cradled in his hands.
Ava’s grin softened, just for a moment, into something more enigmatic. “Because you caught it,” she said simply, as if that answered everything. She leaned back again, her carefree demeanor returning as she swung her legs beneath the table. “And now it’s yours.”
Rad continued to stare from his table, his fork still lying abandoned next to his tray. His mouth opened slightly, as if he wanted to say something, but no words came out. He finally tore his gaze away, his hands clenching into fists as he glared down at his food, his jaw tight.
Kite, meanwhile, held the apple in his hand, feeling its weight and the strange energy that seemed to pulse from it. He wasn’t sure what catching it meant, but a part of him sensed that Ava’s “trick” was anything but ordinary. Shortly after school had ended Kite began walking home. The undercity sprawled out before Kite like a maze of decaying concrete, rusting metal, and flickering neon lights. The air was thick with the hum of machinery, the scent of oil and burnt plastic mixing with the faint undertones of mildew.
The streets were lined with vendors selling strange, poorly made gadgets and scraps of electronics, their voices a steady murmur in the background. Humanoid chimeras, many of the creatures whose bodies had been modified with cybernetic enhancements, walked past in a mix of urgency and indifference, their heavy mechanical limbs clicking against the cracked pavement. Some of them had glowing eyes, others sported robotic arms or legs, their bodies a patchwork of human and machine.
They moved with a strange grace, as though they were used to the city’s oppressive atmosphere. Kite kept his head down, avoiding the eyes of passersby. He knew how to stay out of trouble in the undercity; it was a game of survival, and the less attention you drew to yourself, the better. His mind wandered as he walked, his thoughts drifting back to school, Ava, the apple, the brief connection. The undercity felt like a distant, hostile world when compared to the strange warmth of the lunchroom earlier that day.
As Kite walked through the crowded alley, he passed a group of older kids arguing over some stolen goods, their voices growing louder as they pushed each other. The smell of burnt food wafted from a nearby stall, and a pair of chimeras with sleek, dark metallic limbs passed him by, their gaze cold and distant. It wasn’t unusual to see people like that here, people with more machine than human left in them, surviving by whatever means necessary.
But as he continued walking, his attention was drawn to a voice that broke through the murmur of the undercity. “Hi, Kite!” Kite froze mid-step, his heart skipping a beat. He turned, blinking in surprise to see the girl from earlier, Ava, approaching him.
While still having her messy, tangled hair framed a face that was still round with the softness of youth. But it was her smile that caught his attention the most. It was wide and crooked, a gap where her front tooth should’ve been, giving her an odd but endearing charm. Despite the chaotic, unforgiving environment around them, there was something about Ava’s unfiltered energy that made her seem almost out of place in the grim world they lived In.
“Hi, Ava,” Kite replied, surprised to see her here. He hadn’t expected to run into anyone from school outside of its confines. Ava grinned, her bright pink irises sparkling with an innocence that stood in stark contrast to the harsh world around them. “I saw you walking all by yourself and thought, ‘Hey, that’s Kite! The smartest kid in class!’” She giggled a little at her own words, clearly enjoying the interaction.
Kite chuckled awkwardly, his cheeks reddening slightly. “I’m not that smart,” he muttered, rubbing the back of his neck. “Well, you are,” she insisted with a mischievous gleam in her eye. “I’m just trying to keep up with you.” She paused, her expression turning slightly more serious as she tilted her head. “So, what are you doing here, all alone? Aren’t you worried about the-”
She trailed off, her voice suddenly lowering, her eyes darting with recognition to the chimeras walking past them. One of them had metal plating on his arms, his glowing red eyes scanning the crowd as he passed. Ava’s expression shifted briefly, a flicker of seriousness flashing across her face.
Kite noticed the change, his brow furrowing. “I’m sure we’re fine,” he reassured her, though he wasn’t entirely sure he believed it himself. “We’re just walking.” He didn’t want to admit how uncomfortable he felt in the undercity, how every step seemed like it could be his last, how everyone he passed might be a threat. The constant low hum of the city, the sense that danger was always just beneath the surface, was something he was growing used to, but it didn’t make it any less nerve-wracking.
Ava, sensing his discomfort, brightened up again, her smile returning. “I was thinking,” she said as she bounced on her heels, “I could show you a shortcut to a house I've been staying in. It’s a lot safer than the main streets.”
Kite blinked, taken aback by the offer. He hadn’t expected her to be so… friendly, so eager. It wasn’t common for kids to talk to each other like this in the undercity, especially not with someone like him. He wasn’t part of any group, not really. He was just a quiet kid who could answer questions, the one with the talent for tech and too many thoughts in his head.
“You sure?” he asked, unsure of what to say. Ava nodded enthusiastically. “Of course! You don’t want to go down those alleyways by yourself. Trust me, I know my way around here.”
Kite hesitated for a moment, glancing at the street around them. The glowing lights, the distant hum of the machines, it all felt so familiar and yet so foreign at the same time. He didn’t like to ask for help, didn’t like to rely on anyone too much, but something about Ava’s honesty, her openness, made him feel like he could trust her.
“Okay,” he said finally, offering a small smile. “Lead the way.” Ava’s eyes brightened. “Great! Follow me, Kite!” She grinned, her missing tooth giving her a goofy, endearing look as she darted ahead.
Kite hesitated for just a second before following her, the sounds of the undercity echoing around them as they navigated through the twisted maze of streets, their footsteps a soft rhythm in the midst of the chaos. Ava moved with the easy confidence of someone who had spent her whole life navigating the undercity’s labyrinth of dark alleys and forgotten paths. Her feet made no sound against the cracked pavement, Kites however sent a small echo into the hollow, oppressive air of the streets.
Kite followed behind her, his gaze shifting uneasily from side to side as they passed flickering neon signs and discolored buildings. The air here felt colder, thicker, almost as though it absorbed the grime of every passing day. His feet dragged slightly as he tried to keep up, his eyes constantly scanning the surroundings. Despite Ava’s bright, carefree demeanor, something about the streets made him nervous.
The further they walked, the quieter the sounds of the undercity became. Fewer people seemed to occupy this part of town, and Kite couldn’t shake the feeling that the silence was somehow ominous. His fingers twitched at his sides, longing to fiddle with something, anything, his mind always worked better when he was focused on a task. But there was nothing to do but follow Ava, her voice occasionally cutting through his thoughts.
“You don’t have to look so serious,” Ava teased over her shoulder, glancing back at him with a grin. “The worst thing that can happen is we get lost.” Kite forced a smile, trying to hide the tension building in his chest. His mind couldn’t stop calculating every possible scenario, the dangers of walking deeper into unknown parts of the undercity, the strange uncertainty of trusting someone so easily. But Ava was already ahead, oblivious to the thoughts swirling in his head.
After a few more turns, the alleyway began to widen, the ground underfoot giving way to a strange metallic texture, almost like the industrial veins of the city itself had started to rise through the street. The walls surrounding them had become covered in strange pipes and tubes, sleek, glass-like conduits embedded into the walls, humming with a faint, electric buzz. They stretched up high, disappearing into the upper reaches of the towering structures above them. The hum of the tubes was a steady, pulsating rhythm, like the heartbeat of the city.
Ava stopped and turned to him, her face alight with excitement, her eyes sparkling with something Kite couldn’t quite place. “Here we are.” Kite’s brow furrowed as he glanced around, taking in the strange, almost mechanical sight of the tubes. They lined the walls in thick clusters, connected in complex spirals and patterns, glowing faintly from within, casting sharp shadows across the ground. They seemed to pulse with an otherworldly energy, almost like veins pumping some kind of life-giving substance through the undercity. He could hear the faint, distant rush of air, as if the tubes were working in tandem to move something from below to above.
“What are these?” Kite asked, his voice quiet but filled with curiosity, despite the knot of unease in his stomach. Ava’s grin widened. “These are the tubes that lead up to the Overworld,” she said, as though it were the most natural thing in the world. “They take people up to Horizon Heights. The city above us, you know?” Her eyes glinted with excitement as she gestured up at the tubes, which seemed to stretch endlessly into the sky. “These were built a century ago, back when most of the big corporations started bringing the best of everything up to the top. It’s… well, it’s not really a place for people like us.”
Kite felt a chill crawl up his spine, the realization settling in. The Overworld. Horizon Heights. The gleaming city above the undercity, where the rich lived in their ivory towers, removed from the suffering below. The thought of being anywhere near that world made him nervous, too clean, too pristine. It didn’t feel like it was a place for people like him, either.
“But… how do you get up there?” Kite asked, his voice shaky. He hadn’t expected this. The tubes looked so smooth, so cold. He could barely wrap his mind around the idea of actually entering one of them, let alone using it to ascend to a place so foreign and distant from everything he knew.
Ava seemed to sense his hesitation and turned back to him, her expression softening. “Don’t worry,” she said, her voice steady and comforting, despite the dangerous excitement she felt. “It’ll be fine. They’re safe.” She stepped closer, the faintest flicker of concern flashing across her face. “I’ve used them before. They’ll take us right up to the city. I’ll be right there with you.”
Kite swallowed hard; his throat tight as he stared up at the tubes. His mind raced. The idea of traveling through one of these massive conduits, leaving the undercity behind, seemed like the craziest thing he’d ever considered. The tubes were narrow, and he could already feel the weight of claustrophobia creeping into his chest. What if something went wrong? What if they got stuck? What if it broke down?
He felt his fingers twitch, as If his body was screaming for him to fix something, do something, but there was nothing to fix here. This wasn’t like the puzzles he solved in the safety of his room or the wires he tinkered with on the old machines. This was real. And he had no control over it.
Ava, sensing his anxiety, reached out and placed a hand on his arm. “You don’t have to go if you don’t want to,” she said, her voice low and reassuring. “But Kite…” She hesitated, looking up at him with those wide, trusting eyes. “It’s not as bad as it looks. I promise.” She gave him an encouraging smile, her missing tooth showing again. “Besides, you’ll get to see the world above. The bright lights. The clean streets. It’s not all bad up there.”
For a long moment, Kite just stood there, caught in the struggle between the fear gnawing at his insides and the curiosity pulling at his chest. He could feel his pulse racing, his breath shallow, but Ava’s hand on his arm gave him a small sense of calm.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, he nodded. “Okay,” he muttered, almost to himself. “I’ll try it.” Ava grinned, the excitement returning to her face. “That’s the spirit!” She turned to the nearest tube, grabbing a small device from her pocket, which she pressed against a small panel at the base of the tube. The panel clicked, and with a soft whirring sound, the tube seemed to open up slightly, revealing a small capsule inside.
“This is the one,” Ava said, motioning for him to follow. “Come on, it’s gonna be fun.”
Kite hesitated for a moment, glancing one last time at the dark undercity behind them. It felt like the end of something, or maybe the beginning of something entirely new. Then, with a final deep breath, he stepped forward.
“Right behind you,” he said, his voice barely above a whisper. Ava’s hand guided Kite as he hesitantly stepped toward the capsule-like compartment nestled within the tube. The opening was small but wide enough for two people to squeeze in.
The sleek, metallic surface of the tube gleamed unnervingly under the dim lights, and the air around them seemed to hum with an electric tension. Kite’s heart raced in his chest as he stood before the capsule, trying to steady his breath, his mind still spinning with the idea of ascending from the grim undercity into Horizon Heights, a place so alien to him that it felt like a dream.
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“Don’t worry,” Ava said again, her voice softer now, almost like a secret. “It’s not going to be scary. It’s just like riding a tram, but faster. And safer.”
She stepped inside first, her movements fluid and confident. Kite watched her, trying to mimic her composure, though his hands felt clammy, his throat dry. He followed her into the capsule, crouching low to fit.
The interior was even smaller than it appeared from the outside, and for a moment, Kite felt a tightening in his chest as the walls seemed to close in around him. The capsule had a large, smooth, dark surface for a window that gave few hints of what lay ahead. The faint sound of a small vent like fan whirred overhead, circulating the stale air. “Close the door,” Ava said, her voice bright despite the cramped space.
Kite’s fingers trembled as he reached for the door’s control panel, pressing a series of buttons. The compartment hummed, the metallic door sliding shut with a faint whoosh, sealing them inside. A sudden rush of pressure in his ears made his body tense, and his stomach lurched.
“Relax,” Ava said, noticing the look on his face. “It’s just the atmosphere adjusting. You’ll be fine.” Kite nodded stiffly but didn’t speak. He focused on his breathing, trying to steady his pulse. The tube ahead of them seemed to stretch infinitely, a narrow tunnel of glass and metal disappearing into the sky. He could feel the slight vibrations of the capsule as the system powered up, a deep thrum that resonated in his bones. With a soft, mechanical whine, the capsule lurched forward.
The world outside the small, enclosed space blurred into a tunnel of light as the capsule accelerated, moving faster than Kite could process. The sensation of speed made his stomach turn, and he instinctively gripped the smooth, cold surface of the walls. Through the glass of the tube, he could catch fleeting glimpses of the undercity, a sprawling, broken maze of steel and concrete that seemed to stretch endlessly in all directions. The familiar, gritty landscape of rust and decay faded away as the capsule shot upwards.
Kite felt a strange mix of awe and terror as the view outside changed. The dark, oppressive undercity gave way to a sliver of light, like the first glimpse of dawn through a long, stormy night. The walls of the tube seemed to shimmer, reflecting the strange neon lights of the upper city, a stark contrast to the dim underworld below. The further they rose; the more Kite felt the disconnection from everything he knew.
Ava glanced at him, catching the nervousness on his face. “I know it feels strange, but it’s safe. You’re going to see the world up there.” Her words were comforting, but they didn’t quiet the growing unease inside him. He wasn’t sure what he expected, but this speed, this raw, disorienting sensation, was overwhelming.
The air inside the capsule began to feel thinner, and the walls seemed to pulse with energy. Kite instinctively pressed his hand against the smooth surface to steady himself, the metal cool against his palm. As they rose higher, the vibrations intensified, and he could feel his heart thudding against his ribs. His mind swirled with questions, what would it look like up there? What kind of people lived in Horizon Heights? How would he fit in?
Then, with a sudden jolt, the capsule slowed. The pressure in his chest eased, and his ears popped again. He exhaled sharply, realizing he’d been holding his breath without meaning to. Ava smiled as the capsule came to a smooth stop, the hum of the machinery around them dying down. “We’re here,” she said, her voice still light, but there was an undeniable edge of excitement to it. “You ready?”
Kite’s mouth felt dry as he nodded. His palms were still sweaty, and his heart pounded, but there was no turning back now. He stepped closer to the door, his fingers hovering over the control panel. As soon as he pressed the button, the door slid open with a soft hiss, and a flood of bright, blinding light poured in.
For a moment, Kite was blinded, squinting against the brightness. His mind struggled to process the sheer contrast between the undercity and the world before him. When his vision cleared, he saw the dazzling skyline of Horizon Heights spread out before him, gleaming with glass towers that stretched toward the sky, their surfaces reflecting the sunlight in a thousand angles. The buildings were sleek and pristine, their sharp lines a far cry from the dilapidated, crumbling structures of the undercity.
The air was different too, fresher, lighter, and Kite couldn’t help but breathe in deeply, though the city felt unnaturally sterile compared to the grittiness of the undercity. The streets were lined with perfect, clean sidewalks, bustling with well-dressed people, humans and chimeras alike, moving with purpose, without care of the darkness that existed just below their feet.
Ava stepped out of the capsule first, her feet landing on the smooth, white surface of the platform. “Welcome to Horizon Heights,” she said, turning back to Kite with a mischievous smile.
Kite hesitated at first, taking in the sight of the city in disbelief. His fingers clenched at his sides, and for a moment, he felt like he was standing at the edge of two worlds. He had never seen anything like this, anything this clean, this… perfect. It was beautiful, but it felt out of reach, like something that wasn’t meant for people like him.
But then, as Ava beckoned him to follow, Kite found himself stepping out of the capsule. Each step felt heavier than the last, like his feet were sinking into the surface of another reality. It wasn’t just the air or the skyline, it was the feeling that he didn’t belong here, not In this pristine world. But as Ava’s voice cut through the stillness, calling him forward, Kite realized just how beautiful the world above truly was.
Kite lingered on the platform, his eyes drinking in the strange, shimmering beauty of Horizon Heights. The streets ahead bustled with activity, filled with humanoid chimeras and humans moving through a cityscape unlike anything he had ever imagined. Neon advertisements floated in the air, holographic signs projecting vivid images of luxury goods and smiling faces. Sleek, driverless vehicles zipped silently along magnetic roads suspended above the ground. The air carried a faint hum of machinery, a rhythmic pulse that seemed to vibrate through everything.
“Come on, my house isn’t too far from here!” Ava’s voice cut through the daze. Kite turned to see her jogging off, her tangled brown hair bouncing as she moved. Her small frame seemed out of place in this polished city, but she navigated it with ease, her bare feet slapping against the pristine pavement.
For a moment, Kite hesitated, his stomach twisting with uncertainty. He glanced back at the tube, the way back to the undercity where the air was heavy with rust and decay, where he understood how things worked, even if they were broken. Here, everything was bright and perfect, almost unreal. He felt like an intruder in someone else’s world.
But Ava turned back, waving at him with a toothy grin that revealed her missing front tooth. “Kite, come on!” she shouted again, her voice full of excitement. Her enthusiasm was contagious. Kite tore his gaze away from the skyline and jogged after her, his worn shoes tapping softly on the smooth pavement. As he followed her, he couldn’t help but notice the stark differences all around him. The people in Horizon Heights were dressed in crisp, futuristic clothing, their skin clean and unscarred. Many of the humanoid chimeras had sleek, polished augmentations, their cybernetics seamlessly integrated into their bodies, a far cry from the crude, patched-together enhancements he was used to seeing in the undercity.
Ava darted through the crowds with the nimbleness of someone who had done this a hundred times. Kite struggled to keep up, his eyes darting between the towering buildings and the countless gadgets embedded in the city’s infrastructure. A row of floating drones hovered above the street, scanning the area with soft beams of blue light. He caught sight of a holographic clock displaying the time, far later than he thought it was. The efficiency and orderliness of everything unsettled him, a sharp contrast to the chaotic, crumbling world he knew.
“How do you know your way around here so well?” Kite called out; his voice shaky with exertion as he pushed himself to match her pace. Ava glanced over her shoulder with a mischievous smirk. “I sneak up here all the time.”
Kite raised an eyebrow curiously. He wondered how someone like Ava, with her ragged clothes and tangled hair, fit into a place like this. But before he could say anything, she turned sharply down a narrow alley between two towering buildings.
“Shortcut,” she said casually, disappearing into the shadows. Kite hesitated for a split second before following her. The alley was surprisingly clean, though it lacked the glowing advertisements and crowds of the main streets. Pipes and cables ran along the walls, humming faintly with energy. He could hear the soft whir of machines somewhere above them, a constant reminder of the technology that powered this city.
“Almost there!” Ava called, her voice echoing slightly in the confined space. The alley opened into a small courtyard surrounded by towering apartment buildings. It was quieter here, the bustle of the main streets muffled by the thick walls. Kite stopped to catch his breath, looking around. The courtyard was lined with plants in glass-enclosed containers, their green leaves glowing faintly under artificial light. It was the first time Kite had seen plants that weren’t wilted or covered in grime.
“This is it,” Ava said, stopping in front of one of the buildings. She turned to Kite, her pink irises gleaming in the dim light. “Home sweet home.” The building was modest compared to the sleek skyscrapers surrounding it, but it was still leagues above anything in the undercity. The walls were smooth and white, and the door slid open with a quiet hiss as Ava approached. She stepped inside and gestured for Kite to follow.
He hesitated on the threshold, his nerves catching up with him. “Are you sure it’s okay for me to come in?” Ava rolled her eyes, grabbing his wrist and pulling him inside. “You’ll be fine. Besides, you’re the first person from class I’ve shown this place to. Consider yourself lucky.”
The interior was small but tidy, a single room with a compact kitchen, a couch that looked like it could fold into a bed, and a desk cluttered with bits of tech and half-finished projects. A faint smell of something sweet and metallic lingered in the air. Ava plopped down on the couch, kicking her legs up. “So, what do you think? Cool, right?”
Kite glanced around, unsure what to say. It was nothing like the apartments he knew, there was no peeling paint or leaky ceilings, no sound of distant shouting or machinery breaking down. “It’s… nice,” he said finally, his voice quieter than he intended. Ava grinned. “Told you. And don’t worry, we’ve got the place to ourselves. Want something to drink? I think there's still some juice or water cups laying around.”
Kite shook his head, still too overwhelmed to think about drinking anything. Instead, he wandered over to the desk, his eyes drawn to the pieces of machinery scattered across it. “What are you working on?” he asked, picking up a small, sleek device that looked like some kind of communication tool. Ava shrugged. “Just stuff. I like to tinker, you know? Makes life less boring.”
Kite set the device down carefully, his mind buzzing with questions. He didn’t know why Ava had brought him here or what she expected, but for the first time he felt like he was seeing something more, something beyond the narrow world he thought he was trapped. Ava hopped off the couch and joined Kite by the cluttered desk. She grabbed a small cylindrical device from the pile, her movements quick and confident. “This,” she said, holding it up for Kite to see, “is going to be my masterpiece. Once I figure out how to make it work, that is.”
Kite leaned in closer, his eyes narrowing as he studied the object. It was sleek, with faint seams along its surface and a single glowing panel on one side. “What’s it supposed to do?” he asked, his curiosity piqued.
Ava grinned, her pink irises glinting. “It’s a signal scrambler. At least, it will be once I get the frequency modulation right. It’s supposed to block surveillance drones and cameras. You know, for sneaking around places you’re not supposed to be.” She shot him a mischievous look.
Kite’s eyebrows lifted. “You built this yourself?” “Yup,” Ava said proudly. She spun it around in her hands, though the glow flickered faintly, a sign it wasn’t fully operational. “It’s not perfect yet, but it’s close.” Kite reached for the device, and Ava handed it over without hesitation. He turned it over in his hands, his sharp eyes scanning every detail. “You’re using a phase-shift algorithm to disrupt signals, right? But the problem is probably with the power draw. This thing is too small to handle that kind of energy load.”
Ava blinked, her grin widening. “Exactly! That’s what I’ve been trying to figure out. How’d you know?” Kite shrugged, a small smile creeping onto his face. “I’ve worked on stuff like this before. My dad and I tried building a signal jammer for his job a couple of years ago. Didn’t entirely work, but I learned a lot from it.”
Ava’s expression softened. “You and your dad worked on stuff together? That’s cool. My… friends don't really have time for that kind of thing. they're always gone somewhere.” Kite nodded, setting the device back on the desk. “Yeah, my dad and mom work with tech, so I guess I just picked up a lot from watching them. My dad even taught me how to solder when I was four.” His voice grew quieter, tinged with pride and nostalgia.
“Four?” Ava echoed, her jaw dropping. “No way! I didn’t even know what a circuit board was when I was four.” Kite chuckled, his shoulders relaxing as he started rummaging through the pile of parts on the desk. “I guess I’ve always liked taking things apart and seeing how they work. My mom used to get mad at me for breaking the toaster. Twice.”
Ava laughed, the sound light and genuine. “Okay, you win. But only because I did the same thing to a... borrowed microwave last year. Except I couldn’t put it back together. My friends still haven’t let me live It down.” Kite grinned, feeling a rare warmth in her easy laughter. He picked up a stray wire and examined it thoughtfully. “You’ve got some good stuff here," he said, gesturing to the desk. “Do you mind if I…?”
Ava shook her head eagerly. “Go for it. I want to see what you can do.” Taking that as permission, Kite settled into one of the stools and pulled a small toolbox closer. He grabbed the signal scrambler and began to disassemble it, his fingers deftly unscrewing the tiny fasteners. Ava sat across from him, watching with wide eyes as he worked.
“You’re really good at this,” she said after a few minutes of silence. Her tone lacked the teasing edge she often used, replaced instead with genuine admiration. Kite shrugged, his focus never wavering from the device. “It’s just practice. My dad says technology is like a puzzle. You just have to figure out how all the pieces fit together.”
Ava leaned forward, resting her elbows on the desk. “Your dad sounds cool. What about your mom? Does she like tech stuff a lot too?” Kite hesitated for a moment, his hands slowing as he considered her question. “Not really. She’s more about keeping us fed and safe. She works at a food processing plant. Long hours, but she always makes time for me.” A small, fond smile played on his lips.
Ava nodded, twirling a loose wire between her fingers. “My parents… aren’t around. It’s just me and my friends. And they aren’t exactly the warm-and-fuzzy type, you know?” Kite glanced up at her, surprised by the shift in her tone. She was usually so upbeat, so mischievous, that he hadn’t expected this quiet vulnerability. “That must be hard,” he said softly.
Ava shrugged, though her gaze dropped to the desk. “It is, sometimes. But that’s why I mess around with stuff like this. It keeps my mind busy.” She gestured to the pile of gadgets. “Plus, it’s fun. I mean, who wouldn’t want to build a robot army someday?”
Kite laughed, the sound breaking the tension. “A robot army, huh? That’s ambitious.” “Hey, you’ve got to dream big,” Ava said, her grin returning. She pointed to the scrambler in Kite’s hands. “Speaking of big dreams, think you can fix that?”
Kite smirked, a spark of determination lighting in his eyes. “Watch me.” For the next few hours, the two of them worked together, their heads bent over the desk as they brainstormed solutions. Ava offered ideas, some more practical than others, while Kite tested different configurations and soldered connections with a steady hand. They fell into an easy rhythm, their shared passion for tinkering bridging the gap between their vastly different lives.
By the time Kite tightened the last screw and powered the device on, the glow from its panel was steady and bright. Ava’s face lit up with excitement. “You did it!” she exclaimed, grabbing the scrambler and holding it up triumphantly. Kite leaned back in his chair, a satisfied grin on his face. “We did it. It wouldn’t have worked without your design.”
Ava beamed at him; her earlier vulnerability replaced by pure joy. “You’re not so bad, Kite. For a guy who sits alone at lunch.” Kite rolled his eyes, but he couldn’t help the laugh that escaped. “Thanks, I guess.”
As the two of them packed up the desk, Kite realized something surprising. For the first time he had felt happy outside of his home. Ava might have been a whirlwind of chaos and curiosity, but she understood him in a way few people did. And in the sparkling streets of Horizon Heights, surrounded by a world that felt more like a dream than reality, Kite found a small spark of hope he didn’t know he was missing.
Kite glanced at the flickering holographic clock on Ava’s wall, its bright blue digits displaying 9:17 PM. His eyes widened as he realized the time. His parents had made it clear, be home by 10 PM at the latest, no exceptions. It wasn’t that there were dire consequences for being late, but his mom would definitely worry, and his dad would probably pace the apartment until he walked through the door.
Oh no,” Kite muttered, standing abruptly and nearly toppling the stool he’d been sitting on. “I need to get home! It’s already past nine!” Ava looked up from the half-disassembled drone she was tinkering with, her brow furrowing in confusion. “Home? What’s the rush?”
Kite was already pacing, his mind racing as he thought about how far they’d traveled. Kite began gathering his things, his movements frantic. “It’s my parents, if I don’t get back before ten, they’ll think something happened to me. My mom will freak out, and my dad, he just doesn’t sleep until I’m home.”
Ava watched him for a moment before her usual confident smirk crept across her face. Ava set the scrambler down and stood up with her hands on her hips. “Relax, I’ll get you back. You’re not lost or anything with me here.”
“You’d take me?” Kite asked, pausing mid-motion. “You don’t have to-”
“Of course, I’ll take you,” Ava said, standing and brushing her hands off on her ragged pants. “You’d probably get lost without me, anyway.” “I wouldn’t-” Kite started, but Ava interrupted with a wave of her hand.
“Yeah, yeah. Save it, genius. Let’s go before your parents send a search party or something.” She grabbed a small satchel and slung it over her shoulder. her movements casual and confident as always. Kite bit his lip nervously but nodded. “Okay. Let’s go.”
Kite followed her out of the cramped apartment, his nerves starting to settle. Ava led the way with her usual mix of confidence and carefree attitude, her tangled brown hair bouncing slightly as she moved. The streets of Horizon Heights were quieter now, the vibrant energy of the city beginning to dim as the evening wore on. The holographic advertisements above still shimmered brightly, casting flickering lights onto the reflective surfaces of the buildings, hover cars and streets.
“Hey, thanks for doing this,” Kite said as they walked. He glanced at Ava, who was skipping slightly ahead, her pinkish skin glowing faintly in the ambient light. “No big deal,” Ava replied with a shrug, glancing back at him. “It’s kind of fun showing you around. You’re like…my project now or something.”
Kite raised an eyebrow. “Your project?” “Yeah,” Ava said with a grin. “Gotta teach the tech whiz how to actually get around. Can’t have you hiding in some workshop all the time.” Kite chuckled, despite himself. “Fair enough.”
They continued through the labyrinth of alleys and narrow walkways, Ava’s familiarity with the area evident in the way she navigated without hesitation. As they walked, Kite’s initial panic gave way to curiosity, his eyes lingering on the futuristic architecture and the occasional glimpses of the bustling city life above. He realized how little he actually knew about Horizon Heights, despite living in its shadow all his life.
After a while, Ava stopped at a junction where a large metal grate led to a descending path. She pointed ahead. “This’ll take us back down to the undercity. You’ll be home before your parents even start to worry.”
Kite peered down the path, the faint hum of machinery echoing up from below. He turned to Ava. “Thanks, Ava. Really. I appreciate it.”
“Don’t sweat it,” she said, giving him a playful nudge on the arm. “But you owe me some tinkering time next time we hang out. “Deal,” Kite replied with a grin.
As they made their way down the path, Kite couldn’t help but feel a sense of gratitude toward Ava. She was loud, unpredictable, and sometimes downright strange, but she’d quickly become someone he could trust. And that meant everything to him.
Ava and Kite stepped onto the descending path, their footsteps clinking against the metal grating beneath them. The hum of distant machinery echoed faintly in the air, a constant reminder of the undercity’s industrial heartbeat. The dim light from overhead fixtures flickered intermittently, casting elongated shadows along the walls. The path ahead twisted into a maze-like descent, flanked by exposed pipes that hissed occasionally, releasing bursts of steam.
“So,” Ava started, her voice breaking the rhythmic clatter of their footsteps, “you really thought I’d let you wander around up here all by yourself, huh?” Kite glanced at her, a sheepish smile creeping across his face. “Well, you seemed like the type to just laugh and let me get lost for fun.”
Ava gasped in mock offense, clutching her chest dramatically. “Wow. That’s what you think of me? I’m wounded, Kite. Deeply wounded.”
Kite chuckled, shaking his head. “Okay, maybe not. But still… thanks. I didn’t know the city above was this… big. Or confusing.”
“It is,” Ava admitted, skipping ahead a few steps and then turning to walk backward, facing him. Her tangled hair bounced lightly as she moved, and the faint pink hue of her skin glowed in the dim light. “It’s a maze if you don’t know where you’re going. But stick with me, and you’ll be fine.”
Kite shoved his hands into his jacket pockets, his pace steady. “You seem to know this place like the back of your hand. How’d you figure it all out?”
Ava shrugged, still walking backward. “I’ve lived here my whole life. Well, as long as I can remember, anyway. You kinda just… figure things out when you’ve got nowhere else to go.”
Her tone shifted slightly, a fleeting hint of vulnerability slipping through her usual bravado. Kite noticed but didn’t press her on it. Instead, he nodded thoughtfully. “I guess that makes sense. I mean, I’ve only ever known the undercity. My parents always said the Heights were too dangerous to even think about coming up here.” “They’re not wrong,” Ava said, spinning back around to face the path ahead. “But it’s not all bad. You’ve just gotta know where to look. And who to avoid.”
Kite frowned, curious. “Like who?” Ava turned her head, glancing at him over her shoulder. “The drones, for one. And anyone either wearing a corporate badge or bounty hunter attire. Trust me, they’re not your friends. If you see one, it’s best to just act like you’re supposed to be here. Or, you know, run.”
Kite chuckled quietly and nodded, filing the information away. “Got it. Avoid drones and hunters. Noted.” They walked in companionable silence for a moment, the sound of their footsteps filling the air. The path began to slope more steeply, and the air grew warmer, carrying the metallic tang of the undercity below.
“So,” Ava said suddenly, breaking the quiet, “what’s it like? Having, you know… parents.” Kite blinked, caught off guard by the question. “What do you mean?”
Ava shrugged again; her voice more subdued. “You know. Parents. A family. I’ve seen how you talk about them, how worried you are about getting home on time. Must be nice, having someone who cares that much.”
Kite hesitated, unsure how to respond. “I mean… yeah, it’s nice. They’re great. My mom’s always looking out for me, and my dad… he’s tough and quiet, but he’s got a good heart. I guess I’m lucky.”
Ava nodded slowly; her gaze fixed ahead. “Yeah. Lucky.” Kite watched her, sensing there was more she wasn’t saying. “What about you? Do you have… anyone?” Ava let out a short laugh, but it was devoid of her usual humor. “Not really. It’s just me. Always has been. Well, except for the odd person here and there who lets me crash with them for a bit. But they usually get tired of me pretty quick.”
Kite frowned. “That’s not fair. You’re not… tiring.” Ava smirked, her usual bravado returning. “Don’t go getting all sentimental on me, Kite. You’ll ruin my reputation out here.” Kite smiled, but the weight of her words lingered in his mind. He couldn’t imagine not having his parents, not having a home to go back to. It made him look at Ava in a new light, behind her confident exterior was someone who had fought to survive on her own in a world that didn’t care about her.
“You know,” Kite said after a moment, “if you ever need a place to go, you could always come by my house. My mom makes enough mushroom soup for an army.” Ava laughed, a genuine, light sound that made the warm air feel less oppressive. “Mushroom soup, huh? Tempting. I’ll keep that in mind.”
They reached a section of the path where the metal grating turned into worn concrete steps. The faint hum of machinery grew louder, accompanied by the distant sounds of the undercity’s grinding gears, the murmur of voices, and the occasional sharp clang of tools.
“We’re almost there,” Ava said, glancing back at Kite. “See? I told you I’d get you home in one piece.” Kite smiled. “Yeah. You did.”
As they descended the final stretch, Kite realized he felt lighter somehow, the tension of the day fading away. Ava had a way of making the world feel a little less daunting, and for that, he was grateful. Even as they reached the familiar, grimy streets of the undercity, the memory of their shared laughter and quiet moments of understanding stayed with him, a bright spot in the shadowed city they called home.
As they stepped off the last set of stairs and into the undercity, Kite glanced around at the familiar surroundings. The dim glow of neon lights spilled across the cracked concrete, reflecting in shallow puddles that shimmered with traces of oil. The air was heavy with the metallic tang of rust and the faint, acrid scent of burnt wiring.
Ava paused beside him, her hands on her hips as she surveyed the area. “Well, here we are. Back in the land of grime and glory.” She turned to Kite with a grin. “Not as fancy as Horizon Heights, but it’s got charm, right?”
Kite chuckled, the corners of his mouth twitching upward. “Charm’s one way to put it. Home’s another.” Ava smirked, nudging him with her elbow. “Fair point. So, where’s your place from here?”
Kite gestured down a narrow alleyway lined with mismatched, corrugated metal walls. Faint chatter and the clanging of tools drifted from the workshops and makeshift stores that dotted the path. “Just down there. Not too far.”
“Cool,” Ava said, falling into step beside him. She glanced at him, her expression softening slightly. “So… did you have fun today?” Kite smiles softly before answering “Yeah,” Kite admitted, a genuine warmth in his voice. “It was... different. In a good way. I didn’t think I’d end up in the Heights, let alone get to see all that stuff. And…” He hesitated, his eyes flicking toward her. “Thanks for showing me around.”
Ava gave him a lopsided grin. “Hey, someone’s gotta show you how to live a little. You’ve got potential, Kite. Can’t let it go to waste.” Kite laughed lightly. “What’s that supposed to mean?” “It means,” Ava said, spinning to walk backward in front of him, “you’ve got a brain that works in ways most people can’t even dream of. You just need someone to push you out of your comfort zone every now and then. Lucky for you, I’m great at that.”
He shook his head, a small smile tugging at his lips. “You’re something else, you know that?” Ava stopped walking, letting Kite pass her, before jogging to catch up. “Yeah, I get that a lot.” She glanced at him sideways, her tone growing quieter. “But seriously, Kite, you’re not like most people down here. You’ve got a shot at something bigger.”
Kite shrugged, kicking a loose bolt across the pavement. “Bigger doesn’t mean better. Sometimes, I think it’s safer to just stick with what you know.” Ava opened her mouth to respond but seemed to think better of it. Instead, she tilted her head toward the alley. “C’mon, let’s get you home now.”
They walked in companionable silence for a while, the noise of the undercity filling the gaps in their conversation. Ava occasionally darted ahead to inspect some peculiar object, a broken drone, a discarded piece of machinery, before falling back in step with Kite. Finally, they reached the entrance to Kite’s apartment, a towering structure cobbled together from various materials that didn’t quite match. The flickering sign above the door read “Block 37” in sputtering neon.
“Well,” Ava said, stopping at the threshold, “this is you.” “Yeah,” Kite replied, glancing up at the building before turning to her. “Thanks again, Ava. For everything today.” “Don’t mention it,” she said with a casual wave. Then, as if on impulse, she added, “Hey, maybe we could hang out again sometime. You know, tinker with some stuff, explore a bit more…”
Kite’s smile widened. “I’d like that.” “Good,” Ava said, her voice taking on its usual confident lilt. “Next time, we’re building something that can fly.” Kite laughed. “Sure. Sounds like a plan.”
As he stepped up to the building and climbed the worn stairs to his apartment, Kite found himself replaying the day’s events in his mind. Meeting Ava, exploring the Heights, and seeing the world from a perspective he never thought he’d have, it all felt surreal. When he reached the door to his home, he paused for a moment, glancing back down the hallway. Ava was gone, already swallowed up by the labyrinthine streets of the undercity. But Kite knew this wouldn’t be the last time they’d cross paths.
He pushed open the door, the familiar aroma of mushroom soup wafting out to greet him. His parents’ voices echoed softly from the small kitchen, and he felt a wave of comfort wash over him. Despite the grime and chaos of the undercity, there was something grounding about coming back to the people who cared about him.
And yet, a part of him couldn’t shake the thrill of the day’s adventures, the pull of the unknown. Ava’s words lingered in his mind: ''You’ve got a shot at something bigger.'' For the first time, Kite began to wonder what might lie beyond the walls of the only world he’d ever known.