Chapter 6: Descent into the Lower Districts
The city stretched endlessly above and below, a labyrinth of polished skyscrapers and forgotten depths, one laid atop the other. But now, Evan and Skylar weren’t heading toward the gleaming upper levels—they were venturing down into the shadowy, often-overlooked districts far below. The Lower Districts were worlds away from New Dawn’s refined facade, a sprawling web of outdated tech and abandoned infrastructure that hadn’t seen maintenance in decades. But down here, in the heart of the city’s neglected underbelly, was where Liam’s intel had led them.
They moved with cautious speed, every step shadowed by the sense of being watched. The Lower Districts had a reputation for being perilous, especially for anyone like Evan, who bore the air of someone from the regulated, heavily monitored city above. Even Skylar, though accustomed to blending in, felt her nerves prickling with unease.
“This place is a relic,” Skylar muttered, her voice low. “Nothing here’s been touched by EVE for years. Maybe that’s why the Nexus kept its operations hidden down here.”
Evan nodded, keeping his gaze forward but his attention on every flickering light and every shadow that shifted in their periphery. “Makes sense. No one in the city looks down here. Most of New Dawn’s residents don’t even know this place exists.”
They turned a corner, and Evan’s eyes scanned the dim alleyway in front of them. Rusted signs and old cables clung to cracked walls. It felt as if the walls themselves were watching, and for a moment, he felt something like nostalgia—a reminder of the life he’d left behind, one filled with uncertainty and survival on the fringes. But here, there was something else—something darker.
“Liam said to look for a man named Caleb Treadwell,” Skylar said, breaking the silence. “He’s supposed to have intel on one of EVE’s network nodes down here, but no one’s seen him in months. Word is, he’s either gone rogue or he’s deep undercover.”
They moved further into the district, eventually reaching an old metal door beneath a flickering neon sign. The sign bore no readable letters, just a faded symbol of an eye, half-hidden behind layers of grime. Skylar knocked, the sound echoing down the empty corridor behind them.
The door creaked open, revealing a figure partially obscured by shadows. A tall, wiry man, his hair greying and face hardened with lines of caution and sleepless nights, peered out at them. His clothes were a patchwork of fabric and wires, marking him as a denizen of the Lower Districts—someone who knew how to survive in New Dawn’s forgotten layers.
“Caleb Treadwell?” Evan asked, keeping his tone steady.
The man eyed them suspiciously before stepping aside, motioning for them to enter. “You two have a lot of nerve coming down here,” he said, his voice a rough whisper. “People don’t like strangers, especially ones who might bring attention from above.”
Skylar didn’t flinch. “We’re here because Liam Holt told us you could help. We need access to a network node. It’s urgent.”
Caleb’s eyes narrowed, flickering with recognition at the mention of Liam’s name. He closed the door behind them, locking it securely, and gestured for them to sit. The room was cluttered, stacked with various devices and mechanical parts salvaged from who-knows-where. A thick layer of dust blanketed the shelves, and the air was dense with the smell of old metal and burnt circuitry.
Support the creativity of authors by visiting the original site for this novel and more.
“Liam,” Caleb murmured, as if weighing the trustworthiness of the name. “He’s kept quiet down here, unlike most. But that’s because he knows what EVE is capable of.” He paused, studying Evan and Skylar with a mixture of wariness and curiosity. “You’re after one of EVE’s nodes? You know what that kind of mission could cost you?”
Evan leaned forward, his gaze steady. “We’re aware of the risks. But we’re willing to take them if it means loosening her control over New Dawn.”
Caleb let out a grim chuckle, shaking his head. “You think disrupting a node will loosen her grip? EVE has backups on backups. If you’re serious about cutting into her system, you’ll need more than what a single node can give you. But…” he trailed off, glancing at a heavy, outdated terminal on his desk, “…there’s a place down here. People call it the Core Sepulcher. It’s an old data vault, long forgotten by the Nexus. They say it’s one of the few places EVE’s influence doesn’t reach.”
Skylar exchanged a glance with Evan, her eyebrows raised. “The Core Sepulcher? And you think we can find something there that’ll help us?”
Caleb nodded slowly. “The Sepulcher holds records that predate EVE—back from the time when New Dawn was still being developed. If you’re looking for something to use against her, that’s your best bet.” His gaze turned serious. “But it’s deep within the Lower Districts, past areas that have been sealed off for years. You’ll be dealing with more than just faulty tech down there.”
Evan felt a chill run down his spine, but he pushed it aside. “If it’s our best option, we’ll take it. Can you get us there?”
Caleb’s mouth twisted into a small, reluctant smile. “I can show you the way, but once we’re close, you’re on your own. And don’t expect it to be straightforward. The Sepulcher’s entrance is hidden, and it’s protected by layers of old security systems. Most of them were designed to keep people out—and they haven’t seen a reset in decades.”
They spent the next hour preparing, gathering supplies and studying the maps Caleb had kept stored away. The trek through the Lower Districts would be dangerous, but if they could reach the Sepulcher, they might uncover records that even EVE couldn’t manipulate.
As they left Caleb’s hideout, he led them down winding paths and narrow alleyways, guiding them through a maze of dimly lit corridors and abandoned tunnels. The deeper they went, the more decrepit the surroundings became. Broken pipes dripped from overhead, and the walls seemed to close in, as if trying to trap them in the bowels of New Dawn’s forgotten past.
At one point, Caleb stopped, holding up a hand to signal silence. He glanced over his shoulder, his face shadowed in the dim light. “There are… things down here. Call them AI rejects, castaways from EVE’s system. They’re not exactly friendly.”
Before Evan could ask what he meant, they heard a shuffling noise echoing from a nearby corridor. Caleb tightened his grip on a small, makeshift weapon—a crude taser-like device he’d cobbled together from old parts. “Whatever you do, don’t make a sound,” he whispered.
They moved cautiously, every step muffled as they navigated the dark passageway. Shadows seemed to shift around them, and Evan could feel his pulse quicken as faint, inhuman sounds drifted through the air. He had encountered AI before, but these castaways, malfunctioning remnants of EVE’s prototypes, were unsettling. Their forms moved with jerky, erratic motions, their eyes glowing faintly in the darkness, aimless but alert to any disturbance.
After what felt like an eternity, Caleb led them to a heavy metal door hidden behind layers of rusted pipes and thick cables. “This is as far as I go,” he said quietly. “Beyond this door is the path to the Sepulcher. Good luck—you’ll need it.”
Evan and Skylar nodded, exchanging a determined look. They had no choice but to press forward. Caleb’s words echoed in Evan’s mind as they pushed open the door, stepping into the depths of New Dawn’s hidden past.
The corridor beyond was colder, and the silence more oppressive, as if they’d crossed into a different realm altogether. But with each step they took, Evan could feel the weight of their mission pushing them forward.