In a faraway land on the mainland in the east, sits a thriving tropical peninsula. Pure white beaches stretch themselves forever along the coastal premises, until they slowly lapse into the calm waters around them. Yet, there is a section of the peninsula that narrows greatly, with the clear blue waters of the bay on one side, and the dark blue waters of the ocean pressing on the other. Within the clutches of these waters, sits an overcrowded city. The city is that of Cepertine and it is inhabited by people who call themselves Neandelerians.

Polished skyscrapers and white domed buildings rise in the horizon, all placed with the precision of a computer chip at the city's center. Bright lights arrayed in ordered bouquets flash between the soothing colors of cerulean holograms that blink across the open sky. Further within the city, chain companies grow like wild vines all over, squelching every bit of available land. Advertisements for beach excursions, guns, and sunglasses peacefully clutter the noise around them. Dune buggies below race down streets with their naked metal frames, heading out toward the jungles outskirts. However, the daily facade of business was about the only thing peaceful in the city. Pastel colors of minty greens, light blues, and soft pinks all blended with the city's blood red rivalry; one that existed between those who live on the ground, in the sky, and under its waters.

A shadow casts itself over the city below, and the sun is eclipsed by the outline of a Cepertine sky platform. It sits like a large board game in the clouds held up by giant floats and large engines. Only the platform's few glistening skyscrapers have visibility to those below, towering over the blockade of walls that kept its inhabitants from falling to the ground.

The indelible hum from large sky platform engines overruns the rapid footsteps of a boy named Tayt, around 16 in age. Fake palm trees and lightweight buildings whiz by, as he flies past the locals around him. It seemed there was always someone in his way as he zigzagged through the people walking on the sidewalk. The sunlight made him feel like passing out, but it would not be long until he reached the shade of the ground beneath him.

After taking a few shortcuts, Tayt arrives at a series of tollbooths waiting to send long lines of people to the ground below. A flashing set of turquoise lights give notions of a twenty-minute wait.

“Ah, bummer.”

A look of despair grows across my face. I look at the masses of people getting in my way again. I was late for school, but right on time with my habits. I step out to the side of the line for another look. Yep. I'm late. I probably shouldn't care. I'm an average student anyways, so no one should notice me too bad.

All this waiting I do is just part of the price tag I pay for living up here. The sky platforms are for those of us who can't afford a “real home” on the ground below. I'm at the ropes. My sky platform is too corrupt to fund its own school and every day I'm forced to dive to one below. I look to my front again. Ropes hiss as they reel people to-and-fro the designated landing zones. The noises aren't getting closer to me. People need to learn to hurry up.

“What a rip off.”

A few random people walk down the lines passing out free cigarettes and jump-tokens along with advertising fliers. Shallow and worthless conversation forms between the small circles of strangers and I try to keep to myself.

“This is insanity,” I say under my breath. “Hey. Token guy. I'm buying one today.”

I buy a token and shove it my pocket. I grab a smoke for myself. It was free and is probably the only kindness I would taste for the day. It was just what I needed. I take the cigarette and head down the line for a trade. Maybe someone would give me their spot in line.

“Hey cuts… …Trades...? Anyone cuts?”

“Hey get back man.”

“Don't cut your time short!”

“Trades anyone?”

At last, a voice gives me a break. “I’ll give ya trades.”

I nod at some guy, who pushes others back to make room for me. People moan and I don't even want to look at them. I take another peak. Only ten minutes away now. Much better.

The toll booth was in front of me. I put my gloves on. I try to get myself ready to jump without looking stupid. A harness is taken from my bag and I attach my equipment. I fasten some safety straps and adjust myself to get comfortable. Before I get settled, a shout comes from the line next to me.

“Tayt! It’s me, Ellen. You know...? We live near each other.”

I wave and then give her a curious shrug.

.“I have cuts, if you can lend me your harness after,” yells Ellen with hands over her mouth. It was definitely worth it. She was next in line and had forgotten her things.

I don't hesitate and run over to Ellen. People moan. I drag my bag along with me and arrive just in time. A rope is reeled up the sky platform ledge. I watch it dangle like a viper ready to hook itself to me. I shove my hand in my pockets and pull out a few tokens. I only had to buy one today. My parents never give me enough for the stupid things. I toss my coins into the funnel. The booth operator nods.

A mechanical voice buzzes through a speaker in the window.

“Jumper ready – brace yourself.”

With the quick click by my waist, I ready myself to go. Two small gates open allowing me to jump off the ledge. I dangle like an idiot and people laugh. The buzzer sounds off again, telling me to get moving because there was a line.

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“Thank you and no thank you,” I say. I look back at Ellen. She shakes her head with a smile. She didn't want to head down either.

“Get a life,” she says jokingly.

I feel my body move uneasily along the edge and the tension in my gloves. The wind suddenly picks up, no longer restrained. A tickle goes up my spine and I anticipate the fall. My eyes refocus on blurring skyscrapers below and to the one roof I had to guide myself to so that I could land safely. Nothing too complicated for a sky dweller like me.

I let my body free fall and tip into gravity. Instantly wind rushes against my hair and body. My clothes shake violently. I turn myself around in the air like a skydiver and steady myself onto my target. I close my arms to gain more speed. The thrill used to tickle me when I became weightless. Now, its just a few gasps for air at the end when I hold my breath. Then, its over.

Everything ends in a flash. My body jerks to a stop a few feet above the roof of a skyscraper. The harness takes most of the recoil and the rope operator carefully lowers my body the last remaining feet. They waste so much money with the ropes and it's stupid. I guess who ever profits from the nonsense doesn't think so. I latch my harness to the rope and watch it head up to Ellen. Should would give it back to me at school.

I stare across the padded surface of a Cepertine skyscraper. I was on one of the flat ones that weren't suckered into a shopping dome on top. A thin film of yellow spray paint covers the heavy-duty material below me and I follow it off the padding. I make my way along the padded cushion, as it bounces from my weight. I jump off the edge, leaving shock in my heels. You're supposed to get down carefully, but no one follows the rules.

The longest elevator ride in the world takes me to the lobby. I walk out bumping elbows, The morning rush puts my claustrophobia to the test. I smell coffee and breakfast sandwiches in the air, then I pass the familiar leather cushions and trendy sofas. Advertisements hang on the walls like movie posters and the whole place sounds like the inside of a mall, but it isn't.

I make my way to the lobby exit

The city's atmosphere is shoved down my throat when I walk outside. I look back at the rotating glass doors, wishing I enjoyed the air conditioning a little longer. Hot air strikes me in the face again, as passing cars whoosh by on the street. Neon slogans, noise pollution, and television screens built into the sidewalk beg for my attention. However, the only thing that was worthy of my attention were the people around me. I watch, looking for certain kinds of people who would threaten my well-being. My bullies lurk around. Usually they're my classmates wearing the company logo FauX – the dominant fashion empire of the ground. The stress of being a foreign parasite never leaves me alone. Never. I'm also from the sky so I have to deal with that. I can be sensitive at times too. It's triple the fun. Not. Time to head to school

I walk into the school entrance.

A short time later I find myself glued to a desk in the classroom. It was history class where about half of us are transfers from the sky. More importantly, it's the class before lunch. I rub my sweaty forearms on the cold surface of my desk. I hate this class and our instructor is just another worthless ground dweller who hates us. I bury my face in my shirt sleeves. I always bring a sweatshirt in case it gets too cold in here. They have the air-conditioner on max all the time.

I take another look at the classroom. The instructors cabinets were rubbed with graffiti again. Vandalism is everywhere. From the gum wads to the pencil stabbing competition on the table. There's not a single extra desk in here either, so it's straight to detention. No corner posing. I let out a sigh. I'm stuck here until lunch..

A touch screen is turned on by a voice command as the instructor enters the room. Immediately, all the students rise except for us sky dwellers. No respect given, no respect earned.

The sound of many books hitting plastic desks fills the room and zippers open a variety of branded bags. I open my book to a page filled with my drawings. I replaced the cover so it looks like I'm keeping busy. I listen to the instructor.

The class starts with some mindless rant about how great the ground dwellers are as usual. Some rant about how they once ruled an empire by the blade of their double-headed axes. An emphasis is placed on how they were the first inhabitants, before the modern arrival of the sea domes and sky platforms. Most of the lessons were worthless for learning though. It's just mindless information meant to turn us into loyal consumers of FauX and other companies. However, the classroom isn't completely devoid of purpose.

If there was one thing that I learned in the class, it was that the sky dwellers had a knack for finding trouble, or maybe it was the trouble that found us? Anyways it isn't long before my daily harassment starts.

“Get your nasty piss shadow off my desk,” sneers a voice from behind me.

I try to follow some worthless advice by ignoring the voice. It just pushes the voice to try even harder. The game was just warming up now and this player was the fun it was looking for. A hand grips my shoulder.

“I said get your nasty p-p-piss shadow off, loser.”

I feel spritzes on the back of my neck. I wipes the droplets of saliva from the side of my ear too. A hand grabs my shoulder. I try to shake it off. I feel the hand grab my shoulder again, this time giving a couple of tantalizing squeezes

“Back off!” I say.

“Back off! Back off into my dick,” mock my bullies.

The humiliating anger rises in my gut. It rises with every chuckle I hear behind me. Suddenly, I hear a familiar noise. I watch as my bag glides across cheap tile. It comes to a stop, halfway across the room.

I get up to get my bag, only I'm stopped by another voice.

“Sit down Tayt,” says a stern face. The instructor of the lesson glares at me.

I refuse to listen and grip tightly to my bag. My hands were sweaty and I head back to my desk.

The game is just too much fun for one and another student joins in on the feast.

“No, he probably just can't understand from that primitive fag farm he's from. What's it called again Lam... Lam-Loser?” A few more chuckles follow.

“I don’t care what it’s called!” I shout. Who even cares about Lam Lathi? Some tribe over there across the world I was adopted from. The humiliation had already coated my fists with sweat. I sulk my posture and try to get through the short time I had left until lunch. I hold my bag and stand at my desk. I didn't want to sit. I wanted to wait until the lunch bell.

“Sit down Tayt!” repeats the instructor.

“We saved you a spot,” smirks a familiar face, playing with my wobbly desk.

“Sit now!” commands the instructor

“Sit boy sit.”

“Ooof eh eh eh,” jeer human dog noises.

“Sit down now, Tayt Milonas!” yells the instructor

An alarm sounds like too many dinner bells, signaling lunch break. Without hesitation, I grab the book on my desk and burst out of the room, leaving my humiliation in the dust.

An uncomfortable worry runs up-and-down my spine as I charge into the flooded halls. It was an entirely different world, with its own set of rules. Yet, today it wasn't the fear of being pushed into a stranger, or the fact that the cafeteria door would be slammed in my face again that bothered me. Not even the lockers made me hesitate. Today, there was only one thing that made me want to cry.

I brush the formation of salty dew from my eyes. Nahlia Calihari wasn't in school today. It worried me more than hating myself for having thin skin. Hooky seemed like a good idea. Screw lunch. I'm going to Nahlia's house. Hopefully her abusive uncle hasn't beaten her to death.