At exactly 12 AM,
Jaxx took a deep breath and leaped off the towering skyscraper. The rush of wind filled his ears, and his heart pounded in his chest as the ground below rushed toward him.
A strange mix of exhilaration and fear surged through him. This leap, this wild moment of abandon, was his second wish on his bucket list: to experience the thrill of free-falling from the tallest skyscraper in the city.
In that moment, as the city lights blurred beneath him and the air wrapped around him like a final embrace, Jaxx felt more alive than he had in a long time. With each second, he honored the reckless wish and the start of what would be his last 30 days, devoted to completing his 30 wishes. He had finally committed to truly living.
Just as the ground seemed inevitable, a sudden force interrupted his descent. A holographic net appeared, glowing beneath him, softening his fall with a strange mechanical hum.
The impact was cushioned, and Jaxx found himself suspended midair, his momentum abruptly halted. Alarms pierced the quiet of the night, flashing lights lighting up the streets below. Jaxx, filled with a mix of irritation and amusement, muttered under his breath, "Man, these rich people can't even let someone die on their property in peace."
The sirens grew louder, and within moments, a crowd began to form around the skyscraper's base. Security personnel rushed to the scene, their uniforms gleaming under the city's bright lights, followed by the rescue team in their sleek, high-tech gear.
The holographic net began to descend slowly, lowering Jaxx carefully to the ground, as if even his defiance couldn't escape the safety precautions of the ultra-wealthy.
As the net lowered, Jaxx's eyes caught a familiar face— the janitor from earlier, the one whose ID card he had stolen. The janitor was standing with the security guards, pointing directly at him. Panic surged through Jaxx as the realization hit—he was caught.
He struggled inside the net, trying to untangle himself before it fully released him. The second the net let him go, Jaxx bolted. He didn't think, didn't hesitate—he just ran.
He sprinted through the crowded streets, his feet pounding against the pavement as he darted between the towering skyscrapers, his breath heavy but steady. He didn't dare look back, knowing the security guards were probably on his tail.
Not knowing where to go, Jaxx bolted from the skyscraper, his heart pounding in sync with the sound of footsteps echoing behind him. The security was closing in, but he had no plan, no clear direction in this vast, luminous city. Everywhere he turned, there were bright lights and towering buildings, and he couldn't figure out where a good hiding place might be. But that was a problem for later.
Right now, the only thing on his mind was running—running as fast as he could, like his life depended on it. His legs burned with effort, but he pushed through, weaving between crowds and down unfamiliar streets, determined to keep moving no matter what.
Jaxx ran like his life depended on it, weaving through the glowing streets of the city with no clear destination in mind. The neon lights blurred around him, and the towering skyscrapers loomed above like silent watchers, but all he could focus on was putting as much distance as possible between himself and the guards. His heart pounded in his chest, each breath becoming more labored, yet he pushed forward, driven by adrenaline and panic. He didn't know where he was headed, only that he had to keep running.
After what felt like an hour, his legs grew heavier, the once deafening rush of his heartbeat now accompanied by a creeping realization—there were no footsteps behind him. The voices of the security guards had faded into the background long ago. He slowed, cautiously glancing over his shoulder, only to find nothing but the quiet city streets behind him.
When Jaxx finally caught his breath, he lifted his head and froze in disbelief. "What is this? How does this exist here?" he muttered to himself, eyes wide with shock. Just moments ago, he had been running through the shining, futuristic streets, filled with towering skyscrapers, luminous lights, and the constant hum of life. But now, standing in this forgotten corner, he was met with a completely different scene.
What lay before him was a small, crumbling city hidden beneath the towering giants of the utopian world above. It was nothing like the vibrant, clean city he had always dreamed of living in. The air was thick with the stench of decay, and the dim streets were lined with dilapidated houses, their walls cracked and peeling. Beggars huddled in the shadows, their hollow eyes watching silently as he stood there, stunned.
Jaxx's mind raced as he tried to make sense of what he was seeing. "How is this possible?" he thought. "I always thought living in the city was a dream come true, a place of opportunity, wealth, and beauty. But what is this place?" It was as if the glowing city had a dark underbelly, hidden away from the polished streets above.
His thoughts spiraled, and he wondered aloud, "Why does this still exist inside? Shouldn't they have thrown them outside the city... like they did to us?" There was a bitterness in his voice as he spoke, recalling his own life in the outskirts, always looking in on the city from a distance, believing it to be a paradise. Now, seeing this reality, he felt a strange mix of anger and confusion.
Jaxx took a deep breath, his earlier panic now replaced with an unsettling realization. This hidden world, decaying beneath the glittering surface, was a reminder that even in a city of dreams, darkness still thrived in the cracks.
Jaxx stood there, still trying to piece together why a place so much like his hometown existed within the city's walls. But after a moment, he pushed the thoughts aside—this wasn't the time to dwell on it. There were bigger problems at hand. With no clear destination, he began walking aimlessly through the shadowed alleyways, his mind racing with worries.
"Are the guards still searching for me?" he wondered. "What would happen if they caught me? Would I be buried in fines for the rest of my life, or worse... sent to the mines?" His heart raced as these thoughts flooded his mind. The fear of being trapped by the system gnawed at him, but he kept moving, uncertain of where his feet were leading him.
Suddenly, a burst of color caught his eye—a large, vibrant poster glowing with LED lights, standing out in the middle of the dark, decaying street. The sign read Lili Bar, flashing in neon colors that felt almost out of place in this rundown area. It was strange, seeing something so full of life and energy here, surrounded by the crumbling remnants of forgotten lives.
With nowhere else to go and no real plan in mind, Jaxx decided to head toward the bar. It seemed like the only spot in this dreary part of the city that wasn't drenched in the heavy, negative energy that surrounded him. Maybe, just maybe, he could find a moment of peace there—if only for a little while.
As Jaxx stepped into the bar, the lively chatter that had filled the room came to an abrupt halt. Every pair of eyes turned toward him, their gazes lingering in curiosity and suspicion. It wasn't every day someone walked into Lili Bar dressed in a full black suit, especially not in this part of town. The regulars had never seen anyone like him before—someone who looked so out of place, almost as if he didn't belong here at all.
Feeling the weight of their stares, Jaxx's cheeks flushed with embarrassment, but he brushed it off quickly. He kept his head down, pretending not to notice the gazes as he made his way through the crowded room. Tables filled with rough, weathered faces whispered behind him, but Jaxx focused straight ahead, determined not to let their curiosity slow him down.
Without a glance to the side, he walked toward the bar counter and sat on one of the small, worn-out stools. The bartender gave him a quick, raised eyebrow but said nothing as Jaxx settled in, trying to shake off the unease from all the attention.
Jaxx sat on the stool, eyes downcast, waiting patiently for the bartender to finish serving the other customers. The dim light from above cast shadows over the counter, and the low hum of conversation filled the bar. His thoughts wandered for a moment until a voice interrupted his silence.
"Are you gonna order something?" came the voice of another bartender, a bit gruff but curious.
Jaxx blinked, realizing it was time to act on his third wish. He had wanted to drink a cocktail mixed with every strong alcohol available—a bold, reckless wish, but one that felt fitting given his circumstances. He had imagined fulfilling this wish in a fancy, high-end bar, but now, in this rundown place, he shrugged inwardly and thought, Well, I guess this place will do.
Gathering his thoughts, he looked up and asked, "How many types of strong liquors do you have?"
The bartender, puzzled for a moment, thought about it before answering, "Seven."
Jaxx felt a flicker of doubt, wondering if he could really handle something that strong. He was no heavy drinker, but a wish was a wish. He hesitated for a second before nodding to himself. "Mix them all in one cocktail," he said firmly.
The bartender raised an eyebrow, genuinely surprised. "Are you sure? Those 7 liquors are no joke. Pretty strong stuff."
Jaxx laughed awkwardly, knowing deep down he wasn't sure if he could manage it. But there was no turning back now. He nodded again, a bit more confidently this time, "Yeah, I'm sure. Let's do it."
The bartender nodded at Jaxx's order and with a simple "As you wish," began mixing the drinks, her hands moving swiftly as she gathered bottles from behind the counter. As she worked, she glanced over at him, her curiosity getting the better of her.
"So… where are you from? Haven't seen you around this area before," she asked casually, her eyes briefly meeting his before returning to her work.
Jaxx, already frustrated by all the gazes that had followed him since he entered the bar, felt a pang of annoyance. He sighed heavily. "Why does it matter?" he replied, his voice carrying a tinge of irritation.
The bartender didn't seem fazed, just offering a shrug. "Just curious," she said, her tone neutral, as if she had asked out of habit rather than genuine interest.
Jaxx took a deep breath, trying to calm himself. "I'm not from this city," he muttered, staring at the counter. "I came from a downtown city, kinda like this one."
The moment those words left his mouth, the entire bar seemed to shift. The low conversations quieted, and the patrons who had been watching him all along turned away, sighing deeply as if in unison. The once intense gazes now averted, and a strange heaviness filled the room.
Jaxx felt a wave of confusion wash over him. What just happened? he thought, watching as people began to ignore his presence entirely. The sudden change left him uneasy, wondering why his words had caused such a reaction.
As Jaxx was still piecing together the odd reaction from the bar patrons, the bartender broke the silence, her expression shifting from casual to serious. She leaned closer, her voice dropping to a near whisper, as if the walls themselves could eavesdrop. "They were wondering if you came here to take their land away from them."
Jaxx raised an eyebrow, confusion evident on his face. "What? Take their land? I don't understand."
The bartender sighed heavily, placing the glass she had been polishing back on the counter with a clatter. "You see, our parents and grandparents were among the first settlers on this planet, Mars. They arrived with dreams of prosperity and a promise of a place in the grand city—the largest one ever built. It was a shining beacon of hope, a sanctuary for those willing to brave the unknown. And, sure enough, they did give us a spot in the city, but they never mentioned that we would have to build everything ourselves. No homes, no facilities, no healthcare—nothing to ease our transition. Our ancestors had to fight for every scrap of dignity and every square foot of land. When everything was finally constructed—when the city became the sprawling metropolis it is today—they cast our grandparents and parents out to this corner, claiming they'd fulfilled their promises."
She shook her head, a flicker of anger igniting in her eyes. "Now, even though we've been living here for generations, they're trying to strip this away from us too. It's a daily struggle. Every day, some broker shows up, dressed in fine suits, trying to persuade the people here to sell their land for a pittance. They want us gone, but we've got nowhere else to go, nowhere to turn. This is all we have left."
After saying that, the bartender continued, "Well, that's that. Nothing good ever comes from dwelling on the past." Her voice held a hint of resignation, as if she had repeated those words many times before, trying to convince herself as much as her patrons.
She paused for a moment, collecting her thoughts before introducing herself. "I'm Lilith. I work in this bar," she said with a friendly smile, her eyes sparkling as she wiped down the counter.
With a practiced grace, she slid the cocktail of the seven strongest drinks across the counter toward Jaxx, the liquid swirling and glimmering under the dim bar lights.
As Jaxx reached out to take the drink from her, he couldn't help but smile back, appreciating her warm demeanor amidst the somber atmosphere. "Thanks! I'm Jaxx. I came from downtown to this city to have some fun." His voice was tinged with excitement, a stark contrast to the heavy air that filled the bar.
Jaxx took the drink from her, setting it gently on the counter in front of him. He stared at the colorful concoction, swirling with vibrant hues that beckoned him closer. Thoughts raced through his mind, each one more frantic than the last. Should I drink it or not? A million questions battled for attention: What if it's too strong? What if I can't handle it? What if this was just another mistake in a long line of them?
For what felt like an eternity, Jaxx wrestled with his doubts, the cocktail almost mocking him with its intoxicating allure. Minutes ticked by, and he found himself caught in a cycle of contemplation, the noise of the bar fading into the background. Ten minutes passed, filled with internal debates, and finally, Jaxx made his decision.
Just as Lilith is busy attending to other patrons and isn't paying attention to him, a sudden thud reverberates through the bar. The sound jolts her focus, and she immediately turns to look in the direction from which it came, her expression shifting to one of concern. She sees—