Voices that seemed to sing a discordant and off-key melody echoed in Fossil's head. He was scared; the last thing he remembered was being shot in the back. He felt a horrible pain and then thought he was going to die. He felt the water filling his nostrils and even felt like he was starting to drown until he saw his hands glowing yellow through the water. Then he felt his body shoot up to the surface, perhaps as part of a reflex. After that, he only remembered images: him hitting what appeared to be soldiers, then Bee's scream, then his hands stained red, and finally him fainting in Bee's arms. Then they were running down a hallway while Alex shot to cover them. He couldn't remember much; several times, he had been jolted out of his trance when a shot hit him, only to release that energy by hitting something. It seemed as if he was absorbing the energy from the shots that were hitting him. Right now, they were running through what seemed to be a large chamber of a subway station or a hangar, and they were still being pursued. From what he could gather, the soldiers looked strange; their skin had an odd color, almost metallic green, and they wore red visors."We have to get out of here!" Alex shouted after shooting at some of the soldiers. Bee approached one of the doors that looked like an elevator."Damn it, this is encrypted!"The girl started typing digits frantically while Alex tried to keep the soldiers at bay. They were slowly getting through his shots, and time was running out. Just when they were losing hope, the elevator door opened, and the three of them rushed in. They didn't see anyone inside, and the door closed as Bee began pressing the buttons with great force and desperation. The soldiers' gunfire could still be heard a little while after that, but at least they were no longer in danger. Fossil stumbled and took a step back, then they heard a whimper. The whimper echoed in their minds."AY!"They all turned to see where the whimper came from; beneath Fossil's foot was a small creature that looked like a very large sea cucumber. They had never seen one that size. Apparently, it only whined because it then signaled them with lights, trying to communicate. Bee didn't know what to do, neither did Alex, and much less Fossil, who was just starting to regain consciousness after everything they had just gone through. The sea cucumber also looked annoyed; its body was blue, but its lights glowed red."What are we supposed to do?" Alex asked after a while. The elevator kept ascending."I don't know, Fossil is just starting to come to, although he looks less pale than before, and this thing here, we don't know what it does. Apparently, it was the one who opened the elevator in the first place."Then they both heard a voice in their minds again."Thing? I have a name. It was also very rude of you to just enter the elevator without checking who was inside. I think you're by far the rudest group I've seen today. The job of a button pusher is exhausting."Bee and Fossil exchanged astonished glances. Did that sea cucumber just speak? After looking at each other, they turned back to the sea cucumber, then looked at each other again, and finally back at the sea cucumber."Can you talk?" Bee asked, looking at the cucumber."Of course I can talk. Have you never seen a button-pushing cucumber?"A rather strange name. After all, they had a sea cucumber in front of them that could talk, and now that they noticed, it had a little hat with a symbol of an orca on it, or at least what they thought was an orca because it was purple and white. The little creature was looking at them with a disdainful glare, though it wasn't obvious because its eyes were not visible, but they could feel its disapproving gaze.Fossil looked at the right side of the elevator; it had a kind of panel with a disk on it that clicked with a sort of latch it had. Every time there was a click, a panel of numbers above the disk changed. Below it were the buttons, as well as a kind of slot, but it was very large; he could almost bet that the sea cucumber could fit in there. Above the panel was the same drawing of the whale that was on the cucumber's hat, with some strange letters underneath. It was a language he had never seen before. At least the numbers were understandable, and given their change, they were ascending levels. They didn't change quickly. They all stared at the panel. The elevator also had some signs with an eye and the same whale symbol in its pupil. There was a kind of warning or just a notice. There were also signs that looked like clothing articles stuck to the wall. There was also a dirty mirror, and sublimated in the mirror was the whale symbol."Where are we?" Alex asked. He didn't direct the question at anyone in particular, but the sea cucumber responded."You are in sector number 24 of the Coral Barrier City."Fossil, who was now more aware, looked at Bee, whose expression was as confused as his. Alex continued asking, "And what is this elevator for?"The sea cucumber raised its head; if it had a face, it would have shown absolute disbelief. Were they idiots or what?"We're going up to the upper levels of the city. I don't know what the hell you were doing down there; that section of the deep-sea subway has been closed for about three weeks."They looked at each other; yes, they were in the hangar of a subway, but apparently one that was abandoned."This subway you're talking about... why is it closed?"The cucumber didn't even look at them anymore; it simply answered."Apparently someone got in there recently; they managed to connect with the old intercontinental deep-sea subway, which has been abandoned for about 100 years."Oka, apparently, there was an even older subway."How did they manage that? Wasn't it impossible before?"The cucumber replied in a tired voice."No, the only entrance that remained uncovered is beneath the Jungle of Corruption, or so everyone says. How can there be an entrance to the subway there? Who would want to expose themselves like that in that place?""What were those soldiers?" Bee asked, now more calmly."I don't know; as far as I know, the city doesn't have any defense systems anymore, not since they inaugurated the archer fish. Since then, nothing approaches the city limits."Oka, so whoever had been chasing them was external. They still needed to find a way out of there."Is the city safe?" Fossil asked."I say yes," replied the cucumber. "But what do I know? I've been here my whole life; I was born to operate this elevator."What initially seemed like a typical depressing speech from an exploited worker made sense when the elevator reached a stop. The number panel displayed a warning to the cucumber that read:"Lower level limit reached, please enter genetic signature."The cucumber then slid its body into the slot Fossil had seen. A green light appeared, and the elevator continued its journey. On the side of the cucumber, there was a kind of color formation on its skin, and the number was clearly visible there."10008?" Alex said after reading the back of the cucumber out loud. The cucumber just turned to look at him."Is that your name?" Bee asked."To be precise, it's Marine Inspector Sea Cucumber Number 10008.""Well, in that case, it's the same as having no name," said Fossil."It's the name I was given," replied 10008 when the elevator announced they were arriving at the surface."Okay, I'll start with the routine questions. Are you carrying all your luggage with you? Have you forgotten anything? We remind you that the Coral Barrier City government is not responsible for total or partial loss of valuable items, and it is exempt from any lawsuits. If your deep-sea subway card has suffered any damage, please report to the office in the section where you are located. If it's detected that the card or your anemone phone was damaged due to negligence, you will have to wait a minimum of 1 month for it to be replaced. Otherwise, new ones will be provided immediately. Also, remember to charge your universal sea cucumber key."That last part ignited something in Bee."What do you mean universal sea cucumber key?"10008 vaguely replied, "The mass-produced sea cucumbers that you use to get into your house, the tournament center, the collection shifts, where your money is deposited, etc., etc."He said it without much enthusiasm."And are you one of those keys?" Bee asked again."Yes, but I'm a little bigger, and I have more permissions," replied 10008.Bee didn't even bother asking anything else. Just as the elevator reached the top floor, she took 10008 and stuffed him into her backpack. Good thing she had taken her backpack from the village when they were fleeing the disintegration. The only downside was that it was wet. She felt 10008 moving inside the backpack, but he eventually stopped resisting."I'm not getting paid anything; I don't even know why I bother," said 10008."Good, with this we can move around the city," Bee said as she adjusted her backpack."And how exactly do you plan to do that?"Fossil said, who was already recovered, still massaging his shoulders and trying to clean his hands, but at least he was no longer fainted; he still looked scared, but less so. Alex, for his part, was just agitated; aside from that, he seemed fine. Bee was strangely energetic."I don't know, but they said he can open locks, has keys, money, and more; we can survive in this city using him, or at least we can get out of here."Alex was still in a corner thinking."Why would you want to leave?"
Alex finally said.
"Because the others might still be alive, and if they are, we need to bring them back so at least we all live in the same place. Or at the very least, if they've adapted to where they live, we need to know where they are," Fossil said.Alex thought for a moment longer.
"And you really think they're still alive? We were lucky to fall into water; we don't know about the others."
Bee looked at him with a strange expression, as if she didn't believe what her friend had said.
"YES, they might still be alive! We've seen that somehow we have powers; I'd bet anything that it's because of the crystal. We don't know what we can do yet, but I think at least in Fossil's case, we know he absorbs energy or shots, and you're invulnerable and have super strength; that doesn't surprise me. But I don't know what I can do. If the others have powers, maybe they've managed to survive without the help of water."
->#2
They had already exited the elevator and were now walking through a lobby where everything was dark. There were algae growing on one side and ugly graffiti; it looked like this place had been abandoned for quite some time, even longer than three weeks.
"Hey, didn't you say this place had only been abandoned for three weeks?"
Alex said after seeing how horrible the place was. A strange music was coming from the lobby speakers; it sounded like an orchestra but had announcements mixed in. They couldn't hear well what was being said; 10008 moved inside Bee's backpack.
"Zone 24 is one of the ugliest areas of the city. There are no criminals; in fact, crime is nearly nonexistent, but since it's one of the most remote parts of the city, they barely bother to send maintenance here. The machinery works, but the people here, though educated, sometimes like to make this place a... public canvas."
They continued walking, and eventually, that announcement annoyed Fossil.
"What's the person on those megaphones saying?"
He said after a while. 10008 fell silent for a second.
"It's saying that the diplomatic meeting will be in one week. It says the event is optional; it's also saying they're going to introduce who seems to be the successor to the king of the Wright Range. It also says Goldwater has practically disappeared from communications. It says they will also discuss the matter of the stars that fell yesterday and that there was apparently an impact in Kingsbury that destroyed some places," 10008 said after a while.
"Stars that fell yesterday... what's so important about that? I didn't see any stars," Bee thought. Fossil gave voice to her words.
"And what's so important about some stars? We didn't see any."
The boy asked, and 10008 responded shortly after.
"I don't know; if you don't understand why they'd be interested, and you didn't see them, then neither did I. This is the first time I've left the elevator. Anyway, the government is good; it must be for something beneficial."
Alex then turned to look at Bee's backpack. He couldn't see 10008, but he complained about not being paid and said they didn't maintain it...
"How can you say it's good? This place is horrible, and you complained yourself."
10008 quickly replied,
"Uh-huh, but that's because I was designed to work nonstop. I'm an organism created in a laboratory, but the happiness levels of the people are high. When they entered the subway around here, they looked happy. Plus, the government gives them everything. The central part of the city is the prettiest, and you can enter there no matter who you are; no one is discriminated against. You can literally leave your door open at night, and no one will break into your house. Everyone is happy. The only thing asked in return is that they go to extermination work in waves at least once a month and that they attend mandatory official events, and that's it."
They all stared at the backpack, and eventually, 10008 came out to see the outside. They had already left the lobby and were now heading toward what seemed to be the rest of the city. They reached a platform where the drawing of a sea cucumber was stamped on the card slot. Then they passed 10008 over the drawing; he made a little [Beep] and let them through. They walked a little further, and a great city spread out before them. Buildings that appeared to be entirely made of coral and seashells presented themselves. The largest ones had the shapes of marine animals, as well as a kind of sand castles. Everything seemed to be illuminated by holographic coral lights with advertisements, events, music, and occasionally the symbol of the purple whale (which by then they had guessed was the city's symbol) welcomed them. From Bee's backpack, 10008 looked at the city in awe; it was the first time he had seen it, and he found it hard to believe he had missed this before.
"Welcome to Coral Barrier City."
But only the main part of the city was so illuminated with technology; they walked along the dimly lit streets. Bee moved lightly, and in her backpack, little 10008 peeked out just enough to observe the path ahead. Alex, with his imposing figure, walked beside them; his attitude still showed that he was nervous and agitated, and although he tried to calm down, he couldn't avoid contrasting with the seriousness of the matter at hand.Bee looked at the city with curiosity, her eyes reflecting the bioluminescent light of the lanterns guiding them. "I still don't fully understand.""You mentioned something about 'extermination by waves' and 'tournaments'," Fossil interrupted, breaking the silence that Bee had left with her question, fixing his gaze on Bee's back where 10008 was. The street was very empty; the boy intuited that it must have been around 11 PM, maybe later. "What did you mean by that? It didn't sound like something... common."From the backpack, the little sea cucumber poked its head out. Its tiny but expressive eyes blinked with a hint of disdain."Well, it's part of the dirty work of the city, I suppose," 10008 shrugged, or his appendages, to be exact. "The 'extermination by waves' is an operation carried out on the contaminated coast, where people don't even bother to look anymore. You know, the forgotten part where no one wants to be.""What do they do there exactly?" Alex frowned. As they walked, they came across a petrified coral fountain that glowed faintly. The water reflected the dim blue of the sky, creating waves of light across the plaza tiles."They send teams," 10008 continued. "Groups of four people, armed to the teeth, to fight... mutants. People who, because of contamination, have mixed with marine animals. Those poor souls are no longer human. The city calls them 'bioluminaries' because instead of blood, they have this substance that glows in the dark. Something similar to what they use to light the streets and power almost everything here."Bee frowned. "Wait, the entire energy system here is based on the blood of those creatures?"10008 tilted his eyes slightly towards Bee as if the question were obvious. "Exactly. Although they prefer to call it 'bioluminescent substance.' It sounds less macabre. But actually, a large part of the city's energy and the fuel for vehicles comes from those mutants. So, they send teams to collect the substance. Employees hunt mutants and are rewarded based on how many they kill and how much of that substance they bring back."Fossil listened in silence, observing the dancing shadows on the walls of the buildings. "So they only hunt them for that substance?""Exactly," 10008 replied coldly. "That substance is valuable. At first, specialized soldiers were sent, but when they discovered how profitable it was, they started offering payments for employees who wanted to take the risk. It's an operation where shifts are a maximum of four rounds. More than that, and you won't survive, or you'll come back half crazy. So they pay based on the number of mutants you kill and how much of that substance you manage to collect."Bee turned and looked at him intently, feeling a mix of repulsion and disbelief. "Four people per group? How many actually survive?""I don't know for sure," 10008 squinted, "but it's a high-risk job. The more the team kills, the more they get paid. There's something about those 'bioluminaries' that seems to get stronger with each wave, but the city doesn't care as long as the substance keeps flowing."They passed a series of benches sculpted in the shape of sea creatures and a couple of statues representing heroic figures holding weapons of light. All of this contrasted with the grim conversation they were having."It seems... inhumane," murmured Fossil."And what isn't in this place?" commented Alex as he looked at one of the nearby statues, which depicted a warrior holding what seemed to be a spear made of glowing coral."It's not just inhumane, it's dangerous." 10008's voice rose slightly, taking on a more serious tone. "No one wants to work more than four rounds in those operations. Not because it's impossible, but because after that time, the teams start to lose their sanity. The environment and the mutants are not something you can deal with easily. That's why it pays so well."10008 let out a dry laugh. "Welcome to the reality of the city. It's not that many people care about what happens out there. As long as the lights shine and energy flows, no one asks questions."As he spoke, they crossed a small bridge over a bioluminescent canal. The bluish water beneath them emitted a soft glow that contrasted with the dark night sky, as if the city were submerged in a sea of light."And those tournaments you mentioned earlier..." Fossil asked, breaking the momentary silence as he looked towards the horizon where the shadows of the larger buildings cut against the stars. "What exactly are they? You said they were friendly fights, but it sounds like they're more than that."10008 shook his small body, readjusting in Bee's backpack. "They're not just fights for fun. The tournaments are a form of entertainment, sure, but they're also a way for the city's inhabitants to show their strength and skill. There are bets involved, and although they're supposed to be non-lethal, there's always risk.""Bets, fights, and mutant hunting. This city seems to live on extremes," reflected Bee, as her eyes continued to roam the structures surrounding them, from the coral buildings to the barges floating near the port, all powered by the same bioluminescent substance that 10008 described. The cool breeze blew, carrying the salty aroma of the sea as they walked along a waterfront lit by bioluminescent lanterns. In the distance, the sound of waves crashing against the rocks blended with the distant murmur of the city. The lights of fishing boats twinkled on the horizon, and the atmosphere felt strangely serene for a city so wrapped in dark secrets."It's a way to keep the population under control," said 10008. "It gives people something to focus on, whether it's the tournaments or the extermination missions. It's all part of the game. And in this game, there are always winners and losers.""I guess those tournaments are an escape for the people," murmured Fossil, his eyes fixed on the distance. "Something that makes them forget reality for a while.""Exactly," 10008 nodded. "But don't be mistaken, those who fight in the tournaments don't do it just for fun. There's always something to gain or lose.""And what happens if you lose?" Alex asked, stopping for a moment to look at a particularly tall statue, a figure of a warrior woman with bright eyes that seemed to watch them from above."It depends on the tournament," 10008 replied dryly. "In some, you just lose. In others, you might lose your rank, money, an event, or even a limb, perhaps. But generally, people keep participating because it's an opportunity to win something, whether it's money or respect."Fossil crossed his arms, thoughtful, as they continued walking. "It sounds like this city lives in a constant contradiction. On one hand, everything seems... calm and orderly, but beneath the surface, there's chaos. As if they're on the brink of something catastrophic."Bee frowned as they kept walking. "It's an endless cycle. Is there no way to change that?""Changing it isn't the goal of those who govern the city. To them, everything is under control." 10008 let out a metallic sigh. "The mutants continue to exist, the tournaments keep attracting spectators, and the city keeps functioning. Why would they want to change something that, in their eyes, already works?"Fossil observed the city in silence, noticing how, despite the superficial beauty of the place, there was a latent darkness. The bioluminescent lights gave a sense of calm, but he knew that beneath that apparent tranquility, there was controlled chaos. The sea breeze blew gently as they moved forward, and in the distance, the sound of the ocean seemed far away, as if it too were watching the course of events from the shadows."I wouldn't be surprised if something goes out of control at any moment," said Alex, looking toward the horizon where the lights of the city began to merge with the darkness of the ocean."You're right," 10008 replied, while his small eyes continued scanning their surroundings. "It's only a matter of time."The conversation fell into a momentary silence as they kept walking, immersed in their own thoughts. The hum of the city's energy and the soft whisper of the sea accompanied their steps.After Jura's scream, Dream and Oka exchanged glances, knowing they had to intervene before their friend's panic got out of control. The scene was macabre: Samu's crushed body lay on the rock, while Jura, although physically restored, was still in shock from the horror of what had just happened."Jura, breathe!" Oka said, stepping closer and taking Jura by the shoulders. "Take a deep breath. You can't lose your head now."Jura was gasping, his eyes still fixed on the remains of Samu, but he made an effort to follow Oka's instructions. Dream approached from the other side, using a calmer tone, trying not to worsen the situation."Look, I know... this is a mess, but screaming won't help us. Come on, you need to focus," Dream said, glancing between Jura and what was left of Samu."But... Samu is... he's...!" Jura couldn't tear his gaze away from the rock where the remains were still scattered. His breathing remained rapid."I know, but look at me," Oka interrupted, firmly holding his face so he would stop looking at Samu. "Now is not the time to lose your mind. We need to move on. Samu wouldn't want us to stay here whining. There's a city out there, and we need to move before something worse happens."Jura trembled, still in shock, but he nodded slowly. Then, something caught his attention. A figure began to materialize next to the rock, right where Samu's body had been crushed. It was a blurry figure at first, but then it took shape: the spirit of Samu, floating above the place of his death."Oh my God..." Jura murmured, his eyes widening as he saw Samu in front of him. Dream and Oka looked at him, confused, as they couldn't see what Jura was seeing."What's happening now?" Dream asked, worried by Jura's sudden expression."It's... Samu. His spirit... is here... I can see him!" Jura exclaimed, his voice trembling."What...? What do you mean?" Oka frowned. "Jura, are you saying you can see Samu now?"Jura nodded, still staring at his friend's ghost. Samu, in his spectral form, looked less decomposed, but his expression was still that of someone who had just suffered a horrific death.Jura stared in awe at the translucent figure of Samu, who floated near the rock where his body had fallen. Samu's expression was more one of discomfort than peace, and his specter seemed annoyed."What's up? Are you just going to stand there staring at me all day or what?" Samu huffed, crossing his spectral arms.Jura took a step back, his mind still processing the scene. His body trembled slightly, not only from shock but also from the cold air that enveloped him now that he was completely naked. He tried to cover himself with his hands, but it didn't help much."S-Samu! How... how is it possible that you're here? I saw you... crash!" Jura said, his voice breaking as he tried to focus on his friend's figure.Samu rolled his spectral eyes and floated closer to him, ignoring how his own figure faded in and out at times."I don't know, bro, I died, that's for sure. But you know what? The darkness down there is... horrible. I'm not going to stay alone down there, you understand?" Samu shrugged, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. "So here I am. I'm not going anywhere."Jura looked at him incredulously, still trembling, and tried to process what Samu was saying. Meanwhile, Oka and Dream were approaching after regaining their composure. Seeing Jura still naked, Dream couldn't help but laugh."Jura, for God's sake, put something on," Dream said, holding back his laughter. "You can't be talking to ghosts completely naked.""I'll try when I find something to wear," Jura grumbled, still staring at Samu, unsure how to react. "Samu, what do we do with you? You can't... you can't just stay like this. Doesn't it hurt or something?""Hurt me?!" Samu raised an eyebrow spectrally. "Bro, I'm a damn ghost! Of course it doesn't hurt. But the darkness... that's what I can't stand. I don't know what's down there, but I'm not going to stick around to find out. I'd rather stick with you guys."Oka, who had been looking for something useful near where they had fallen, tossed a coat he had found to Jura. He caught it and quickly put it on, covering himself at least a little."Samu, do you really not feel anything? Not even for... well, you know, what happened to you?" Oka asked, stepping closer to his friend's specter."I feel like I splattered against that rock, if that's what you mean," Samu replied, pointing at the remnants of his body with a kind of resigned disdain. "But the worst is over. Now I just... exist. And I assure you I'm going to keep existing with you, because there's no way I'm going back to that darkness."Jura, still overwhelmed, scratched his head. The image of his dead friend in front of him felt too strange to handle normally, but at least Samu didn't seem to be suffering... for now."Alright, brother, stay with us," Jura finally said. "I don't know what to do, but we won't leave you alone. Although... I don't know how we're going to explain this when we get to the city," he added with a sigh, looking at Dream and Oka for some answer."We'll figure it out," Oka replied, shrugging. "But first things first, we need to get to that city. Then we'll see what to do with Samu. And with your... situation, Jura," he added, pointing at his companion's makeshift clothing.Dream nodded, now more relaxed at the idea that Samu was okay... as much as that could be."You're right. The important thing is to keep moving. We bring Samu with us, end of story. If anyone asks... well, we can always say he's a new kind of 'pet.'" Dream smiled mockingly, while Samu rolled his eyes again."Very funny, Dream," the ghost replied. "But I'm staying because I want to, I'm nobody's damn pet."The group began to move, heading toward the city they had seen earlier. Samu floated beside Jura, while Oka and Dream continued to keep watch over their surroundings. As they advanced, the distant lights marked the edge of the fortress city. The atmosphere started to grow colder, and a light fog covered the ground, giving the place an even more surreal air."Hey, Jura... what does it feel like to talk to a ghost?" Oka suddenly asked, breaking the awkward silence."I'd say it's like having schizophrenia, but you guys saw him too, momentarily, but you saw him, so... I don't know," Jura replied.Samu materialized again, and Dream looked at him."Well, if you're going to stay with us, I hope you're useful in some way," Dream said, looking at the specter. "We don't need any more dead weight."Samu smiled mockingly, although his spectral figure trembled a bit."Don't worry. I'm here for whatever you need, even if I'm just a floating voice."The group started walking toward the city they had seen earlier, a fortified city now hidden underground.The group moved silently through the narrow ventilation tunnel that Samu had discovered. The metal resonated slightly with each step, but the darkness of the duct kept their senses alert. Even though the ventilation was narrow, they all managed to squeeze through thanks to Samu's elasticity, who stretched to ensure Jura could move without problems."See? I told you that you could pass, Jura," Samu said with a mocking smile as he contorted in front of them. "You should thank me because I didn't want you to ruin everything again."Jura rolled his eyes, nervous but grateful. He still felt strange seeing his friend in that spectral form, but Samu was still the same old sarcastic and confident self."Yeah, thanks, elastic ghost," Jura murmured. "If it weren't for you, we'd probably be looking for another way... or in some dangerous situation."The group moved carefully until they saw a dim light at the end of the tunnel. Finally, they emerged from the ventilation into a little-known corner of the city. Instantly, a fresh and somewhat metallic air filled their lungs, and they found themselves standing on an elevated platform. From there, they could see the majesty of the hanging city.It was an impressive sight: the crater below them was covered with a thick forest that seemed to thrive in the shadow of the city suspended over the cave ceiling. Buildings, roads, and vehicles were stuck to the ceiling as if gravity didn't exist, a reflection of advanced engineering that defied any natural logic. Above them, enormous angled mirrors reflected the moonlight, illuminating every corner of the cavern and giving the city a mystical and futuristic glow.Jura leaned over the edge of the platform, impressed by the immense building in the center of the crater, with a large lantern symbol on its facade."That must be the control station," Jura murmured, pointing at the building. "If we can get there, maybe we can find a way to get out of this damned place."Oka rubbed his chin, thoughtful. His gaze drifted to the neon-lit streets and shops that seemed from another era, yet strangely futuristic at the same time. Brightly colored signs flickered in pink and blue, advertising discs, cassettes, and vinyl records. Some displayed ancient holograms, as if the past and future had fused."This is... surreal," Oka murmured. "Look at those shops... Vinyl and cassettes! Floppa and Pope would love this place. Floppa could spend hours trying all those old music formats, and Pope would go crazy over the records."Dream laughed as she pointed to a giant sign with neon letters announcing "Super Vintage Music Store.""Yeah, I can see Pope asking for all the lost records from Earth while Floppa digs through all that music," Dream joked.Meanwhile, Jura was watching the windows of the nearby shops, uneasy about his appearance. He was completely naked under the coat he had used as an improvised blanket, and he knew he couldn't go on like that for much longer."Speaking of clothes..." Oka murmured, noticing Jura's discomfort. "I think we should find you something before a guard sees you and decides to arrest us for public indecency."Samu, floating beside him, let out a chuckle."And what are you going to do? Dress him in clothes from the eighties?" he asked sarcastically. "Jura, you could look like a forgotten rock singer.""Just... get me something decent, please," Jura pleaded, trying to maintain his dignity.The group began to walk through the deserted streets, searching for a store that would offer something useful. Finally, Dream pointed to a clothing store with a bright sign that read "Retro Fashions." They quickly entered, knowing they couldn't afford to waste time.Inside, the shelves were filled with clothes that looked like they had come out of a time machine: tight suits, leather jackets, bell-bottomed pants, and of course, iconic costumes. Oka started rummaging through the racks, pulling out whatever he found, while Samu floated above the shelves, browsing without much interest."Jura, how about this?" Oka asked, holding up a shiny white suit with gold embellishments."Wait, that's..." Dream started, looking at the suit. "It's an Elvis Presley costume!"Jura looked horrified as Dream and Oka tried not to laugh. Samu, for his part, floated around the suit with a spectral gleam in his eyes."Yeah, that's perfect for you, Jura," Samu said with a mischievous grin. "I can already picture your grand debut as 'The King of the Subway.'""No, no, no, I'm not putting that on," Jura protested, stepping away from the costume, but Dream shot him a serious look."You don't have many options. Either you wear the Elvis suit or you keep wandering around naked. Choose."Jura looked at him indignantly."Look at it this way, it's like when you used to wear a female skin in some game; I don't think it's much different," Dream said.Sighing, resigned to his fate, Jura took the suit and put it on quickly. When he came out of the dressing room, the group couldn't contain their laughter. The tight suit fit him too well, and the gold embellishments shimmered with the neon lights outside."Oh my God, you look incredibly ridiculous," Oka said between laughs, while Samu floated beside him, roaring with laughter."Yeah, I bet you'll get hired for the main show in one of those record stores," Samu added. "You just need a guitar and you'd be all set."Jura crossed his arms, clearly uncomfortable, but at least he was covered."Alright, alright, let's laugh for a bit..." he murmured, looking toward the exit. "What matters is that we're ready. Now let's focus on finding that control station."The group left the store and began to explore the deserted streets of the hanging city. As they moved forward, they noticed how surreal everything was: the vehicles suspended from the ceiling, pedestrians walking on streets attached to what would be the "sky," and the mirrors continuing to reflect the moonlight down into the crater below. Everything felt so retro, as if time had stopped in the eighties, but with a touch of advanced technology.Finally, after several streets and some suspiciously deserted corners, they reached a high point from where they could see the building with the lantern symbol better. It was right in the center of the crater, in the middle of the forest."There it is," Jura said, pointing at the building. "If we get to that place, we can get information about where we are and maybe find the others.""Okay, but we need to be careful. This city may look retro, but I'm sure it has hidden defenses," Oka warned, adjusting his gear."I'm with you, but before we keep moving, Jura, we should find you a guitar so you can complete the skin," Samu said with a sarcastic smile.Jura huffed as the group prepared for their next move, the hanging city still mysteriously shining around them, although... the infiltration of the control station was postponed."Is anyone else completely exhausted?" he asked, stretching his arms upward. "I feel like I haven't slept in days."Dream nodded, visibly tired."Yeah, and it's not like we've had time to rest since we got here. We should find a safe place to sleep before moving on."Jura, still awkwardly adjusting the Elvis costume, frowned as he looked around."And where are we supposed to find a place to sleep? It's not like we can just ask for a room at a hotel... unless someone has retro money.""Maybe we don't need money," Samu replied, floating in his spectral form as he surveyed the buildings. "If the city is almost deserted, I bet we can sneak into somewhere."While exploring the streets, they came across a neon sign that read "Nocturne Hotel: Eternal Comfort." The sign flickered weakly, as if it were on the verge of going out completely, but the building looked well-kept, with lights indicating that someone was still using it."It looks promising," Oka said. "Should we go in?""Sure, let's go before I faint," Dream replied.They gently pushed open the hotel doors, which creaked as they opened. The lobby was dark, illuminated only by the dim light of a desk lamp. At the reception, a middle-aged man was sleeping deeply, with his head resting on the counter and a hat covering his eyes."Well... this is convenient," Samu whispered with a smile. "I don't think we'll have to pay for a room""Let's not talk too loudly or we'll wake him up," Jura warned, glancing around.Moving quietly, they carefully crossed the lobby, trying not to make noise as they passed the reception. The receptionist didn't move an inch, completely oblivious to the group's presence."Too easy," Samu murmured. "If everyone in this city is this careless, this is going to be a piece of cake."They climbed up a nearby staircase that led to the upper floors. As they walked through the carpeted hallways, they noticed how quiet and empty the place was. Finally, they found an ajar door."This one seems available," Dream said, gently pushing the door open.The room was simple but cozy, with two double beds, a sofa, and a window that offered an impressive view of the crater and the forest beneath the city. The moonlight, reflected by the large mirrors, filled the room with a soft and relaxing glow."Well, it seems we'll have to figure out who sleeps where," Oka said, glancing at the two beds and the rest of the space.Dream squinted at the beds."So... two beds, four people. What about the sofa?" he asked, nodding toward it."It looks uncomfortable," Jura replied, crossing his arms. "Besides, someone could sleep on the floor; the carpet is soft.""I'm not sleeping on the floor," Oka said firmly. "And I definitely won't share a bed."Dream flopped onto the sofa, testing it with a playful smile."I don't mind sleeping on the floor, but I'm not going to fight over a bed. Jura can keep his; Elvis needs to rest his majesty.""Ha, ha," Jura retorted, shaking his head. "We could settle this with a coin toss.""A coin toss?" Samu, still floating in his ghostly form, raised an eyebrow. "Are we really going to gamble on this?""It's the fairest way," Oka replied, pulling a coin from his pocket and tossing it into the air. "Whoever loses goes to the floor."Everyone nodded, ready to accept whatever fate had in store for them. Oka tossed the coin, and after a few spins in the air, it landed on the ground."Heads," Dream announced, watching the result."Fuck!" Oka exclaimed shrugging Jura smiled with relief, happy not to have to fight over a spot in the bed, and Samu floated calmly, not too worried."Perfect. So, Oka on the floor, Dream and Jura in their beds, and I... I'll keep floating around here, I guess. I don't need to sleep, but I'll be keeping an eye on you," Samu joked."Sure, sure. As if you could sleep," Oka laughed as he settled onto the floor with a blanket. "Next time, I'll do the toss better."And so the day ended; it didn't matter that they didn't know where the others were; they would figure that out tomorrow. For now, they needed to sleep; a long day awaited them