Concordia was divided into segmented sectors within a massive outer wall; it was like a labyrinth, designed for safety and restraint. There were 20 sectors within the central city and five across the river known as the royal district. Article C was situated in the royal district, far away from ordinary citizens who might challenge its existence.


    The city-state was an unsavory melting pot of culture, a tacky conglomerate of humanity''s efforts to remain afloat. Like an abstract painting, nothing seemed to fit but was accepted as usual regardless. It wasn''t uncommon to see a massive and immaculate corporate skyscraper casting a shadow over slummed shacks and alleys filled with shit-stained poverty. Like few before me, I''d glimpsed past the walls of the sector I was born into, and I came to realize this labyrinth existed as a filter to keep the profane from blending with high society.


    Rodger was kind enough to extend our stay at the brewery, and we spent a week hashing out different plans, deciding eventually to examine the grounds of Article C lawfully. Calico was displeased in our subtlety, but I thought it was a smart move. After all, we were heading into a quarantine zone, where very few over the last few years were allowed to travel. We''d possibly have to deal with Jaegers or control drones, which Shugr didn''t find ''profitable.''


    Despite our grim destination, the ride there was mystical. I was in a limo! I''d never dreamed of riding in a vehicle of such luxury. The only time I had ever seen one was when the royal family made their annual trip through all the sectors. Now, I was in one, riding like a high roller from the casinos! An armored limousine, stocked with a full drink and snack bar, heated and cooled sectional seating, and a glass roof the entire length of it. It even had a television behind the driver and an interweb connection!


    "How come you''ve never let me ride in this before?"


    I wasn''t addressing anyone in particular. I was thinking out loud, busy pressing my face against the glass, watching buildings fly by, and drooling over the amenities.


    "This is Shugr''s limo. He was kind enough to lend it to this operation." Eclaire replied stoutly.


    She was unenthused by our lavish transportation, reading a book in the corner near the driver. Raust was nose deep in his handheld like usual, though he did actively peruse the snack bar. Calico was uncharacteristically quiet. She sat across from me by herself, silently sipping a flavored drink, as if she was letting me have my childlike moment of wonder to myself.


    "If this is Shugr''s, then why isn''t he with us?"


    Eclaire didn''t look up from her book, "the captain will not be joining us. He has professional matters to attend to. Besides, this is purely a scouting operation. Combative behavior is prohibited."


    In addition to being a captain within Dead Circus, Shugr was also an accomplished businessman within the city-state. He was the CEO of a private investment firm that worked primarily with wealthy humans. Shugr also told me he did business with the royal family, but who knows where the truth stopped and embellishment began?


    "So why the limo this time?" I asked.


    "We''re traveling to the royal district legally, which only Shugr and I have credentials to do. His company clearance will grant us easy passage." Eclaire responded, taking a sip from a teacup behind her book.


    We had the luxury of traveling on Concordia''s ''express circuit,'' a superhighway built above the conventional roadway. It was designed by the royal family to transport high-priority personnel quickly and more efficiently, and it allowed us to make a 200 mile trip in under two hours. We''d traveled from sector 4 and through sector 3 before arriving in the capital.


    Sector 14 was Concordia''s capital, a new-age technological marvel that stood above all other sectors, spitting on them from its high horse. There were as many tall corporate skyscrapers as there were government offices and shopping malls. At night, you could walk the streets and never realize it was dark outside. It was my favorite place in the city-state, though I''m sure most people shared my opinion. When I was younger, I wondered what it''d be like to live there? To be able to look out your window and see life in motion no matter what time of day it was.


    In sector 18, where I was born, the dark meant hiding to get a chance at tomorrow. Sylas five years ago would''ve scoffed if he''d known where I was now, gawking at the things I''d hated so much. I''d always wanted nothing more than to hop on a boat and leave; now, I was about to cross the river into the royal district. The royal district was a place I never thought I''d go, and never thought I''d return to.


    The limo came to a slow halt before the window near Eclaire began to slide down. Royal guards approached, dressed in navy and red coats over black suits.


    Alright, everyone, please begin using void.


    It was Eclaire''s arma, the telepathic link. I hadn''t even noticed her activating it. Her crown was a small holographic cube that usually floated by her head. However, she had repositioned it beneath her seat.


    Void was a skill that had always come easy to me. I went so long, devoid of silo particles, that I was familiar with the feeling of being empty. I closed my eyes, took a few deep breaths, and allowed the energy to pour from my body into the limousine. It had a similar feeling to releasing all of your oxygen while underwater. I felt surrounded, encased in the silo particles instead of being part of their flow.


    One of the guards was leaned against the roof, looking into Eclaire''s window.


    "Morning, name, and business, please."


    "Eclaire Elliott, vice-president of Shugr and Spice investment professionals." Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author.


    Are you kidding me? Was his company named after him, AND a pun? How could Shugr keep his secret when his actual name was plastered all over legal documents like that? I supposed people might not believe his name was ''Shugr.'' It was pronounced like the condiment but spelled oddly, like a character from a fantasy novel.


    "Ah, Miss Elliott. We''ve got you right here. Enjoy your trip, and for your safety, try to avoid sector R3 as usual."


    "Thank you, but actually, we have a meeting in that sector. Please alert the gate guards of our arrival and forward the proper permits."


    Eclaire''s eyes flashed for a millisecond, and the guard blankly responded.


    "My apologies, Miss Elliott. I will make the arrangements for your arrival."


    Eclaire returned to sipping her tea and reading her book as we drove off. She had surgically precise use of her arma, being able to influence the minds of multiple people in an instant while maintaining a perfectly sound telepathic connection with the rest of us.


    "Sy, close your mouth. You''re gawking. It''s weird," Calico snarled.


    "Yes, Sylas. Your staring at me is a sign of rudeness," Eclaire added.


    Shit.


    I must''ve zoned out at Eclaire''s display. Admittedly, I had a weak spot for cool arma. I''d gone most of my life thinking of superpowers as a fantasy to help me escape. Now, I was surrounded by badasses who did mind control and jumped buildings like it was their job. Well, I guess it was their, and now my job.


    "S-Sorry! I wasn''t gawking. I was daydreaming a bit."


    "Please don''t daydream about me. I am your vice-captain, not a subject for your young adult perversions."


    "Wait. No, there was no—"


    Calico pounced, leaning over me with our noses nearly touching.


    "Sy, you better stop being pervy to other girls, or I won''t wear your jacket ever again."


    "What? You asked—"


    She placed her index finger against my lips and blazed her cat-ear crown.


    "Just remember, you''ve been warned, Sy."


    "Yeahh, can you move, Calico? I''m trying to get to the snacks," Raust interjected.


    Uh oh. Raust must not have seen the mood Calico was in.


    "Why yes! Of course, darling Raust. Snack to your heart''s content."


    Oh yeah, I''d almost forgotten Raust was her golden boy, who could do no wrong.


    I''ll be sure to scold Shugr for leaving me alone with such children.


    We all turned to Eclaire, collectively asking, "Uh. Eclaire, you may have accidentally thought that over the mind link."


    She closed her book and sipped down the rest of her tea.


    "Ah, yes. I seem to have accidentally forgotten."


    Calico rescinded her crown and returned to her seat. Raust took a handful of his favorite cookie sticks and returned to his game.


    We were halfway over the bridge, nearly on the highest point. I liked the bay. It had always given me hope of escape, that one day I could steal a boat and sail away with the kids to someplace better. Realistically though, I did not know what laid waiting beyond the outer walls. People told wild stories of atrocities and demons that plagued the land.


    Traveling between city-states was unattainable for all but the most wealthy socialites, and all travel was done by flying vehicles. Air travel was also the only reliable means of trading between city-states, and the only airbase in Concordia was inside the royal district. I''d only seen planes in old movies and television; they never flew over sector 18.


    My mother told me that my father worked in the mines outside sector 5. He''d seen the outside of the wall, though, not in the free-spirited way I had hoped to. Travel from the sector to the mountain mines was done through a Cambion-made tunnel and a bullet train. I''d never met him. He died on an excavation shortly after I was born.


    My first time outside the walls was during my time at Dead Circus'' main base. It was situated in the mountain range, hidden not far from the excavation site. Though travel to and from it was secure, so like my father, my experience was limited.


    Raust got up for more snacks.


    "What''s that game you''re always playing?" I asked.


    He studied me for a moment, trying to figure out the reasoning behind my question.


    "It''s called Liquid Seal," he answered through a mouthful of cookie, "it''s a tactical role-playing game."


    "Role-playing? What''s that mean?"


    He raised his eyebrow, then walked over and sat down beside me.


    "Role-playing game means you play as a fictional character. So, you interact with the game through them, instead of interacting with the game directly like a first-person shooter."


    "First-person shooter?"


    "Wow, do you really know nothing?"


    Yeah, I really knew nothing. I''d never played any video games before. My mother didn''t have the funds between all my siblings, so we all shared board games instead. The closest I had come to electronic games was my training simulations while at Article C, though I wouldn''t consider them fun like video games were supposed to be.


    Raust pointed out some characters to me from his game, knights on horseback, wizards, healers, and strong armored soldiers.


    "These are the main characters, Effie and Eric. They''re twins, and they''re the nobles of a kingdom that has been taken over."


    "Was it taken over by some other evil king?" The visuals of the game were fascinating. Despite only being colorful pixels, the art was beautiful and exuded a unique charm.


    "I wouldn''t call him evil. The twins and the king both want the same thing, but they take different paths to achieve it. Evil is only decided by the one who lives to tell the tale."


    "That''s an interesting take on things."


    "There''s a reason losing gives you a game over. You can''t continue telling your story as the good guy if you lose."


    Raust laid the handheld in his lap and addressed me directly.


    "You know, once this mission is done, I can show you some video games if you want."


    I stared at him wide-eyed for a moment, taking in the offer. Raust had never talked to me this much before, and now he was inviting me to play video games like we were school friends.


    We''re approaching the second gate; please resume using void. Eclaire signaled us over the mind link.


    Yeahh, well. We''ll talk more later. Raust thought back to me before returning to his seat.


    I closed my eyes and released the silo within me once more. Raust''s words wore more heavily on me than I expected. He spent most of his time nose down in digital fantasy, but I guess his games carried more severe tones than I had expected.


    I looked out the front windshield at what was ahead of us. This gate was larger than the last and was more heavily guarded. Five guards stepped in front of the limo as we came to a halt. We were being watched on both sides from two tall guard towers; the men inside them aimed rifles down at us.


    A man approached Eclaire''s window, the same routine as before.


    "Good afternoon, you from Shugr and Spice?"


    "Correct, sir. We have a meeting in sector R3. The permits should''ve been sent by now."


    "Oh yeah, got the permits from the main gate right here. Though, it doesn''t say who it is you''re meeting with. You know R3 is a quarantine zone, right? I wouldn''t want you getting hurt by any freaks."


    "Yes, sir. However, I regret to inform you that I am not at liberty to discuss our meeting''s details. I was under the impression things had been arranged prior." Eclaire remained stone-faced, not budging an inch.


    Eclaire, are we going to be alright? I thought to her, trying to remain as calm as possible.


    Yes, Sylas, we will be fine. I''ll use my arma again if needed.


    Calico shifted in her chair to face Eclaire.


    I''ve got 13 guards total and one drone on standby. Calico thought to us calmly.


    The guard ruffled his brow, "sorry, ma''am. I hadn''t been made aware. I don''t want to hold you up, so we''ll just have the drone scan the ride, and you can be on your way."


    Eclaire''s eyes glinted for a moment as she spoke, "That won''t be necessary. Our initial vehicle scan should be in the permits."


    I felt a small bead of sweat on my temple; this wasn''t going nearly as smooth as the first gate. Eclaire''s crown rescinded from beneath her chair, but the guard remained still, stuck in thought over her last statement.


    "Ma''am. Go ahead and put it in park and roll your window up," he turned his back and moved toward the guardhouse, "bring in the drone, run the scan."


    Eclaire rolled her window up, then closed her book and set it on the table with her teacup.


    "Drats. Calico and Raust prepare for a counteroffensive. Sylas, be ready. On my signal, activate your arma and get the gate open."


    My hands were clammy. I could hear the drone humming as it hovered overhead, preparing its scan.


    "What is this thing going to scan for?" I asked, trying to keep my teeth from clenching.


    Eclaire flared her crown, this time, above her shoulder like usual. It emitted a soft purple glow like a nightlight and hovered delicately without a sound. The light in her eyes intensified, like a soft colored flame from her pupils.


    "It''s a silo scanner. It''s made specifically to find Cambions using void."


    I struggled to swallow my anxiety, choking up at the thought of going against one of those death machines. Then, the soft hum of the drone turned violent as it cascaded the entire limo in an eerie red beam.