"2A… search for Tim."

"Searching…"

Avery leaned against a wall deep inside an alleyway. He didn't want to be spotted by anyone, especially by someone he knew, which was why he left Aurora's Palace and walked half a mile to a random alleyway.

"... mobile device found at the pinged location. Would you like me to provide directions?"

"Sure…"

"Directions set for pinged location. Adjusting for target's relocation. Refreshing every 30 seconds."

By target, it meant Tim. Avery planned to track Tim down and converse with him. He didn't know how to go about this. Hopefully, Tim was alone. It would create less confusion that way.

Avery displayed Tim's location in a small, blue 3D hologram.

"Just outside the mall. Wonderful…" He saw his own breath.

He closed the hologram with a weary sigh and rubbed his face. A sniffle escaped him as he glanced around the alleyway. It was narrow and dense with shadows, the thick walls sealing it off from the sun. Though it was mid-morning, the darkness made it feel like midnight.

Avery started his two-mile walk to Tim's location. The crips air reminded Avery that winder is near. The clean rays of the sun poured through the sky like transparent towers. Skyscrapers stretched into the blue sky, housing hundreds of thousands of workers inside. The sidewalks were somewhat spotless, with people walking in winter coats or business attire. No trash on the streets or the sidewalk. Littering was an automatic arrest by SCAR. Interactive street signs and advertisements were placed at each bus station. Avery was surprised buses were still a thing since the metro was much more popular and convenient. He was more intrigued by the advertisements—or the propaganda.

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At the bus station, he saw an interactive poster that said. "Outsiders are the DEVILS in the land of the living."

He scoffed and kept walking. Every interactive poster about the outside world was made by SCAR. No one else had the authority to speak about the outsider world publicly. Sure, people could discuss it verbally, but when it came to putting up street posters about the outside world, only SCAR could do that.

Avery felt his stomach churn. He hated how SCAR portrayed the outside world. He knew the truth after being there twice.

"They're human… just like us."

There was no good or bad side.

Everyone played with the tools given. Unfortunately, the outside world lacked most of the tools that Ionia had. And because of that, they're looked down upon.

Avery made it to the mall after walking 40 minutes. The mall's exterior was bold, and neon-trimmed panels wrapped around the walls that created a faint glow, even in the morning light. Bright blue and eclectic pink curved along the building's edges like exterior circuits. A wide plaza out front contained benches and a small park for children to play. This place was mostly active at night due to its radiant colors.

Avery stood outside, unable to move forward.

"What will I even say?"

He still didn't know how to approach Tim. He didn't want to be awkward about it, but he also didn't want to appear out of nowhere.

"Will he forgive me?"

He couldn't handle Tim pushing him away. He didn't want his brother to kick him out of his life.

"I shot him."

Avery made sure to shoot him in the leg, where it was less lethal. But regardless, he couldn't help but imagine the pain Tim went through.

"Will I ever forgive myself?"

In the end, Avery walked away in the cold and went home without seeing Tim.

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