"What? I don't understand why I have to go there?" I confronted my father. "I am the only son of the System's co-owner, I hold enough virtual money on my bracelet to be taken and robbed. And you're telling me that this is for my own good?" I questioned, raising my voice. I rushed to his office as soon as I heard from my godfather, Hugh, that he wanted me to leave 400 and head to Median, and for what? To see the world? Scoffing, I smacked my palm on my forehead. I can feel the vein on the side of my head popping, my breathing ragged, I can't find any solution to calm myself down. And my father? He's sitting on his chair and looking at me with his uninterested eyes, clasping his hands above his neatly organized table. "Why don't you take a chair? Let's talk this through, hmm?" His composed aura made me feel even more irritated. Releasing a hard breath, I dragged myself down on the chair adjacent to his table and crossed my arms, waiting for his either further explanation or his torm

Passing the empty Silent Road, I was greeted by the crowded place of Nabe Maven. Everything looked like 400, only that there were too many inhabitants walking around freely. Lowering my head, I slipped past the gates and walked on the side, trying not to attract too much attention from anyone. I quietly walked my way. Approaching the digital map on the boardwalk, I found where I was and where I could find the exit of the Nabe. "This is where I am," I muttered, pointing at a red pin stating where I'm currently standing. "One mile away from the nearest train station." Biting my lower lip, I sighed. My stomach grumbled, and I felt dizzy already. I was starving, suddenly desperate for a bowl of fruits. But I couldn't buy anything; I couldn't risk it. For sure, my face would be plastered on every board and moving tabloids. Anyone could recognize me. Hastily taking the way, I had to take many turns; there were a lot of Levy mobiles taking rounds all over the Nabe. It's getting dark s

I was lifted in the air like a young boy and thrown back on the mud. I tasted dirt in my mouth. I spat. "Boy, you got nothing on us!" A giant felon shouted at me, and I felt like I swallowed his horrible tang. "Who is this boy? Tell me your name!" My eyes found where the pink-haired thief was supposed to be, yet found it empty. That girl, she left me! "Tell me what your name is!" My lips couldn't form a word; my tongue must have jittered so bad that I forgot how to speak. The felon roared with laughter, echoed by his fellow felony followers. "Can't make himself speak from fear! You scared little boy?" No one dared to bruise my dignity, not even my father could burst the bubble of the overwhelming size of my ego. I made so many disasters in my life, but never had to go through pain. "There you go, have a good night's sleep in there, little boy." Thrown inside the muddy pit, I groaned and flicked my hands, kicking the wall in annoyance. I shouldn't have trusted her. Now where

My sleep got shaken awake when I felt something get thrown on my face, and the sound of Poppy's giggle followed.Through my red and blurry eyes, I saw her grinning at me widely with her hands on her hips, standing before me like a pirate captain."Get dressed and let's eat, I've got some soup and a new bowl from the store nearby. Hate to see that little crunch on your nose if I offer you something coming from my old collections of dishes," she said before pivoting and headed for the broken table where the map was used as the cloth of the table.There are four cans on the table, a new plate and spoon waiting for me, and a couple of soda cans.She sat there with her feet up, scooping beans from the can as she ate."You know, that's not how you properly eat," I groaned, pushing myself up from the chair. My bones cracked from sleeping with an uncomfortable position for so long."Who's here to judge me? Just you," she snorted and pointed at the opened cans. "This one's pudding or jelly and