The elevator doors slid open with a faint hum, revealing the gloomy hallway of the building. Andreas and Maddie stepped out without haste, the echo of their footsteps resonating in the industrial emptiness of the place. The lighting was dim, with only a few flickering ceiling lights giving the impression of an abandoned environment.
“Is it always this depressing here?” Maddie asked, frowning as she scanned the long corridor.
“Don’t worry, we won’t be here for long,” Andreas replied calmly.
They continued forward until they reached the exit door, only to be met with a wide staircase of rusted metal. It was the only way to ascend to the upper platform. The elevator didn’t reach these lower levels.
“Great… stairs,” Maddie muttered in annoyance.
The climb was long and steep, the steps narrow and pressed against the wall, with no railing for support. Looking down meant facing a dark and seemingly endless abyss. Andreas swallowed hard as his gaze got lost in that void. Something inside him stirred—a sense of unease ran through his body. There was something about that emptiness, something his mind was trying to recall but couldn’t quite grasp.
“Andreas?” Maddie’s voice pulled him from his thoughts. “Are you okay?”
He blinked and looked away from the abyss.
“It’s nothing,” he answered curtly. “Let’s keep going.”
Slowly, they ascended, their steps firm but growing heavier. Fatigue began to set in; after all, they had descended to the lowest level and now had to climb almost a hundred floors back up. The air grew thicker, their breathing ragged from the effort.
“We could have used the elevator again…” Maddie huffed in a reproachful tone.
“We’re already halfway. No turning back now,” Andreas responded with a deep breath, noticing how his chest rose and fell rapidly.
Silence settled between them, only broken by the sound of their footsteps and the faint vibration of the metal structures. After a while, Maddie decided to break the awkwardness.
“I saw you earlier. You tensed up when you looked at the void. Why?” she asked curiously, turning to him.
Andreas paused for a moment, contemplating his response. His gaze darkened slightly.
“I don’t know…” he admitted. “It’s like… it reminds me of something. Something important. But I can’t remember what it is.”
Maddie observed him for a few seconds before sighing and shrugging.
“You’re weird.”
“Yeah, yeah, whatever,” he muttered, rolling his eyes.
Finally, after a long effort, they emerged onto the floating platforms. It was a vibrant spectacle. Streets suspended in mid-air, formed by dark metal bridges with neon lights embedded in their structures, illuminated the vast surroundings. People moved back and forth, talking, laughing, immersed in the nightly hustle of the floating city.
“Wow, there are a lot of people…” Andreas commented, watching the ceaseless movement.
“Yeah,” Maddie replied curtly, without much interest.
Andreas noticed that some people were casting quick glances at Maddie. He took in her appearance: her old hoodie, unzipped because the zipper was broken, her messy hair, and her worn-out clothes. A slight discomfort ran through him. He didn’t want her to go through that again.
Without a word, he grabbed Maddie’s wrist and quickened his pace. She flinched.
“W-what are you doing?” she asked, confused, a slight tension in her voice.
“We’re doing something before going to the hardware store,” Andreas said without stopping.
The thought struck her suddenly. Her mind jumped to the worst scenarios. What if Andreas wasn’t so different from the others? Her heart pounded involuntarily. However, before fear could fully take hold of her, Andreas came to an abrupt stop.
“We’re here,” he announced with a smile.
Maddie blinked and looked up. A clothing store.
“W-what…?” she stammered, bewildered.
“I didn’t want you to keep wearing those torn clothes,” Andreas explained sincerely. “I know it’s none of my business, but I want you to feel comfortable… Also, you can pick whatever you want. Don’t worry about the money.”
Maddie felt a lump in her throat. She wasn’t used to this kind of kindness.
“I… thought…”
“Come on, let’s go in!” Andreas interrupted excitedly, grabbing her hand again and pulling her into the store.
The interior was warm and modern, with racks full of branded clothing, accessories, and the latest trendy shoes. Andreas headed to a payment machine and swiped his card, loading 100,000 credits.
“T-that’s a lot…” Maddie whispered, her eyes wide at the amount.
“Relax, it’s barely a fraction of what I have,” he replied with a confident smile.
Then, he gestured toward her.
“I’m heading to the hardware store while you try on clothes. Spend whatever you need, don’t hold back.”
Maddie watched him leave and, for a moment, remained still. Then, she began browsing the store, amazed by the sheer variety of garments available. She couldn’t remember the last time she had been able to choose clothes without worrying about the price.
Finally, after much internal debate, she picked out some outfits and entered a fitting room. Minutes later, she looked at herself in the mirror.
She wore black bell-bottom pants, a gray shirt with paint details and stylized crosses in dark tones. Over it, a new black jacket, similar to her old one but with a functional zipper. She had also bought silver earrings with dangling moons. She stared at her reflection, feeling something strange… something warm. And for the first time in a long while, she smiled.
She left the store carrying several bags, only to bump into someone. Both the bags and a metallic blowtorch fell to the ground.
“O-ouch… be careful, sir…” Maddie looked up and saw Andreas.
“Maddie…” He looked her up and down, a hint of fascination in his eyes. “You look incredible.”
She lowered her gaze, feeling a slight blush.
“Thanks…”
Andreas smiled back.
“I’m glad you found what you were looking for.”
They started walking back to the building together, both more relaxed, sharing smiles and lighthearted conversations. This time, they took the elevator, and upon arriving at the apartment, they found Dedrick cooking something.
“How did it go?” he asked without looking away from the pan.
“We had fun,” Andreas answered, glancing at Maddie, who let out a small laugh.
“Good. Tomorrow, we open the safe,” Dedrick said.
Andreas nodded and bumped fists with Maddie.
“Did you have a good time today?” he asked.
“Yeah… I really did,” she replied with a genuine smile.
And for the first time in a long time, Maddie felt that someone truly cared about her.