The Unknown

iii. amour

Possibilities began to cycle through my mind as I remembered all the places I used to go in the city before I was forced to leave. My first thought was home. Of course, I missed my family. But since I knew I couldn't stay, and they had probably stopped missing me by then, I decided it was a bad idea. It was best to leave the past behind.

Kyle and I acted as naturally as possible as we approached the busy sidewalks and joined the city's nightlife. Under the moon's dim light, I couldn't even see the tops of the tallest high-rise buildings; they merely melted into the blackness of the sky above.

All the neon lights and vibrant clothes were a bit of a sensory overload. We definitely looked out of place—slightly unkempt and wearing dull, practical clothing. One woman approaching down the street was dressed head-to-toe in bright pink. As I was watching her, the entire outfit suddenly turned lime green. When she saw us, she stopped abruptly and looked us both up-and-down. I geared up to run, thinking she recognized us as wanted fugitives.

Instead, she exclaimed joyfully, "I adore your outfits! Such trendsetters! Tell me, where did you get those pre-ripped jeans, darling?" she asked Kyle. He was dumbstruck. "Oh, and those combat boots and leather jackets are to die for!" She began to feel the fabric of Kyle's shirt, and I could practically see his agitation levels rising. A few people around us were beginning to stare.

"We've really got to get going," Kyle said. We began to walk away.

"Oh, but what are your names? You simply must meet with me to discuss using your unique style as inspiration for my new clothing line!"

"Go ahead and use it!" I shouted back to her as Kyle and I continued down the street. 

Everything was so different from how I remembered. But it was probably just me who had changed, not the city. It had felt so huge and spectacular as a kid. The fact that the people who built it now seemed to want us dead really put a damper on things.

Kyle leaned toward me. "Tess...Don't look, but there's a guard straight ahead eyeing us up. We should slip into a building with a lot of people."

We sped up and crossed the street seconds before the stoplight turned green. Fast-moving cars acted as a buffer between us and the guard. I guided a reluctant Kyle into a packed nightclub called Amour.

Strange, hypnotic music was blasting from speakers. The singer had an enchanting voice, like a siren, drawing people to the dance floor. I could feel the pulsing bass vibrations in my bones. People all around us were dancing in a wild, drunken haze, with strobe lights flashing overhead. It was all very disorienting, especially after having been away from the city and most modern technology for a few years.

We weaved through the crowd and sat down at the bar. Kyle was looking more and more anxious by the minute. In the military, he was trained to always be attentive to his environment. He couldn't relax here—at least not without some help.

I scanned the crowd for a moment until I found what I was looking for: a white plastic card sticking out of a wasted girl's back pocket. It was something all city residents carried; It functioned as identification, a house key, a debit card—all in one.

I told Kyle to wait for me as I made my way over to the girl. I danced awkwardly for a few minutes before reaching my hand forward and slowly drawing the card from her pocket. She felt it, but I was already gone when she turned around. She mistakenly thought the touch had come from the man behind her, smiling seductively and beginning to dance with him. They both seemed to enjoy it, so there was no harm done.

I slipped through the crowd and sat back down beside Kyle, revealing what I'd stolen. He didn't look impressed.

The bartender, a middle-aged man, approached us. "Can I get you two anything?"

"Got anything strong?" I asked him with a smile.