Mateo Queensley is an average Exceptional in the Sunken City. He has the perfect boyfriend, decent grades, and is the best lawyer in the country at age 16. The year is 2292 and the world has been at war for 13 years. 5 regions have continued to fight including the Commonwealth, Clearborne, the Sage, Yosnana, and Ustreyburg. However, when Mateo crosses the organization he works for, ULTRASONIC, he realizes the truth about himself while his life starts all over again. See how Mateo pieces back his memories little by little with the help of many others along the way. Will he uncover the darkness of this reality or will his voice be left unheard in the shadow of ULTRASONIC?

Forever is a Long Time

Janus couldn’t be dead. There was no way. He could talk to spirits, surely they wouldn’t let him die. 


 “How do you know?” Alto demanded. He stopped walking but didn’t look back. 


 “His clothes are at the Vanderbolt and his footprints led into the ocean. He drowned, Alto,” Nile said, his voice softening a bit. 


 “You don’t know for sure,” Alto scoffed. 


 “And neither do you. We’re both guessing here, but at least I have evidence that leads to his death.” 


 “Can we talk first? Not everything goes your way, mate. We all want it to be okay but sometimes it’s not. We have to think, alright? You can’t get mad so easily,” the prince pleaded. 


 “Nothing ever makes sense anymore. I don’t even feel like trying sometimes,” Alto confessed. 


 “Then what’s making you keep going?” 


 “Spite for ULTRASONIC I guess,” Alto shrugged. What kind of question is that? Isn’t it obvious? 


 “Alto, I know you better than that. It’s not ULTRASONIC. It seems like it is. It’s a good cover up. But it’s not real,” Nile said, resting his hand on Alto’s shoulder. 


 “Why should I tell you? You’re not going to help me get to where I want.” 


 “Because I care about you. I'm all you have right now. I might be the only person that you remember from your past, right?” 


 “Something- no, someone is missing. Ugh, no they're not actually missing, it's just they seem to be really important to me. I can't remember who it is but I need to find them. Him. And take down ULTRASONIC in the process,” Alto blurted. Hurt shaded over Nile’s eyes for a moment in realization, then disappeared as if it was never there. 


 “Oh. Alright,” the younger boy said flatly. They stood there for a few minutes with neither one of them saying anything. The situation wasn’t awkward, though it wasn’t exactly peaceful either. “Let’s talk about a negotiation tomorrow, okay?” Nile sighed as he started walking towards the exit. 


 “Nile I told you I don't want a negotiation.” 


“Then what do you want?” Nile asked, annoyed 


“Watch the sunset with me,” Alto said suddenly, not really thinking about the consequences. 


 “Alto, I don’t want to be a rebound.” 


 “I know, you’re not. I just need someone here with me.” Nile sighed and obliged, walking towards where Alto was. 


As they sat on the edge of the cliff, Alto felt delicate fingers wrap around his, caressing them gently. He let himself forget about the blond boy, about Janus, and about ULTRASONIC. He let himself drift onto Nile, hugging him close, not letting him go. Nobody knew that Mateo Queensley could be capable of crying, but here he was. Lying next to Nile, letting the tears drip down his left cheek and onto the grass. He hadn't cried in so long. He promised himself he wouldn't. His dad never cried. Not even at the end of his life.
