Visit to Pandora City (Part 1)

As the lingering fear of the nightmare died down, Alex turned to Lydia, who was still clinging to him and asked, "It's already morning, so I think I'll get up. Do you need help preparing breakfast?"

The sun's rays, now fully streaming in, painted the room with a warm, golden hue.

"Ah, that would be wonderful. It's a special day, after all," Lydia replied, her voice brimming with heightened excitement. Her eyes, reflecting her anticipation, met Alex's. "Go ahead and wash up. I'll go ahead and start preparing in the kitchen." She released her grip and excitedly skipped out of his room.

Alex stretched and yawned, shaking off the remnants of sleep. He followed Lydia out and found Jeb and Linda in the living room, engaged in a quiet conversation. "Hey, what day is it today?" he asked, his curiosity now burning with a deeper intensity.

Jeb and Linda exchanged glances, their expressions shifting to a mix of seriousness and anticipation. "Ah… I don't think I ever mentioned it, but it's the only day in the cycle when the Flawed are allowed into the city," Jeb explained, his tone sombre.

Alex furrowed his brows, puzzled. He knew about the discrimination the Flawed faced, but this day seemed significant in a way he couldn't quite grasp. He decided not to press further, sensing there was more to the story than he was ready to uncover.

Walking into the kitchen, Alex found Lydia bustling around, gathering ingredients. The aroma of fresh bread and herbs filled the air. He rolled up his sleeves and joined her, grabbing a knife to chop vegetables.

"Hey, Lydia, why do you like going into the city so much?" Alex asked, his curiosity piqued. He watched Lydia as she moved gracefully, her hands deftly preparing the ingredients.

"It's just... a chance to see the world where the privileged live, to feel free and unconfined to the district," Lydia said, her voice filled with a sense of wonder. "Pandora City is like a festival that goes on forever, but with a deeper meaning to it. The air there is just…different. It's always filled with laughter and music, and the streets are almost always adorned with colourful decorations. Like people can be truly happy there."

As they worked side by side, Alex noticed the subtle changes in Lydia's demeanour. Her usual calm and composed self was replaced by a vibrant excitement. It was contagious, and Alex found himself looking forward to the day ahead.

After finishing breakfast, Lydia disappeared into her room to change. Alex had already changed into some nicer clothes that were borrowed from Jeb and refitted to fit him.

While waiting for Lydia to finish changing, Alex couldn't shake the lingering unease from the nightmare he'd had earlier. In the depths of his dream, the strange and sinister creature had appeared, its form shifting and shadowy yet disturbingly familiar.

The creature had declared itself to be Alex, and its final words before he jolted awake echoed ominously in his mind.

"But soon…you will call upon me…when you do…we…shall be one…"

The cryptic message left him deeply unsettled. What could that mean? Who or what was this creature? Could it truly be a part of him, perhaps a fragment of a forgotten past?

Confusion churned within Alex. He hadn't dwelled on his past for a long time, not since that day when everything changed. He had stopped chasing after memories, choosing instead to focus on the present. Nightmares had become a rarity, especially ones as terrifying and cryptic as this. What could have triggered such a disturbing vision? Was his mind merely playing tricks on him, struggling to adapt to his current surroundings?

Questions swirled like a storm in Alex's head, each one adding to the growing headache. The more he pondered, the deeper his confusion grew. But then, he heard Lydia's sweet humming drifting from her room, accompanied by the soft rustling of fabric as she changed. Her gentle melody was a soothing balm to his troubled thoughts.

Determined not to let the nightmare overshadow the day, Alex took a deep breath, willing himself to clear his mind. He needed to focus on the present and join Lydia on their visit to the city with a light heart and a clear head. The mysteries of his past and the strange creature in his dream could wait. Today was about spending precious time with Lydia, after all.

As Lydia emerged, radiant in her best dress, a flowing deep blue garment that contrasted beautifully with her dark hair, Alex managed a genuine smile. He pushed the troubling thoughts aside, ready to embrace the day's adventures.

"Wow, you look amazing," Alex said, genuinely impressed.

"Thanks," Lydia replied with a twirl, her smile lighting up the room. She glanced at Jeb and Linda, who were still seated in the living room. "Hmm? Aren't you two coming with us today? I thought you guys would be changed by now."

Jeb and Linda exchanged another knowing glance, their eyes sparkling with unspoken understanding. Linda winked at them, a mysterious smile playing on her lips, the kind that hinted at secrets yet to be revealed.

"We'll catch up later," Linda said, her voice carrying a hint of intrigue.

Alex shrugged, his brow furrowing slightly in confusion. He couldn't quite grasp the hidden meaning behind their words. However, beside him, Lydia's face lit up with a radiant smile, her eyes twinkling with enlightenment and acknowledgement. It was as if she had decoded a message meant only for her, a silent communication that deepened the mystery of the day ahead.

Alex and Lydia headed out promptly, the crisp morning air refreshing as they walked towards the treasure cove. The streets were already buzzing with activity, and the usual guard post was now crowded with a long queue of people.

Lydia pulled Alex along to join the queue, her excitement infectious. As they waited in line, Alex took in the scene around him. The crowd was a mix of the different communities of the Flawed, their differences stark yet united by the day's significance. The atmosphere was charged with a sense of anticipation instead of the usual rowdiness and determination for survival.

"I suppose going into the city must be somewhat of an exciting event to everyone, but is it really that interesting?" Alex asked, trying to piece together the puzzle. The city he used to live in was relatively normal, but he couldn't remember anything that was this exciting.

Nothing Alex thought of that would get everyone lining up like they were going to a theme park, which amplified his confusion.

Besides, didn't everyone always say that Flawed were discriminated against in the world? Wouldn't they, as Flawed, go into the city and expose themselves to the people who looked down on them?

Lydia turned to him, her eyes shining. "That's the thing, you see. Today is the day when we have a chance to enjoy ourselves in the city, the one day in every cycle where we get to feel that we are just as valuable as anyone else in the world."

Alex nodded, starting to grasp the importance of the day, but he felt a little irked inside. He looked around, seeing the joy and excitement on the faces of those around him.

"This should be an everyday occurrence, not once in a while..." Alex thought.

Remembering his own daily life with everyone, while enjoyable in its own way, he always felt that the district itself was like confinement, and the people in it were forced to provide for their own. While most of the Flawed had positive attitudes, it really felt like they were just conditioned to become that way.

As they moved closer to the guard post, the buzz of conversation and laughter grew louder. Alex could feel the energy Lydia had talked about. It was electric, a palpable force that seemed to lift everyone's spirits. 

Suddenly, a piercing and distasteful voice cut through the bustling atmosphere, dripping with disdain. "Urgh… why do I have to deal with these disgusting Flawed? Why do we even have a day like this?"

The words hung in the air like a toxic cloud, instantly dampening the lively mood. Alex felt the collective shift as the joy and excitement drained from the faces around him. Lydia's expression darkened, and her face scrunched up in discomfort.

At the guard post, the scene grew tense. A squad of soldiers began marching out, their boots thudding rhythmically against the cobblestones as they formed a barricade at the gate. From their ranks, a higher-ranking officer sauntered forward, his movements lazy and indifferent. He positioned himself in the centre, surveying the crowd with a sneer.

"Alright, let's get this over with. And hey! Line up back there!" the officer barked, his voice carrying an edge of authority. As he muttered under his breath, loud enough for everyone to hear, his contempt was clear. "Freaking filthy, faulty monsters. Just my bad luck…"

Alex clenched his fists at his sides, a surge of anger rising within him. He glanced at Lydia, who was visibly upset and barely holding herself together with restraint.

Despite the discomfort, Alex knew they couldn't let this moment ruin the day. He took a deep breath, trying to steady his emotions, and placed a reassuring hand on Lydia's shoulder.

"It's fine, I'm here with you," Alex whispered softly, his voice firm yet gentle.

Lydia nodded, her expression softening slightly.