The Underworld was on fire tonight. The summer heat was stifling, the air thick and oppressive, clinging to everything it touched. Neon holograms lit up the perpetually dark, sprawling cityscape, their relentless flickers invading every corner. Vendors shouted over one another, and neon advertisements hawked products no one truly needed. Holographic images ruled this garbage town, and as if that wasn't enough, the new mandated cerebral bridge technology only made it worse—personalized holographic ads now flashed directly into people's minds.

Nora Ermusi squinted at an especially obnoxious ad beamed into her vision through her cerebral bridge. "Nashu, the best face creme a girl can find," the glowing text proclaimed.

"Not interested!" she snapped, waving it away. The ad blinked off, leaving her muttering curses under her breath.

She reeked of tobacco smoke, and the stench of men lingered on her skin. Tonight she was made to do more than usual work at the bar. She'd worked a private party for military men, dressed in a barely-there uniform that had drawn dangerous, unwelcome attention. A group of them had taken her, without her consent, as if she were nothing more than an object for their use. When she had confronted the woman running the private event afterwards, she was told "your manager cleared it." Just thinking about it made her short of breath.

Despite the hot humidity, she wrapped her cloak around her closely and kept her eyes on the ground. Just get home, she kept telling herself. Her body ached where they had been too rough with her, but she tried not to focus on that. Instead, her thoughts drifted to the terrifying nightmare she'd had the night before, somehow that was better—the water rising, relentless and suffocating, threatening to swallow her whole.

It was the same nightmare that kept her intact as they violated her. Around her, those men had spoke about the new Chancellor's inauguration and some vixen sky goddess they wanted, but could not have. Nora had reminded them of her and one of them called out her name as he finished. Before letting her go, he had whispered, "I'll see you very soon." She shuddered at the thought.

Shame and disgust consumed her as she tightened her cloak, desperate to hide from the world—and herself.

Finally she reached her narrow, run-down apartment in District 64, quickly buzzing in with her cerebral bridge while avoiding the drug-laced youths loitering on the street. Once inside the moldy, hot building, she found a moment to breathe. No more advertisements blinking in her face, no more men weighing down her body,  no more bowing to bosses she despised. She entered her small twelve foot by twelve foot studio. The kitchen was a mess. She didn't have the time to clean.

She stepped into the shower and felt comfort for the first time that evening. "You have five minutes until the water is suspended," the studio A.I. intoned. "Ugh, ok." She hurried with the soap. When her skin touched water, she felt at home. She had heard about the great oceans that surrounded Atlantis, but she wasn't entirely convinced they were real. All she could see was smog, concrete, flashing neon holograms, and the stench of human bodies and androids crowded together like the rats on the streets.

She stepped out, and her relaxed body made contact with the cracked, brown tile beneath her feet. She sighed. It was wonderful. This was her slice of heaven. She sat down to pray to after many years. That was something her mother taught her, yet she barely remembered how. She sat, closed her eyes. "Ava Nori," she said, shaking, "please help me."

There was a loud knock on the door.

Oh shit, she stood up fast and began tying her old bathrobe around herself. Before she could finish, the door slid open with a soft hiss, and a man stumbled inside. "It's just me, relax," he slurred. His bony frame bent slightly forward as if weighed down by years he hadn't lived yet. Oily brown hair clung to his scalp, thinning at the crown and plastered in unkempt strands over his sweaty face. He reeked of ambrosia.

It was Bilu, her old boss and on-again, off-again fling. She had met him eight years ago, back when she was fresh to the Underworld and struggling to find her footing. Over the past year, he'd secured her a decent paying bartending job at one of the hottest clubs in the city, a position that had kept her afloat. When she needed extra cash, he would occasionally arrange private events for her to work. Tonight's job had been one of those—he had promised a fat paycheck. After this, she thought bitterly, she would be done with him—he was the so-called "manager" who had cleared the atrocities she'd endured at tonight's event.

She recoiled in disgust. "Get out, Bilu!" she shouted, trembling with anger.

But he ignored her, stepping closer and leaning in to inhale the scent of her neck. "Ah, Nora," he murmured, dripping with twisted longing. "You smell so good." His hand traced her face, sliding down to her neck. "I heard you were the guest favorite tonight at the private party," he added with a dark smirk. "It made me miss you."

"You sold me to those monsters!" She pushed him away. "You bastard, you promised me you would keep me safe."

He placed the grocery bag he had brought on her small kitchen counter, avoiding her angry gaze, and took out a bottle of ambrosia. "I brought you some food and—"

"Screw you, Bilu. How could you let that happen? Do you know what they did to me?"

Still avoiding her eyes, he began to unscrew the bottle and poured himself the cheap ambrosia.

"I was hired as a bar tender. That was my job. Before I knew what was happening I couldn't get out of there." She began hyperventilating.

"I tried to explain to them you weren't for sale—" Bilu pleaded, downing an entire glass of ambrosia before pouring himself another, his hand unsteady.

Nora's chest tightened as she fought to keep her composure. "I could have died."

"I'm sorry, Nora," Bilu's voice was heavy with defeat. He poured another glass of ambrosia, this time extending it toward her.

"No, Bilu. You cannot even begin to be sorry." She turned her back to him.

Without warning, he grabbed her arm, his grip so tight her skin flushed red. "I love you, you know that?" he said with desperation.

Nora shoved him away. "You only love yourself, Bilu."

"Nora," he whispered, reaching for her again.

Her hand struck his face before she could think, the sharp sound cutting through the tense air. "May Ava Nori curse you," she hissed.

He just stood there, staring blankly.

She collapsed onto her bed, burying her face in her hands, her body wracked with silent sobs.

Bilu softened slightly and sat down beside her. He gently covered her with a blanket and wrapped his arms around her.

Nora trembled with anger, her tears glistening. "Don't touch me," she snapped.

"I love you, Nora," he said again, leaning in to kiss her.

Nora turned her head, evading him. "Bilu, I need to sleep." Disgust swirled inside her—she hated him.

Bilu smiled weakly, clearly lost in his drunken haze. "I also brought you some expandable water, for longer showers, I know you like that," he said, gesturing toward the grocery bag. "You're my girl. I take care of you," he added, his arms circling her once more in a clumsy attempt to be tender.

"I'm not your girl. I belong to no one," she shot back, sharply.

"But I love you," he repeated, weakly.

She pulled back, her expression hard. "But you'd sell me anyway?"

"Nora, I had no choice. If I crossed Don, he could kill us both," Bilu said, his voice shaking slightly.

Nora stared at him, her expression cold. She had no idea who this "Don" was, nor did she have any interest in finding out.

"I saved your life tonight," Bilu added, a note of self-righteous pride in his voice.

"Thanks for saving my life," Nora replied dryly, shaking her head in disbelief.

Bilu avoided her gaze, clearly inebriated. "I need to figure out how to get you off Don's radar," he muttered, his words slurring. "I'm counting on the Colonel being too drunk to remember you." He took another long swig from his glass. "You're my girl, Nora," he said again, his voice cracking. Tears welled in his eyes as he added softly, "I'm sorry."

His remorse was not enough. "Screw you, Bilu," Nora spat.

"I'm going to figure this," Bilu said, just as his cerebral bridge startled him

"Shit. It's Don." Panic flared in his eyes as he stepped away, toward the small window overlooking the neon-lit Underworld.

"Don, hello?" Bilu said, gesturing at his cerebral bridge to put the conversation on speaker.

Nora froze, listening intently.

"Bilu, good. That whore girl with the dark hair tonight, what was her name?" Don's voice was cold and deliberate.

"I'm not sure what girl you mean. There were fifteen women at the party last night. Many of them had hair." Bilu replied, his speech slightly slurred.

"The one behind the bar," Don clarified, sharply. "The one Colonel Marco asked for. What was her name?"

"I'll have to find out," Bilu voice quivered for a moment.

"Find out," Don ordered. "Bring her to me. The Colonel says she's the spitting image of a Sumeri woman."

Bilu's hand clenched into a fist, his knuckles white. Through gritted teeth, he said, "Alright."

Don continued, his voice dripping with greed. "She could make us both a lot of money."

"I'll look into it, Don." Bilu replied, feigning confidence. He gestured to end the call and turned off his cerebral bridge.

Nora's eyes widened in terror, her breathing growing shallow and rapid. She clutched her chest, struggling to steady herself as panic overtook her.

Bilu stumbled onto the bed, his drunken body sagging as he curled into himself. "I'm so sorry, Nora!" he slurred, tears streaming down his face. "If we don't comply, they'll kill us. I'd say we could run, but people like us... where could we possibly go?"

Nora froze, her blood running cold. The weight of his words sank in—he was planning to hand her over to Don.

He looked at her helplessly, managing a weak, pitiful smile. "I love you, Nora," he said again, his voice heavy with ambrosia. Moments later, he closed his eyes and fell into a deep, drunken sleep.

Nora could feel the blood pumping in her temples. She had two options, she could wait until the sun came up to walk into a life of slavery and eventual death at the hands of these men, or she could leave the Underworld like she had always dreamt.

The decision was clear.

As Bilu's snoring filled the room, Nora quietly dressed, packed a small bag, and slipped into the night.

***

Her body was wrapped in a dark cloak. She kept her eyes on the uneven pavement and away from strangers passing by. No police, human or android, kept watch on these parts of the Underworld at night.

At the train station platform, she approached the A.I. ticket booth. "I need to go east, to the water," she demanded.

The A.I. displayed a map of the easternmost part of Atlantis, highlighting cities along the shoreline. "Where would you like to go?" it intoned.

Nora gasped. It's real. Her gaze locked onto the map, where the easternmost city, "Monika City," sat on the edge of the vast blue expanse of water. Trembling, she reached out and touched the screen where the ocean shimmered. "Monika City," Nora heard herself whisper to the A.I.

"That will be 8,900 credits," the A.I. responded.

Nora's stomach tightened. She checked her balance on her cerebral bridge—9,543 credits. It was her life's savings, accumulated over years of scraping by in the Underworld. She had never traveled, never dared to leave. The local transit was but a few credits, but this... this was everything she had.

"How long is the train ride?" she asked, nervously.

"Ten hours," the AI said, flatly.

Nora exhaled deeply. She hadn't had ten uninterrupted hours to herself in what felt like a lifetime. Maybe that alone justified spending nearly all her life savings. "Okay," she muttered, leaning forward to let the AI scan her cerebral bridge for payment.

"Transaction approved. Please board the train. Your seat assignment is 6F."

She sank onto the platform bench, clutching her bag. Pain radiated through her body, oppressive like the sweltering heat and sticky humidity around her. Hunger gnawed at her, but exhaustion overwhelmed everything else. For years, she'd dreamed of riding one of these gleaming trains, their sleek forms humming high above the city. Tonight, she would finally board one.

As the train arrived, Nora stood up, her legs shaking with fatigue. At the entrance, an android conductor greeted her with a polished smile. "Good evening, Madame. May I assist you with your luggage?"

"I'm fine," she replied curtly, hugging her small bag tighter. She avoided the conductor's artificial gaze. She knew, people like her didn't belong on trains like this.

"Alright then, please proceed to your seat."

Nora entered the train and made her way to her seat. It was by a large window, and she smiled from ear to ear. The chair was spacious and inviting. Next to her sat a well-dressed older man with a kind but foreign face. His almond-shaped eyes crinkled slightly as he smiled warmly, his full lips parting in a silent greeting. She gestured toward her seat, and he immediately stood, allowing her to settle in. No man had ever stood up for her before.

A neatly folded blanket rested on her seat. She picked it up, feeling its soft, luxurious fabric, and then sank into the plush cushion. She wrapped the blanket around already cloaked body and her belongings, savoring the comfort it offered. For the first time in a long while, she felt safe enough to relax. She leaned against the cool glass of the window and closed her eyes, slipping into a deep, restful sleep.

She awoke to the sound of an announcement. "We will be reaching Quarat in twenty minutes." Her eyes fluttered open, and she noticed a small tray table in front of her, now unfolded and holding a full meal.

"Where did this come from?" she asked, glancing at the man beside her.

"The food was served an hour ago. You've been fast asleep for about four," he said with a smile.

"Oh." Her stomach growled. She was ravenous.

"They offered chicken or fish. I thought you might prefer chicken," he shrugged.

"Yes, thank you," she replied, as she quickly began opening the small containers in front of her.

"I'm Ming," he said, bowing his head.

"I'm Nora," she replied, quickly, before digging into the rice and chicken from the largest container. The flavors burst on her tongue, and she closed her eyes to savor each bite. It was delicious, far better than anything she'd had in months.

"You're beautiful, Nora," Ming said. "Are you of noble descent?"

Nora let out a weak laugh. "You wouldn't believe how many people have asked me recently." Her thoughts flickered to the group of military men she'd encountered earlier that evening, a memory she quickly pushed aside.

"Look here," Ming said, tapping his cerebral bridge to project a holographic news story into the air. Unlike hers, his device was distinctly foreign in design.

He pointed to an image of a poised sky god family. "This is the family of the newly elected Chancellor. You look a lot like his daughter, Inanna Sumeri. Don't you think so?"

Nora held back a cringe. That name—the name they had said when they took her—echoed in her mind. She was too tired to dwell on it. "Maybe," she said between bites, never once glancing at the holographic image.

Ming studied the image more closely, then looked at Nora.

"You don't look like you're from around here," she said curtly, hoping to deflect his scrutiny and steer the conversation elsewhere.

"Your observation is correct. I'm from the Xia Empire."

"Where is that?" Nora asked, her curiosity piqued.

"Many thousands of miles east from here," Ming responded.

"Wow. You came all that way to Atlantis?"

"I'm a tradesman," he explained. "I am working on a project with Sumeri Industries to bring Atlantean technology to my people."

"That sounds important," Nora said, her words muffled by a mouthful of rice.

Ming laughed kindly. "I suppose it is."

Nora watched as the sun rose outside her window, bathing the fields in golden light. There were no flashing neon advertisements here, just endless green stretching to the horizon. "Where are we?" she asked Ming.

"We are a few miles outside of Quarat, I believe," he replied.

"It's beautiful," she said in awe.

"Quarat is a farming town," Ming explained. "That's why you see so many fields. I hear it's a peaceful place."

"Looks that way," Nora murmured, peering out at the serene landscape.

"Where are you from?" Ming asked, after a pause.

Nora shifted in her seat, her expression tightening. It's none of your business, she thought, taking another bite and turning her attention back to the window.

Ming laughed nervously at the silence and continued speaking, perhaps to ease the tension. "I'm going to Quarat to learn more about farming technology, then I will return home. I just visited Bahyan City out west. It's a robust city with so much industry. We have nothing like it in Xia. I wish I could have stayed longer, but if I did my wife would probably leave me." He chuckled at his own joke.

Nora made eye contact with him for the first time. Bahyan City, she thought, as her childhood flashed before her eyes.

He continued talking, "The floating islands and their cascading waterfalls are incredible. Wonder of the world, really. I saw them briefly before the train entered the Underworld." He drank tea from a small cup on his tray. "I wish I could see the floating islands in person. Maybe someday, the Sumeris will invite Xia Empire delegates up there. What a story that would be, huh? I hear it's the most beautiful place on earth."

Nora did not care for the floating islands. They had only kept her in the dark. Instead, she looked at the fruit on her tray. It was exotic, with vibrant red and yellow hues. She had never seen anything like it. Taking a bite, her face twisted in disgust. "Ugh," she said, pulling the piece of fruit from her mouth.

"You may want to peel it before you eat it," Ming advised, holding back a smirk out of politeness. "The peel may upset your stomach. Here, let me show you." He took the fruit on his tray and deftly peeled it with a knife.

"Oh," she said, blushing. "Thank you."

He was kind, and it made Nora uncomfortable.

"We are approaching Quarat in five minutes. Please gather your things," the android conductor announced.

"Look, Nora," Ming said, his tone very serious all of the sudden. "You are young and beautiful. I've been to Monika City. It's not a safe place."

"Thank you for your advice," Nora snapped. I'll be fine. I've lived worse.

"I have a daughter your age," Ming said, his eyes soft with empathy. "This world can be unkind to the vulnerable."

Nora felt her anger rise. I don't want your pity.

He stood and buttoned his coat. "If you have nowhere to go, which I suspect is the case, try one of the temples on Small Street. They offer safe havens to those in need." He tapped his temple and gestured from his cerebral bridge to hers. "Whatever you're running from, I'd like to help you. Here are a few credits." With a sigh, he left.

Moments later, her cerebral bridge lit up. A notification flashed: "2,000 credits have been added to your account." Nora sat frozen in her chair, angry and confused, tears welling in her eyes.

An hour and a full second meal later, Nora heard the android conductor announce that Monika City was twenty minutes away. She had dreamed of seeing the ocean since she was a little girl, but Ming's warning left knots in her stomach. Well, it can't be worse than the Underworld, she reassured herself.

As the train pulled into the station, she stuffed the her new blanket into her bag and clutched it tightly as she stepped off, keeping her eyes fixed on the ground to avoid meeting anyone's gaze.

"Peanuts!" shouted a small boy, balancing a tray of peanut bags. "Miss, would you like peanuts?" he asked with a wide grin.

"No," she replied, curtly. Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed another boy standing uncomfortably close to her, his hand near her bag. "Shoo!" she yelled, startling him.

"Let's go! She looks poor anyway," the second boy sneered, darting away.

"But she came off the big train!" the first boy called, as he ran after him.

Shaken by the encounter, Nora paused to catch her breath. The train station was cleaner than the one in the Underworld—its signs were intact, and there were no intrusive holographic images flashing in her face—but trash was littered all over the platform.

All of the stress in her body melted away as she looked up. For the first time since her childhood in Bahyan City, she saw the blue sky. She smiled, her body relaxing as the scent of sea salt filled the air.

"Hey, you! Girl!" called a husky male voice behind her.

She turned to face a towering, broad-shouldered man with unkempt long red hair and a thick beard. His dirty appearance and the stench wafting from him made it clear he hadn't seen a shower in weeks.

"Are you Nora?" he asked, his eyes scanning her from head to toe.

Nora clenched her left fist tightly, gripping her bag with the other.

"Don has been looking for—" Before he could finish, she drove her foot hard into his groin, smacked him with her bag, and bolted.

The man collapsed to the ground behind her, wailing in pain.

She had no idea where she was going, but she ran as fast as she could, her heart pounding. Left, right—she barely registered the turns. In moments, she was outside the train station and in the bustling streets of Monika City. This wasn't how she had wanted to greet the city. Around her, a lively marketplace teemed with people, reminding her of her childhood in Bahyan City.

Behind her, she heard the large man's anguished cries to stop. Her pulse quickened as another figure appeared—a much smaller man with black hair and a cruel grin, advancing from her left. He was as filthy and greasy as the first.

"Stop, bitch!" he yelled.

She kept running.

"You're as good as dead," sneered the smaller man from behind.

She ran again, zigzagging through oncoming transports and weaving between startled pedestrians. Darting into a fruit shop, she bolted across the space, knocking over an entire crate of foreign fruit that scattered across the floor behind her.

Emerging into a narrow back street near a bustling fish market, she pressed onward, slipping inside the market's maze of stalls. On the other side, she suddenly found herself at a vast fishing dock. She froze, gasping at the sight before her. The ocean, there it was, so beautiful—she had never seen it before. It was breathtaking, a vast expanse of shimmering blue stretching to infinity.

But her awe was fleeting. She glanced back, scanning for the two men. They were nowhere to be seen, but the knot in her stomach told her it wasn't safe to linger, so she turned and kept running. The ocean will have to wait.

(Chapter 4 continues in the next part.)