The paths that wind around the old stone buildings are narrow, the wood and metal scraps tied together with whatever material the people who built them could get their hands on.

I have a hunch that Lilac Royalty's headquarters - the place they meet up when they are tired of fighting crime - is somewhere down here, hidden from the cameras that cover the higher roads and streets. Down here the police hardly keep an eye on things, and although they claim it's because the level of crime is much higher moving up in the city, I know it's because the lack of paths, of walkways, doesn't please them, and using their Honts between these narrow passages isn't a very good idea, especially with all the pillars scattered across the old city, keeping the new one up and standing.

I wish I could have seen this city before vertical building started. I have seen photographs, have watched videos of people in the past coming to visit Venice for its unusual streets, the boats used instead of cars encouraging tourists to visit. And I understand why. During the time when we could travel all around the world without a care, when climate change didn't matter and the storms, tsunamis, earthquakes and droughts didn't affect our lives, everyone had so much more freedom. Now things are harder, and to leave a city like Venice you either have to be so desperate and poor that you are willing to put your life at stake, leaving with a boat and sailing beyond the protective barrier, or rich enough to have your own flying vehicle capable of withstanding the long distance there is between Venice and the next protected area.

Turning a corner, I step to the side as an old woman carrying a bag of cement moves past me, her eyes fixed on the floor as she hurries along.

People down here are always in a hurry, always have something that should have been done the day before, their to-do lists so long they would give me a headache just looking at them.

I was lucky. Because my father was a lawyer we managed to move into a small apartment up on the ninth level, the lowest of the rich. From my bedroom window I could see the busybodies underneath us, and when I looked up - if I ever did look up - I could see the world I wished I had, the lives I envied strolling across the bridges as if there had all the time in the world. I can only imagine what people from the lower levels think, looking up and seeing the vast space between their homes and the sky, the hundreds of metres that separate them from natural light.

Looking up now, I wonder what my life would have been like if only my mother had worked. She had powers, sure, but they were common, nothing special compared to what I have. She did make a name for herself though, turning expensive cars into the colour gold, changing the pigments of flowers into unnatural ones. She might not have had the best upbringing, but she was smart and knew how to make the most of any situation.

From down here, everything looks dark. The light that once struck all these buildings is nowhere to be seen, instead replaced by the white and purple orbs spread across the streets, some hanging from the buildings above. The pillars, all of about three metres in diameter, hold steady as the water splashes against them. They have been replaced over the decades, but they all remained in the same place - the crossroads between rivers.

Shaking my head, I concentrate on my task, my mission.

Aithne Pan - Please act as quickly as possible and bring the group to justice. Vigilantes are appearing everywhere, we need all hands on deck to catch them.

My chief had sent me the message earlier today, her urgency making me nervous. I haven't done anything productive in the past four days, ever since I told Lilac Royalty I would train to become better so that I stood a chance of impressing them enough that they would let me join them. Instead of training though, I've been trailing around the deepest parts of the city, looking for any signs of the Lorem girls, any sign of their powers that could indicate where they are.

I'm starting to think that my hunch is wrong, that my gut - for the first time in my life - has failed me.

I've been walking the wooden paths for hours now, lazily making my way around the large city, admiring what once used to be a great and historical place, but to no avail. Looking up, I imagine the sun is starting to set, although the only people who have a view of the beautiful phenomenon of nature are those rich enough to be on the outer layers of the city, or high enough to have views of the entire sky.

Sighing, I head towards the lifts, all of them placed next to the pillars for support. Each of these carts can carry up to fifty people along with space to carry up to ten vehicles and move up and down, stopping at every level once every hour. Luckily for me though, the pillar nearest to me has four lifts, and one of them is slowly descending, touching the floor just as I reach it.

Once I've shown my police identification card I'm allowed to pass without having to pay the fee, my footsteps resonating through the half-empty cart as it moves upwards towards the second level. I've been told there are levels underneath the historical buildings, the old catacombs interlocking into a labyrinth only those who know how to navigate them can find their way out of, but I've never seen anyone go further down than the first level, any hole or tomb that once existed long gone.

I get off on level ten, where my apartment building stands. Because of the rarity of my powers and my ability to infiltrate vigilante groups and bring them to justice, my pay is quite good, good enough that, if I really wanted to, I could probably rent a tiny apartment on the eleventh level. But I don't need it, and unlike my child self who used to dream of having a house as close to the stars as possible, now I have seen what miseries people in the lower levels suffer, and so I donate a large proportion of my income to charities that work towards improving the lives of those who live in the underworld, as most people from my level refer to the lower levels. 

I used to live on the ninth level, but after what happened to my parents, I couldn't stay there, so my only option was to either level down and live in misery, the possibility of my apartment being raided even higher than on level nine, or level up, living amongst the rich on level ten. I chose the latter.

Something - better yet, someone - whizzes past me, the colour of their clothing a light in the dark.

Lilac Royalty is here.

I feel myself smile as I sprint behind the girl, my legs moving as quickly as I can make them before skidding to a halt next to a large bin.

The vigilantes are walking towards the bank in front of my apartment.

The first thought that crosses my mind is that they have decided to leave their vigilante days behind, instead turning into the villains they so desperate seem to want to bring to justice, but my thought soon disappears as the girl with the air powers, Caeli Flexuram, walks out of the small building, a young boy with a mask on floating behind her as she moves towards her friends. 

This is my chance, I need to demonstrate I have learnt to control myself.

Making sure my hood is covering my face, I run towards them. I usually carry a mask in my pocket, not wanting to let the rest of the citizens know who I am, what I do. It's protocol to keep our identity a secret, but lately I keep forgetting, my collection of masks - the most important thing for the job - safe and sound in the safe I have under my bed. If and when I am discovered, I will no longer be able to take part in secret missions, and instead I'll be doing what the police in front of me are doing; accepting the help of vigilantes instead of putting in the work to better our city.

"Look out!" I shout, moving my hand towards a puddle, the muggy water moving towards the purple girls who turn around almost in slow motion as the water freezes, stopping the bullet that had been shot moments ago from inside the bank, the metal falling towards the floor with a clang.

I hadn't anticipated I'd have to save their lives in order to befriend them, but I'm glad the man inside shot his bullet because it gave me a chance to shine, to prove I have become better.

"I've-" I start, stopping in front of them, my legs weak from the sprint I'd just made, "I've been practising," I say between breaths, my heartbeat slowing down as I breathe in and out.

The girls seemed stunned as they looked at me, the ice particles I had deliberately created and placed on them shining under the purple orbs that hang from the buildings around us.

"I'd say she deserves a chance to prove herself, right?" The girl who can summon winds whispers towards the Petram Lorem, probably not wanting me to hear her.

I look at the lean girl who had told me to train, to control myself, and hide my smile with a hopeful look, not wanting to show my true feelings, "We meet tomorrow at the Dock for training. If you can prove yourself," she pauses, "We might let you become a member,".

"Oh, thank you, thank you!" I exclaim, nearing them for a hug, although that's the last thing on my mind. Luckily for me, rock girl moves away, stepping to the side before nodding to an excited looking Caeli Lorem, "I will see you tomorrow,".

CHAPTER TWO WORD COUNT - 1728

Leave a vote if you enjoyed it!