The Split Sun and The Mechanical Moon

Chapter Fifty-Six: The Darkness is Pierced.

Today marks 2 years since Dove ascended beyond the clouds, 2 years since I've seen Dan, and 2 years living without her. 

Erun has been mostly rebuilt, the moon is still damaged- a reminder our world is truly fake. Stadium Lunar has been reopened, giving light to new stars after Promises suggested passing. The EPD remains a strong force in Erun, pursuing peace over violence. I've made sure to keep close ties with Lilserm, as she continues to give me information and benefits for being her most trusted ally. 

As far as the people, I haven't seen Hawkins in 2 years. His friend group has also ceased to be, almost as if he was never around us. Memories of him are thin and blurry, he's no longer important in any of our lives. Right now, Vee, Mitsoro, Leah, and I are living in a penthouse in center Erun. Shortly after the EPD began to reform Erun's law, because of Aethernicks death, Lilserm abolished the act that separates Erun into districts. It's now center, middle, and outer. Every section is interconnected, and a fluent road network allows one to travel wherever. The tallest buildings are in center Erun, as you go further from Stadium Lunar the buildings get shorter and shorter until it's green fields... until you hit the walls. Lilserm told the city before, the walls are for our safety from the outside, and while she isn't completely confident that the outside world is dangerous, she would never risk the safety of the city she and her sister swore to protect. 

I really do not know why Dan has been gone for so long, I don't believe she would fail... if she was in trouble she has the tools to get back down here. Whatever the case, I have a job to do. Something I've been dreading, something that I never thought I'd do.

Grocery shopping.

I sighed walking into a rather small convenience store, I only needed a carton of milk and a head of lettuce. Fetching the order wasn't difficult, but my pocket was buzzing. Getting my phone, I saw Vee was calling me. I put his profile picture as this picture I took of him, a rather cute one I took of him looking up at the camera looking a bit annoyed. I answered it, pressing it to my ear.

"Brandon! Are you still out?"

"Uh huh, what's up?"

"Do me a favor and pick up my order from Marylin's? I'll give you like... a dollar, but I can pay another way- pause... sorry, if-"

"You don't need to pay me, I'll pick it up. Tell Leah I've got what she wants, I'll be home in like 20."

"Okay. Be safe. Bye."

"Later."

I hung up, stuffing my phone back into pocket I picked up my bag and went over to the checkout. On the way, something caught my eye. It was a magazine, with... me on the cover?

"Erun weekly? How did they get this photo of me?"

I read through it, tbis magazine would have to be written and published by someone who's been around me for years and years... it knows way too much about me. There's one on Promise, Lilserm, and even Vee! I chuckled a bit, taking in the fame. I paid for my two things, and now started the trek to Marylin's. Marilyn was the 4 armed women that escaped with us from the Dead End, about a year ago she set up shop in center Erun for commission work. Whatever Vee asked of her was either really stupid or something really cool. Lucky for me, center Erun is all in walking range, so I was able to reach her shop in about a 15 minute walk. Approaching the place, it was most similar to a bar, a counter with barstools with a large blackboard keeping track of her current orders, she had bottles of drinks to the right of the counter, maybe she's a bartender. Fully walking in, I caught her attention.

"Brandon! What brings you here?"

Marilyn gazed at me with her one eye, the other looking like it was burnt, her strangely orange hair dangled freely, and her flat black hat was taken off to hang just beside her. I sat down, smiling.