Adaxia

Chapter 3: Emergence

"I never got your name, kid." The man said as he stopped to survey the area, rubble blocked the street ahead of them.

"Oh, it's.. Luna." She said reluctantly not sure if she should have told him.

"Great to meet you Luna! The names David, the last name is need to know." He tapped his nose and winked at her, she wasn't sure what that meant but he seemed way older than he looked. He gestured for her to follow him back up the street slightly where they then made a turn into what appeared to be an old Casino. 

"Eugh." David gagged, "After all these years it still smells like cigarette smoke and old people, who would have thought." He chuckled to himself, upon noticing Luna's blank reaction he screwed up his face and gave her a, 'You're no fun!' look and gestured for her to keep following him. They made their way across the massive casino floor making sure not to bump into the various slot machines that had been tipped over. It also made it hard to be quiet on account of the coins scattered all over the floor.

"You know why no one lives down here, right?" David asked as they walked,

Luna shrugged. "Not really."

"Ah, you're in for a suprise in.." David checked his watch, his chipper expression suddenly dropped as if it was some kind of facade, "Now." he said as if he was trying not to break. David grabbed Luna by the hand and hastily lead her accross the remaining distance, they cut through a small office and made their way into a stairwell which seemed to go for ages. After a few floors it appeared to be made of a different material.

"Start climbing, now." David ordered, Luna never had a massive thing for authority but she trusted that David knew something she didn't, something that might get them killed and so she started making her way up the stairs and David followed after her.  

They eventually made their way up the stairs and into an equally sad looking building, a foul smell started to draft up from the manhole they were emerging from, David didn't even break his stride as he grabbed her hand once again and dragged her out into what passed as sunlight in the city. Her eyes and lungs started to sting as she began to cough as did David. They barged out of the building, across a seemingly deserted street and into a building opposite the last. They both took advantage of the fresh air.

"That might have done some damage, we need to get to Central and get checked out." David explained, the cities air was known for being some of the most toxic on Earth and Luna had no doubt it had done damage. 

"Central? You mean.. Like.. Central Military Base?" Luna said, dumbfounded that had suggested the idea.

David sighed, "Yeah well.. I liked it better when it was a big park." Luna seemed amused by this notion, one of the most secure military hubs on Earth.. A park?! She couldn't help but giggle, David gave her, 'The Look' and gestured for her to follow once again. They came to another stairwell and Luna groaned, it'd been ages since she sat down and stairs were just too much effort, at least they weren't in a rush anymore. 

They eventually came to stand on the rooftop of an apartment block in the Lower City, Luna had no idea what to make of this, where were they meant to go?

"I know what you're thinking, you can stop." He chuckled as a familiar whizzing sound filled the air and a Skyline came to land on the rooftop, David looked over to Luna whose eyes were as wide as a toddlers on Christmas Day upon recieving a Barbie Doll, or whatever was popular with them. The vehicle was majestic, streamlined and downright.. Amazing! Luna had never ridden in one, David pulled a small remote out of his pocket and clicked a button, the top of the vehicle immedietly opened and without so much as an invitation Luna jumped in. 

"You know.." David started as he got in the drivers seat, "You shouldn't be so quick to jump into vehicles with strange men." he said, grinning. Luna poked her tounge out and quietly observed him working his magic on the Skyline, she held onto her seat as it lifted majestically into the sky above the Lower City and whizzed towards the center of the city.