Kingdom of the Nine: The Bridge (IV)

Chapter 2

———Red———
As the helicopter glides toward the sleek, glass-cut tower, its sharp edges catching the fading light, Alyse bounces in her seat, her excitement barely contained.

"Okay, that was amazing!" she exclaims, her grin lighting up the cabin. "I always wondered what it'd be like to be a bird, flying over everything. It's so—so freeing!"

Her enthusiasm makes me glance her way, and for a second, I almost smile. Almost. I wish I could share her excitement, but the weight in my chest is too heavy.

"Where are we, anyway?" Alyse continues, her words spilling out in rapid succession. "I mean, I know you said Earth, but where on Earth? Unless Earth is the name of the city, which would be weird, because this place is made of glass, not stone, and—"

"Indianapolis," Kylen interrupts, smirking as he maneuvers the helicopter into its landing. "We picked it because it's close to the bridge and way cheaper than Chicago. You wouldn't believe what it costs just to maintain a few warehouses there. I kept the warehouses, but no way am I paying to live there." He chuckles to himself, clearly entertained by his budgeting brilliance.

Claire lets out a quiet laugh and steps out of the helicopter as soon as we land, heading toward a door on the rooftop.

I climb out and offer Alyse a hand. She takes it, hopping down gracefully. Kylen joins Claire by the rooftop door, gesturing for us to follow.

"This is the elevator down. I've got to handle some business real quick, but Claire will take you around and get you settled. I'll catch up in a bit," Kylen says, already turning to leave.

"Fine," I reply, trying to sound casual as I glance at Alyse, who's still marveling at the city below. I look back to Claire and force a polite smile. "Let's get going, then."

Claire nods and leads the way, opening the rooftop door with ease. As we step into the elevator, I can't help but glance back at Kylen. For a moment, I wonder what he's really thinking—about us, about this whole situation—but then the doors slide shut, and the cityscape disappears.

The elevator hums softly as it begins its descent. Claire stands to one side, her posture calm and composed, while Alyse presses herself against the glass wall, watching the city blur beneath us. Her awe is almost contagious.

"Look at it all," Alyse murmurs, her breath fogging the glass slightly. "It's so alive... so different."

I lean back against the railing, arms crossed. "Yeah, it's different, all right."

Claire glances at me, her expression unreadable. "You'll get used to it. Earth has its own charm once you settle in."

"Not planning on settling," I mutter.

Alyse turns, shooting me a glare. "Red, can you try to be positive for once? We're alive, we're together, and we've got Kylen back. That's a lot better than where we were a few hours ago."

I open my mouth to argue but stop. She's right—not that I'll admit it. I just shrug and look away.

The elevator dings softly as it comes to a stop. The doors slide open, revealing a spacious lobby bathed in warm, ambient lighting. The floors are polished marble, and the walls are lined with sleek screens displaying rotating images of what must be Smith Inc.'s achievements—spacecrafts, high-tech labs, futuristic cityscapes.

"Welcome to the heart of Smith Inc.," Claire says, stepping out first.

Alyse and I follow, taking in the sight. The lobby buzzes with quiet activity as employees, dressed sharply in suits and lab coats, move with purpose. They barely glance at us, too focused on their own tasks.