Chapter 10: A Weekend of Restlessness

A Dream That Lingers

Gaona woke late, the sunlight filtering weakly through the thin blinds of his apartment. His heart still pounded faintly, the vividness of the dream refusing to leave him. It wasn’t the first time his imagination had taken hold of him in his sleep, but this time had been different. He could still feel the weight of it—the surrealness of the high school setting, the young versions of Alina and Ren, and most of all, the mysterious girl whose face he couldn’t quite see.

His hands trembled slightly as he leaned against the edge of his bed.

“It was just a dream,” he muttered to himself, but his voice felt hollow.

The dream had been too real, too detailed to dismiss so easily. Even now, the emotions it had stirred lingered—his confusion, his fleeting moments of connection, and the strange longing that had followed him back into the waking world.

Thoughts of the Lottery

As the morning stretched into afternoon, Gaona remained in his apartment, lounging aimlessly. The crumpled lottery ticket sat on his desk, its presence quietly demanding his attention. He couldn’t stop himself from glancing at it every so often, the thought of the drawing teasing at the edges of his mind.

“Could I even win?” he wondered aloud, his voice breaking the silence of the room.

The idea of winning felt absurd. People like him didn’t win things like the lottery. And yet, there was a small part of him—a part he didn’t like to acknowledge—that couldn’t help but hope. What if he did win? What if his life really could change?

He imagined what it might be like to have an Archon companion—someone to share his days with, someone to make the loneliness of his apartment feel less crushing. His heart fluttered at the thought, but it was quickly tempered by a wave of doubt.

“Would it really make things better?” he asked himself. “Or just… harder?”

He looked around his apartment, the piles of trash and recyclables standing as silent witnesses to his struggle. He could barely take care of himself most days. What would he even do with a companion? Would it just be another responsibility he couldn’t handle?

A Walk to Clear His Mind

Portillo / Eternal Code /

Portillo / Eternal Code /

Unable to shake his restless thoughts, Gaona decided he couldn’t stay cooped up any longer. He grabbed his jacket and stepped outside, the stale air of the biodome hitting him as he locked the door behind him.

The streets of Civic Sector Delta were alive with the usual bustle of people going about their day. Vendors shouted half-heartedly about their wares, children darted between crumbling buildings, and the ever-present hum of the biodome’s ventilation system filled the air.

Gaona walked aimlessly, his hands shoved deep into his pockets. His stomach growled faintly, a reminder that he hadn’t eaten since the day before. He thought about stopping by the diner to grab something cheap—maybe a discounted meal if he could charm his boss into giving him one.

As he walked, his eyes wandered to the people around him. Most moved with purpose, their faces set in expressions of determination or weariness. But every so often, Gaona’s gaze would linger on someone who seemed… off. A figure who stood a little too still, moved a little too smoothly, or had an air of detachment that felt almost unnatural.

“Could they be Archons?” he wondered.

The idea seemed ridiculous at first. Most Archons were unmistakable, standing six or seven feet tall with features that betrayed their artificial nature. But the more advanced models, the ones reserved for the wealthy or the Ministry, were said to be nearly indistinguishable from humans.

Gaona shook his head, trying to dismiss the thought. “I’m overthinking things,” he muttered.

A Familiar Sight

When he reached the diner, it was already late afternoon. The place was quieter than usual, the lunch rush long over but the dinner crowd still some time away. Gaona slipped inside, his eyes scanning the room out of habit.

And there she was.

Aria sat in her usual spot, a corner booth by the window. Her gaze was fixed on something outside, her expression serene yet enigmatic. The sunlight streaming through the glass seemed to catch her hair just right, giving her an almost ethereal glow.

Gaona hesitated, unsure of what to do. Part of him wanted to go over to her, to say hello, but another part—the part that always held him back—told him to stay put. He decided on the latter, taking a seat at the counter and keeping his head down.

Portillo / Eternal Code /

Portillo / Eternal Code /

As he ate his meal, his eyes flicked toward Aria every so often. She seemed lost in thought, her delicate features unreadable. Gaona couldn’t help but feel drawn to her, even though he barely knew her.

An Unexpected Encounter

When he finished eating, Gaona stood to leave, making his way toward the door. He was careful not to look in Aria’s direction, hoping to slip out unnoticed.

But as he reached the exit, a figure stepped into his path.

“Think you were going to get away that easily?”

Gaona froze, his heart leaping into his throat. Aria stood before him, her hands on her hips and a teasing smile playing on her lips. Her green eyes sparkled with amusement as she looked up at him.

“I saw you, you know,” she said. “Sitting there, pretending not to notice me.”

“I… wasn’t sure if I should bother you,” Gaona stammered, his cheeks flushing.

Aria laughed softly, the sound light and melodic. “Bother me? Gaona, you’re the least bothersome person I’ve ever met.”

Before he could respond, she tilted her head slightly, her expression softening. “I was about to go shopping for some new clothes,” she said. “I could use a second opinion. What do you say?”

Gaona blinked, caught off guard. “Me?”

“Yes, you,” Aria said, her smile widening. “I think you’d do wonderfully.”

He opened his mouth to protest, but the words wouldn’t come. Aria had already turned and stepped outside, her movements graceful and purposeful. Gaona hesitated for a moment before following her, too dumbfounded to say no.

The Lottery Announcement

As they stepped out onto the street, a sudden burst of sound filled the air. The biodome’s speaker system crackled to life, a voice announcing the start of the live lottery broadcast.

“Citizens of Civic Sector Delta,” the voice began, “please join us as we reveal the winner of this year’s Archon Lottery.”

The announcement was followed by the unmistakable tone of General Selene, her

Portillo / Eternal Code /

Portillo / Eternal Code /

commanding voice echoing through the streets.

Gaona froze, his heart pounding. This was it—the moment he had been waiting for, the moment that could change everything.

But as the broadcast continued, he glanced at Aria, who stood a few steps ahead of him, waiting expectantly.

“Coming?” she asked, her voice light and inviting.

Gaona hesitated. This was his only chance to watch the reveal, to see if he had won. But the thought of walking with Aria, of spending time with her in the real world instead of pinning all his hopes on an imagined future, was too tempting to resist.

He took a deep breath and followed her.

Choosing the Present

The sound of the broadcast faded into the background as Gaona walked beside Aria, his thoughts torn but his heart fluttering.

“Maybe I’m not meant to win,” he thought. “Maybe this… maybe this is enough.”

As they disappeared into the bustling streets, the world seemed to quiet around them, leaving the possibilities of the lottery behind for the possibilities of the moment.

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