The Descent to Sky's End

Some would be terrified, some would be captivated, and some might even use the opportunity to think while standing on a building's rooftop, one of the highest points in the floating city of Zephyra.

Caelus was pointing to the horizon, measuring something with his left hand while gripping a floating device in his right a powerful wind blowing in his face and through his silver hair.

His gaze looks for something down. The metropolis stretched so far that only clouds were visible at the edges, forming a cone. Under him, he could make out a shopping complex with a disc-shaped roof, people like ants moving below.

He inhaled deeply.

"Time to go wild!" Caelus thought as he leaped.

Wind pressure increased as the ground seemed to rush up to meet him, a surge of adrenaline flooding through him. Adjusting his balance from side to side, he set the device on his feet, gradually shifting his descent into a graceful parabola. His heart was racing as his speed slowed, the world spinning around him.

Caelus weaved through people as he landed, his pulse board halting smoothly. The streets bustled with humans, humanoid robots, and tiny drones shaped like spheres that darted through the air.

The boy was encircled by bubbles of blue gel that formed a hologram of glittering sneakers with prices flashing in a variety of vivid colors. He furiously swiped at the advertisement, causing the bubbles to be dispersed and the thing to be undone.

Three steps ahead and the bubbles encircled him once more, making an expensive jacket this time. He let out a frustrated groan.

"I hate these floating ads!" Shouting, he shoved the bubbles away with more force. As they burst around him, he spotted the neon sign for the drugstore and sighed with relief.

After picking up a yellow box containing medication for pulmonary hypertension, he carefully made his way home, keeping a steady grip on the package.

In the middle of the crowd’s bustle, three men talking outside a small shop caught his attention. Their conversation, just within earshot, made Caelus pause.

"I've heard some crazy things since I installed a directional microphone," the skinny one said, wide-eyed and visibly shaken.

"Like what?" demanded a larger, rough-looking man.

"I can hear gunshots, explosions, and even screaming at night. What's happening down there, I wonder?” The skinny one muttered, biting his nails.

The big man shrugged. "I thought nobody was still alive down there.”

Caelus, drawn in, stood still to hear more. Suddenly, the bigger man noticed him.

”Do you want something, kid?" He posed the question almost menacingly."

Caelus stammered "N-nothing" and hurried off as quickly as he could.

When he reached his apartment, he pressed his hand to the scanner, and the door slid open.

"I'm here!" he called.

"Welcome, son!" His father’s voice came from the kitchen. "Your mother's in the bedroom."

In the dim light, Caelus saw his mother resting on the bed. He stepped closer.

"How are you, Mom? I brought your medication."

“Thanks, honey,” she smiled softly. “As the doctor suggested, I took a short nap. Did you make anything crazy with your pulse board today?"

"Yes," he said with a mischievous grin. "Just jumped from our building."

His mother gave him a concerned smile, glancing at the safety belt he wore. "At least you're using that."

Caelus’ excitement reignited as he recalled the overheard conversation. "Mom, at the mall, I heard some guys talking about strange sounds coming from below the clouds. Do you know anything about that?"

The smile faded from her face. "Son... just forget about what goes on beneath the clouds."

"But, Mom—"

"No 'buts'! It’s illegal, and you know it."

His father appeared in the doorway. "Dinner’s ready!"

Caelus’ mother studied him, her expression suspicious. "Are you helping your father set the table?” she teased gently.

“Of course! I’ll set it all up.”

A colorful vegetable salad awaited them, "Aurora Flakes! Dad, I’ve been craving these!” he said, grinning as his father chuckled.

As they ate, his mother brought up a point. "Tomorrow, you and your friends have plans, right? But remember," she gestured to the small TV on the wall, "the Delta Zone is closed off. You’re not allowed there!"

"I know, Mom," he replied.

"We don't want you getting hurt by the heavy machines." His father added.

"The Delta Zone is too far, I'm never going there. Is it okay if I take some Aurora Flakes for tomorrow?”

"Sure," his dad nodded, smiling.

The next day, after school, Caelus was talking to his buddies Evander, who was stronger and had short dark hair, and Jet, who was blond and tall.

“Ugh! I hate history class!” Caelus groaned.

“Same here!” Jet replied.

"Who cares about what happened back in 2040?" Evander grumbled. 

"So what if a war wiped out the surface and we’re living above the clouds now? That was one hundred years ago! And I have nothing to do—"

Caelus fell silent as a tall, dark-haired girl passed by, glancing at him shyly with a small smile. His friends burst out laughing.

“Look, he’s in love for Selene!” Jet teased, nudging Caelus.

“No, I’m not!” Caelus shot back, his cheeks reddening.

“You think a shrimp like you stands a chance?” Jet mocked, grinning.

“Shut up!” Caelus kicked his leg, and they scuffled briefly before Evander broke it up.

“Hey! Save it, or we’ll be late!” He called, grinning.

“You said you had somewhere you wanted to go, didn’t you?” Asked Jet.

They reached the edge of the city, where a force field marked the Delta Zone. Caelus felt a twist of guilt.

“Wait, this is the Delta Zone. We’re not supposed to be here,” he said, hesitating.

“Don’t tell me you’re afraid!” Jet sneered.

“It’s not that!” Caelus insisted, though he felt uneasy. “What about the heavy machinery?”

"Relax; it’s empty. They haven’t started repairs yet,” Evander assured him.

“See that building?” Jet pointed to a skyscraper towering above. "We’ll just pass through there. Got these from my dad.” He held up thin, clear goggles. “They shield your head from blows and a route is installed."

Caelus was impressed but still nervous. "How do you know all this?"

Jet smirked. “I saw it online.”

With a mix of excitement and apprehension, the boys used their pulse boards to climb up and slip through a gap in the force field. Caelus’ heart pounded as he disobeyed his parents, adrenaline surging through him.

They argued over who would go first, but Caelus grabbed his pulse board and leaped forward, following the path laid out by his goggles.

As he raced along the deserted route, wind whipped through the empty buildings. Sharp turns, steep inclines, narrow windows—he navigated them all, his focus sharp. Suddenly he noticed patches where the floor was missing, leaving gaping holes.

An alarm blared, echoing through the area. Heavy machinery hummed in the distance. Caelus sped toward one of the gaps, glancing down at the cloud cover, like soft cotton far below.

In that instant, he hesitated, thrown off by the dizzying view. The floor panels around him began to close. Pushing forward, he veered around a massive robot with huge metal hands, barely avoiding its path as it placed a steel plate into position.

Ahead, his friends waited, eyes wide with terror as they saw what he was about to do. Caelus’ heart hammered as he dodged the feet, hands, and arms of the robotic workers.

He was almost through, his friends in sight—until a huge mechanical arm swung out of nowhere, knocking him off his pulse board. Caelus was thrown over the edge of the city into the endless sky below.