An

"What happened?" ask Adam as the light started to gathering on his eyes.

"Grandpa?"

"You passed" says grandpa who sits on the side of the bed.

"What? No!" Adam tries to get up, but his hands tied very tight to the bed.

"Did I kill someone?!" Adam's eyes wide open.

"No, no. But you broke Joe's leg, cut it in half. They have to took him to the hospital"

Adam falls to the bed. A single tear slowly fall down to his pillow.

"Not again"

"I... hm... I was shocked. I thought we had it healed but, that thing in your head. I, I tried to stop you, but those cages just too high for an old man to climb. Hm... Yes, I, hm..." Grandpa scratches his head. His hand trembled and his voice cracked a little.

"Your mother, she was running toward you, but the securities have jumped on the cage and holding you down before she got her hands on you"

"I am sorry, I am sorry Adam. I should have known better. I failed you" grandpa tears started welling his eyes.

"Grandpa..." says Adam.

"We should have seen this coming. Once we saw your father there, I know he was up to something, but I let it happen. I hope I won't see you like that again Adam. That looks on your face, that moment, terrifying"

Both of them then take a moment to take their breath.

"So, I can't compete again?"

"Things are a little bit complicated now. I don't know. No one talks about that yet" says grandpa wiping his tears.

"And, mother?"

"She is outside, taking care of your bill. But they say we have to leave the city before midnight. You know, people like us is not welcome here"

Then, a gentle voice took their attention

"Adam" a woman who shares her look with Adam stands on the door.

"Let's go home" she says waving her head.

****

"Wow, a car?" Adam raises his voice.

"At least something lifting your mood huh?"

"Wait a moment; white paint, stupid looking bumper and big dumb frog looking light. This is Eve's car isn't it?"

"You got that right. Noah and her was also the one who take care of your bills"

"Just between you and me, I think you should marry her one day" says her mother out loud smiling.

"Here we go again" says grandpa.

"Wait, they are here?" says Adam.

"Yup, they were waiting for you to get up. But your sleeping head just love pillow so much, isn't that right?" Mother ruffled Adam's hair.

"She also says we can use her car to reach the stations"

"I should thank them later when they come to our city" says Adam.

"Right, now anyone else hungry or it is just me? Say mother as they enter the car.

"Enough with the talk, its already dark, and our time almost expired" said his grandpa.

"All right, all right" She says as the car started to growl.

****

"My I ask something?" says Adam.

"Nope" his mothers answer

"If you going to ask about that man, you better shut up"

"I just want to-"

"Sssttttt.... I told you not to ask about it!" his mother voice rising as the car move faster.

"Let's not get into a fight now, it's very rare for as to sit on a car, just try and enjoy it" his grandfather starts to wave his hand again.

"The man is gone; I don't see him anywhere after his marvellous applause for you. Happy now?" says his mother.

"Three years you work hard for this kid, three years you have taking a lot of punches and kicks, it doesn't matter if you win or lose. You are the champion; you beat your entire opponent. For us, for the people of Bumi, you are our stars." says his grandfather.

"But, I failed right? I failed to enter this city. To have a better live with you all" Adam drop his head and tears filling his eyes slowly.

Mother then put a single cigarette on her mouth, biting it between her lips.

"We don't know that. They might send someone tomorrow" Grandpa smiling.

"Anyway, let's enjoy this moment, it's not like we can sit on a car everyday" says his mother exhaling smokes out of her mouth.

"You know what? Noah says if we took this road we could see the 'An' that you keep hearing from radio"

"That 'An'?!" Adam and grandpa yell at the same time.

"Yea, how many 'An' this world has dad?"

"That magic city really exists? They really outdone themselves"

"It's not magic grandpa, it made by a blue print that they found with Tesla invention" Adam lifting his head again.

"I don't know about that, but a city in the sky? That sounds like a magic to me, what you say Nala?" says grandpa.

"A box with voices inside was also a magic to you" Adam said.

"Hahahaha things change really fast. I used to crawl on the sewer before, but now I'm sitting on a car" grandpa laugh and Lana smiling wide.

They flew with high speed. Lana keeps puffing her cigarette once or twice every minute. It was her second pack by now, and the sound of explosion from the car sometimes wakes grandpa up. Then after a few hours on road, sea breezes reach their nose as the smell of salt tickling the hair inside it. The sounds of waves slowly wake Adam up.

"You awake?" says mother.

Adam nodding while scrubbings his eyes.

"If it really exist, it must be behind this mountain" mother continue.

Surprised, Adam jump right to the front seat as he started to see a bunch of light with many colours appear from the end of the mountain.

"That, that's it, grandpa that's the sky city!" says Adam rocking his grandpa from sleep.

"For god sake, stop cooking those grenades!" yell grandpa from sleep.

"What?" ask Adam.

"What's what? Why you wake me up?" says grandpa wiping his saliva hanging on his chin.

"That's 'An' the sky city!" says Adam pointing to the cloud.

Grandpa's eyes suddenly wide open, his mouth hanging as his head slowly getting closer and closer to the front window.

"God Lord it's floating!" says grandpa yelling.

"I told you so!" says Adam smiling.

"Amazing" his mother says.

"Mom stops the car" says Adams.

"You got it" says the mother smiling.

"There, there right there, that's the stars, the eight needle stars. It's so bright isn't it?" Adam running leaving the car while pointing his finger again to the sky.

"Wow, I never imagine it could be this beautiful" she says as her cigarette falling to the ground. "How did they do that?" she continues.

"I told you, Tesla invention. And they say it's not even finished yet" Adam cheering.

"Such contrast don't you think? From the live we have down there, sharing space with bugs and worm. That things is beyond my imagination" Her tears drop with big smile on her face.

"I am sorry, that was really depressing to says" his mother wipe his eyes then lit her new cigarette.

"But at least we have seen it, right Adam?"

"Yeah; I'll tell the others about this tomorrow. Noah and Eve must have seen this everyday right?"

"I bet they can see it through their bed" his mother laughing.

"Grandpa, you okay?" says Adam.

"Mm? Yes, I just can't shut my eyes" he answered.

"You are crying!" Adam laugh.

"Hahaha I've been crying alot today am I? I just can't believe there is still something that can surprise me in this age" his voice cracked.

"Then keep eating your vegetables grandpa, there is still a lot to see" Adam smiles.

****

The cloud slowly covers the sky as they leaving the Sky City behind; circling through a cliff going down the mountain.

"I'm going to need another pack before we leave this city" says Lana lighting her last cigarette.

"Can't we just buy it at home? It's almost midnight; five hours before our time expired" says grandpa.

"I can't find this brand on our city dad. Don't worry, I saw something that looks like settlements down this mountain from above, they should have some kind of market there, right?"

"Just don't forget our time here is limited"

"Alright, alright" she smiles.

"Adam is asleep, it surprised me that things still on his head, I though he already make his peace with it" she continue.

"Hm..." grandpa frown his lips.

"Don't blame yourself, we will do better next time" Lana slap her father shoulders.

Then, behind them a bunch of cars suddenly brighten the road in front of them.

"What is that?" ask the mother.

"Hm... it seems like someone in hurry, just let them pass" says grandpa looking out the window.

Lana slowly moving to the side of the road closes enough to the wall of the mountain. And then as their gap getting closer, the car behind them start hitting their back, waking Adam from his sleep.

"Brother!" yell Adam.

"What the hell is going on!" yell mother from her window.

"Lana, gets inside!" yell grandpa while pulling his daughter.

"Shit! Who the fucks are they?" ask mother as she try fix the track of the car.

"One thing for sure, they're here to make trouble, and language!" yell Grandpa as another push coming from the back.

"Alright then" she says before taking deep breath to her cigarette.

Lana put all her weight to the gas pedal and throws the remaining cigarette outside the window. Winds blow really hard as the gap between them and their pursuers is getting wider. Adam and grandpa got pushed back to their seat as they started holding it like their lives depends on it.

"God lord Lana, where did you learn driving like this?!" yell grandpa.

"WOOP WOOP!!" yell Lana laughing.

"Being a driver for six years must have means something" Adam nervously smiling on the back.

"Who are they? Did you make trouble again somewhere Lana?"

"What? How old do you thing I am dad? I've no idea who they are, but there is a settlement down there, a perfect place for hide and fight, don't you think?" Lana smile.

But, just as Lana line end, a sharp light catch their back again.

"Shit" Lana says.

"Language!" yell grandpa.

However, before they realize, two cars suddenly appears on their sides, squeezing them; taking away their speed. Lana then forced to push the brake, making Adam flying to the front, and grandpa hitting the front window. However another light brighten Lana's face from the rear mirror.

"How many of them?" says Lana while stomping the pedal again, making the car create screeching sound on the road.

They go fast again.

"What should we do?" ask Adam.

But Lana silence answers everything. Two cars pushed from the side as the other two pinching from the back. The cars on the side keep trying to slow down Lana as she keep dodging them with perfect angle, until a big hit coming from their back, making a crack sounds on the tires. Lana's car goes wild as her forcing her feet on the brake pedal, making the car losing its track and hit on the roadblock. They then fly high like feather on the wind. Upside down across the street and bump the roof to the road. Smoke slowly coming from the car as Lana, Adam, and grandpa losing their consciousness.

****

"Bring him here" a low voice hanging on Adam's ears as he slowly regain his consciousness

"Straighten his leg, I want those knees"

"Like this?" said the man in front of Adam; sitting while holding both his leg.

"Make it straight stupid!" yell the other voice again.

"No! God damn it! Just, just lay him right here, and you two hold his hands!"

"Hello Adam" a familiar voice struck his ears as he open his eyes. Blood dripping from his head and his body filled with scars.

"You-" said Adam, but his voice stopped as the blood stream reaching his throat.

"Joe's little brother" he continue.

"Why are you in such a hurry? I thought you will leave the city tomorrow. You can't just leave like that right, after what you did to my brother" he look at Adam with red and swollen eyes while waving a crowbar on his hand.

Adam takes a deep breath, and then moving his eyes to four people that holding both his arms and legs.

"Do whatever you want but leave those two out of this" Adam says pointing with his chin toward his mother and grandpa.

"At this moment, I don't think I need your consent to do whatever I want" Joe's little brother clinching his teeth.

"He can't walk again you know, he... he's suffering. You-" his voice stop and tears welled deep inside his eyes.

And then, his feet smash Adam's face, pressing him to the ground.

"You-should-suffer-too!" he yells as winging the crowbar to Adam's knees again and again.

Adam holding his screams, biting his lower lips until bloods streams out of his mouth.

"Acting though huh? Okay then!"

"You tie his hands and legs!" he pointing.

"With what boss?"

"Your shirt, whatever you have! Tie it and pull it flat on the ground!"

"Pull it!" he yell from his car as his mans wrapping Adam's hands and leg with their clothes.

Slowly he moves the car right toward Adam, carefully positioning the tire on Adam's knee.

"Scream for me" he says as he relaxing his leg on the pedal, slowly crushing Adam's knee, cutting it in half.

Adam screams through his lungs as the car moving forward then backward again as slow as possible. With the amount of blood leaving his body, Adam vision slowly leaving his body.

****

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