Ai's POV

My brother, like me, has dark hair and multi-coloured eyes – one green and one blue, which it seems we inherited from our mother. Our sister Shae has normal blue eyes, much like our father.

I never found out the significance of having multi-coloured eyes until I was older. It's a genetic trait of the older, elected families - recessive of course. It can be traced back to the First EVe.

She had eyes like me.

I see him now, my brother a blur in front of me. His green and blue eyes look beyond the wall; gun balanced over one arm, poised to take another shot, while the other holds a solar-light. I catch my breath quietly, my hands on my knees. He looks like our father used to; dark waves cut short, broken nose, dimpled chin. The resemblance makes me sad.

"Trouble?" He asks, finally taking his eyes off the aftermath through the wall.

"You could say that." I say, wincing at as I get to my feet.

My hood has fallen back allowing icy wind to wreak havoc with my hair, now loose and mangled. Tears smear my face and sting my eyes. I'm still trying to catch a breath when Daemon stares at me, taking it all in. I must look a delight. He hands me my cap.

"Where is your bike?" He's suddenly noticed.

"Broken."

"Then how did you get here?" He asks. My brother doesn't bat an eyelid. His voice surprisingly calm.

I'm not. I try to match him. Breathing in fits and starts.

"You ran two...no three blocks. Why didn't you send for a car Ai?"

Short gasps become long gasps, until I'm able to stand without legs turning to jelly. I shove my hair back under my cap, fixing my appearance as best I can.

"Come on let's go." I start walking towards the lights. I don't have all night.

"Ai what happened? Stop. Will you look at me for a second?"

Yes, now his feathers are ruffled.

I sigh loudly and look at my brother. "It's fine, nothing happened Daemon. My bike's broken that's all. It was quicker to walk."

"Next time call me. I'll come get you." I can't help but note the slight panic in his voice. Not something my brother is known for. It makes me feel guilty.

"I did send you a message, but whatever." I offer a small shrug. "Can we get going? It's freezing up here." My shoulders to tremble a little, for effect.

Dae stares at me for a moment longer then nods, taking his jacket off and draping over my shoulders. Like a good brother should. I want to shrug it off but don't.

I'm too fricken cold.

We start walking towards the other end of the bridge and I snuggle the coat closer around me, grateful for its warmth, and the smell of him that feels like home.

The wind up here howls. Strong gales buffer us both, bowling me over so much Daemon has to reach out to hold my shoulder while we walk. It doesn't help the suspension floor is swaying. After a few paces, we get to the second plasma control point, where sentries are standing guard. Dae gives them a curt tilt of the head and we both pass through, without issue, into civilisation.

The first thing Daemon does, once we're through, is to check his emergency com. A tightness that wasn't there before spreads across my shoulders.

"You sent it seven minutes ago. How long did you even wait?"

"About two."

"Two minutes? Ai, do you have a death wish? There's no way I'd be able to get my cab, and be over the border in time to come and get you."

"You'd rather I waited middle of the street?"

"Of course not. You should have waited at home."

"Why? You never check messages."

"That's not the point, you..." he sighs, stopping in his tracks, looking down at me. "You're right, I haven't been checking lately. I'm sorry for that. There's just a lot going on right now."

"Everything ok, nothing Eden's finest can't handle?"

Daemon pauses for a tenth of a second. Brow furrowed. "Yes, all good. We're all good."

I don't believe you. "Ok, good to know."

We carry on walking, a bit further. No longer saying words that mean nothing.

Night time this side of the bridge is a blur of noise and light, a stark contrast to my life, oh five minutes ago. The main port is busy; filled with outer ward residents coming home from the elevation, from work; vehicles moving in file form actual queues on the roads; shops, bars and restaurants all brightly lit, are thriving.

In this world, the Outside and lawless don't need to exist. They don't make this place any more or less. They aren't all dark and this is all light. Outside is just redundant; an empty and abandoned space, filled with those no one cares about. You are nothing unless you are part of this, The Inside.

There are dreams I have where Cal and I don't merely survive Outside, like rats, we actually have a life in here, Inside. If Cal were to gain residency, and that's a big if, there's still the major issue of my esteemed family and the skeletons they don't want uncovered.

I never did tell Daemon, it was our mother in the end who asked me to leave.

"Are you hungry? I know a place." My brother says, breaking the not-so-silent silence, lapsing between us.

I'm starving but decline quickly. Dinner with my brother, like old times, would be too strange. My life now is survival. If I get too nostalgic for the comforts of home, I doubt I'll last very long. That, and in about forty-five minutes Cal is going to call me. If I'm not home by then he's probably going to freak out, and come and get me. I doubt a plasma gate will stop him.

"Just tell me what's so urgent. I-I need to head back."

"Coffee at least? You're still shaking, and there are cuts all over your arms. You look like you've been rolling around in a rain barrel."

It was a seven car pile-up actually.

I glance at the diner he's gesturing to, a small silver porta cabin wrapped in pink neon. I nod and he guides me up the door, like I might bolt at any moment.

Inside we slide into a booth, free between commuters. There are no waiters or waitresses – auto service only. Daemon waves his hand over the tab – a contactless disc at the side of the booth - and it reads his chip, authenticating his credit. I doubt they serve good coffee here and I'm right.

I order a beer, from the mini touchscreen and half lean against the seat. My brother sits opposite me looking tired. He pours himself a water from one of the branded faucets. Still on duty. Immediately, I regret the beer.

Daemon, as if reading my mind, pours another water and slides it across to me.

"So what's so urgent we had to meet... here?" I gesture around us, taking a small swig of beer with a gulp of water as a chaser.

He pulls out a black metal sphere, which elongates into a globe as he activates it. A personal damper, to prevent anyone listening in. I lean in, for no reason other than it seems like the thing to do.

"Shae is missing."

That throws me. I imagined all kinds of things; about our parents, about me, even about Cal. Never Shae. Our sister has always been perfect. She would never 'go missing'. Not willingly, unlike me.

"Since when? How do you know?"

"Since Thursday. She didn't call me before bed like she usually does. This morning she didn't show up for our usual breakfast."

My stomach gurgles at the mention of food, overwhelmed with too much liquid. I ignore it. "That doesn't mean she's missing Daemon."

"I checked her dorm. Room was empty, neat but empty, like she'd packed everything. Her housemates haven't seen or heard from her all weekend."

"And you checked her on your spy locator thing?" I ask, motioning to the slick enforcer tech my brother carries everywhere.

"First thing I did. I checked her bio-sensor data. No signal. Nothing. It's like she's disappeared. Her last movements are in her room."

"What does that mean exactly?" A missing person is unheard of. All residents are counted for from birth, chipped and tracked.

"It means she's removed her chip, she's Outside somehow where we can't track her signal, or she's..." He doesn't say it, but I see it in his eyes.

"Why would she remove her chip?" I don't want to think about the other option.

"More likely she's Outside."

"She isn't."

"It's the most viable option."

"She's not." I say as a matter of fact, shaking my head.

"Are you sure?"

"I'm sure."

His blue green eyes burrow into me, searching for secrets.

I stare back at him, half gritting teeth. "She's not with me Daemon, so stop asking me."

He leans back, head moving in agreement. "I can see that now. I had to see you – your face – to know for sure."

I roll my eyes. "So all this," I gesture around, "is just so you can interrogate me?"

"No of course not. I have a lead on Shae I would like your help with, if you want to help that is. I had hoped she was with you and it wouldn't come to this."

"What lead?" I ask, ignoring the 'if you want to help' casually thrown in there. Of course I want to help. What kind of question is that?

"One you're not going to like."

Oh, I see. That kind.

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Author's Note - 

[Image credit - the beautiful Ferran Calderon as 'Daemon' ]

So sorry for the delay in posting this week. There's been a lot going on. I got flu >< and was accepted onto a writing mentorship ♡☀

We are back on schedule though!

Thanks so much for those who have subbed! I love that you're still reading, liking and commenting!

So, what do you think of Ai's hot brother? Vote below if you rather like him!

Any idea as to what he's going to ask her to do? :)

Much more to come lovelies, so stay tuned. Again, thank you for reading.

Lisxx