The neighborhood stretched before them as they exited the building, a tangle of cracked concrete, rusted pipes, and crooked buildings leaning against each other like drunkards.
Their own apartment block was one of the few with running water and electricity… which were basically luxuries here. The outer walls were unpainted, but at least it stood tall. Others were far worse. Broken balconies. Roofs patched with tin sheets. Doors chained with rope.
This was the slum of Clovis City, a stark contrast to the grandeur implied by the term 'city.'
Clovis was a Tier Three city, which meant it was significantly better than the Tier Four cities where Rita's mother still lived. Tier Four cities were places of utter destitution, often lacking basic utilities, riddled with disease, and governed by street gangs rather than any formal authority.
Clovis, by comparison, felt like a relative paradise. Liam was grateful for it, for the intermittent electricity and running water, for the tint semblance of order.
Second Tier cities on the other hand, resembled developed nations of old, complete with jobs, affordable living, and a decent environment, albeit with a greater presence of criminal factions. Still, a great semblance of order prevailed, a veneer of normalcy.
But a Tier one city? That was an unimaginable leap, a realm of higher cost of living that made even dreaming of it feel like a betrayal of reality. It was a place where the ruling Awakened and their elite lived. Luxury, cutting-edge technology, and abundant comfort defined these havens.
As Liam and Rita walked side by side, their conversation fading into comfortable silence, Liam observed their surroundings. The streets were uneven and dirty, littered with debris and the occasional abandoned, rusted vehicle.
The sky above was a perpetually hazy gray, a perpetual smog hanging heavy, dulling the sun's attempts to break through.
The air itself was thick, carrying the faint scent of refuse and industrial exhaust. It was a typical slum.. dystopian in its decay, but manageable in its existence.
For all its grime and hardship, it was still far better than a Tier Four city, even on its worst day. The sheer desperation that permeated Tier Four was absent here; there was a flicker of hope, a sense of people trying to make it work.
They walked through these grim streets, past the ramshackle vendors selling questionable wares, past children playing in the dirt, until the buildings began to change subtly. The roads became smoother, the air a little cleaner.
They had finally entered the main city, a part that was a bit more civilized, resembling a normal city in a developing country.
Cars and other vehicles, though often old and sputtering, moved along the thoroughfares. There were a few tall buildings, though nothing like the monumental skyscrapers of Tier One or Two cities.
The sun, finally breaking through the haze, shone down, and the air felt fresher, less oppressive. This was the 'good part' of Clovis, but it was still far from opulent. There were no grand bridges spanning rivers, no flashing billboards advertising luxury goods, nothing flashy or fancy. It felt more like a sprawling city-town than a true metropolitan hub.
They walked straight to the subway station… taxis no longer existed here. The high taxes and exorbitant fuel costs made it unprofitable for most drivers.
For this reason, if you wanted to get to the deeper depths of the city, you had to take the subway
Liam and Rita boarded a train, finding a couple of seats in the sparsely filled carriage. The train rattled them deeper into Clovis.
They spent the ride chatting about their favorite series, Rita giggling now and then. Liam found himself staring at her smile, letting the sound settle in his mind. It made the cramped, rattling train almost bearable.
Eventually, the train hissed to a stop. They both got off and left the subway into the main city.
After a while of walking, they arrived a few meters from Rita's destination.
"Okay, Liam. Duty calls," she said brightly. "Be good, alright? I'll see you later."
Liam nodded, watching as she disappeared into the crowd, heading toward her diner.
Then he slung his bag higher on his shoulder and began a journey of his own.
His school was still about a mile away, a long walk that he was accustomed to. It was far, but he had no choice. Clovis Academy was the only place he could get free education in the city, thanks to his scholarship.
As he walked, he already began calculating how he would spend his time after school… his tutoring sessions with Lila, the odd jobs he cobbled together to bring in what little money he could.
After a while, he passed by a particular neighborhood, a place everyone here simply referred to as 'Paradise.' Or, more formally, 'Haven.'
It was a dramatic contrast to the grime he had just walked through.
Lush green fields stretched out, interspersed with meticulously cultivated trees and vibrant flowers. Beautiful houses, each a unique architectural marvel, stood behind manicured lawns. Exotic, sleek cars gleamed in driveways.
The environment was immaculately clean, not a speck of litter to be seen, and there was a pervasive sense of order and security. Garrison officers, their uniforms crisp and weapons at the ready, could be seen patrolling the streets, ensuring no crime dared to tarnish Haven's perfect facade.
This was where the truly rich of Clovis lived. It was a deliberate choice for many.
People preferred to live in Tier Three cities like Clovis because the money that could afford them a comfortable but average life in a Tier Two city could get them to live like kings in a Tier Three city. Many worked and earned their fortunes in the bustling, opportunity-rich Tier Two cities, but then based themselves and their families in Tier Three.
It was a brilliant strategy, allowing them to maximize their wealth and live lives of unparalleled luxury without the suffocating competition and even higher costs of the upper tiers.
Liam hoped to live in Haven one day. Not for himself, not really. But to give his sister, Lila, a comfortable life, a life free from the constant anxieties of scarcity and danger.
For now, however, that was merely a dream, a distant, shimmering mirage. Because the only way to get that kind of money in Clovis, without having inherited it or having a family in the higher tiers, was to join a gang. And Liam would rather die than do that.
Finally, he arrived at his destination: Clovis Academy. It was the best educational institution in the city, where mostly the children of the city's affluent residents attended.
He was one of the few scholarship students, a rare exception. And well, you all know the drill…
Weak, poor, scholarship kids equals… magnet for bullies.
Liam was bullied constantly, both verbally and physically. Taunts about his clothes, his lack of money, his very presence in a school meant for 'betters' were daily occurrences.
Sometimes, it escalated to shoves in the hallway, trips in the cafeteria, or even a stolen lunch. He hated going to school because of this, the constant dread of what fresh torment awaited him.
But he had no choice. His sister depended on him, on whatever he learned so he could teach her. Just like him, she loved studying, devouring books and information with an insatiable hunger. But there was no money for her tuition. So she couldn't attend school.
And, in a strange way, he preferred it this way. She was safer, untouched by the cruelties of Clovis Academy, within the relative sanctuary of their apartment.
He entered the school building, the familiar weight of dread settling on his shoulders. He headed straight for his classroom, slipping into his seat at the very back… a position he had claimed for obvious reasons, a subtle attempt to be invisible.
Thankfully, today, his classmates seemed preoccupied, their usual teasing directed elsewhere, or perhaps they hadn't noticed him yet. He breathed a quiet sigh of relief.
He pulled out his worn textbooks, trying to focus on the worn pages, but his mind kept drifting back to the blue screen, to the can of pasta, to Rita's kindness, to the distant promise of Haven.
Then, the bell rang, a shrill, piercing sound that cut through the low hum of student chatter. The classroom door opened, and the first teacher of the day entered, her stern face a familiar sight. Liam braced himself for another day of lessons, and another day of enduring.