** Date: 08.06.1029 PNT // Saturday **

** Time: 00:43 // 0:43 AM **

** Location: Ecosystem Mika // Habitat Melissa // District 7 // Sector 12 // Entricht Street 12 **

** The Time Machine // Ground Floor // VIP-Lounge Bar **

 

A slight tap on his shoulder pulled Joel away from his phone, back into reality. Rosa, Ellis, and Maik stood in front of Joel, who just finished his third drink.

 

“Hey Joel.” Rosa said. Her head tilted a little bit to the left, and she put on a curious face. “Where is Imilia? Weren't you two talking?”

 

“I don’t know.” The barkeeper looked at him while raising her left eyebrow. “Apparently I was a dick, and I am going to apologize.” He waited for a second. “Also the barkeeper wants to fuck Rey.” She looked up from the drink she was pouring and gave Joel a hostile look. Which, of course, made him smile.

 

“Of course she does.” Ellis said. They ordered their drinks, and shortly after, the others walked back inside. Rosa waved at them with a big smile.

 

“We are going on an adventure.” Imilia said with a soft voice, almost singing it. “You want to come with?”

 

“Ellis just got his first drink, so we are waiting for him to finish.” Rosa said teasingly. “He is a little lightweight, isn’t he?” She added with a grin and poking his side. “He was drunk after two drinks when we went out.”

 

“He never finishes his drinks either.” Rey had to add something as well.

 

“At least he is not an alcoholic like Joel.” Lua intervened.

After some time Ellis finally managed to finish his second drink. Lua mentioned that the building has a huge microhabitat on the rooftop and watching the sunrise from there is supposed to be really amazing. So they decided to just go up floor by floor and end the night on the rooftop. Just when they were about to leave, the bartender pointed towards Joel and then Rey with her eyes. The two had a quick chat, and they made their way up.

 

 

** The Time Machine // 1. Floor // Hallway **

 

 

The building was structured like an octagon. In the core of each floor was a dance floor with a certain theme. Outside of that, each side had an escalator up and down, a staircase, an elevator, toilets, smoking areas, exits, VIP lounges, and emergency safety rooms. The upper floors additionally had balconies and, of course, the dark rooms only accessible to VIP clients. Including the ground floor, this place had thirteen floors. The top floor and some rooftop areas were only accessible to VIP+ clients. Each of them had a 10,000 square foot space. The building was 984 feet tall. The group went up one level.

 

The entrance to the dance floor was a big torii. Stepping through it, the group would walk through a transitional area. Around them was a lush bamboo garden; under their feet was a bridge that led over a river. They all had to stop and watch the koi as they swam through the river. Lua and Rosa looked and smiled at each other because they knew what was on the other side. Seizure-inducing strobe lights in all colors of the rainbow, high-pitched sped-up vocals, and bass vibrating through their very bones. Fast-paced J-techno hyperpop. In the middle of the dance floor was a big holographic Sakura tree, dropping its leaves on the people. The bars had a lot of calligraphy scrolls and lanterns around them. Some areas had real bamboo trees. Lua, Rosa, and, by extension, Ellis had a lot of fun and started to dance with one of the intelligent holographic cranes. The others, however, did not enjoy the music. It did not take long for them to decide to go further up.

 

The next floor welcomed them into a magical snowy forest. A wolf passed by the group as they made their way inside. Wooden huts and campfires. In the middle of the room was a giant Matryoshka doll. This time, however, a real doll, with an entrance. Inside was darker and cozier. With tables and chairs, the music, however, was the same. Melancholic Soviet synthwave, which was nice and cozy.

 

And romantic enough for a little dance. Maik did his move and went to the dance floor with Rosa.

 

Lua and Rey did their usual thing. Flirt with some guys on the dance floor until they decide to buy them drinks, and as per usual, it worked. Two very tall and muscular guys in very skin-tight clothing. Maik and Rosa were dancing very closely. A bit too close for Ellis's taste, but all he did was sit on his uncomfortable barstool and watch from the sidelines. Joel and Imilia appeared next to him.

 

“You're just going to sit there and watch?” Joel raised his eyebrows and lightly punched his shoulders.

 

“You should ask her to dance with you.” Imilia had a wide grin on her face.

 

“You two maybe should get cleaned up.” Ellis pointed with his finger towards his nose. Joel and Imilia looked at each other and started laughing. “The music honestly sucks; kind of want to go home.” He continued.

 

“No, you don’t. You want to dance with Rosa.” Like drums, Imilia slapped Ellis’ chest.

 

“Can we at least go to another floor? I don’t feel the music at all.” Imilia left immediately and pulled Rosa away from Maik, who followed them without question. Joel walked up to Lua and Rey to get them, too. The men looked disappointed. Lua just waved and blew kisses at them.

 

Palms, sand, and hammocks. A waterfall and river, which led into a miniature jungle. Anacondas dancing with the crowd, sloths smoking weed with the stoners, and macaws flying through the air. The music was a modernized version of samba combined with deep sub bass and rhythmic 808s. They made a mental note because this floor was alright, but they still wanted to see the others.

 

The fourth floor had a nanite elephant, which could be ridden through the area, but only for VIPs, however. The decor was beautiful and colorful. Silk drapes and curtains, statues of different gods, flower beds, and shrines. The music; Raga-Fusion-Trap, was disliked by everyone.

 

Enchanting, almost alien, but also fast, deep drums, accompanied by Celtic folk singing and bagpipes. On floor five was the Celtic Occult Wave, as they call it, and this floor had an actual band. Oak trees, stone circles, and mossy rocks. The people were dancing in a circle, and the whole thing had a more ritualistic vibe.

 

Floor six had Viking metal, and floor seven had Hypno Reggaeton, which was fine for everyone but Ellis. This time not even Rosa could convince him. Next in the line were Neo-Afro-Fusion, Norteno Electronic Rock, and last but not least, plain 1990s Hip Hop. The last one was good enough to stay for a little bit, so they decided to have a cigarette on the balcony.

 

 

** The Time Machine // 10. Floor // VIP Lounge Balcony **

 

 

Instead of real couch sets, the balcony had multiple pallets stacked on top of and next to each other. These were cushioned with mattresses, blankets, and pillows. The pallets were also used as makeshift tables and were decorated with stickers, bottle caps, coasters, and, just like the walls, full of graffiti and carvings. Next to the seating areas were old rustic burning barrels. Of course, the fire was not real. It was just a hologram, and the heat was created by a radiator inside the barrel. They got their drinks, took a seat on a couch next to the railing, and had cigarettes.

 

“What are you staring at?” Lua asked Ellis.

“There, this dude in the raincoat; he is huge.” He pointed towards the door.

“I don’t see anybody.” She said. “Wouldn’t surprise me, though; have you seen how some people walk around?” She continued to smoke. “Absolute clown show.”

“So, I mean, the shows are cool, the way they made every area unique, but...” Imilia began.

“The music is mostly ass, though.” Joel finished and gave Imilia a drunken smile. “You look pretty tonight, Imilia.” He continued, which made her smile, and her face was now red as a tomato.

“Oh, are we that drunk now?” Rey said to Joel. “Don’t get used to it. He is only this nice when he is absolutely wasted.”

Maik’s phone started buzzing, and a green light came on. “Oh shit, okay guys, I have to go.”

“Who was that?” Joel asked as soon as Maik was gone. He was clearly far too drunk; his eyes had this look, as if he were slightly cross-eyed, and he was lightly stumbling. Not too much; it almost looked like he was posing. Rey just rolled her eyes. “So, how about more drinks?” He continued.

“How about more coke?” Lua asked. “You sure as shit need it.” Joel, Imilia, and Lua had some. “So only two more floors to go. I really hope the music gets better.”

“Vikka told me on the 12th floor they play Hypno-Psy-EDM.” She quickly looked up with her eyes widening. “Oh yeah, this music guy is there. What’s his name? With the pink rabbit mask.”

“ril.0 you mean?” Rey and Joel shouted at the same time. “You are telling us now?” Joel added. That name was enough to get everyone hyped up again. ril.0 was one of the most relevant musicians at the time. Using voice-changing technology, he has created 7 personas for singers and rappers. The vocals were all by himself. On social media, he would flesh out his characters and interact with his fans. With his personas as musicians, he switches and mixes up genres, from hip-hop, rock, and jazz to pop, country, and even metal. So the group sat there for a little bit talking about their favorite songs and albums, trash-talking each of the others' tastes, and getting a little bit more drunk. The usual three were doing a little bit more coke.

 

“Hey, where is your watch?” Rey asked Joel.

 

“What do you mean-” He was about to look at it. “Fuck, it’s gone. That fucking thing was so expensive.”

 

“Don’t worry, the whole thing has cameras. Every corner, if you dropped it or somebody stole it, we can find out.” Imilia gently stroked Joel's arm. “We can just ask Reji.”

 

“Ugh, I am not gonna ask her for help.”

 

“Well, then accept that your watch is gone for good.” Imilia crossed her arms and turned to the others. “How about we go? I don’t want to miss it. Honestly, everything else about this night was disappointing.” She stood up and left. The others quickly joined her. Except Joel and Ellis, who had to visit the bathroom.

 

When they entered, Ellis noticed some wet footprints leading to one of the stalls. Joel was way too drunk and high to notice anything, so he just went straight to the urinals.

 

“So Maik is gone; you had a dance with Rosa. Things are going great, yeah?” Joel turned to Ellis with a drunken grin.

 

“Be careful; you might piss on yourself.”

 

“Come on man, talk to me-” And it happened. “Oh fuck.”

 

“Told you it would happen.”

 

“You are no fun.” Joel went to wash his hands and immediately headed back to the group.

 

A tune was whistled from the stall. Ellis froze. “What song is that?” No answer, and the whistling stopped. “Okay, keep your secrets then.” He went to wash his hands. The steam was weirdly thick and went over the mirrors. He wiped them. A tall man in a yellow coat and red glowing eyes stood right behind him. "Oh fuck!" His scream echoed through the bathroom, and the shock made him drop onto the ground. He crawled towards the other side. The man was gone. Ellis felt his heartbeat in his throat. He slowly stood up and looked towards the stalls. The footprints were gone, and the stall was empty, too.