The Keys: Intro

A well endowed neko girl yawned backflipping up from her makeshift mattress. “Quite the party last night.... Or was it two nights ago?” She flipped a very clunky looking pocket watch into existence. “Time lost?” 34:28 displayed itself on the screen along with a few others. “Well, hey at least the bar is open again.” She walked along, and greeted several passersby. Despite its current size, everyone knew everyone in Malicoin Tower. “Brick-break.” She greeted cheerfully before barely leaning on to the bar.

“Miss Hannah.” Brick, whose real name was Byran, greeted. “Another Yarnball?” Already preparing the drink.

“Best make it two.” Hannah gestured out to the window. A bright holo screen raises the red number just a little higher.

“He’s still not like what you have to say.” Brick mocked handing one drink, and making another.
“Which is why I’m bringing beer.” Hannah stated walking off to the balcony with two wooden mugs.
Collin was once again looking out towards the city. His mind racing with questions. Questions no one else seemed to want answered. The clunk of the mug jolted him upright, but thankfully Hannah held the beer before he could knock it off.

“You haven’t been out here for 34 hours, right?” Hannah chuckled. “You at least got something to eat, I hope?”

“A simple hello would suffice, you know?” Collin stated chugging some of the beer. “Don’t bother I know the answer.” He continued looking out into the city.

“You’re not the first to wonder, you know?” Hannah stated. “I doubt you’ll be the last. There’s plenty of people you could-” She frowned and sighed as Collin looked over to her before looking back out.
“You and all the others just think you know what best.” Collin replied with the attitude normally typical of a teenager. Perhaps he was given he was a half-elf. Hannah was never really sure. “Just because you’re perfectly fine being trapped in here doesn’t me everyone else is.”

“Terence? Did you need something?” Hannah questioned as the large male loomed over them both. “This could take a while.”

“I’ve known many of the people we speak of for hundreds of years, Young elf.” Terence stated. “And while I no longer remember the outside, I know people in the walls. And they tell you what they believe, so do not complain to them when you do not like the answers.” Terence looked to Hannah, and his stern serious tone switched to one of childish concern “Why do I hear of limited soda?”

“As I continue to have to explain.” Hannah sighed. “The soda is still  unlimited. The machines are no longer being made.” She stared at him. “So if you all break another 20 soda machines, you will be down a soda machine.”

“‘Thor’ will have no further broken soda machines.” Terence shouted back to the inside before stomping his way back in as the doors and shaped themselves to account for his tall, muscular stature.

“I thought we had everything?” Collin stated smuggly. Hannah’s eyes going wide in response.

“Oh no…” Hannah whisper don’t her best to look afraid. “You got me.” Dramatically acting out her heart stopping despite Collin’s growing protest. “We’re no longer a… paradise.” She spun around one as she paused, and concluded her performance by falling on to her before getting back up. Chuckling as she did. “It’ll be a couple of years, but it’s not the first time we've been in short supply.”

“And that’s work?” Collin questioned in disbelief. “Just telling them they can’t break like what 3 soda machines per week.” 

“You tell me.” Hannah stood there proudly, and Collin looked at her confused until several tables came flying out the windows. They both waited and watched as the 15th floor held yet another strength competition. Simple chairs, large table, a couple beds, and eventually arcade machines. “See? No soda machine.”

“Yet.” Collin stated. “They haven’t thrown any from the roof yet either.”

“Oh. they’ll break a few the first couple months or so.” Hannah conceded. “20 probably seems like a lot right now, so they’ll probably get down to.. I don’t know 12 spares or so.”

“And what if it never comes back?” Collin asked. “What were the only people who drink the stuff?”

“Then I guess we’ll have no choice, but to close down forever.” Hannah stated with a mock sadness and dramatic flare. “You could at least tell me why you hate it here all the sudden.”

“Because this is all there is!” Collin shouted. “It is not natural that I hated something?!” Hannah stared at him for a minute or so.

“If the floors are locks, the watchers the keys. Escape your 16, and you can walk free.” Hannah turned around and walked away as she spoke. Collin quickly turned his head after she did, but she had already closed the door. He finished what remained of his drink, and ran to one of these libraries. And then other, and then a third. Bringing several books to his room on the 16th floor. Despite his best effort, he finished his research with more questions than ever.

“She told all anyone is allowed to, lad.” Brick stated as he poured Collin a drink. “Getting out of here isn’t exactly easy, but I guess you have one advantage. Too bad I can’t tell you about it.” Brick chuckled.

“But it is possible?” Collin stated. “To leave the tower?”

“Oh, I wouldn’t say that.” Brick stated. “I’m not even sure a stick of a man like you would survive. Of course, you wouldn’t be the first to surprise me. It's dangerous, kido, and it’s not always so rewarding.”

“This is ridiculous!” Collin stated slamming the table. “How am I even supposed to find these people?! What am I even supposed to escape?!”

“They’re called ‘watchers’, lad.” Brick stated looking out into the crowd. Collin looked behind him in response. Several figures dipped back behind the crowd. Others vanish all together. He looked around for several regulars, but couldn’t find them. “They find you.” Brick stated.