The Palace in the Sky, an entertainment facility located 5,000 meters above sea level can only be accessed through exclusive invitation. There are two ways to get there, VIP guests can use the exclusive airship in the air terminal while residents of the Skyscraper have the privilege to use the private airbus.
Finally, we arrived at the main entrance. The magnificent lobby featured a grand staircase and a floating orb as the centerpiece.
We were guided by Rio to a large hallway leading to the elevator.
While we were heading to our rooms, Rio asked us to wear smart glasses since these will serve as rooms keys. Smart glasses are extremely convenient, I wonder why Dan hates wearing them so much.
Rio: "The access granted to you both will be valid for 1 week. I will be your guide during this entire time so please let me know whenever you would like to go somewhere within the Palace"
Dan: "I want to meet with Marx Miller"
Rio: "Oh, that will be a bit difficult. I have been serving as a guide here at the Palace for a few years now, but I never seen him before"
Dan: "There were a lot of rumors he frequents here"
Rio: "We can go around the Palace to look for him but it's better not to expect much. Marx Miller is a celebrity among celebrities afterall"
Dan looked quite upset. He must have thought it would be easy to find the person he's looking for. Anyway, we only have a week to look for Marx Miller.
I went inside my room or should I say VIP suite. The room featured ivory white walls and a queen size bed with a small balcony facing the neverending blue sky with fluffy soft clouds drifting slowly.
This scene was so surreal I felt like I was in a dream.
While relaxing in the soft bed, my eyelids became heavy and I fell asleep.
The persistent knock at the door woke me up. I opened the door while half-asleep.
"Who is it?"
"It's me, Dan. I couldn't contact you since you weren't wearing your smart glasses. Hurry up and get ready. We're gonna look for Marx Miller"
"Is that more important than sleep?"
"Huh? No. . but"
"Goodnight then"
"Rune? Hey!"
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I had a dream. It was a memory after I woke up from a long coma. I was alone in the hospital room without any memories of my past or my identity.
On that day, a young looking woman with black haired, a young man with light brown hair and an old lady came to visit me.
The old woman wrapped me in a tight hug.
"I'm really glad you woke up"
Are these people really my family? I can't remember them at all
In the end, no one else came for me. They were the only ones who cared enough to visit me at the hospital.
Everything will be fine once I get back my lost memories.
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That day never came, on the contrary my memory lapses gradually worsened throughout the years.
Living together with them felt awkward at first, they treated me politely, almost like a guest who will stay in their house for a while.
After a few years passed, we became really close to the point where I felt stupid to even doubt them.
Mom, Dad. . Grandma Erin
I want to see you. .
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The next day, I thought about my current situation.
I got caught up with trying to survive in the 22nd Century and helping a stranger with his problems while neglecting my own.
I haven't put serious effort into finding a portal because I was afraid. What if it leads me to the future again?
Even if everything was just a lie, I still want to go back home.
I need to go back to the past and find the answers I'm seeking.
It was almost sunset when Rio sent a message on my smart glasses inviting me to dinner together with Dan.
I changed my clothes to a more formal one, fixed my hair and left the room. Dan and Rio were already outside waiting for me.
"Hi, Dan. Sorry for being rude yesterday. I was half asleep. Did you manage to find Marx Miller?"
"It's fine. Sorry to bother you in your sleep, you must have been tired. Actually, I tried to look for him at the grand lobby yesterday and asked around for any clues but still couldn't find him"
"Let's go now or we'll be late on our reservation"
There were several restaurants in the Palace in the Sky. Rio managed to secure a reservation at the most famous restaurant here, the Midnight Blue.
Based on my experience for the past week, future food are basically jelly with different flavors.
Its actually not as bad as it seems and unexpectedly taste good but still, I really missed eating real food with natural ingredients.
"Welcome to Midnight Blue. I will guide you to your table"
The android waiter guided us to our table inside a small private dome with a wonderful view of the night sky filled with countless stars.
In a far distance, the skyscrapers above the clouds began to light up and small circular lights hovered around the buildings.
"Flying cars. . Skyscrapers above the clouds"
At that moment, I suddenly remembered an unfamiliar memory.
I was talking with someone in a balcony while looking at the night sky with stars shining faintly.
"If only I was born in the far future then maybe my fate would be different. . but it's just a hopeless wish, isn't it?"
I could only recall the silhouette of the young girl whose voice sounded like she was holding back her tears while saying those words.
Who is she? I can't see her face at all and her voice was not that clear.
But for some reason, she seems familiar.
Was she someone I met before I lost my memories?
Someday, I hope to get my memories back.
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