The metro ride took a few hours, but by the time Carson got to Upper Denver, he was no more prepared than the day before. Well, it wasn't really possible to be prepared for something like this. 372Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK0S8ck658F
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As soon as he stepped out of the metro station, the bright afternoon sun blinded his eyes, as if the sanguine atmosphere was eternally mocking him. The most stupid excuse to go somewhere beautiful, Carson chided himself. The first time as an adult to see above ground because you're a fugitive from the law? So low. 8964 copyright protection368ＰＥＮＡＮＡHtvo5OKd0U 維尼
Children played in the park across the street from the metro, something that would never happen in the industrial town of Ithaca. Upper Denver seemed to be a completely new world. Under Denver was the same as Ithaca. What makes above ground cities so different? 8964 copyright protection368ＰＥＮＡＮＡYe3VmUKP62 維尼
After the short and sweet sightseeing, Carson punched in the Terrence Ephemera into the GPS on his handheld and then followed the route. The world of above ground astounded him. His handheld led him to a quaint street with a large supermarket. The Terrence Ephemera was just across the street. 8964 copyright protection368ＰＥＮＡＮＡdFpP2KwXBW 維尼
The building itself was covered in smooth salmon marble with white marble highlights. A beautiful terrace sat on the top floor with live plants hanging off the side. It all looked even better than anything he remembered as a child. The world aboveground was amazing, almost amazing enough to lift Carson's spirits. Almost. 8964 copyright protection368ＰＥＮＡＮＡzoZ7ytNXdF 維尼
The lobby of the building was as impressive as the outside, an expansive circle with a receptionist in the center of the floor mosaic. A woman with a ponytail sat behind the granite counter in front of four computer screens. 8964 copyright protection368ＰＥＮＡＮＡjJXM1LJmWN 維尼
"Hello, how may I help you?" Her silver tag read, "Retired TKC Trainer, New York City." 8964 copyright protection368ＰＥＮＡＮＡSsi8GC3fHQ 維尼
"Um, I'm here to check this place out," Carson said. "Is this the Terrence Ephemera?" 8964 copyright protection368ＰＥＮＡＮＡCfFAa5tDt2 維尼
"This is the place. Are you meeting someone?" she asked, pausing her furious typing. 8964 copyright protection368ＰＥＮＡＮＡDJi4rAWPcu 維尼
"I actually want to join," Carson clarified. "I heard this is the place for…"8964 copyright protection368ＰＥＮＡＮＡFLOa8E5Hxu 維尼
"You a TKC?" the receptionist asked. 8964 copyright protection368ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6bnr56GHVJ 維尼
"Yes."8964 copyright protection368ＰＥＮＡＮＡW9dwWVms2C 維尼
"Badge, please." 8964 copyright protection368ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7tvIx8qZ2r 維尼
Carson gave her his badge and she typed something on the keyboard, humming while she worked. She looked twenty, but Carson felt like she was much older, perhaps an unfortunate accident like his. He almost wanted to ask, but it didn't seem appropriate. She hadn't asked him. 8964 copyright protection368ＰＥＮＡＮＡLxffUjWhpt 維尼
"Well, Mr. David Carson, looks like someone from your zone is staying here right now," the woman said, looking up from her nest of screens. "Would you like me to call them down and give you the tour?" 8964 copyright protection368ＰＥＮＡＮＡRQEkVeUD9I 維尼
Carson frowned. Someone from my zone? I know everyone in my zone… that means someone was a murderer the whole time and I didn't even know it? "Um…" 8964 copyright protection368ＰＥＮＡＮＡCn78BKWsqI 維尼
"I know this is a jarring experience, Mr. Carson, but you made the right decision coming here," the receptionist said. "Sometimes, seeing a familiar face helps. I'll call her down." She clicked something on her mess of screens and smiled. "All set. Here's your tag, and you can wait here in the lobby." 8964 copyright protection368ＰＥＮＡＮＡbyDY1U1Ea2 維尼
"Thanks." Carson took a seat on one of the couches and put on his pink colored plastic tag. It read, "TKC, Ithaca-Babylon Area." Carson stared forlornly at the polished bronze elevators, watching the way the sunlight from the window played with the bronze. The whole place felt like a fancy hotel, even though Harrison made it sound like a support group. 8964 copyright protection368ＰＥＮＡＮＡzFuvQh4N0u 維尼
A message rang on his handheld. "You on break, David?" It was his coworker, Theodor. 8964 copyright protection368ＰＥＮＡＮＡnOSVRGDFRy 維尼
"Yeah, Armistice," he texted back.8964 copyright protection368ＰＥＮＡＮＡWlvLfqZQiM 維尼
"Happy Armistice, bud," Theodor replied. 8964 copyright protection368ＰＥＮＡＮＡOLsiitm7AS 維尼
"You too," Carson typed back perfunctorily. He sighed. Happy? This break is anything but happy. This "break" is full of s– 8964 copyright protection368ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7Xtbkjriew 維尼
The elevator dinged and the last person Carson expected stepped out.8964 copyright protection368ＰＥＮＡＮＡywsYdA8mqy 維尼
"David, are you the greenie?" Allison asked. "They told me he was from Ithaca-Babylon, but I didn't know it was you." On top of her casual clothes, a rose gold badge read, "TKCM, Ithaca-Babylon Area." 8964 copyright protection368ＰＥＮＡＮＡTBtstuMQR3 維尼
"Sir, what are you doing here?" Carson blurted, shocked frozen.8964 copyright protection368ＰＥＮＡＮＡXPY3vCiQMd 維尼
"Drop the formalities, David," Allison chuckled. "Though I do want to hear your story." 8964 copyright protection368ＰＥＮＡＮＡL6nFhOqH9j 維尼
"I'm sorry… I didn't know–" 8964 copyright protection368ＰＥＮＡＮＡRwTS6fhtsg 維尼
"Come on, let's talk about it at the café," Allison offered. 8964 copyright protection368ＰＥＮＡＮＡPVxovW0zxC 維尼
"Café?" 8964 copyright protection368ＰＥＮＡＮＡAQwdvnPuG0 維尼
"There's one upstairs. There is so much I have to show you, now that you're here!" Allison said. She turned and pushed the up button for the marble elevator. 8964 copyright protection368ＰＥＮＡＮＡJiOI35p5XU 維尼
They went into the elevator as a young couple exited. They were grinning ear to ear about something private. Their rose gold tags said Chorus City. More Time Killer Catchers went awry, it seemed. 8964 copyright protection368ＰＥＮＡＮＡFzyfO7sQwt 維尼
"Where are all these people from?" Carson asked. "Are there really that many like… this?"8964 copyright protection368ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5ehBFaaeEt 維尼
Allison's smile faded a bit. "There's a lot of secrets in this world. TKC accidents are much more common than we let on. We only lock up the ones who go overboard." 372Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡazafNCOnme
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Carson sighed. He wasn't sure whether he was more surprised about his boss being here or the sheer number of people here. 372Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJhvhZCxnVT
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