The bar was another startling recognition. My eyes were instantly drawn to the massive water tanks I'd seen a thousand times on The Other Side, though I never knew what they were for originally. Now it made sense: fish tanks. Small, colorful fish swam around bright, fluorescent plants I'd never seen before. I guess the place had a thing for water and fish because the walls were covered in graffiti of sea creatures, all glowing under the dim lights.

"Here!" Someone shouted.

There, among the crowd of young and happy people, were Kate and the rest of the group. They'd grabbed a big table right under a massive narwhal graffiti. Of course, they'd choose that table—how fitting for Narval Officers. Ha.

"Finally, the last ones! You know what happens to stragglers, right?" Kate teased, her drink sloshing a bit too much in her hand. I'd bet she'd already had one or two before we got here.

"Come on, Kate, you didn't mention any penalties this time." Mark protested as he sat down across from her.

"Some things don't need to be said. You're buying the first round, kids!" Kate took a long sip of her drink, draining the glass, then shook it at us like a dog begging for food.

"Don't worry, I'll do it. It's my first time in the city, after all." I said.

"You know? I like you more every day." Kate said with a grin.

"Just don't get used to it." I nudged Kate's shoulder and headed for the counter. Getting the bartender's attention was like trying to catch smoke with my bare hands. People from all walks of life were leaning so desperately on the counter, it looked like it was about to fall apart. After waiting for a while, I realized I'd have to shout like everyone else if I wanted to get drinks before dawn.

"Need some help?" Kate's voice came from behind me.

"I'm fine. This is just chaos. This will take a while." I answered.

"Let me give you a hand." Kate leaned in and, putting a finger to her lips, blew out a sharp whistle that silenced everyone. The bartender turned immediately, and when she saw Kate, a big smile spread across her face, and came right over.

"Well, well, well! Who've you brought, Kate?"

"Hey, Tanya!" Kate bumped fists with her like they were best friends.

"I haven't seen you here before." The bartender, Tanya, who looked to be in her fifties, had short white hair and muscles so impressive I couldn't stop staring.

"This is Grace. She's new, just crossed over a few months ago. She's an Oakvaler and the 'complainer type' of Narval I always tell you about. But she's amazing in combat, and that's why I keep her around."

"Oh, great. Thanks for the glowing review while I'm right here."

Tanya laughed. "She gives me good vibes."

"Right? I thought the same when I first met her," Kate said, grinning. "Though back then, she was a real pain in the ass."

"Hello? I'm right here. Real flesh and blood!" I said.

Tanya chuckled and finally looked at me like I was actually present. "Sorry, Grace. It's just that we're so happy to see new faces. The Call every year seems more restricted, and we're getting bored with each other. We really need some fresh blood around."

"Exactly! We're practically running out of gossip at this point. You'll be our saving, Grace."

I sighed because, seriously, I was so out of that carefree high school vibe they were in. "Sorry to disappoint you, but I'm the dullest person in the world. Not sure I'll be much help with that..."

Kate slammed her hand on the counter. "Ha! You just need a few more drinks. Let's give her your special welcome cocktail!"

"Alright, coming right up!" Tanya said, heading off to work her magic behind the bar as Kate and I waited.

"I know that look..." Kate gave me a gentle nudge. "What's going on in that non-stop head of yours?"

"Nothing, it's just a lot to process... I have a lot of questions about the city." I said.

Maybe Kate, with her head implant and being a local, could help me understand the techno-human dynamics and the role of implants in society. Oh, and that strange cultural rule about not giving things to each other. It was so ridiculous.

"I knew this trip wouldn't be the same for you as it is for the others... but girl, let's try to have fun tonight, and I swear I'll answer all your questions tomorrow, okay?"

It was true, I needed to loosen up a bit. I'd been having back pain lately, and that only happened when I was tense as hell. "That sounds okay."

"Cool, and now, please, drink this." Kate said as Tanya came back with a vibrant mix of red, green, and blue cocktails. "You'll feel much better after that, trust me."

She was right. After about ten minutes, I could feel the alcohol kicking in. Everything became a little blurry, and suddenly, all of Mark's stupid jokes seemed hilarious. The best part was that the weeks leading up to this moment felt distant and quiet, and I desperately needed that kind of stillness in my mind. But just when I was starting to enjoy the moment, someone tapped my shoulder.

"Excuse me, are you Grace Hayes?"

The question pulled me from my thoughts. Who here would know my surname? I turned and saw a young man with curly blond hair and piercing brown eyes. It took me a moment to register his face, not because I didn't recognize him, but because I couldn't believe it was really him.

Erik. My brother's boyfriend.

"Erik?" The word slipped out like a breath I'd been holding for years.

His eyes widened, and a broad smile lighted his face. Before I knew it, he pulled me into a hug and his arms squeezed me tight, as if to prove neither of us were dreaming.

"Grace!" He said excited. "I can't believe you're here."

"Neither can I."

I'd forgotten how comforting it was to have someone you knew when you were new somewhere and Erik, happened to be one of my favorite people in the entire world.

He pulled back just enough to look at me. He seemed older, but not in a bad way, just more mature, more adult. The funny, wild, and carefree teen Erik had disappeared, replaced by someone who had landed into adulthood in a stable, grounded way. His face showed knowledge and serenity, but there was also a hint of sadness behind his eyes. I knew him well enough to recognize that.

"Where is Michael?"

Erik's hopeful question struck me like a dagger. There it was, the source of that sadness. The same one I carried. At least I wasn't alone in it. I felt my face heat up and tears welled up in my eyes. Good question, I thought. Where is Michael. The question that haunted both of us.

Erik's happy face faded the moment he saw my tears.

"What happened?"

I tried to answer. I swear I tried. But the words wouldn't come.

"Let's go outside to talk." He took my hand and guided me outside the bar, and as the wind hit my face, I took a deep breath, then another and another. I needed a whole tank of oxygen just to stand there and explain why Michael couldn't cross the border, why that meant he'd missed his only chance, and why also meant he'd never ever step foot on this side of the world.

Then, it was Erik the one who couldn't get the air in, as if I had taken it all in every gasp while trying to explain that the love of his life was basically lost forever.

His face was a whole mess of emotions. He blinked rapidly, frowned, and mumbled sounds of agreement that indicated he was understanding everything. But understanding is a thing and accepting a very different one, and I knew he would need time for that last one, just as I had.

Once I finished, we fell into silence, and his Reg Bracelet vibrated.

"Oh, really?" He said glancing at it, tapping something on it.

"What?"

"Nothing. My heart rate is unusually fast. I just..." He pulled a handful of pills from the inner pocket of his jacket and swallowed one.

"Erik, are you okay?" He looked like weak, thin branches of a tree about to snap under the weight of a storm, and I had been that storm. That was for sure.

"I'm..." He shifted his gaze to the floor, then up to the sky. "Yeah... it's just that..."

As I'd told you. No way to get thoes words out.

"Erik, come here." I wrapped my arms around him, and as our bodies collapsed together, I heard him crying. Finally.

"It's insane that you're a Narval Officer now. After what happened." He said with bitterness.

"I had no choice; it's the result I was given." I said.

"I... I... hoped he'd come... I don't understand. This is so unfair."

"I know. I feel the same way, but I won't give up. You know that, right?"

He pulled back, and there was a spark of hope flickering in his eyes. "Do you have any information about him?"

"No..."

"Have you investigated? At the border, you must have access to a lot of intel. They have to know something. They surely have a way to track people with drones or whatever they use. What have you done?"

"I haven't done anything yet. I wouldn't know where to start. I'm still trying to integrate."

"Integrate? You're in the bar having fun while Michael is out there!"

"That's so unfair. You have no idea what've been through these past months. I'm doing what I can, just like you did."

Erik pinched the bridge of his nose and closed his eyes as if he were in real pain. I couldn't hold it anymore, and tears fell down my cheeks again. He sighed a weary, exhausted sigh.

"I'm sorry, Grace." His tone was softer. "I was just so hopeful to see him... and now... I'm terrified for him."

"I'm scared too. He's my brother." I placed a hand on his shoulder, understanding that feeling all too well, the frustration of being unable to save the person you care about most. We were in the same boat, and for that reason alone, we couldn't fight. We had to be there for each other.

"I'll never stop trying to find him, I won't give up until we have answers." I said meeting his eyes.

"I'll help you, then." He looked a bit more energized by the idea. "I was assigned to work at the radio station... Not sure if that's helpful... but it's what I can offer."

"The radio station?" I frowned. "Do any of the assignments even make sense?"

"I thought the same thing..." He shrugged, "At least I'm a bit closer to music... even if I can't play it."

Erik had always been passionate about music, his first love, really. Back when we were on The Other Side, he carried that old but very beloved violin everywhere, like it was an extension of himself. But here? Only a privileged few got to touch instruments.

We made the pact to see each other at least once a month to keep up with our progress and after a sad but warm goodbye, I rejoined Kate and my other colleagues.

The alcohol didn't help after that difficult conversation. I went a bit overboard. All I wanted was for that overwhelming pain to fade away for a while. Was that too much to ask? I had no idea the alcohol would hit me so hard and when Kate declared it was time to head back everything felt dizzy, blurry, and there was a tingling sensation in my cheeks, like ants moving around.

The streets were packed, everyone moving in a million different directions, or at least that's how it felt to me. I struggled to keep my balance, and before I knew it, I had lost the group. Of all people, it had to be me who got separated. Great, Grace, just great.

I wandered for a bit, trying to retrace our steps, but the city looked completely different at night, and let's be real, I was definitely drunk. I spotted a narrow alley away from the chaos, so I quickly slipped into it. Finally, I could breathe. I plopped down on the two little stairs behind a club and tried to steady my spinning head.

Suddenly, I heard a familiar voice. "Grace?" It took a moment for my blurry vision to focus, but there she was: Heather.