Unclassified; Zero and Still Standing

The wall vanished beneath her hand. The rooftop disappeared.

And Yesu fell.

She caught a glimpse of Doctor Heckman’s quizzical face before she was swallowed by a cloud.

The moisture cooled her skin.

Then the cloud was gone.

And the wind that followed was deafening. Heavy.

It engulfed her whole body.

Her hair whipped violently against her face, blocking most of her vision.

Her arms suspended helplessly in the air.

She glanced sideways.

And saw her reflection in the skyscraper.

A body falling high in the blue sky.

The sunlight made the picture painfully beautiful instead of frightening.

She looked up.

The sun stabbed her eyes.

Yesu became disoriented. She couldn’t tell how long she had been falling or how long before she would crash to the ground.

It was starting to seem like forever.

She received the cool embrace of another cloud.

A breath escaped from her.

The wind and piercing light was back.

Yesu closed her eyes.

So this was it.

Finally it.

There was nothing she could possibly do to save herself now.

She was going to die.

Then the flashes came to her again.

Tiny feet.

Rustling leaves, trees.

Laughter.

A child running through green fields, underneath clear skies. Hair whipping wildly just like this.

Tiny hands.

Reaching up.

Yesu opened her eyes, and stared straight at the sun.

If this was going to be her last moment she might as well...

She reached both hands towards the sun.

To catch it.

Grab hold of it.

The wind pried her unfeeling hands apart. She brought them together again.

Stretching to the light.

This was the closest she had ever gotten. Maybe this time...

A cloud swallowed her.

Another breath escaped from deep within her lungs.

"Damn it."

The wind came again.

The sun had hidden behind a layer of clouds.

Yesu blinked.

Red. Orange. Yellow. Green...

All the colours of the rainbow bursting around the edges of her vision.

She blinked again.

The sky around her was clear. The clouds were now far above.

She glanced at the skyscraper.

Still falling.

But now she could see a few tall buildings in the distance of light.

Yesu spun in the wind and faced downwards.

The city was now in plain sight.

She could see the hustle and bustle. The cars, the people. Billboards.

She was getting closer to the end.

She glanced at the building again. The glass was too sleek. Nothing to grab onto.

The sounds of the city below reached her ears.

The ground was rising to meet her.

Yesu closed her eyes once more.

She felt everything inside her compress. Suddenly, she felt smaller.

Lighter.

The pressure she felt from the wind gradually lessened.

And then—

Slowly, very slowly—

Yesu began to drift.

Her eyes shot open.

She was no longer dropping, but swaying lightly from left to right.

Fluttering in the wind.

Like the black tarp that had fallen before her.

Like the paper jets she used to fly with Millie back in middle school.

Her eyes widened.

"What the..."

A few pedestrians down below had spotted her and were now pointing upwards in panic.

Her body had become fully leveled. The wind seemed almost non-existent now.

Yesu looked at herself.

Was she... floating?

"...lighter than you were. As light as the air around you, perhaps."

Doctor Heckman’s words echoed in her mind.

Then the image of him causally pushing her off the rooftop surfaced.

Yesu jerked instinctively.

And began falling again.

Fast.

More people had gathered below. Panic spreading like wildfire.

She was only a few floors away from the ground.

The sun emerged from behind the clouds.

Yesu spun and faced upwards.

Better to die looking at the rare scenery at her disposal.

The shouts from below were getting louder. The noises getting sharper until it seemed it was right behind her.

Yesu tried reaching for the sun again. One last time...

Her fingers stretched to their limits.

Then—

Her fall ended abruptly.

Her body was fully suspended in the air.

Yesu gasped.

She seemed to be held up by an invisible force. She was positioned upright.

Then, slowly, her body lowered.

Not long after, her feet landed gently on solid ground.

On a walkway beside the skyscraper, her back to the road and crowd.

A sudden hush settled over the crowd.

Yesu turned.

Standing before her were two men.

She blinked, realizing she recognized one of them.

The man she had met in the elevator earlier who been kind enough to lend her his handkerchief.

That was barely two hours ago.

Xenon stepped forward.

"Are you alright?" He asked in concern.

Yesu looked up at him. The man seemed thoroughly suprised and confused at the same time.

Who wouldn’t be?

"Yes." She replied. "I’m good."

The crowd that had gathered dispersed on seeing Yesu was fine.

Her gaze shifted to the second man whom she didn’t recognize.

Large build. Sharp eyes. Composed posture.

He stepped forward.

Yesu instinctively took a step backwards in return.

The man stopped.

He looked into the sky then back at her.

"You must be quite shaken, dropping from such heights." He said.

He had a polite smile plastered to his face.

For some reason, Yesu could feel her pulse race.

Something about the man felt awfully familiar. And definitely not in a good way.

"Who are you?" She blurted.

Xenon was even more surprised on hearing the question.

Even Yesu was a bit surprised at herself.

But the man didn’t seem affected in any way, still smiling that smile.

"Bertram." He said, offering a hand. "Bertram Corvane."

Yesu didn’t take it.

Xenon stared at her in complete wonder.

Bertram Corvane still had on his composed demeanor.

Yesu slowly took a step back, then another.

And another.

Putting enough distance between them.

Then she turned.

And ran.

"Wait—"

Xenon made to go after her.

"Let her be." Bertram said calmly.

Xenon faced him. "She might be in shock or worse, injured."

Bertram kept his eyes Yesu’s retreating frame.

"I’m pretty sure the girl is fine."

Xenon shot him a glare, then muttered something under his breath and walked towards the entrance of the building.

Bertram didn’t register his exit. His sole attention was on Yesu.

Meanwhile...

Inside the building, three floors above ground...

Apollo stood at the end of the corridor, staring through the glass wall.

He watched silently as Yesu ran through the busy streets, eyes following her every move.

Till she took a sharp bend and was gone from view.

Apollo remained, staring at the bend for a few seconds more before walking away.

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