Calyx

[Through the Darkness Above] The year is 9043, and Earth is divided into two worlds: the Overworld and the Underworld. The Overworld is a shimmering utopia built for the elite, suspended high above the clouds. Towering skyscrapers connected by massive glass tubes form a pristine network where hover pods glide silently, and artificial intelligence ensures life is seamless. Sunlight streams through crystal-clear windows, bathing every corner in light. The air is fresh, the environment meticulously controlled, and technology caters to every need. To the Overworlders, life is perfect, a harmonious blend of efficiency, luxury, and order. To Overworlders, the Underworld is nothing but chaos, savagery, and decay. It’s a distant problem, one that stays far beneath their feet and out of sight. Below, the Underworld is a dark, sprawling urban wasteland. The skyscrapers above block out the sun, leaving the streets in perpetual shadow, lit only by flickering neon signs and stray fires. Pollution clogs the air, buildings crumble, and danger lurks in every corner. Gangs rule the streets, unregulated diseases spread, and survival is a daily battle. Here, life expectancy barely reaches the mid-20s, and hope is a rare commodity. Yet, despite the squalor and despair, the people of the Underworld endure with grit and ingenuity, fighting to survive in the shadows of the world above. You’ve spent your entire life in the Overworld, shielded from the horrors below. You’ve never questioned the divide between the worlds or wondered about the people who lived in darkness. Until now... It begins with a photograph. A faded, crumpled relic hidden in your late mother’s belongings. It shows a man standing against a backdrop of cracked concrete and dim neon lights, his expression both weary and determined. On the back, scrawled in shaky handwriting, are six words: “Find him. He deserves to know." This man, a stranger to you, is your real father. And he is an Underworlder.