Navigating through an unknown city is no easy task. Doing such a thing in the middle of the night, where danger lurks around every corner, is even more difficult. With the ever present clouds above, and flickering street lights illuminating his path, Eli carefully retraces his steps, trying his best to follow in his own footsteps. The thought of using his strings never once crossed his mind, both out of his fear to use such a power, as well as the fact that he’s incapable of seeing his own strings in the first place. With no other choice, he’s stuck trying to find home like a normal human. In a way, it’s a slightly comforting feeling.

Slowly, carefully, as though he’s a criminal committing a crime, Eli navigates the streets. His heart pounds whenever he approaches every darkened shadow. The understanding that his prize, the guitar he’s done so much for, can be stolen in an instant gnaws at his soul. Like a rat maneuvering through a gutter, Eli weaves through the streets. The towering buildings press down on him from above. Now that he’s off the main road, the impressive skyscrapers are all dark, no neon lights, no blaring noise, nothing but an empty blackness void of human interaction. They tower over him in domineering stances. Their bodies of metal and brick jagged and stiff, as unmovable as time. The constant looming of the concrete jungle leaves one feeling claustrophobic, no matter their mental fortitude.

In a sense, this is the first time Eli has ever truly been alone in this city, at least while in a normal state of mind. Every time he’s ventured outside, he’s been accompanied by Audrey, who possesses far more knowledge of the city and its individual districts than he ever could. The young woman has lived on the streets for years, interacting with people from all walks of life, learning many new things, experiencing, discovering, observing. Though it surely wasn’t an easy life by any means, Eli can’t help but feel envy. In a sense, their situations are completely opposing. He was too trapped, she was too free, there was no middle ground. The grass is greener on the other side… Through a strange twist of fate, they’ve come together. Now it's Eli’s job to craft a future where the two of them can live a life as they please. To build a life where they’re neither too confined nor too aimlessly free. A life where they've reached a mutual understanding and balance.

In the distance, Eli makes out the vague outline of a building strikingly different from its neighbors. It’s small, having only one floor that overlooks the street, and there’s a large chain fence surrounding it, a sign that the building is currently under investigation by the authorities. Most of the windows are either busted out or cracked, and there are spare boards covering the damaged places, parts of the floor that have been recycled. Outside, there's a small porch with two short steps leading down to the ground below. On the porch is a decaying rocking chair, the metal frame now missing the cushions that used to be on it. This is Eli’s new home. A place to focus his inner frustration and turmoil. He didn’t scrub the floors or board of the windows out of some lofty goal like one day owning the house. Rather, he wants to use this old, dilapidated building as an outlet. It is in this place that Tomorrow will be born.

He has often caught glimpses of his young companion while he went around the house. He’s caught her staring into the distance with a longing look in her eyes, the memories of a better time reflected in her lonely expression. In truth he can’t stand seeing Audrey look like that, where bitter reality is too much to bear so she'd rather escape to the past. He’d think to himself, Instead of wishing for what is gone to return, it’s better to look to the future, where happiness is endless! With such a declaration he’d throw himself back into his work with a determined expression. But, no matter how often he cheered and urged his friend on in his head, the words were never spoken. The possibility that his concern would offend her, she who has lived while only thinking about the past, dragged him to silence. At best, all he could do was scrub the walls a little harder, slowly dragging the place back to how it had been so long ago.

It’s a long walk to the front porch, longer than usual. Every step Eli takes is heavy, as if there’s some mysterious force holding him back, keeping him rooted in place, unable to advance. Doubt and worry twist his insides. The thought that, maybe, just maybe not everything will work out as he planned bubbles within his mind. It’s a very real possibility, but one that he doesn’t want to give face. Step, by, step, until finally, he’s standing at the front door. Reaching out, he feels how cold the handle is, the frost covered metal pressing against his palm with a biting urgency. A restrained sigh parts from his lips.

The door clicks open, and a pitch black darkness opens up before him. Without electricity there are no lights. Candles are expensive so they’ve never bought any. On any other day the lack of light would be of no concern, as by this time the both of them would be asleep. But today, perhaps that lack of foresight is a potential lesson to learn.

The boy enters the house with heavy steps. The door hadn’t been locked. She must be sleeping, Eli thinks with a heavy heart. Audrey’s exhausted face surfaces within his mind once again. Stepping past the threshold, Eli fully enters the house. The inside is just as cold as outside. He closes the door behind him, locking it with slightly trembling fingers. Looking at his hands, Eli can’t for the life of him explain such a phenomena. Blaming the cold, he turns around, kicks off his shoes, and carefully walks through the house. Audrey’s bed is on the upper floor, so he heads to the stairs, the aged floorboards creaking under his feet. The house shows its age just by the floor alone, as wood is no longer used in most of the buildings as a main building material. If the place were in better condition, and if it was not being held by the authorities, it would probably sell for quite a bit.

Taking another step, Eli reaches the stairs. He’s basically walking blind, the lights outside provide almost no light inside whatsoever. At most, the world is a gray screen, a fuzzy haze that only exists within his memories. Another step, and he’s ascended the stairs. His body is carried upwards with every movement. It’s only now that Eli feels the exhaustion, the bone deep tiredness that sinks to the bottom of his being. He’s done so much in such a short amount of time, not to mention the prolonged usage of his ability, which has given him a throbbing headache.

He leans against the walls. He shoulder presses against the cool surface as he heaves heavy breathes. What’s wrong with me? Confusion arrives unannounced, forming thoughts that bounce within his empty skull like springs. He takes another step, and a burst of hot air rushes out from his mouth, as if determined to scorch the surroundings. He suddenly finds himself feeling very weak, completely taken by surprise by the sudden tiredness.

Gradually, at a speed far slower than before, Eli attempts to advance down the hallway. His face drips with sweat. His body wobbles. His legs shake, nearly incapable of supporting his body weight. Why…? I shouldn’t be this tired… All I did was walk around the city… I’ve done that plenty of times before… I don’t understand… It really is a puzzling situation. No matter how hard he strains his muddled brain, any real comprehension seems to slip out of grasp, just a fingertip away every time.

“Audrey…”

His raspy voice croaks out his beloved companion’s name, but the word is barely above a whisper. Nobody in the house could have heard him. Eli doesn't seem to realize this as he hobbles down the hallway, scraping against the side of the wall with every step. He blinks. His eyelids struggle to lift, shaking like a dead leaf from the effort. He rolls his head as his consciousness nearly slips away, and his body leans far forward. Pushing a leg out, he stops himself from falling. Simultaneously he reaches his hand up and checks the strap connected to his case on his back. He heaves a sigh of relief, shooing away the brief moment of panic that caused him to doubt reality for a moment.

Another step, and another, until, finally he reaches a closed door on the right side of the hallway. His hand strays as he tries to grasp the door handle, fingers twitching with his every movement. After a frustratingly long period of time, Eli focuses enough to properly clasp the handle, pushing down with a click.

The door swings open.

Darkness.

The room is bathed in shadows. The corners are tall and menacing, like hungry monsters stalking their next prey. The window is also dark, the light from outside not daring to leak within. Eli drags his eyes to the bed. Empty… The bed is untouched. Not a wrinkle to be seen. The empty room is entirely lacking in human life, not a mouse or a spider, and most importantly, no Audrey.

Panic.

Fear.

Uneasiness and terror surge within the young boy as he stumbles back. Countless feverish scenarios rage within his muddled mind, and in his present state, every one of them is a reality that has already happened. She’s gone…! She abandoned me! She was kidnapped! She wandered off, just like mom...! Despite his attempt to rationalize his thoughts, his fraying mind only makes rudimentary connections. The possibility that he might have simply opened the wrong door never once occurs to him. With renewed energy, energy caused by the gushing adrenaline that squirms through his veins, Eli turns away from the room. With lumbering steps, his body teeters like a seesaw as he reaches the room a little ways down the hall. He doesn’t waste any time and opens the door, his heavy eyes scanning the inside.

His room is also empty.

At this point his mind has been consumed by despair. The possibility that he just committed such a terrible crime to get back the most precious item for his dear companion, just to have her leave without any warning, strikes him with a deeper fear than he’s ever felt before. His labored breaths fill the silence as he goes door to door, entering every room, looking inside, and greeting the empty darkness. His stomach churns. His mind screams. His body aches and burns. With staggered movements, he pushes open another aged door, greeting the world inside with paralyzed eyes.

Finally...

Peace.

Like a doll on display, the young girl slumbers. Her peaceful face is red, with tear stains coating her cheeks. Scattered around her are children's toys, dolls and plushies, coloring books and crayons. Pieces of a past forgotten by many, but memory personified to the young girl that cherished them. A single candle lights the room, an old thing, covered in dust and stains, clearly unused and hidden for many years. The fire lights the girl's face, illuminating her trembling eyelashes as she faces her dreams with an expectant gaze. Youthful and innocent, the Audrey from before takes on a new form, a lighter form with less struggles and worries. A reflection of a happier past.

Eli sighs in relief. His body slowly loses its strength and he sinks to the floor. He leans against the doorframe. With the last of his energy, he removes the guitar case from his back. The heavy instrument is tightly secured within. He quietly hugs it to his chest as a proud, gleeful smile lights up his haggard face.

He did it.

He saved Tomorrow.