Nova Metropolis

Michelle continues driving the bus for a couple hours without further incidents. They pass a bunch of smaller towns, some reduced to basically piles of wood and rubble while others have buildings still standing. James had gone to sleep and Annie is enjoying the view, making occasional conversation with Michelle about landmarks or anything remarkable.

Michelle gets her attention: Look, almost there!
She gestures to the left. Annie looks in the direction. An undefined shape is visible in the far distance. Michelle takes an exit onto another highway towards it. After not too long, the undefined shape turns into the unmistakable skyline of a large city.

They pass a huge sign with completely washed-out colors that still faintly reads Welcome to Nova Metropolis. Quickly, they find themselves the city outskirts. Many of the single family homes in the area are still standing, some of them even in remarkably good condition. The city center ahead of them is made up of skyscrapers that mostly look like the day they were abandoned.

The highway ends and transitions into a large road. Michelle decelerates the bus.
Why are you going so slow?
Im going exactly speed limit – 50 kilometers per hour.
50? That's faster than the speed limit in Sunside Cove yet this feels so slow...
Michelle chuckles.
This is what it feels like coming off the highway. Jack was right about the wind. Under normal circumstances, a bus like this one would struggle to reach 100, we were doing 120.

The buildings around them get taller and taller. The mix of smaller and medium-sized houses turns into blocks of five-story buildings which in turn turn into blocks of even taller buildings until the sides are lined with skyscrapers with facades of glass, concrete, and steel towering over the road. Annie points them out:
Looks like this was all abandoned just recently. Not even a smashed window.
Over there.
Okay, one smashed window.
You're right though. Barely any damage – and surprisingly little sand, I thought we'd find a bunch of half-buried ruins.
Michelle pulls up at a bus stop and parks the bus.
Time to wake up the guys.

Over a small meal, they decide to explore the time capsule that is Nova Metropolis. Well, all of them but Jack.
Michelle says: I thought sleep was for the weak?
I'm just gonna own that one today.
He throws himself onto his bed, not even making an effort to lay down in a comfortable position. His words are muffled through the mattres: Good night.

Michelle, James, and Annie gather at the front door and step outside. Michelle reaches for the key switch under the headlight and holds it until the door is closed, then she shuts the little door that normally hides it. The three start walking, briefly stopping every few meters to look into the perfectly preserved storefront windows. Many have sunbleached posters hanging in them, some completely faded to white, others still showing faint outlines or even a hint of colors, the goods surrounding them waiting to attrackt buyers who would never return.

A few blocks down the road, they find a music store filled with acoustic instruments. They stop a bit longer. Annie really wants to go inside. She tries the large glass door – locked, of course.
She asks: So... How else can we get inside?
Michelle says: Break in. Who's gonna stop you?
Annie looks around, scanning the floor. She notices some of the small paving stones at the edge of the sidewalk had come loose and picks one up. She hesitates.
This feels so wrong...
James, who had been standing off to the side, watching the interaction between the two, steps between Annie and the door.
He says: Allow me to work some magic for you. Can I have that thing?
He takes the paving stone out of her hand and places it right back where she had found it. Then, he takes a keyring out of one of his jacket's pockets and searches for a specific one. Using that key, he opens a small lock box near the floor next to the door, out of which he grabs another set of keys.
Fire department key. Probably works on most buildings around here. Here you go, your way inside.
He hands her the keys.

Notes to self:
Annie will at some point before this have to be comfortable with breaking into lost places in Ivydale / Sentinel Shores.
James has changed his green coat for a brown leather jacket before starting the trip to Nova Metropolis.

missing section about exploring an intricate lobby of some corporate hq