The city passed by in a blur of shadows and neon lights. Towering glass and steel structures reflected the moonlight in broken fragments as the van sped through the streets. District 5 was a stark contrast to the glittering skyline of the central city.
Here, the roads were uneven, the buildings functional rather than elegant, and the scent of soil and crops hung heavy in the air. The van hummed down the deserted roads until it reached the outskirts, where fields of corn swayed gently under the faint breeze, their tall stalks creating a natural barrier against prying eyes.
The van stopped near a small house in the middle of the cornfield. Its worn wood exterior and dimly lit windows suggested simplicity, a facade for what lay hidden beneath. Lycus stepped out, his boots crunching against
