The world had changed.
Stone stood at the edge of what had once been a bustling city park, now transformed into a sprawling refugee camp. Tents stretched in every direction, their canvas sides flapping in the cold wind. Fires burned in scattered rings, casting long shadows across the faces of the displaced. Thousands of people huddled together, their eyes hollow, their bodies thin.
Wrench moved to his side, his face grim. "The power grids are still down. The food supply is running out. They're saying it could take a year to restore everything."
Stone nodded slowly. "A year. That's exactly what she wanted."
Elena appeared at his other side, her tablet glowing in the dim light. "I've been monitoring the communications. There are pockets of resistance forming. People who want to fight bac
