Dawn arrived without warmth. A thin gray light spilled across the broken towers and silent streets, revealing a city that looked as though it had been carved out of memory rather than stone. Even the wind moved carefully here, gliding between the ruins like an intruder afraid of being noticed.
He stood at the edge of the old avenue and watched the long shadows shift beneath the pale sky. Somewhere ahead, beyond the shattered archways and collapsed halls, the gate would open once more. When it did, there would be no room left for hesitation.
He exhaled slowly and moved. His boots echoed once, twice, then disappeared into the vast hush of the avenue. High above, fragments of glass caught the light and turned it into brief, trembling sparks. For a heartbeat, the dead city looked almost beautiful.