'This is fucking abysmal.'
I looked ahead as I was dragged by the tall man, walking down a long hallway. In front of him, people—some robots, some anthropomorphic animals in dark costumes—saluted him with every step he took. Their movements were precise, almost mechanical as if they were programmed to do so.
I glanced down at those people. Their faces were devoid of emotion, their eyes blank and unseeing. It was clear that this man, whoever he was, commanded absolute authority. He was extremely tall, towering over everyone around him, including me. His grip on my arm was firm, but not painful, and he moved with a purpose that made it clear he was someone not to be trifled with.
Suddenly, the man stopped. I looked up and froze as I stared at him. Beyond the strange, mechanical crocodile mask, there was something deeply sinister about him. His presence alone seemed to suck the warmth out of the air, leaving only a chilling void.
We stood there in silence, staring at each other, the tension hanging thick between us. His empty white eyes, glaring from behind the mask, seemed to pierce through me, assessing, calculating. My heart pounded in my chest, but I couldn't move, couldn't even breathe.
Then, without a word, he slowly turned me toward the window. My eyes widened as I looked outside.
The sky was an inky black, almost as if the night had swallowed the stars whole. Below, the city stretched out in every direction, a sprawling, dark expanse that seemed endless. Tall buildings pierced the sky, their jagged silhouettes outlined by the cold light that emanated from within. It was a stark contrast—the darkness of the structures against the eerie, pale light that seeped from every corner, giving the city an unsettling glow.
Floating cars zipped through the air, weaving between the buildings with an unnatural speed and precision. Their lights left trails of neon colors that cut through the gloom, but even those seemed muted, as if the darkness of this place consumed everything it touched.
...
'Where the hell am I?!'
This place was huge, far bigger than any normal city I had ever seen. It felt like I was in some kind of superhero movie, with towering skyscrapers and floating cars that seemed straight out of a futuristic dream—or maybe a nightmare.
Suddenly, the man spoke, his voice deep yet surprisingly gentle. "This, my beautiful daughter... is ours," he said as he gently rubbed my head.
My eyes widened in surprise as I looked up at him. His movement was so unexpectedly tender, especially coming from someone who seemed so sinister just moments ago. Despite everything, I felt a strange sense of safety when he said those words, as if I belonged here, in this dark and sprawling city.
...
...
I suddenly what he just said, waking up from reality.
'Daughter?!'