Blue kept running, his footsteps echoing through the empty streets of Anoka City. The cityscape around him was a haunting blend of decay and desolation. As he ran, he passed old abandoned hotels with their windows shattered, houses overtaken by creeping vines, and apartment buildings standing like silent sentinels of a forgotten time.
He pushed forward, his eyes scanning the surroundings. The once-bustling city now lay in ruins, a graveyard of memories and lost lives. The remnants of the Hiapong civilization were scattered throughout, their advanced structures now ghostly silhouettes against the setting sun.
Turning a corner, Blue's gaze was drawn to a grand, dilapidated theater. Its marquee, once brightly lit, now hung crookedly, the letters faded and barely legible. Intrigued, he approached the entrance, the large double doors creaking open with a groan.
Inside, the theater was eerily quiet. Rows of seats stretched out before him, each occupied by skeletons of the dead, their final moments captured in a macabre tableau. The air was thick with the weight of history, each bone a testament to the lives that had once filled this place with laughter and joy.
As Blue walked down the aisle, the large screen at the front of the theater flickered to life. An old film began to play, its grainy images dancing across the screen. Mesmerized, Blue approached the screen, the light casting his shadow across the room. He reached out and touched the screen, feeling the cold, smooth surface beneath his fingers.
A robotic voice broke the silence, startling Blue. "Oh, a visitor. I didn't know that there was a human still alive."
He spun around to see a small robot emerging from the shadows. The robot was diminutive, with two triangular treads on each side that allowed it to move smoothly over the debris-strewn floor. Its body was made of polished metal, reflecting the flickering light from the screen.
The robot's eyes glowed softly as it regarded Blue. "Welcome to the Anoka City Theatre," it said in its robotic tone. "It's been a long time since we've had any visitors."
Blue stared at the robot, a mix of curiosity and caution in his eyes. The robot, sensing his hesitation, rolled forward slightly, its treads making a soft whirring sound.
"What are you?" Blue asked, his voice barely above a whisper.
"I am the theater's custodian," the robot replied. "My duty is to maintain this place, to keep the memories alive. And now, it seems, to welcome you."
END OF CHAPTER 41