When the Light Broke

The scene shifted again, violently pulling him from the burning village. The warmth of the sun, the scent of the fields, the voices of the villagers, all of it vanished it replaced by an overwhelming coldness. He stumbled forward, his breath ragged, his mind spinning.

When he lifted his gaze, the world around him was nothing like before. Towering steel buildings stretched into the sky, their glass exteriors reflecting a dull, gray light. The air buzzed with strange sounds of roaring engines, distant sirens, the chatter of countless voices blending into an incomprehensible murmur. People moved past him, dressed in unfamiliar clothing, their faces focused on glowing rectangles in their hands. Some walked briskly, others stood still, waiting at intersections where colored lights dictated their movement.