Descent into Chaos

The city of Verdonia was collapsing under the weight of its own destruction. What had once been vibrant and full of life was now a city swallowed by darkness. From the window of the safe house, Anastasia stood still, watching the faint glimmers of emergency lights far in the distance, their weak pulses a stark contrast to the all-consuming chaos that was taking over the streets below. The power grid was down, buildings stood in shadows, and every few moments, the silence was shattered by the unsettling crack of gunfire—a brutal reminder of how far the city had fallen.

"They’ve taken out everything," Maximilian’s voice came from behind her, heavy with frustration and strain. "The power, the security systems… it’s all gone. They’ve cut off the city’s lifeline."