Another weird trait? Speed. The damn thing spread at warp pace.
Only the lucky ones made it out—those who realized fast that medicine wouldn’t help and that life outside the cities was still ticking along just fine. Those quick thinkers packed up and got out while they could.
The rest? Became bones. White skulls littered the capitals like seashells on a beach.
In just two days, humanity lost millions.
Survivors were stuffed into hastily built refugee towns while the world's governments (who miraculously survived first, of course) scrambled to figure things out. Eventually, some genius had the bright idea to bring together the top architects, engineers, and builders—and they started constructing the City based on blueprints and footage from the fallen metropolises.
The professionals in charge decided not to divide the new megapolis into districts based on the original capitals. Instead, they deliberately mixed the cities up, interlacing their streets without any clear pattern.
The idea was to unite the future population—and, as time would prove, the plan actually worked. Despite the massive differences in culture, language, and religion, people bonded. The reason was simple: shared tragedy unites better than any cheesy motivational slogan.
So when the project was finally completed, the first pedestrians of the City could take their evening strolls through New York’s business district, admiring the majestic Art Deco skyscrapers, then pass through the elegant spires of Dubai’s mosques and minarets, and finally dip their hands into Rome’s whispering fountains.
Pure bliss.
The City became the dreamland of every escort in the world—no more worrying about travel logistics, since every capital and every cash-loaded client now existed in one convenient place.
The view from below was mesmerizing, and I struggled to stay focused— especially with the elderly cabbie and his glorious mustache showing off by zipping past the flame of the Statue of Liberty. That’s when I had another random thought: after the megapolis was built, the best minds of the world
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had to join forces again to create something else—the Wall. When the Obscurity appeared, the Municipality didn’t skimp. They cracked open their war chest and built that beast.
Okay, time to get it together.
I pulled out my vanity kit and started freshening up—well, pretended to. In reality, I was skimming through the footage of the earlier battle, editing out all the appearances of the strigoi and his hostage. That part was personal and none of the cops’ damn business.
I also decided to keep a copy of the entire incident for myself on an external drive, so I could analyze it later in peace and quiet. Technically, that was against protocol—making copies was forbidden. But how were they gonna check my brain? They sure as hell weren’t gonna cut me open. Of that, I was pretty confident.
With the implant tasks done, it was time for a big, ugly question: What the hell is going on?
Why did so many creatures show up in one place, all at once? Why weren’t my stilettos working on their physical forms? Where the hell did this -Noah
a.k.a. Roger- come from, and how did he pull off such a graceful little operation just to get a sample of my blood? How did he know my name? And how did he know I’d come exactly there?
As for the second-to-last question—I had a weak theory. But for the final one? A bold guess.
He might’ve known I’d go fight the bin monsters because he summoned them there to stir up trouble. That would’ve made sense—if I didn’t know, from years of fieldwork, that They weren’t capable of commanding or organizing. They didn’t have leaders or armies. Not unless we’re talking about those small hive-type clusters—like my recent trashy buddies. Those were the same species. They could team up.
Which meant... and I say this cautiously... maybe, just maybe, the Obscurity had produced its very first general.
And that, my friend, was a waking nightmare.
Because if They decided to march in with an actual army, the City wouldn’t last a single day. Humanity had only two things left that could hurt those monsters: the liquid in the flasks—rare as hell and only effective against lower-tier creatures—and, well... me.
But even I had my limits. I could only handle small squads. Today had proven that loud and clear.
The thought of my own weakness made me grit my teeth, and the chubby cabbie jumped in his seat.
- Everything okay? – I smiled at him – Don’t worry. I don’t bite.
But the strigoi did. And I needed to finish what he started. First, though— I’d gather intel. Talk to the Big Brains. That would come after the police station. Yep, this day would never end.
I sighed deeply—just in time for a sudden mental blast from Antwan, whose existence I had completely forgotten in all this chaos:
- Ali! You there?! Where did you go?! I almost lost my mind! You’re seriously freaking insane!
- Watch your tone, young – I snapped, both out loud and in my head, using full Auntie Command Mode.
- You’re not my aunt! – came the dual reply—one from the mouthy kid, and one from the cab driver, who now definitely believed he was chauffeuring a certified lunatic.
Luckily for him, we landed, and he promptly accepted payment and noped the hell out, warding off evil spirits with hand gestures as he disappeared into the night.
Meanwhile, I was still bickering with Antwan as I made my way to the Police Department.
- My sweet little pain in the ass, I don’t owe you a play-by-play. You know
what I do for work. I can disappear at any moment when duty calls.
- But I’m part of that work. Day and night