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For the sake of this book, let's pretend that New York City is its own state with different cities instead of Boroughs.

ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀ ꜰᴏᴜʀ

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ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀ ꜰᴏᴜʀ

Hours passed, and the car glided through the deserted roads, carrying the trio toward their newfound freedom. The first rays of dawn began to peek over the horizon, painting the world in hues of gold and pink. And in that gentle transition between night and day, Yuta stirred, his eyelids fluttering open.

He blinked several times, his eyes widening with wonder and disbelief. Outside the car window, he saw vibrant green fields, trees dancing in the wind, and birds soaring through the sky. Tears welled up in his eyes as he realized he was witnessing the world outside the confines of the camp, a world that had been stolen from them for so long.

Once taken for granted, the beauty of the world now overwhelmed him. It was as if his heart was breaking and healing simultaneously, a whirlwind of emotions that he had suppressed for years finally being released.

Cate noticed the Green's tears and gently placed a comforting hand on the young male's shoulder.

"Where are we?" The ebony-haired teen asked curiously, eyes still glued to the world outside the car window.

"We just left Auburndale, New York City. We met up with a friend who helped me switch cars." She replied, glancing briefly at him.

The date on the calendar declared it was summer, a season synonymous with joyous outdoor activities for kids, and strolls down tree-lined streets for adults. Yet, as the car made its way through the once-vibrant town, a pervasive emptiness hung heavy in the air.

Where one might have expected to see children playing in the sun, chasing each other with laughter, there was instead an eerie silence. Playgrounds were desolate, swings hung motionless, and basketball courts lacked the familiar sounds of dribbling and cheering.

Even the usually bustling sidewalks were empty. The vibrant tapestry of a summer's day was replaced by a haunting stillness, an unsettling absence of life that seemed to defy the very essence of the season. It was as though the world had pressed pause, leaving behind a void where the simple joys of summer should have been.

"Where is everybody?" The teen asked again.

"Some people moved to the bigger cities for work. No kids, no economy." The woman explained, causing the male's eyes to widen at her last statement.

"No kids?" he repeated in disbelief. Cate pursed her lips into a frown as she slowly nodded.

The car's interior was filled with the soft symphony of snores, a testament to the physical and emotional exhaustion that had enveloped the psionics. Yuta couldn't resist stealing a tender glance at the back seat, his heart warming at the sight that greeted him.

𝔻𝕀𝕊𝕋ℝ𝕀ℂ𝕋 ℕ𝕀ℕ𝔼 «재현»Where stories live. Discover now