The remnants of the city rose before us, a metallic behemoth half-hidden in the shadow of a broken mountain. Once, it might have been a pretty city, full of towering buildings and vibrant, vivacious people, but it had been many years since anyone had bothered to tend to the city’s crumbling roads and falling sky-scrapers. Now, as it rose impressively before us, it was more the silent corpse of a forgotten giant, rotting away as the days and years ticked by.
From where we stood, it looked like ants crawled through it: people, like Thomas and I. Survivors. They stood in long lines outside the city’s makeshift walls, and I thought I saw guards standing at the gates that led inside, allowing one or more people through here or there.
“Thomas,” I said, pointing at the dark dots. “Look, people.” I tried to hide the note of excitement in my tone, but it was hard. I was excited. We needed supplies, badly, and the spotting of the city was like the heavens themselves pointing us to salvation. I had begun to worry that we would start hurting for food soon, or even water.