Dispater, the City That Kills

“You are dead.” (beat) “The city of Dispater killed you.” You know this place.

Neon in wet streets. Glass. Stone. A city that feels familiar

too quickly. You walk because cities teach you to keep moving. Windows glow.

People laugh inside. No one looks at you. You turn a corner. Another street.

Narrower. Buildings lean closer. Fire escapes go nowhere. Your phone shows

nothing. No signal. No sky. You stop. The city doesn’t.

It shifts— just enough that there is no way back. That’s when you

understand. “You thought it was a monster.” “Ancient people knew better.”