Chapter 36: Marlene 2.0

The neon lights of Crystal City still bled into the night sky, but tonight they seemed more distant, more detached. I, Marlene, stood at the doorway of my apartment, a potted plant in one hand and a simple backpack slung over my shoulder. It was time to leave the electric wilderness that had been my home.

With a determined stride, I headed towards the elevator, its doors sliding open with a hiss. The descent was a quiet one, a solitary journey down from my high-rise refuge to the pulsating heart of the city. "Here we go," I whispered to myself, reaffirming my resolve to leave behind a life defined by the relentless ambition that Crystal City demanded.

The elevator dinged at the ground level, and I stepped out into the bustling city street, a stark contrast to the secluded quiet of my apartment. The streets were alive with the hum of activity, people and machines intertwined in a dance of urban existence.