Iyisha pushed herself up from the ground. Her hair was damp, sticking to her cheek and neck, and she dragged her hand across her face to push it back.
She lifted her head.
The road stretched ahead, sloping down toward the river. The asphalt was broken in long cracks, some sections raised, others sunken. Water sat in the low parts, dark and still, reflecting nothing.
To the left, the buildings opened into wide industrial space. Warehouses with metal siding torn open. Loading docks half-collapsed. Long, empty stretches with no cover between them.
To the right, the trees started suddenly. Thick trunks packed close together, branches hanging low. The ground dipped slightly beneath them, uneven and soft, covered in damp leaves.
The air felt heavier there.
The sound of the river filled everything. Constant. Loud enough to cover smaller noise, but not enough to feel safe.
She turned slowly, taking it in.
Even with the damage.
Even with the shadows.
She knew it.
