Dusk settled over Hope Sanctuary like a kind god was tucking everyone in to bed for the night.
But this dusk was different…there were no lights switching on all at once, no hum of electricity filling the streets. Instead, lanterns were lit one by one, their flames catching slowly as one of the fire power users went from lamp post to lamp post.
Chimneys glowed amber for those people who were lucky enough to be assigned housing with a source of heat. Shadows stretched long and uneven across the packed dirt roads, blurring the edges of buildings that already leaned toward anonymity.
People moved with purpose now. Those who could afford electricity had already retreated indoors. Those who couldn't adjusted their pace and kept their heads down.
Sera walked with the others leaving Waste Reclamation, her boots falling into step with a rhythm she no longer had to think about. The shift had ended on time. The supervisor had nodded once. No remarks. No corrections. No interest.
