Lycan Queen's Prey Chapter 35

~Zirah~

The transition from wilderness to cityscape is almost instantaneous, as if passing through an

invisible wall. Suddenly, we were engulfed by towering skyscrapers, iridescent moving frames on

buildings, and snaking highways teeming with vehicles. I peered out of the window; the limo

shielding me from the chaos of the city but not from the sensory assault—lights, sounds, people—

so many people.

"Welcome to my kingdom," Zeke announced, his voice tinged with pride and a hint of sorrow.

As the limousine rolled down the street, my eyes were drawn to two towering displays - like TVs but

on the sides of buildings. A colorful mishmash of images and symbols move and morph in ways that

seem impossible. "What is that?" I ask, pointing to the technicolor spectacle with its flashing lights.

"It's a billboard," Zeke explains. His words barely register; my attention is caught by a holographic

figure dancing mid air, its movements so fluid and realistic. I can see tiny details, such as wrinkles in

clothing or slight changes in facial expressions as if they were alive! I gasp in amazement as scenes

unfold around it—a man walking his dog in nature, an ice-cream sundae with sprinkles that flash—

each one more magical than the last.

"Wow!" I breathed, marveling at the incredible sights before us. Zeke smiles indulgently at me and

pointed things out, explaining what different things were. Everywhere we went, there were more

billboards featuring bright lights, vivid colors, and awe-inspiring special effects on display for

everyone to see! There were even moving holographic ads for cars driving through busy

intersections or floating above busy streets! Not to mention the neon signs and computer-

generated displays everywhere one looked!

As we continue driving, I am lost for words - overwhelmed by everything I have seen. This place is

so different from anything else I have ever experienced before! It is as if this world were taken out of

a science fiction movie and brought into reality right here in front of me!

As we continue our journey, it becomes clear that Zeke's kingdom is no ordinary city; it is a living,

breathing entity, throbbing with life and an undercurrent of hidden sin. Everywhere I look, there is

extravagance: lavish apartments rising high into the sky, each balcony flaunting opulence with hot

tubs and robotic servants. The streets are paved and lined with exotic trees that shimmer with a

surreal glow under the city's illuminated lights.

Beneath the gleaming facade, there is also a less charming reality. The city is bursting at its seams

with its citizens; people swarm everywhere like ants in a hive, an unsettling wave of humanity that

seems to have no end. Streets are clogged with pedestrians, sidewalks are crowded, and parks are

overflowing.

The glamor fades further when we reach the city's underbelly; the homeless, their numbers

shocking. The city sparkles with a false charm, an illusion concealing the truth of its monstrous size.

Once you venture beneath the gleaming exterior, you move into the shadows of despair that hide

within. The homeless line every corner, alleyway, and subway entrance; their numbers are so vast

that they could drown out the city's radiance. Their faces are haggard; their eyes sunken and cheeks

hollowed by hopelessness. Begging hands stretch towards those more fortunate, as if to remind

them that they, too, are a part of this landscape.

They are a stark contrast against the glittering cityscape, like smudges on a polished mirror. The

gleaming metropolis is a facade, concealing an unsightly truth. There is no end to the hustling

throng of people that floods the streets and sidewalks, a monotonous wave of humanity that shows

no sign of stopping. The parks have become overgrown with the town's citizens, its beauty

tarnished by the masses. The city's underbelly reveals a much more disturbing reality.

"What's that?" I pointed to a long line of people waiting outside a nondescript building.

"It's a soup kitchen,” Zeke answers, with a strange expression on his face—a mix of guilt and

helplessness. "The city is prosperous, but not everyone shares in the wealth.”

"But there are so many of them,” I murmur, more to myself than to him. The people in line, I realize,

were waiting for a meal, a bare necessity that they could not afford in this city of abundance.

The city continues to unravel before my eyes, each corner revealing a new facet of its character.

From soup kitchens to libraries that boasted of knowledge but denied access to those who needed

it most, from sparkling avenues of shopping to dank alleyways where people bartered their dignity

for survival, Zeke's kingdom was a disconcerting paradox.

As we journey further into the depths of the city, I catch glimpses of bleakness and despair. Street

corners are filled with desperate faces, looking for salvation, while others wander hopelessly in

search of a better tomorrow. The homeless sprawl out on park benches, while youths idle on street

corners, aimless and uncertain. Everywhere there is evidence of entrenched inequality and poverty—

a stark reminder that wealth has its limits.

We pass by a bookstore whose entrance is suddenly blocked by security guards. Inside, I can see

books littering the shelves, an open invitation to all who can afford to purchase them—and yet

denied to those without money or status. Further down the street, a protest is gathering strength as

people rally against what I have no idea about, and looking at Zeke, I can tell whatever it is saddens

him.

As we continue our drive, the city's sins become more apparent. Zeke's kingdom is indeed a

kingdom of gluttony, a place where excess and deprivation coexists. A city that doesn't sleep,

caught in a cycle of relentless consumption, its pulse throbbing with a hunger that never seems to

be satiated.

In this kingdom, I see both the promise of a prosperous future and the specter of its downfall. The

towering skyscrapers reaching for the stars contrasted against the people buried under the weight

of their unmet needs. And at the heart of it all, Zeke, who, despite his power and position, seems as

helpless as those who beg on the city streets