City.

The tree line gave way to an expansive ruined vista, crumbling walls and ruined buildings. Vines crept in and out of the stonework, adding an air of lost world to the place. Insects chittered and birds twittered in the hidden shadows of the old place.

“It’s beautiful.” Jade breathed, walking forwards and touching one of the walls. Stone crumbled beneath her touch and fell to the floor in a small huff of ancient dust. “Falling apart too…” She added, withdrawing her hand.

The two girls walked through the cobbled streets, admiring the carvings in the stone and the small token items that had survived the years. Further in the sprawl of ruins seemed to subtly change, becoming more technologically advanced, with evidence of aquifers, and running water systems.

"I'm picking up traces of electrical energy around here." Cass said, looking at her tablet. "It's like the further in we go the more civilised they were getting.

"That or the poor were in the slums on the outskirts?" Jade suggested as they passed through an ornamental stone circle that seemed to separate yet another seemingly more advanced area from the last. Jade trailed her hand along the surface of the stones as they walked. This time, there was ruined computing equipment and metal seemed to be a more commonly used item. The air thrummed around the two as they proceeded.

"Check it out. Up ahead." Cass gestured to the horizon, what would be the centre of the complex and to a large stone pyramid.

The earth around the pyramid was scorched to the rocky bedrock beneath the surface. Nothing growing in the dead zone at all.

"Yeah... This doen't feel right." Jade said, pausing at the edge of the burned area.

"Told you Holly was wrong." Cass said, a frown of concentration on her face as she scanned the area. "Looks like there is some sort of ancient power source in there. We should check it out." Cass added, stepping into the scorched zone. Jade held her breath as Cass walked onwards.

"Seriously, this doesn't feel right Cass." Jade said, screwing her face up into a worried frown.

"Don't be silly. It's all fine. There has been no one here for millennia, all my scans, and Holly's say that it's ok. Trust me." Cass said, offering a rare smile to Jade.

"...Fine." She said, after a pause, closing her eyes and stepping forwards. A shiver ran up her spine, as if someone had 'walked over her grave', as her father would have said, or as if passing a weak force field.

She didn't combust.

She didn't hear any sirens going off.

"See!" Cass said, chuckling and gesturing for Jade to catch up.

<Tag Cass/TBC>