Between the two districts stood a massive wall —a barrier so tall and menacing that no human could hope to cross it.
Other than the single gate carved through the wall for the trains,the wall stretched endlessly, crowned with coils of razor-sharp barbed wire and dotted with looming watchtowers.
Each tower had a massive spotlight mounted at its peak, flooding the dormitory side with harsh, searching light.
And atop each tower, guards stood watch — Hellfire Revolvers slung casually in their hands.
It felt like a scene ripped straight out of Prison Break.
...This isn't what I was expecting.
If I had to sum it up in one image —Factory District was "light."Dormitory District was "darkness."
The factory had been blinding, lit by endless rows of lights,turning night into day with no shadow left untouched.
The dormitories, though...No ceiling lights.Only scattered streetlamps here and there, barely holding back the gloom.
It felt like being trapped in some haunted alleyway at the edge of dawn —a place where light feared to linger.
And the dormitory buildings themselves...They weren't anything like the clean, modern towers we saw in the presentation.
These were battered hulks —covered in graffiti, cracked windows, chipped walls.
It looked more like the roughest parts of Harlem than anything out of a brochure.
"Eric... this place feels kinda creepy," Justin muttered, his voice low.
"Yeah... but hey, maybe our building's better," I said, trying to sound braver than I felt.
Having Eden next to me made it easier.When he was around, the fear didn't press quite so hard against my chest.
The train pulled to a stop in front of Building 4999.
Everyone from the presentation was assigned here, so we all got off together.
Thankfully, Building 4999 was one of the newer constructions.No graffiti.No broken windows.The air inside smelled clean — none of the mildew and rot I half-expected.
We entered through the main hall, past dozens of elevators, and took one up toward room 444.
Screeeech—
As soon as the door slid open, chaos exploded.
"You cocky little bastard, what did you say to me earlier?!"
"What the hell?! Let go, you crazy old man!"
Inside, it was exactly what I feared.
Jack had slapped Justin hard across the face and now had him by the collar, dragging him deeper into the room like a sack of trash.
Justin, cornered and furious, threw a desperate one-two combo straight into Jack's chin.
Thwack. Thwack.
The punches landed cleanly.
But Jack... didn't even flinch.
Blood dripped from his split lip, and he just grinned.
"You weak little shit.This is what you came at me with?Tonight, boy — I'm gonna beat some manners into you."
The physical gap between them was overwhelming.
Justin was maybe 5'9", lean, a bit of muscle from years of boxing — but slim.
Jack was my height, maybe even a little taller — 6'2", easily over 220 pounds of pure muscle.
Their arms, their legs — Jack's were nearly double the size.
It didn't matter how well Justin punched, how fast he moved —the sheer brute force Jack carried would crush him.
It was like watching Pacquiao trying to drop Hong-Man Choi.
No chance.
Jack lunged, smashing his forehead straight into Justin's skull.
Crack!
Justin cried out, legs buckling, collapsing onto the floor.
Jack wasn't done.
"You're dead, punk."
He lifted his foot, aiming a brutal stomp right at Justin's face.
Crack—!
It all happened in less than a heartbeat.
Three quick steps.
One savage punch.
From my side, Eden moved —silent, lethal —and slammed his fist into Jack's neck, right at the spot where flesh turned to bone.
Jack's entire body seized up, like someone had cut the strings on a puppet.
He couldn't breathe.Couldn't move.
In one fluid motion, Eden slipped behind him, trapped Jack's arm, hooked a leg around his,and threw him to the floor — hard.
Jack lay there, gasping, face pressed to the cold ground, arm twisted up behind his back.
"Stay down," Eden growled.
Jack writhed in pain, but he couldn't break free.Slowly, painfully, he stopped struggling.
Justin, still dazed, started to climb to his feet, rubbing the fresh lump swelling on his forehead.
Me?
I just stood there.
Frozen.
"I'll let you go if you swear to stop causing trouble," Eden said calmly, twisting Jack's arm just a little more.
"Fine! Fine!" Jack gasped, voice cracking."Let go already, before my arm snaps."
"You promise?" Eden pressed.
"I said fine! I keep my word.I won't lay a finger on that punk again.Just... just let me go!"
Satisfied, Eden slowly released him.
Jack groaned, rolling his sore shoulder, muttering under his breath.
"Goddamn...Thought my arm was gonna pop right outta the socket."
Both Jack and Justin retreated to opposite sides of the room,each throwing dark glances at the other like junkyard dogs waiting for the next chance to lunge.
I exhaled, a long, shaky breath.
Thank God Eden's my roommate.
As long as he's around, no one's gonna mess with me.
I sank into a chair, ready to finally relax —but of course...
That's when everything went to hell.