Chapter 20: Murkpaws
Dapper ordered a new taxi using Elena’s phone, and soon enough, a taxi driver with a stubby beard pulled up. "Please, hop in," the driver said—and both Dapper and Elena did just that.
The driver wasted no time, zooming off from the main city of Lutava toward its outskirts. The car sped faster than anything Dapper had ever seen in this world, the speed alone making him blink in disbelief. But at least the roads were tiled all the way, so he wasn’t too worried.
Curious, Dapper slid open the small barrier at the center console that separated the driver from the backseat.
"Excuse me," Dapper began, "why are you going this fast?"
The driver’s eyes remained glued to the road, his expression hard. "You must be new here. Driving through these roads is a risk in itself. Monsters lurk in the outskirts. You don’t want to get intercepted—especially by a strong one. Let me show you something."
The tinted windows in the back suddenly turned transparent, and at the same time, the barrier fully lowered. What Dapper and Elena saw next wasn’t the vibrant greenery of life—it was ruin. Buildings crumbled, forests growing out of abandoned homes, and decay had overtaken everything. Roaming the area were monstrous, jagged-toothed mice—each one about the size of a housecat from Earth.
"This," the driver said grimly, "is the risk we take every damn day. It’s also why the ride was pricey. Since you’re new, I’ll tell you a little story."
He lit a cigarette, his hands briefly off the wheel.
"This place used to thrive. Peaceful, almost crime-free. Lutava was once one of the safest cities. But then... the monster hordes started. At first, people fought back and won. But then a horde of Rank 3 monsters attacked. Everything collapsed. People died. Businesses crumbled. Families shattered. I watched my wife get her guts ripped out."
He puffed a long cloud of smoke before continuing.