Chapter 26

Amaya gave the driver the address and sat back in her seat, her tension mounting as the car neared her place. The small street was bustling with activity, but it was far from inviting. The narrow alley was littered with garbage, and the stench of decay hung heavily in the air. Small, ugly, and rusty apartments lined both sides of the street, their crumbling facades adding to the gloomy atmosphere.

"It’s nice here. It's quite, um, overcrowded here." Chase glanced out of the window. "So, is this where you raised your son?"

She rolled her eyes.

The apartments, once bright and welcoming, had lost their charm over the years and were now covered in layers of grime and neglect. Their faded paint peeled off, revealing the scars of time. Broken windows were patched up with cardboard and tape, barely keeping out the cold wind and rain.

"Yes, this is all I can afford for now. I'm planning to change apartments soon."

Amidst the chaos, rats scurried along the sidewalks, seeking refuge in the piles