At some point, humanity had become arrogant enough to challenge the stars with streetlights...
And perhaps, offended by that ridiculous little act of glowing rebellion, the stars had withdrawn from the competition and hung distant and cold now, scattered like aristocrats refusing to mingle with new money.
Only the moon remained close above the island, pale and silent, watching the city lights below with the tired expression of an ancient witness who had seen empires rise, fall, and somehow come back as luxury real estate projects with better branding.
Infinity Chaos Hotel ruled the skyline without even trying.
The monstrous tower speared up from the island's glittering body with the sovereign arrogance of an emperor who had never once needed to raise his voice to be obeyed. Its upper floors vanished into the night like the city had built a ladder toward godhood and then decided, halfway through, to charge membership fees:
