The road stretched into the quiet distance, bordered by thick shrubs and tall grass that swayed gently with the wind. The air smelled faintly of dust and rain, as though a storm had passed just hours ago. At the far end of the road, an abandoned structure could be seen. It was an incomplete building with bare concrete walls, rusting rods, and shattered windows. It looked forgotten, like the construction was paused midway.
Inside the building, two figures stood opposite each other, surrounded by echoes and dust motes dancing in thin beams of light.
For a while, no one spoke. The air between them felt heavy. Then, a low rough male voice broke the silence.
"I can't thank you enough for your help," the man said, his tone calm but with a trace of amusement. His beard was scruffy, and his black over coat could be seen swaying along with the slow wind.
