Chapter 1: The Corpse of Steel(9)

This level seemed more stable than any before it. Concrete and even some plaster still remained in large sections, creating a fractured web of navigable terrain. Craggy edges opened up into small holes seemingly randomly, but the most stable areas seemed to be the edges of rooms, closest to structural support. I sheepishly tap the floor with my foot, testing my weight against it, with one hand still gripped tight on a ladder rung before braving a first step forward. My body was heavier than the average man, and seeing the remains of those outside, it seemed to be skinny teenagers that frequented here.

Making sure to stick as close to corners as I can, I make my way forward through the dark. It was impossible to tell now if this had once been a collection of small rental offices or "extremely affordable" housing. Each room off of the main corridor was a copy of the last, 15x15 cubes, the perfect size to fit a workstation or bed in with some space to stretch and move around. It was all the rage in the 21st century: do more with less. If it doesn't spark joy, out it goes. If you can't afford joy, at least you could rent a roof with 4 walls. Then you could take pride in your small carbon footprint along with the thousand other people who shared your building. All paying the wealthy landlord who would pat himself on the back for providing low-income housing to the needy.