Luna took a quick look at the enigmatic vicinity before giving her response. ”Maybe it was never safe, they were waiting for the right opportunity to strike.” The man swung his arms around dramatically while walking to one of the levers. He then released a loud sigh in hopes that the air vibrations would break Luna's resistance. ”Correct me if I'm wrong.”

”Give me a break. Who's waiting? Just open the door. You know? People on their death beds only regret the things they never did.”

”If we live long enough to be on our death beds,” Luna continued arguing while pulling the darn lever.

”Sweetheart, you'll be back to your beloved gewgaws before you realize.” A laughter accompanied his action of pulling the other darn lever. He refused to leave his dismissive demeanor behind with the garlic.

 

Back in the car, they watched as the gates silently disappeared, revealing that the mechanism was ingrained into the stone walls.

As soon as they drove past
the mountains, a fishy smell invaded their noses. A thick
fog attempted in vain to hide the colossal buildings,
which stuck out solemnly, evoking the image of gigantic
guardians protecting their land. Roads ironically seemed
to tear apart the city rather than connecting every
corner, and from their cracks emerged nature,
undefeated, reclaiming the empty paths: not a single
abandoned truck, motorbike, or regular car as far as Luna
was allowed to see with her growing myopia and the fog.