The sun was setting. Far to the east, threatening black clouds arose from the fumes of
             pollution from the several smokestacks towering over the city. The streets were pocks marked
             and dented with the recent shower of acid rain. Hot boiling steam from the sewers made the
             temperature of day much hotter than it really was. Just outside the borders of the city is a lake
             covered with muck and crude oil spills. Death and despair floated aimlessly on the surface of the
             inhospitable body of water. Corpses of dead fish, seagulls... bobbed just under the rim of the
             The black slime sensing fresh prey, extended its corrupt and revolting tendrils
             farther...until it caught another unsuspecting victim, choking and engulfing, destroying, leaving
             just another empty shell behind, devoid of any life. Night set in; the stars were obscured by thick
             blankets of smoke. The day was done. Stores got ready to lock up and streetlights were turned on
             to aid the breadwinners, so they may travel safely. Few were fortunate enough to own
             automobiles so they could avoid the cold dangerous streets and dark alleyways. Most shops were
             already abandoned, finished for the day. Yet few doors were still open, desperate for any last
             minute customers. One such shopkeeper was Phil Anderson. Anderson had worked as a
             pharmacist for most of his life. At forty, he had little to show for.
             The pollution that caused the gradual decay of the city had had negative effects on
             business, as well as the environment. Phil, though by all means not an old man, showed signs of
             premature aging. His skin was pale and dry, wrinkled by the everyday punishment of the
             deteriorating surroundings. Few strands of grayish white hair lined his almost bald, dandruff
             infested scalp. Looking at Phil with his characteristic limp, slouched posture and bulging belly
             one might think him an extremely unathletic person. But then again it was not entirely ...