Bitter Enemies

The dynamic between the characters feels so charged; I'm curious whether this was plotted from the start or developed organically during writing.

The build-up was intense, but the middle section seemed a bit slower. I wonder if that was meant to deepen the characters' backgrounds or a pacing choice.

The environment and context feel so gritty and real; I'd love to know if the author drew from personal experiences or research for this world.