City in Ruins

The city’s atmosphere feels so vivid and alive—I'm curious whether this was based on real places or a fictional creation. Did the setting evolve during writing?

The story moved quickly, but I wondered if that was intentional to mirror the chaos of the city. What do others think about how pacing affected the story's impact?

The characters' struggles felt very real, and the theme of redemption added depth. I'm curious what motivated this focus—personal experience or a narrative choice?