The year is 2013, and the sun hangs low in the sky, casting a warm golden light over the arid hills of Southern California. A soft, dry breeze rustles through the sparse trees, and the faint hum of distant traffic echoes through the still air. The sky above is a washed-out blue, gradually fading into the orange and pink hues of the approaching evening, where the horizon seems to stretch on forever.

Along the roads, the sparse clusters of houses sit low to the ground, their stucco facades sun-baked and faded from years of exposure to the relentless sun — Palm trees sway gently against the backdrop of the fading daylight, casting long, stretched-out shadows across driveways and lawns that seem parched from the lack of rain. Despite the harshness of the terrain, there’s a certain beauty in the quiet desolation.

Nathan lingered outside a modest little shop, his silhouette blending into the mundane chaos of the strip mall. His button up shirt, slightly too big in the shoulders, his demeanour seemed out of place in the casual, sun-soaked atmosphere. He squinted his brown eyes against the sunlight as he surveyed the scene, clutching a notebook filled with meticulous notes and half-formed plans.