The Fracture

Victor stood at the edge of the quarry, his hands gripping the railing as he overlooked the vast operation unfolding below. The air was thick with dust and the steady din of machinery, human and otherwise. The villagers, invigorated by Victor’s charisma and promises of abundance, toiled with fervor. Where once the extraction of resources had been careful and methodical, guided by Creche oversight, now it was rushed and chaotic.

Victor had convinced them to increase the output, arguing that the ore beneath the surface was worth the risk. “This is the future,” he had proclaimed to the gathered crowd days before. “Our chance to take control of our own destiny. We’re not just surviving anymore—we’re building something that will last forever.”

And they had believed him.