The Forbidden Zone was a term whispered in hushed tones among the residents of the Green City. It was the unseen barrier that separated them from the Wasters—the unfortunate souls who lived beyond the city's protective dome. To Anya, the term always carried a weight of unspoken stories and forbidden truths.

Anya's day at the academy was filled with lessons on sustainability and the importance of the city's technology. Yet, there was never any mention of the world outside, as if it had been erased from existence. The city's curriculum painted the Wasters as reckless beings who had brought their misfortune upon themselves through wastefulness and ignorance.

Walking home, Anya couldn't shake off the feeling of discomfort that settled in her chest. The city's disdain for the Wasters seemed unjust, a convenient narrative to justify their own privilege. She wondered about the lives of those on the other side of the glass, their struggles, their dreams, and their hopes.

It was during these contemplative walks that Anya first noticed the subtle signs—graffiti hidden in alleyways, a symbol that spoke of unity and resistance. She followed these breadcrumbs, her curiosity growing with each step, leading her to the outskirts of the city where the dome met the barren lands.

Here, the contrast was stark. The lush greenery gave way to desolate grounds, and the air held a tinge of something bitter and raw. Anya peered into the distance, where the horizon was a blur of dust storms and the faint outlines of dilapidated structures.

The city's propaganda had dehumanized the Wasters, but Anya couldn't accept that. She felt a kinship with them, a shared humanity that the city's walls could not diminish. It was this empathy that drove her to seek the truth, to understand the real story of the Green City and those it had left behind.