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We stepped away from the line walking in, as enforcers checked and patted down each individual. Their presence was everywhere, stationed at every corner, ensuring no one slipped through unnoticed. Despite these precautions, the sheer number of people in attendance made me uneasy. Crowds like this often bred chaos, and at times like this, it didn't take much for these people to unravel.
As I followed Vi and Loris through the crowd, In kept my eyes sharp, scanning for anything that seemed out of place. Vi led the way, her posture tense, her movement precise. We move steadily to the front, where Mel stood almost at the podium. Her figure was shown against the backdrop, illuminated by the lights. Though she tried to maintain her calm for the people, I could see the subtle signs of unease—her fingers twitching slightly at the sides, her face darting nervously across the sea of faces. Whether or not she struggled with anxiety, no one could actually blame her for feeling overwhelmed given the circumstances.
As she began to speak, a sense of dread settled over me, heavy. My stomach churned, and my hands grew clammy. Something was off, though I couldn't pinpoint what. It wasn't me—I felt fine physically. It was something in the atmosphere, something hidden within the crowd.
"Vi," I murmured, leaning closer to her. "Something's wrong." My gaze darted to a figure a 2 rows behind us. They were covered from head to toe, their face covered. Normally, I wouldn't give it a thought—people had their reasons for covering up. But this time, something about them set my instincts on the edge. They weren't the only one either, several others dressed similarly in the crowd.
"I know," Vi whispered back," her voice low, though I could sense the tension in her tone. Her eyes narrowed, focusing on an enforcer not far from the stage. A tattoo along his neck, a mark I didn't recognize but one clearly meant something to Vi.
Without hesitation, she grabbed my wrist and began maneuvering us closer to the stage. Her movements were deliberate. I followed without question, my heart pounding as we steered through the tightly packed crowd.
"There," she muttered, her gaze locked on the tattooed enforcer. He was moving with purpose, his steps calculated as he approached the stage where Mel was speaking.
As we drew nearer, Vi suddenly vaulted over the barricade separating the crowd from the stage. I followed, adrenaline coursing through me. But before we could make it any further, a pair of enforcers stopped us.
One grabbed Vi by the arm, stopping her, while another one seized me, their grip harsh. "Let me go!" I struggled against them.
Vi's eyes filled with fury as she yanked against the enforcers hold. "No," she says under her breath, her focus on the stage.
The tattooed man had reached the platform. He ascended the steps slowly, his attention fixed solely on Mel, who remained unaware of the threat.
The crowd stirred, sensing the shift of tension, and the atmosphere grew, a single spark away from igniting into chaos.
Chaos.
The word echoed in my mind, relentless and unnervingly familiar, it was like a ghost that refused to be silent. My muscles tensed, my fingers twitched, each repetition moved deeper into my thoughts.
Chaos.
A voice I thought I had buried—smothered under layers, rose to the surface, uninvited. It was jagged and sharp, scraping against my sanity. I clenched my fists, as if the pressure could crush it, but it only grew louder.
Chaos.
It wasn't just the word. It was a presence, curling in the corners of my mind, one I had tried to escape with the substances I took in.
The crowd erupted. Screams filled the air as people surged in every direction, desperate to escape. Bodies collided, pushing and shoving, the once orderly gathering, dissolving.
"None of you are safe!"
Vi and I stood frozen for a moment, stunned by the sudden violence. People pushed us as they fled, their fear shown in their eyes. Our own eyes were locked on stage, the figuring commanding chaos.
Who was he? This whole thing wasn't Jinx—she wouldn't do this. She was unpredictable, sure, but this level of brutality, this cold calculation? It wasn't her.
Before I could process the thought, Vi surged into action. She darted through, her eyes fixed on one of the armed men descending from the stage. Grabbing a fire extinguisher from the side, she swung it, striking him from the back. The force of the blow made him stagger, but he recovered quickly, spinning to face her.
"Vi, watch out!" I yelled as he lunged towards her.
She was ready. Anticipating his move, she rolled to the side, narrowly avoiding his grasp. Her gaze fierce and unrelenting.
Meanwhile, I frantically scanned the ground, desperate for anything I could use as a weapon. A loose pipe—anything. But there was nothing but disregarded belongings and people on the ground.
Out of the corner of my eye, I caught a glimpse of her—a familiar girl with striking dark blue hair, pinned against a rusting shipping container. The neon monstrosity over her, a machine of madness.
"Vi!" I shouted, my voice barely cutting through the commotion. "Caitlyn's in trouble!"
Vi handled herself, ripping out the neon cords and moving out the way before it fell down on top of her.
Without thinking, I bolted towards the scene. My boots slammed against the cold metal as I climbed on one container, then leapt onto his back. I yanked hard at the cluster of wires, desperate to find a weakness.
Sparks flew, liquid poured out. He buckled wildly, tossing me like a rag doll, I crashed into the wall of the container. Gritting my teeth, I forced myself to look up, the massive frame collapsed.
Vi rushed over to give me a lift up, but I was fine. She gently let go of my arm as she hurried me towards Caitlyn.
"Caitlyn, find the others, and take her with you. I'll be right back," Vi commanded as she sprinted toward the opposite direction without waiting for a reply.
Ahead of me, Loris was holding his ground, shielding the young man from earlier, his stance defiant despite the chaos.
He reminded me of Vander.
My gaze darted around, searching for anything I could use, and my eyes landed on a pistol discarded nearby. Without hesitation, I grabbed it, the cold metal unfamiliar but reassuring in my hands.
Running forward, I aimed carefully and fired. The shot shattered the glass, releasing a thick cloud of purple smoke, hissing.
We regrouped quickly, forming a defensive circle. Maddie stood beside Caitlyn, her gun ready but her breathing shallow. I positioned myself next to Loris, and the rest closed in.
Unloading another round, each shot found its mark but it wasn't enough. Step by step, we were forced back, it was running towards us as I ran out of bullets.
Just as it seemed like it was the end, spears shot out of nowhere, colliding into the target. A blue flash flew over us, crackling with energy.
It staggered before collapsing, purple liquid spilled out like a toxic tide. The tremor of its fall rattled, leaving us frozen in place, our breath caught somewhere between relief and disbelief.
From the haze of the smoke, I caught sight of figures approaching. The ones who had saved us weren't entirely who I expected.
