The chipped black road extended beyond the Whiskey Town, and Ryder chose to keep down that path - exploit the smoother route, though it wasnt clear the Casino was down the path.
Just like before, the road served as a de-facto garbage dump - barrels, broken-down cars, and all sorts of trash litered each side, as if the dirtiness of the wastes was seeping onto a strip of functionality and point.
A barricade of barrels across the road suddenly came into view, focing Ryder to bring the motorcycle to a screeching halt. A homeless man - dressed in a dirtied suit - stood on the left side infront the barrels, beside the bike. His eyes were wide and bloodshut. He gave off an uncomfotable, traumatized aura.
"D-Don't go down there."
The man quivered, as if to some memory of 'there.' Ryder questioned the man.
"...what would be down there, friend?"
"T-T-T-The Highrollers...."
"Pardon?"
"The Highrollers!" The man screamed, provoked by his anxiety.
"We'll proceed with caution," Nazar intetjected, "I think we can handle them."
Naz got off the bike for a moment and shoved the barrels to the side, the man still standing in traumatized fear. Naz hopped back on the vehicle.
"We'll be on our way now."
Ryder hesitantly started back up the bike, but drove slower than before. Setré made a provoked question to the brash cat.
"...he didn't seem to be lying. You could be getting us in a losing battle against some powerful gang, Nazar! T-They might be under control of the doctor, Umbriel could be put in danger!"
Nazar didn't give any concern in his voice, overconfident.
"Will be fine. Quit being such a pansy, Setré."
The Jackal shut up and held his black-cat partner tighter, worried for his safety.
To the left and right of the road layed dotted, destroyed buildings, and corpses. The corpses became more and more frequent further and further down the line, until abruptly disappearing as a large building came over the horizon.
"There it is." Nazar spoke.
The Casino.
The motorcycle kicked up dust as it slid to a halt in the makeshift parking lot before the fated Casino. The structure stood at 3 stories tall, windows lining each floor - some broken accompanying beaten and worn walls. A few flashy bulbs attempted to make a façade of glamour and charm of the world that once was, but the painful reality of the moden world was clear.
Umbriel stood idle, staring at a large sign on the top level of the building that read 'HIGHROLLER'S CASINO'
"So uh, Naz. You know this place, right?" He asked.
"I told you, didn't I?" Naz curtly answered.
"Right."
As the door opened, the rugged quarted stepped in - only for the sight to render them frozen stiff.
The entire floor, full of slot machines and gambling tables, had a populace - and the whole populace had guns drawn at the door - at the unwanted entries. A large, greasy man stood with his hands clasped, approaching the still-struck people - focusing on Nazar in particular.
"Well well well," his voice oozed with filth. "Nazar. Good to see you."
A swift strike of the fist landed square on the cat's cheek, knocking him to the floor with a splatter of blood from his maw. Ryder jolted in surprise.
YOU ARE READING
After.
Adventure[NEW NOTE: THIS IS NOT ABANDONED. I just have some other bustling ideas. And I feel my quality here is a bit TOO amateurish, and think I'll have to rewrite a lot. Which would be a gigantic undertaking.] An inexplicable, cataclysmic event's aftermath...
