[10:36]

Nami- "Thank you. I can make my way home though."

Breya- "Okay, please make it home safe and let me know if you need anything else."

Nami- "Will do. And call me too if ya need anythin else."

Breya nods and closes the door. Nami walks down the stairs and out of the building. On the sidewalk, a large crowd walks around her as she stops to think about where to go next. Her phone buzzes, and she pulls it out of her pocket to see a familiar name. Then she is unexpectedly bumped by another person, hard enough for her to almost lose balance. After recollecting her balance, she looks back at her phone to see what the text message is about. She then sees a dog of monstrous size wearing a backpack that could fit her inside three times over, walking right by her. She looks in awe as the dog passes by, heading toward the Hostel. Her eyes and face express sudden bamboozlement.

Nami- 'I gotta leave this area entirely. This place is not real. What is this place?'

She leaves the area. Momentarily afterward, Ace walks by the same spot Nami was just previously occupying and almost slips on an item. He stops, looks down at the ground, and sees a wallet. He's surprised to see a wallet of all things on the ground since phones often come with built-in pouches for cards and such. In today's world, a wallet can be entirely digital too. He picks it up and goes into the Hostel where Brooklyn is unloading James' backpack.

Denarrow- "Hey mum, found it right outside while coming in."

He hands it off to Brooklyn, who then looks through it to see the owner of it.

Brooklyn- "It's Nami's. She must've come by wanting to interview you again. Both of you have missed each other, again."

Denarrow- 'Who?'

Brooklyn- "I'll air her after I put the groceries away."

[11:01]

Nami crosses the street and meets with her friend Sia Long. They greet each other with a hug and begin talking as they make their way down the street. Nami then checks her phone seeing Brooklyn Royce calling her.

Sia- "You know Brooklyn Royce?"

Nami- "Yeah, but I don't know why she's calling me."

Sia- "How…"

Nami- "It's a long story but I'll just call her later. So what pub we hittin?"

Sia- "It's this one I found a couple weeks ago."

Nami- "Damn, we really haven't seen each in a bitly."

Sia- "I know, and the reason is because it's something about the office."

Nami- "What is happening at the office. It's only been two weeks since I've actually had significant hours at the desk. What's the cups around office?"

She looks at Nami with a grim face.

Sia- "We're already here, I'll tell you inside."

They arrive at the pub, a midday bar. Alcohol isn't actually the main source of consumption, rather, it's coffee and a small eatery, but it's primarily an adult space. A masked security guard armed with an assault rifle stands right outside the doorway. Sia shows her McID card to the bodyguard. He hovers his hand gloved with an advanced smart glove over the ID, scanning the card's validity. He then moves out of the way to let Sia, who enters without hesitation.

Nami, next in line, pats her pockets, trying to find her wallet for her McID. With nobody behind her, she takes her time and opens her small bag, which is attached to her belt stationed on her hip. It only takes a few seconds for her to realize she doesn't have her ID. She begins to panic, thinking that she must have dropped it somewhere on the public streets or sidewalk. Then abruptly, the hub has a sudden fire. It rapidly expands killing everyone inside and pushes everyone outside and nearby away.

Nami, being close to the hub, she's unknowingly grateful for being knocked back from the shockwave before the fire could reach her and is fortunately thrown into a nearby bystander. Though unfortunately, she stays conscious, feeling the aching pain, the ringing of the ears, confusion along with a headache, and out of breath. Regrettably, the person she flew into was not in a good state. When Nami looks around while lying on the ground, she sees a dead woman right against her. The elderly woman was used as a cushion, smashed between her and a car dented car.

Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions.

Nami continues to lay on the ground staring at the dead next to her. She is then interrupted less than a minute later by policemen who gain a hold of her attention.

[12:10]

Brooklyn's phone buzzes in her pocket while she's at the desk typing a hundred words per minute, working on a school paper. She answers the phone without checking the caller.

Brooklyn- "Oi."

Nami - "Royce."

Brooklyn- "Nami?"

Nami- "Yeah, it's me. I just saw your message and missed calls."

Brooklyn- "You sound sad right now, are u okay?"

Nami- "Yeah, ish. But you said you have my wallet."

Brooklyn- "Yeah, Mister Ace found it outside on the sidewalk."

Nami- "Makes sense. If you could, since I don't have a ride, possibly drop it off for me. I know it's asking-"

Brooklyn- "Sure no problem."

Nami- "Thank you, I'll send my locale then."

[12:42]

Ace has his elbow on the car's door handle and rests his face against his palm in boredom. When a cop car appears in the middle of the road flashing its lights, sitting sideways blocking both lanes, his state of boredom changes into interest. He moves his elbow and widens his eyes in engagement. Brooklyn continues to drive, approaching the cop car without hesitation.

Denarrow- 'Is she going to stop before they…?'

The car stops right next to the police car. The two heavily armed policemen come to Brooklyn’s already-opening window.

Denarrow- 'I guess not.'

Officer- "This area is closed off, locals only… Miss Royce?"

He then looks beyond her at Ace. His eyes, the only unclothed part of him, crunch in suspicion.

Brooklyn- "Yes."

The officer then turns to his partner, says something which is muffled thanks to the mask, and then looks back at Brooklyn.

Officer- "Hello Miss Royce, do you have any business past this point? Right now it's a bit dangerous out."

Brooklyn- "I'm here to pick up Nami Vince."

The officer backs up, clicks his radio placed onto his right shoulder, and says something. The other officer enters the car and begins moving it out of the road’s path. He then again looks back at Brooklyn and gives a thumbs up.

Officer- "Straight ahead. Stay safe Miss Royce."

Brooklyn nods with a smile.

Denarrow- 'I guess that's what internet fame can do for you.'

She continues on driving a bit more aware, knowing there might be a danger. Eventually, the street becomes blocked off with fire trucks, ambulances, and police vehicles. She parks after seeing the obstruction ahead.

Brooklyn- "I'll try and find her from here. Do you want to stay or come?"

Denarrow- "I'll stay." 'I don't want to be stared down by any more cops.'

They both get out of the car; Brooklyn heads towards the action while Ace leans against the car hood and waits. As she walks closer to the site, more service men and women start appearing. Walking past them, their eyes can't leave her alone, but being Brooklyn, she's unaware of the stares and glances. She turns the corner on the block and sees a building with its first floor in rubble and leftover marks of fire and explosion. She's unable to process everything as there's too much noise in the form of talking, yelling, and radio chatter happening at once.

Then a particular individual notices her.

Luke- "Sis."

She turns to her left, seeing her older brother coming up to her.

Brooklyn- "Luke?"

Luke- "What are you doing here?"

Back at the car, the sidewalks are unusually clear. It's the clearest Ace has ever seen them since he's been in the city. He sees a red-headed woman walking down the street by herself. She looks down at her phone and then looks up repeatedly as she keeps on walking. She has a bandaid on her forehead and an ice pack tied around her left arm. Her clothes are a little scuffled, and ash is apparent on them. As she comes closer, she continuously looks up and looks at Ace, who's staring back.

Nami- 'This is Brooklyn's car, who's this tho?'

Denarrow- "You lost or something?"

Nami- "I uhh, this is my friend's car."

Denarrow- "She has your wallet?"

Nami- "Yeah. Wait, are you the Vicino Saviour."

Denarrow- "The what what?"

Nami- "Denarrow Ace?"

Denarrow- "Yeah."

Nami- "I'm Nami Vince, nice to finally meet you."

He notices her New Yorke accent.

Denarrow- "Oh. Word. So what happened to you?"

[12:50]

Brooklyn- "I'm here for Nami Vince."

Luke- "She had just left. She was tracking her wallet's position on her phone and then left. She told me a friend was going to pick her up but I didn't know it was going to be you."

Brooklyn- "Then she must be back at the car. I'll be on my way then."

Once she's about to turn around, Luke puts his hand on her shoulder, prompting her to stop. She feels the soft touch of his metallic hand despite it being covered with a glove.

Luke- "Wait, how are you doing?"

Luke looks at her with his big green eyes. The two share a lot of characteristics, green eyes, cinnamon-colored hair, and brown-tinted white skin. The difference beyond being two different sexes is that Luke has thinner eyebrows, his hair is short and spiky, and he is a whole foot taller than his sister. He wears a sweater, sweatpants, and a beanie. He stands out like a regular civilian in comparison with all the emergency servicemen around.

Brooklyn- "I'm doing okay. Thanks for asking."

There is no authenticity in her voice, nor is her signature smile present after giving her ‘thanks’ there either. She further doesn't even look at him when she says it. After an awkward silence momentarily proceeds. She then leaves without another word between them.