“That’s enough!” Aguero shouted as he ran forward, jumping above the shields and into the crowd. As he landed, he quickly kneeled and leaned against his hands, spinning around, kicking people away, and with every spin, more flames appeared near his feet. The small flames grew into a fire tornado that scared the people away from the gate.
They gasped in fear, with each step further away, they barely felt the change in heat. The flames were so hot that they made everyone near them sweat and burn their faces red. The guards were protected by the shields while a few unfortunate ones had to bear the radiating pain on their faces.
Once the tornado vanished, it left dark marks on the stone pavement. Right in the center stood Aguero, his arms crossed as he intensely watched the crowd in front. “We’re not here to harm you, but we are not here to let you go to the other side. The guards are here only to ensure that Mister President safely leaves through the gate. If you don’t want to be harmed, please stay away until the gate has been closed.” The elite guard waited for a moment, waiting for his warning to sink into the crowd’s mind.
When he saw their faces change, he knew they understood his warning. “Mister President. You may step through the shields. Those people won’t attempt anything this time.” Aguero shouted to the president, yet his face was turned to the crowd, ready for any suspicious behavior.
“They are people… Just like me. We are the same… And yet they reacted like wild animals…” Devin thought with disappointment. He hoped that a conversation would be enough; he believed it would solve the problem. People don’t often think logically. They hear what they want and need, often ignoring the rest of the crucial information.
Devin carefully and slowly walked past the shields, Abigail being a foot behind him. His eyes ventured between many faces, deciding not to trust any one of them as they betrayed the trust he gave them.
“Please stay close to me. If anyone attacks, I’ll protect you.” Whispered Aguero once he knew that the two of them were standing right behind him. He began marching forward, Devin and Abigail walked close to him. None of them looked scared, but they were on edge.
Some people showed hatred on their faces, ready to spit on the residents of Golden Zone, some showed fear of their superiors, and some confusion as they didn’t fully digest what had happened or didn’t fully comprehend Devin’s and Aguero’s words.
“The building you’re seeking is near the center of the Red Zone, mister president. Normally, it would be a dangerous place, but it seems like everyone in here fears the monster… Except for a few.” Explained Aguero, walking the same street, he watched as the three men in white shirts and black pants with suspenders walked across the street. Each one of them held a different weapon, like a sword, an axe, and a spear. “The Red Zone is not to be taken lightly… Someone is weaponizing them with good equipment. Fortunately, not many guns, but you can spot one occasionally.” The elite guard didn’t only look straight ahead, but his eyes wandered to the buildings and the roofs, an important person was standing right behind him, and he had to be on high alert.
“If only they understood that violence can be replaced with words… I pity them…” Said Devin, truly saddened by the position of the citizens in the Red Zone, especially those who were the weakest and couldn’t do much in a harsh place like this.
“Many of them were born here, and that’s what this place taught them, violence and strength let you be on top… That’s what all of the Red Zone citizens learn from birth. There is no politics, no right, no humanity… Only cruelty. I was taught the same… If not for the falling newspapers from the other side. They created a spark, a hope for a better life…” Abigail smiled as she saw a few newspapers from the Golden Zone.
Even though many ignored them as rubbish and some used them for different purposes, it was a window to the other side, to a better life. For others, it is a fuel for their hate. Simple reading or looking at the pictures of the people living well in the Golden Zone made them jealous.
It wasn’t the first time when the president went to the other side, but not many people noticed that, as barely anyone from the Red Zone knew who the president was. They didn’t know that the most important person in the city was walking right beside them.
“I’ve been here a few times… But that sick feeling in the stomach is always present… I feel sorry for them.” Devin grabbed his stomach; it was as if his stomach was empty, and at the same time, it wanted to throw out everything inside it. “I’ll eventually find a way to help them.”
“I know you will, sir. You’re the only one who thinks about that part of the city.” Abigail gently placed a hand on Devin’s shoulder, showing support for the president’s stand.
“I can only wish you luck, mister president. With the barons lurking in the Red Zone, it's hard to intervene. They already claimed this part of the city for themselves.” Ageuro joined the conversation, but he didn’t drop his guard; he wasn’t about to turn his eye away from possible danger.
“How much do you know about barons? You think they could cooperate?” Asked Evin as he didn’t know much about those people. He thought that the Red Zone was more like a lawless place without any governors.
“Don’t know who they are. Never clearly revealed themselves, only sending their goons for the dirty work. They are either rich or have influence of some kind in this part. It cuts off many potential people, but at least a hundred suspects remain. Their fame and money are not from legal means. Illegal businesses, slavery, drugs, smuggling… far too many to just mention all of them.” Explained Aguero, his voice stoic and serious, not like the joyful and loud tone he had a moment ago.
“Even I don’t know much about them… Only the location of one of their businesses. It’s an underground arena.” Said Abigail, a bit ashamed that she hadn’t revealed that information much earlier.
“We’ll work on that later. Right now… We should check this…” One look at the ruins made Devin lose for words. A massive part of the tower had fallen onto the buildings beside it. Destroying at least seven, twelve tenements, leaving only rubble. “You mean… A monster did that?”
“Our information in the Red Zone is limited. We don’t have confirmation, but according to the few reports we got, it was the work of the monster.” Informed Aguero as if he had the report in his hands.
“So we don’t know how many were injured… how many died?” Devin heavily swallowed before adding the last part. They were his citizens, and it was his responsibility to protect them. He placed a hand near his heart and gave a short prayer to the fallen.
All of them turned toward the tower as they heard a creaking noise. In the rubble, two people were walking around, flipping the stones and wood, searching for something.
“That must’ve been their home…” Whispered Abigail, saddened by the sight of people who had lost their only home.
“They must be looking for someone!” Devin shouted as he ran toward the woman and the boy who were moving the rubble. They were so focused on it that they barely noticed Devin approaching them.
“Mister President! Wait!” Shouted Aguero as he ran after Devin, Abigail following slightly behind them.
“Is there someone under the rubble?” Asked Devin as he joined the search, looking for any signs of someone being alive, buried under the ruins of the tenement.
The young woman was sobbing and seemed tired as she moved the rubble for hours, yet she didn’t stop. “A lady saved us… She jumped through the window and moved us to safety… But the floor collapsed… And she fell… She might be alive… Maybe…”
“Please stand back. I’ll help you.” The tone of Devin’s voice was serious, and the two citizens of Red Zone understood that he was here to help. Devin then looked back and signaled his companions to also move away. He kneeled and touched the rubble. As he closed his eyes, it began to shake and move slowly, what used to be the floor began to rebuild itself, and the wooden pillars grew back together. Brick by brick, stone by stone, the first floor of the tenement was back. Devin opened his eyes and moved forward, toward the broken wall he had to be closer to rebuild it and continue his search. This time, he touched the pillar of the unfinished wall, and the rubble began to change into the rest of the building. The floor rose from the rubble, and along with it, the body of a woman. Her skin darkened by the dirt with many bruises and cuts.
Devin ran out of the building with Navia in his hands. “Aguero! Take her to the wall and hand to the guards! They need to take her to the hospital! You are the fastest out of all of us. Take her while I repair the buildings.” Devin shoved Navia into the elite guard’s hands and gave him an order.
“But… Sir. I can’t leave you without protection…” It was hard for Aguero to argue back when he had a dying woman in his hands.
“Then run as fast as you can. I’ll stay here and do my work. After all, I am THE ARCHITECT.”