The photographer rubs his eyes in confusion. As he looks back, he sees them sat on the bench, Ulqora with her hood on again.
Kassius: "Is it good?"
Photographer: "Y-yeah..."
Kassius gets off the bench and walk up to him. Coming out the camera, he pulls the photo out.
Photographer: "Here's the photo. Try keep it flat for a day or so."
Kassius: "Will do, thanks."
Kassius takes it and runs off to the other two as they walk away. Wanting to call him back to confirm his suspicion, the photographer decided not to. As they continue walking around the city, the sun sets and the night begins.
Arnold: "We still need a car."
Kassius: "We'll figure that out tomorrow. Let's go back to the motel."
Arnold: "That might be best. Hopefully he's no-"
"Grab it!"
Kassius: "What the..."
As they continue down the street, the noise picks up even more. Just as they pass a turn, an individual sprints right past them, shocking them all. But he was not the only one. A group of people were running around, yelling and throwing stuff all around. Small fires around lit up the street more than the lights.
Ulqora: "What's happening?!"
Arnold: "I don't know but stay behind me."
Kassius moves up ahead slightly, as the chaotic group of people flooding the streets continue wrecking havoc. Suddenly, a man in a masking outfit sprints his way.
Kassius: "Wait, wait, wait! What's happening?!"
Man: "Fuck Merdot! Fuck the government!"
Sliding by Kassius, the man continues running about. The response itself stunned Kassius, but he suddenly felt a rise in his own energy. Looking around, he spots a more dense group all the way ahead, signs up in the sky as they march. This differed from the group behind, which were breaking anything in their sight. Out of nowhere, a loud smash catches his attention. He sees a group running out from a store, hauling stacked items, barely walking straight.
Arnold: "Kas!"
He turns around, seeing Arnold and Ulqora near the corner, realising he strayed on too far. He runs back to them quick.
Kassius: "There's a protest, I think."
Arnold: "We'll go a different way then."
Diverting from their original route, they walk on, away from the protest. Later that night in a food place, they sit around and eat together. On the TV inside, the news starts playing, catching both of their attentions.
(TV) Reporter: "On more news, the wage protests continue around the areas of Umoja. Police have been deployed to many locations and have noted high property damages currently. It is advised to stay indoors for now, as casualties have been reported..."
This revelation shocks them both.
(TV) Reporter: "Of the three casualties, two occurred in the South area of the city, with one being in the West..."
They did not say it to each other, but they knew. They were lucky to leave without any problems. Looking at Ulqora enjoying her food carelessly, they both manage to relax a bit.
Arnold: "Seems there's danger wherever we go."
Kassius: "Yeah. It reminds me of Vagis a bit."
Arnold: "Hmm? What do you mean?"
Kassius: "You don't remember the protest that happened at the port?"
Arnold: "No."
Kassius: "Really? It was quite a big thing."
Arnold: "I didn't leave my... my home that often."
Kassius: "Oh... well, from what I remember, there were people protesting and the deck collapsed. A bunch of them fell into the water and one person drowned. Even then, they returned the next week."
Arnold: "Why did they do it?"
Kassius: "Something about animal endangerment."
Arnold: "People died for that?"
Kassius: "I was surprised too. But then again, if I felt as passionate about those things, I'd probably do the same. Wouldn't you?"
Arnold: "I suppose."
Kassius: "The looting though, I never expected that."
Arnold: "Felt at home?"
Kassius: "Hehe, kind of."
"If you ask me, they got what they deserved."
Surprised by the loud comment, they turn to a group of men, sat not too far from them on a different table.
Man 1: "They break and steal shit, but we should feel bad?"
Man 2: "Like I always say, if you have a problem with this place, go back to where you came from, haha!"
Comment after comment, both Kassius and Arnold get irritated. Unfortunately, this does not go unnoticed. One of the men spot Kassius looking at him, and gets upset himself.
Man 3: "Hey, you have a problem?"
Man 4: "Hey, stop! Sorry, he's drunk!"
He wanted to let it slide, but it slipped out of him.
Kassius: "You're idiots."
Man 1: "Huh? Say that louder."
One of the men picks up a condiment bottle and throws it at Kassius, catching it with no issue. Provoked by this, the man walks up to their table.
Man 1: "Speak up then."
As the man hovers over Kassius, he hands him the condiment bottle back.
Kassius: "You're drunk idiots."
Angered, an idea came to head. The man takes the condiment bottle and sprays it on Kassius' head. As it flows down his head, Kassius sits there, silent. Just as Arnold prepares to get on his feet, the other men begin to get anxious.
Kassius: "Don't."
He stops shifting out his seat immediately. Arnold knew that was for him. A quick glance to where Kassius was looking to told him enough. Turning to a fright-filled Ulqora, he shifts back to where he sat.
Shopowner: "Hey! Get out of here or I'll call the police!"
Man 2: "Forget this man, I'm gone."
Man 3: "Same. The food was shit too!"
As the other two walk out laughing about, the man with the condiments scoffs as he follows behind, throwing the empty bottle at Kassius' head as he leaves. The last of them to leave, does so looking Arnold in his eyes. The stare pierced him, yet knowing what they did was wrong, an apology did not leave his mouth. He leaves the shop and follows the group.
Kassius: "Is there a toilet somewhere?"
"No, but I have some tissues."
Confused, Kassius turns to the voice. Arnold and Ulqora both did not have a clue who stood behind him. But Kassius upon seeing her, remembered. The same girl from Ader. It was Ayana.
Kassius: "What are you doing out here?"
Ayana: "Came to see the exhibition. You?"
She hands him the tissues and he takes them. He wipes as carefully off his head as he can.
Kassius: "The same."
Arnold: "You know her?"
Kassius: "Oh, yeah. This is Ayana. Met her at Ader."
Ayana: "Nice to meet you."
She notices Ulqora immediately. Looking on longer than normal, Arnold notices and leads Ulqora to the exit.
Arnold: "We'll head back."
Kassius: "Cool, I'll catch up to you guys."
Arnold walks out with Ulqora.
Ayana: "Sorry. Were you guys busy or something?"
Kassius: "Nah, we were just leaving."
Ayana: "Who's the little one?"
Kassius: "That's uhh... my cousin. We came to visit since I haven't seen them in a while."
Ayana: "Not a bad attempt. If I weren't from Vagis myself, maybe I would've fallen for that."
Kassius finishes wiping and gets on his feet. He awkwardly turns to her, caught in his lie.
Kassius: "Ok, look. The truth is... I can't exactly tell you who she is."
Ayana: "Are you a trafficker?"
Kassius: "What?! No! Why would you say that?"
Ayana: "The signs are sort of there."
Kassius: "Look. Just take my word for it. I'm actually trying to help her."
Ayana: "Hmm, alright..."
Kassius: "It was nice to see you. Maybe we'll see each other at the exhibition. Take care, yeah?"
Ayana: "Are you going for the diamond?"
Before he could leave, this comment stops him in his tracks.
Kassius: "What?"
Ayana: "I'm going for the diamond."
Kassius: "By going for it, you don't mean..."
Ayana: "You're from Furantur, so I can trust you right? How would you like to get rich quick?"