In the residential district, Maxwell and the others watched the surveillance feed with bloodshot eyes.
Outside the walls were tens of thousands of their own people. Behind the walls were millions more.
And between them stood a choice no leader should ever have to make.
Charles gritted his teeth. "Those bastards. We gave them everything they wanted, and now they're feeding our people to that beast."
"They never saw us as people," Maxwell said. "Only tools. Servants. Meat."
Ryan's face twisted with rage. "Then let's stop being meat. Let's fight them."
"And die?" Maxwell snapped. "All of us?"
"At least we'd die fighting!"
"No," Maxwell said. "You'd die angry. There's a difference."
Ryan went still.
Maxwell pointed at the screen.
"I hate this more than you do. But if we charge out now, Atlas City ends today. Not tomorrow. Not next week. Today."
Ryan's voice shook. "Then when? When do we stop enduring?"
Maxwell didn't look away.
"When Ethan is ready."
"And if he isn't?"
