Chapter 43: Revisiting St. Ignatius
"What in the fresh Hell happened to this place?" asked Harry, looking at the drab concrete buildings that now stood in place of the old Gothic-style buildings that had once housed St. Ignatius Academy.
The surrounding district was a far cry from the bustling suburb that it had once been.
The storefronts were smashed and ruined, the houses were boarded up, and the streets were lined with stinking trash and debris.
Graffiti covered the walls, and a few homeless people were scavenging through the overflowing dumpsters.
Natasha and Olga, who had come along for the ride, immediately went on the alert, and drew their sidearms, ready for anything.
"It’s been getting worse ever since the gangs took over," sighed Father Abel, as they walked through the main school building.
"The outside looks like a ghost town," said Natasha, her voice grim.
"That’s because it is. The gangs have driven out most of the residents and businesses. The school is still functioning, but we’re barely hanging on," said Catherine.
"Definitely not the school I remember," said Aaron, inspecting a broken security camera.
A gunshot rang out, and the plaster splintered as a bullet struck the wall nearby.
"Everyone down!" shouted Natasha, as she and Olga returned fire, their shots ringing out in the empty hallways.