Chapter 19: Shadows Among Us
At the public track oval, families huddled beneath small, temporary tents provided by the rescue team. Some paced, frantically questioning rescuers. Others cried quietly, prayed, or clung to loved ones in silent fear and relief. A few wept as they reunited with families or friends.
Those with minor injuries were being treated, while those fatally wounded were taken elsewhere.
Mikel stayed outside his small tent, seated on the floor, silently observing everything.
From what he had learned so far, everyone — medics, police officers, firefighters, and the victims — believed a natural disaster had caused everything. Mikel wasn't sure if that was a good thing.
Would the truth benefit anyone?
Or was this lie kinder?
"Oh, God..." someone near his tent sobbed, hugging her children. Her trembling arms around them tried to stay strong after such a calamity.
Her husband wrapped his arms around her from behind, murmuring something Mikel couldn't hear. The top half of his skull was missing — a gory wound that the woman or anyone wouldn't see or notice, except Mikel. Whatever story he had, Mikel didn't care to know.
The public oval track they were placed in was already crowded with everyone from the affected area evacuating there. But in Mikel's eyes, it was twice as crowded because there were others — those others who couldn't be seen — adding to the number.
Hanging his head low, he rested his arms on his knees and stared at the screen that panned down with his subtle movement.
[Rewards and Next Objective calculating...]