章節 24: Chapter 22: The Old Hungry
Spiderwebs and multiple layers of overhead walkways twisted and turned into the sky, shrouded in a layer of smog that made it feel like evening was approaching.
What could have been described is a mild, occasional chemical itch in Entresol, once accustomed to it, was now a harsh burning sensation again. Each member of the gang squinted through the haze, their noses overwhelmed by a blend of industrial fumes and alchemical traces.
Where the gang walked now was the central hub, lined on both sides with stalls offering various exotic, far off, or stolen goods. Every so often, a dark-corner revealed gangs or thugs conducting business, unfriendly eyes peering out. Notably, one alley, renowned for its weapon stalls, caught Orion's attention while above them, alchemical stalls lined the walkways, releasing numerous chem trails that contributed to the already oppressive smog.
The residents down here looked far rougher than Entresol. Every-other person was augmented, scarred, or amputated with deformities of various kinds.
The kids huddled close together, with Powder snug in the middle behind Vi. The boys attempted to keep up their confident demeanor, while Orion trailed at the rear, keeping a watchful eye on their surroundings.
"Maybe we should go back," Powder whispered to Vi, her wide eyes darting nervously between the eerie and dangerous presences surrounding them.
"It's alright, Powder." Vi said firmly. Orion glanced down at her clench fists, his own hidden inside his jacket, before his focus returned to scanning the crowd for potential threats. Several onlookers were already eyeing them, their ominous glances betraying unfriendly intent.
"Those chumps from Westside said we couldn't do it," Mylo chimed in with ignorant bravado, raising his hands in exaggerated triumph. "Look at us now!" His declaration earned a nervous noise from Claggor, who was clearly on edge. His tense figure betrayed his attempted show of bravery.
"Quiet," Vi hissed. Her head whipped around to glare at the others, her voice commanding as she added, "Stick close and keep it tight. We just gotta make it to the Old Hungry, grab something, and get back. Nobody can trash talk us if we pull this off."
Her sharp blue eyes flicked back to Orion, a brief pause betraying her own nerves. Orion gritted his teeth, frustration welling up at the situation, but spoke in a steady, reassuring tone, "We got this."
Vi smirked faintly, as if to say, "Yeah, I know" before her focus returned to the path ahead. Orion wanted to rip his hair out.
Powder nervously glanced back at Orion, short steps keeping her close behind Vi. She asked quietly, "Have you been down here before?"
"Yes." Orion replied flatly, earning surprised glances from the boys. From Vi, however, all he caught was a slight twitch of her head, unable to see the expression she bore.
Orion wanted to berate Vi- or maybe suplex her- but he reasoned to himself, "If the gang made it as far as they did in Arcane, nothing terrible should happen on this trip."
To the others, Orion appeared the most relaxed, his hands tucked in his pocket and his gaze wandering idly. What they couldn't see were his fists, tightly clenched beneath the fabric of his jacket.
Without realizing it, his demeanor ignited a competitive edge in Claggor and Mylo. The two exchanged glances, furrowed their brows, and nodded in unspoken agreement. They turned their focus back to the crowd with newfound determination, as if daring someone to pick a fight.
"Agh- I almost prefer them nervous instead of hard-staring everyone." Orion groaned internally, spotting a stranger whose eyes locked onto the group and snarled from Claggor's side.
After a rough half-hour, the crowded stalls faded into more open but foggy alleys lined with pipes. The scene felt like something straight out of a horror movie, unable to see farther than ten meters in any direction through the thick smog. Yet somehow, Vi led them with confidence, bringing the group unscathed to a larger clearing.
Orion's gaze shifted upward, tracing the towering structure as it disappeared into the fog.
"Why, oh why, does it never tell the time right?" Orion thought with a wry chuckle as the Old Hungry loomed before them.
From the tales he recalled in the boy's memories, it was an ancient haunted clocktower with monstrous creatures lurking inside, ready to devour overly curious kids. In reality, from the outside, covered in soot, grime, and oil slick, it merely looked old and neglected. Exposed mechanical gears and exits to overhead walkways dotted the exterior above. Still, it was mostly the smog, he thought, that gave the foreboding aura.
Visible from Piltover, the clocktower hadn't told the correct time in over a decade. Orion's gaze shifted back to the misfit crew that would soon add to the problem. He frowned, finding them staring blankly back at him.
"What?" he asked, realizing he'd chuckled out loud.
"Ah, just not as haunting as the tales make it out to be." Orion said quickly, brushing off their stares. The gang exchanged looks before briefly looking back at the clocktower.
Powder was the first to break the silence, muttering with an incredulous, "Huh?" Vi shook her head and sighed, muttering, "Whatever."
As they approached the rusted, metallic entryway, noticeably with no security, Vi spoke up.
"Remember, keep it tight. Keep an eye-out for anything with an insignia, even if its just a rusted gear. I doubt we will find anything valuable."
"Time for the fun to start," Orion muttered to himself.
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