Chaos. The situation of the district at present can only be described as such. The screaming of children, the shouts of anger and regret, the wails of despair. A revolting cocktail of emotions erodes away at the stability of Eli’s mind, filling him with hesitation as he proceeds deeper and deeper into the chaos. Men and women run down the street, abandoning their livelihoods as they rush to escape the approaching death. Those who trip are trampled to death, leaving nothing but a crushed mess of limbs as the previously empty streets fill with citizens.

Over the course of these last couple of weeks, Eli has familiarized himself with the way things are run in the city. As a relatively sheltered individual, the things he’s learned have horrified him to his core. The fact that the ruling class, the royal family and the aristocrats, fail to even realize the value of a human life has broken down any of the security he might have had in the government. Now, he can only see those in power as complete madmen. Their present actions prove such a title is accurate.

Though he can’t see them, he knows that in the far distance, heavily armed Enforcers are marching through the down the streets, gunning down anyone they see. They move in squads, covering different parts of the designated district separately. Their cold ruthlessness leaves him shivering, but the thing that terrifies him most of all is their halfhearted nature about such extermination. Why are they going through the trouble of wiping out an entire district, only to let so many people go unopposed? As he’s swept away in the crowd, his eyes watch the flooding tide around him. Like a great migration, the residents of the district carry what little belongings they have as they escape down the narrow streets. Their faces are clouded in fear as the majority of them struggle to maintain rational thought. In the entire group of people, Eli can vaguely conclude that he’s most likely the only one finding the situation strange.

It just doesn't make any sense. Why would they even order an attack on this district in the first place? From what he’s gathered, the Enforcers are still searching for Griff and his crew, something he knows based on his prior interactions with his followers. If they’re still searching for a specific target, why cause such a racket? Besides, how do they know Griff is even in here? Griff's gang originates in Eli's home district. Did Griff move locations, following him here? Or is it that a large number of his followers are located here, and that this would be the best way to remove them? The King should have the ability to completely cordon off this district, making it so that nobody can escape, allowing the extermination to happen flawlessly. Yet why doesn't he? The only possible reason Eli can give to explain such events, is that the people in charge are either idiots or madmen. There's no point trying to think further. I don't have the time... He forces his thoughts to focus on the silver lining. Since, for some reason, the Enforcers only want to appear as if they desire to kill everyone, there’s a way to escape. Now all I need to do is find Audrey!

Audrey’s previous actions still confuse Eli, but since she’s his friend, he needs to place his trust in her. In that case, he needs to at least find her and obtain some kind of explanation. After all, nobody freaks out like that for no reason. There will always be an explanation. Besides… I’ve already caused too much trouble to just abandon her… Once again, he shakes his head, deflecting the daggers of self-ridicule and scorn, suppressing the bubbling memories that threaten to surface. Faintly, in the back of his mind, he hears himself wondering why he even goes to such lengths. Sigh…

Breaking away from the surging tide, nearly tripping as his twisted ankle drags him down, Eli escapes down a narrow alley. He tries his best to recall the map layout of the district that he’s explored over this short period of time. I can partially guess where Audrey will be heading. Based on her previous actions and words, she may have somehow found out about the Enforcer’s attack. I have no idea how such a thing is possible, but the important thing is that she will most likely be seeking safety. I know which direction she initially went, as there are only two possible choices after leaving the front door. I already can formulate some vague outline of her trajectory because of this. With Audrey’s help he has already figured out the vague location of where their base is, relative to the inner city, so with his previous knowledge, he can guess that she’s moving west, which leads to the outer ring of the city and is a relatively shorter distance than any of the other directions.

Suddenly, Eli notices that the humming he’s been hearing has grown louder. His face twitches as he wonders with a heart of terror as to why planes would be approaching. Just as he starts to draw up possible reasons, he flinches with a sharp breath. He raises a hand to his cheek. Looking down, he sees traces of blood on his fingers, as well as slight burn marks on his fingertips. A pit of horror forms in his stomach as he covers his eyes with his hands and glances up. Horror soon surges to panic as he watches the overhead clouds churn violently, leaking increasing amounts of corrosive liquid with every passing second. Rain... Looking down, he takes note of his current attire, coming to the conclusion that only his hands and head are at risk of immediate danger. Of course, in no time the clothes on his back will dissolve, leaving his bare flesh ripe for the beating. He can only hope that by the time the situation reaches such a point, he’ll have already found Audrey. The two of them will hopefully be able to hide in some building until the situation calms down and he can think of a better plan.

With his impaired mobility, he struggles down the alley, making his way in a hurried manner with a pained expression. His every movement causes tears to well in his eyes. Exhaustion isn’t the only ailment that slows his body. His foot is still heavily injured, not to mention his unstable mental state. The streets and alleys thin of people gradually, like an ebbing tide. Eventually, he fails to run into any more escapees, leading him to believe that those that wish to evacuate have done so already.

Eli makes another turn and steps onto a main street. Carnage fills as far as the eye can see. Mangled corpses, dissolving in the increasingly violent rain, have torrents of blood washing away into the bubbling gutters at the sides of the road, practically overflowing them. The faces still intact are twisted into expressions of agony and fear, absolute terror in every sense of the word. Bloodied mothers cover their mutilated children, their sacrifice in vain as the high caliber bullets most definitely drilled through their unprotected flesh. Forcibly, Eli snaps his head away from the familiar scene. He suddenly realizes how loud his surroundings are. Panic and a sharp sense of unease ignite his limbs into action. Without a moment to spare, he rushes into a nearby empty building, stepping through the broken glass and onto the hard concrete inside.

He holds his arms away from him, trying his best to disconnect himself from the excruciating pain that racks his body. He chews on his lip as his skin bubbles from the burns that cover his bare hands. Not a moment later, a massive plane passes overhead, blotting out the sky. The surrounding space is suddenly completely void of the acidic downpour. Eli's eyes slowly widen as he watches his surroundings become coated in a sickly green slime. From the bottom of the plane pours the strange substance. It layers the entire district in a coat of green. The tall buildings, the empty streets, the graffitied walls. Every visible surface has a thin membrane, a vibrant coating that faintly glimmers.

A chorus of pained wails fill the air, erupting in the far distance.

Eli tries to make sense of the situation, watching with empty eyes as the plane finishes emptying its contents, and vanishes from sight, deeper into the storm. The rain returns. Eli focuses on the green slime that's abruptly appeared before him. He notices how, despite being hit by the corrosive rain, the slime refuses to dissolve. It doesn’t even get washed away into the sewer, leaving it firmly affixed in place. What is it? Never before has he seen such a substance. The voices that rose after the initial drop remain stuck within his mind. From that alone he concludes it's best not to touch it with his bare hands. He has no foundation for this belief, but since it isn't outwardly harmful, he should at least take the bare minimum of precautions. Despite his unease, he doesn't have all the time in the world. I can’t stay here any longer! The more time I spend standing around, the worse the rain gets! It’s already at such a dangerous level! After admonishing himself for his hesitation, Eli presses onward.

He steps back onto the streets.

A cry of pain tears through his clenched teeth as his flesh bubbles from the pouring rain. Raising his arms above his head, he tries his best to protect his hunched figure. His clothing has already begun to dissolve. His forearms are now completely exposed. He moves between buildings, taking cover when he can. His breaths are heavy as he forces himself to run. His ankle twists, yet he continues to press on through the pain. He suppresses his screams of pain. He uses every ounce of willpower he has to press onwards, despite the feeling of his skin slowly corroding away. After what seems like ages, he finally reaches the edge of the district. The road that leads to the most direct route out of the district is directly in front of him, as well as the area Eli senses Audrey will most likely be in.

Eli's eyes flicker.

In the distance, leaning against the side of a building, is a bloody figure. It’s a girl. Her arm is covered in the green slime that only lightly coats this area, probably a result of being so close to the border of another district. Clumps of her hair is missing, leaving open, bloody sores in her scalp. Her face is a porous mess, covered in chemical burns that ooze and drip. Eli’s gaze drifts down, and a scream nearly chokes him as it lodges in his throat. The girl’s feet are a horrible mess. The skin is dissolved, leaving only red muscle and white bones. Her remaining nerves violently twitch, causing her muscles to squirm and thrash. They rest in puddle, nearly completely submerged.

It’s a disgusting scene.

Eli nears the girl, disbelief coating his face as he seems to forget about the overhead storm. The girl leaning against the wall, the girl who almost managed to escape into another district, who almost reached safety, is none other than his dear friend.

Audrey is slowly disappearing.

The rain eats her flesh ever so hungrily.