Chapter 6 suburbs
The dust cloud rose a couple hundred meters into the sky as it covered a large part of the neighboring skyscrapers. 'What the shit is going on, should I go to the center or get out of the city? But what about my friends and colleagues….' Rohan was stressed as he picked up the pace to reach the city. He was coming closer and closer and started to notice it as well. More trash was next to the road and parked cars were becoming more frequent, or maybe they were ditched cars as they looked untouched for quite a while.
Eventually Rohan passed the final part of the forest as he walked past the open barrier that separated the suburbs from the national park. Looking around he tried to see any sign of life but every house seemed desolate and empty. The houses in this part were very large, often times it was a small castle and large villas with driveways and gardens that could hold a full on parade. And then every single garden was fenced off with massive gates and barbed wires to keep unwanted intruders out. But now every gate was broken or was pulled out of its hinges, just laying on the driveway as if it was ripped out of the frame.
'I'll make my way southeast to the highly controlled zone, there was military protection installed for that block due to the 'high importance' it had, but in reality it was just that these families had paid off the army.' This block consisted of 4 families, all holding 80 percent of shares in the city Duran itself. They were the most influential by far in making any decisions. 'If you're asking for names of these families? Rohan couldn't remember any of them, just of pure ignorance.'
Passing villa after villa, Rohan reached his goal, the protected block. Large concrete blocks would block of any unwanted entry and sentries were stationed every 300 meters for 6 kilometers in total length. The villas, no more like castles were all of the same style and at least 4 stories high they had pristine white pillars on the front of the castle that would be next to every window. The roofs were made from spotless red tiles and every house would have a small tower in the middle of the castle.
Rohan could pass the concrete blocks without any issue, the military was not there, nor in any place of the sentries. As Rohan walked to the center of the block, taking in the extravagant gardens that had fountains with marble sculptures, bonsai trees that looked like 400 years old, and even golden decorated plant parts, he saw the most extreme statue of them all. A full golden 4 person statue of the founders of the families in the middle of the roundabout that was the center of the block.
"bahahaha" Rohan couldn't contain his laughter as he looked at the absurdity of their wealth. But he had more important things to do than the golden statue.
All the entry gates of the castle gardens laid at least 50 meters inwards and it seemed that the castle doors weren't spared either, whatever had broken it was rather strong, or had a very strong explosion.
Not knowing which of the four castle to pick to enter he started to cross them out. 'Not the northeastern one because the gates are not outside the castle in the garden but might be inside the castle. The northwestern one is still burning from what I can see so that one is another no go… the southwestern one looks perfect, which is weird for that to happen. That leaves the southeastern one remaining, the only thing I can see is some smashed windows and a lot of gold ornaments are missing. But knowing the greed of these families they have probably taken all of it inside. Hell there are even theories that the statue in the center of the block isn't gold but only gold covered so they could save money.'
Coming to his conclusion, Rohan entered through the gate and walked to the southeastern castle. 'I'll need to at least keep some cover if something would be inside of the castle… oh shit I probably should have been doing that since I left the forest shit shit shit… but if I had been spotted, I would have been dead already anyways.'
"Let's be a bit safer and hide myself some more instead of walking in the open… shit man I'm stupid." Using the trees on the driveway Rohan changed the way he approached the castle and made sure to keep himself more hidden. Although Rohan wasn't good at sneaking, he made a good try as he managed to reach the castle safe and sound.
Standing at the corner of the castle he looked around to see if anything or anyone had seen him.
"Seems to be all quiet, let's move inside and check it out." These four castles had massive nuclear bunkers below them to keep the family and their belongings safe under any circumstance for a minimum of 3 years.
Dropping his backpack on the corner in a bush to hide it Rohan approached the stairs in front of the main gate. Walking up the stairs he could feel his heartbeat in his throat as this moment was all to similar to the cabin in the woods.
At the final step Rohan could look inside the castle and hid himself behind the pillar.
"All dead" he exclaimed as he almost puked. What he saw was lots of people, mainly army personnel and butlers, but all of them dead, in pieces or pieces of them missing. The smell was the worst, he hadn't smelled anything earlier because it couldn't reach that far. But now in the door opening he got the full smell of rotting flesh.
Taking another look inside the castle, this time keeping his nose closed, he spotted more than just the butlers and soldiers. There were small green people laying on the ground as well, most likely goblins or kobolds.
"They look scary as shit man"
Taking the shortsword hilt in his hand he took a better look into the room, there was absolutely zero movement at all nor was there any sound. Taking a very big gamble he entered the spacious entry hall, that was littered with many bodies, friends and foes alike. Standing in the room he looked around, there was a room to the left, right, in front of him as well as with marble stairs leading up another room on the second floor.
Taking a better look at the dead bodies Rohan noticed that none of the army personnel had their guns anymore, or the guns were in pieces. Moving past them he entered the next room.