Israel couldn't believe his luck – or rather, his misfortune. After enduring the ire of a irate client, a man with a volatile temper and a condescending attitude, he had landed himself in the emergency room. The injuries he had sustained had been minor and Israel would live to see another day. But fate seemed to have a twisted sense of humor as he ended up being in the wrong place at the wrong time.
A deafening explosion shook the building, sending shockwaves through the air. Israel hesitated for a moment, his fear locking him in place. The deafening blast reverberated through his head, the sound of glass shards on pavement and walls crumbling caused him to shudder. Israel found himself shielded from the debris, but the shock of the explosion had hit him like a tidal wave. He stood there, frozen and trembling, unable to comprehend what had just happened. The guard accompanying him, with quick reflexes, grabbed Israel's arm, pulling him close as he ran from the crumbling structure. The world around him blurred into a chaotic mess as debris rained down, and the ground beneath him trembled as he stumbled alongside the guard.
His ears rang, muffling the sounds of panic and sirens around them. His heart raced in his chest, beating at an alarming pace. It was as if time had stopped, and he was trapped in a suspended reality, unable to fully process the gravity of the situation. As the shock settled in, his body temperature seemed to fluctuate erratically. One moment, he felt flushed and sweaty, the next, a chilling coldness enveloped him. His hands trembled uncontrollably, and he clutched at his chest as if trying to hold himself together. People rushed past him, some in agony, others frantically assisting the wounded. But Israel felt disconnected, as if he were a mere observer, unable to fully engage with his surroundings.
The harsh realization that he was now alone settled upon him, abandoned in a dangerous and uncertain situation. The absence of the guard left him feeling vulnerable and exposed, with no one to protect him from the chaos unfolding around him. His body may have been unscathed, but the emotional scars from the incident were still fresh, and the chaos around him made it hard to focus. His heart pounded in his chest, and his breaths became shallow as he struggled to keep his composure. Words from others reached his ears, but they sounded distant and muffled. Israel's breathing remained erratic, alternating between short, shallow breaths and moments of holding his breath. His mind was a whirlwind of confusion and fear, unable to find a safe place to anchor itself.
I didn't do this… It wasn't me… I'm innocent. But the words provided little comfort in the face of the terrifying reality he found himself in. I didn't do this… I had nothing to do with it. Israel muttered to himself, trying to convince both his racing mind and anyone nearby that he had nothing to do with the explosion. 'This is a nightmare… just wake up, wake up!' The voice in his head quivered with a mix of fear and frustration. The world seemed to slow down, and he struggled to process the overwhelming sensory overload as he stood before the hospital. Or what was left of it.
He had seen the worst side of this city, and without someone to guide him or watch his back, the fear of what might happen next loomed over him like a dark cloud.
