The residential district, as the center of the city, had become the most chaotic section from what Norman could tell. Infected attempted to intercept those on their way to deposit their share of fragments, and it seemed like some of those still in their right minds even tried to take fragments from others. He’d seen a few minor disputes passing through the area, on his way toward one of the bridges to the entertainment district. Stupid, petty fighting, considering the fact that this was a threat to this reality they’d been thrown into...but he could do nothing to stop them, so he passed them by.
(He supposed he couldn’t criticize too much. He was trying to help Ray win, too, after all.)
The streets seemed quieter here, as he neared the bridge, almost eerily so. It felt oppressive, suffocating; he had the vague, creeping sensation that the buildings around him were watching him. Unnerving. It reminded him of playing “tag” with Krone, and being uncertain, just for a moment, of where she'd gone. Or...something else. Almost the same uncanny calm that had pervaded from the gates on that night, before everything had...
But! A feeling was just a feeling, he reminded himself; he shook it off, examining the surrounding area for any fragments that may have gone overlooked. Definitely not looking out for whatever bogeymen his imagination had dreamed up from the uncanny situation. That would be ridiculous.
By the end of the street, still encompassed in eerie silence, the smell had grown too pungent not to notice anymore.
