'The world was not ready for the chaos ahead of them, and chaos was not prepared for him to control it. '
Every time Sam walks down the streets, her gaze drops on those few words on the wall, which is fully covered in graffiti. Every spot is full of thousands of colors that flow into each other and create a little story. The only not fully covered area is the one that carries those few words.
Whenever Sam passes by, she asks herself whether there might be a history behind those words, too, or whether they meant to make the wall look pretty. She questions why nobody has sprayed some color on them yet.
She looks down the road, seeing the car that has been honking for her attention. Walking towards it, she slips on a piece of paper, falling to the floor and feeling completely embarrassed.
"Great job, idiot." She whispers to herself and collects her things. The driver storms out of the car and runs towards the petite and furious girl, helping her back up. He looks down at the paper she slipped on, seeing that it's a piece of paper from the year 2020.
"Thanks, uncle." She says and takes her bag from her uncle that he picked up for her. She notices his gaze and looks down at what has caught his attention, seeing the piece of paper that caused her to slip.
She picks it up, seeing the date on it and the picture and the name of the green-haired man that the police have wanted. She takes a deep breath and rips the paper apart, throwing it away.
"Uncle, let's go." She says softly, which seems to bring her uncle back from zoning out into his thoughts.
"I'm sorry. I hope you didn't hurt yourself?" He asks while they both make their way to his pitch-black Mercedes, which he has parked nicely at the side of the road.
"Don't worry about me. I just slipped like an idiot." Sam replies and sits down in the car, her bag on her lap. She rolls down the window as soon as her uncle starts the vehicle, allowing her to take in the calm wind during the drive. She breathes in and out deeply, the scent of alcohol, weed, and fire filling the air.
Whenever she sits in the car, she asks herself whether there's been a time when criminality hasn't hunted down New York.
*HOOOOOOONK*
As soon as the car does a sudden stop, Sam grips tightly onto her uncle's arm with one hand and the window frame with her other. She takes deep breaths while the driver in front of them gets out of the car, mouthing swearing words, which they barely hear due to the honking of the other vehicles behind them.
"This world has always been horrible, but now every second person tries to get some cash by getting hit from behind. When you get to driver's license, always make sure to keep distance from the car in front of you, Sky." He says while driving past the angry man, showing him his middle finger.
Sam calms down and clears her throat, nodding at her uncle.
"Yes, I know. Dad had to pay so much money once because of one of those people. Is he going to pick me up early?"
Sam looks at her uncle and realizes she is still holding onto his arm, clearing her throat.
"I'm sorry- I hate car rides."
"All good. And no, unfortunately not. He has to work a little bit longer and has to get things for your mother's parents."
Hearing her uncle say that he 'unfortunately' won't come home soon gives her a feeling of being unwanted. She shifts awkwardly in her position and looks out of the window, her uncle noticing the discomfort due to her body language.
"Oh- I didn't mean it that way! I meant it more like, you know... Unfortunately, he has to work a lot. I didn't mean it like I wouldn't want you at my place."
"Not like I've ever been at your place before. Not like you've ever invited me there..." Her last words come out as whispers which her uncle still seems to understand.
He inhales deeply and walks down the road, seeing all the green-haired activists who stand in front of the police department holding up signs and cutting each other off with their unclear demands and crazy screams.
As they drive by them, Sam inspects every single one of them closely and reads out a few of the signs.
'No Law, No Justice.'
'It took a criminal to open your eyes.'
'The green storm will bring justice to those you failed.'
"When did people become so delusional." Sam spits out while looking at them.
"Those people are the reason my art class got canceled today. They stormed the damn building and started spraying stuff all over the walls. That the police don't seem to get those people under control is sickening. And all this because of that damn green-haired guy. I just don't get it…."
"I know what you mean. We're here." He says. Sky wastes no time to get out of the car. She fixes her clothes and hair, which got wet from the snow that's been permanently falling for days.
Finally, her uncle gets out as well and guides her to the front door of his apartment. They both enter the building, closing the door behind them so neither the calm wind nor a person can enter.
Sam inspects the interior of the apartment closely, reading almost every name that is next to the doorbells. The halls are long, bright, and clean, which reminds her of a hospital if there wasn't that beautiful dark brown carpet on the floor.
She keeps reading the names of the people whose apartments they pass.
Lorens
Withworths
Smiths
James
Fox
And finally, her uncle's door.
Knight
Mr. Knight puts the key into the hole, slightly struggling to open the door from how stiff and cold his fingers are. After a few seconds, he finally manages to open it, and they both make their way inside the apartment.