It did not take them too much time to reach the market. Alexander bought two hotdogs and a baguette sandwich for each of them. They ate outside, enjoying the sunny weather. Both students munched happily on their food.
As soon as they finished eating, Felicia declared that she was done. So Alexander paid the bill anyway and then led the way again.
Their goal was a narrow concrete bridge that spanned a river separating the eastern and western districts of the city. After crossing it, they could reach the central district in mere minutes.
However, this particular bridge was in terrible shape. It hadn't seen proper maintenance or repairs since decades ago when it was constructed. It was barely wide enough for one car to cross it at a time, and the railings were badly corroded by rust.
Still, Alexander couldn't help admiring the beauty of this structure. The rusty iron railing contrasted beautifully against the bright white color of the stone blocks supporting it. When one looked further ahead, one could catch sight of a majestic church rising on the opposite bank.
Its tall tower rose high above the skyline, casting shadows over the entire area below. It reminded Alexander of a cathedral, although he had never visited one himself.
Once they approached the bridge, however, Alexander realized that the situation was worse than expected. Decades of neglect finally took their toll on the bridge and it collapsed. Large chunks of it had fallen away, creating deep cracks and holes everywhere.
These openings allowed water to flow freely through, adding to the overall deterioration. One wrong step and Alexander might very well plummet into the murky depths of the river. Or even worse – slip and break his neck.
That's why Alexander halted abruptly, causing Felicia to bump into him.
"Ow! Why'd you stop so sudden!" Felicia complained, rubbing her forehead.
"We should turn back."
His friend just stared at him, dumbfounded. "What are you talking abo-"
A loud crash interrupted Felicia's sentence. A piece of the crumbling bridge fell right beside them, narrowly missing their heads.
"I guess we need to find a new route."
Felicia sighed heavily. "Great."
"Come on," Alexander said encouragingly. "There must be a way across."
Just as he spoke, a group of people appeared out of nowhere. Three men in hoodies were walking toward them, looking menacing and suspicious. They held metal pipes in their hands.
"Whoa! Who are those guys?" Felicia whispered nervously.
Before Alexander could answer, one of the thugs raised his pipe and pointed it straight at them. "Get moving!" he yelled threateningly, gesturing wildly with the weapon in his hand.
Without hesitation, Alexander stepped forward, putting his own body between the thug and his companion. The man swung his pipe twice in rapid succession, hitting Alexander squarely in his chest. Alexander stumbled backward, grunting in pain.
"Don't hurt us!" Felicia screamed shrilly.
One of the other gang members rushed towards the girl, grabbing her arm tightly and dragging her away. The second thug charged toward Alexander while keeping his gaze fixed on him. He thrust his pipe upward, aiming for Alexander's abdomen.
But before he managed to strike, Alexander kicked hard with his foot and knocked the assailant backward. That was all it took for the third member to lunge at Alexander, swinging his pipe like a club.
Alexander blocked the blow with his forearm and retaliated with a punch to the attacker's nose. Blood sprayed from the guy's mouth as he staggered backward.
At that moment, the leader of the trio walked up to Alexander, brandishing his pipe. Before Alexander could react, the thug struck him in the gut. Pain shot through Alexander's stomach, forcing air from his lungs. He doubled over, coughing violently.
Now the leader had a clear line of attack. He aimed for Alexander's throat with his pipe, but Alexander parried it with his free hand. He threw a quick kick at the thug's knee, breaking it instantly.
"Aaaaah! I'll fucking kill you!" The thug cried in agony, dropping down on one leg.
Now the remaining two attackers backed off slowly, unsure what to do. The injured thug remained where he was, clutching his broken kneecap with bloodied fingers. Alexander breathed deeply, quickly regaining his composure.
"So, I don't know who you guys are and why did you attack us, but leave now!" He bellowed angrily, clenching his fists.
He watched in satisfaction as the two gangsters retreated hastily from the scene dragging their leader that was still mouthing off profanities under their arms. Once they left, Alexander turned around and faced Felicia. She was standing in front of him, shaking slightly.
"Wow... You saved my life." Felicia gasped softly. "Thanks."
Alexander shook his head. "Not at all. I led you here in the first place. Though if I knew that there are gangs in this neighborhood..."
Felicia chuckled weakly. "Well, that wasn't your fault."
"Anyway, let's get going. If we hurry, we can still reach school on time."
Felicia nodded silently, picking herself up. Together, the two of them crossed the collapsed bridge without incident. Alexander slowed down a bit to ensure that Felicia wouldn't stumble upon any unexpected obstacles but otherwise continued his normal speed.
Soon enough, they arrived at the other end of the ruined bridge. In the distance, Alexander caught sight of a familiar landmark - the massive cathedral towering over everything else.
To its north stood the main road leading to their school, which was surrounded by several smaller buildings housing shops and eateries. It was a drastic change compared to the neighborhood they just left as if they existed in two completely different worlds.
After passing by the cathedral and entering the main road, they hurried toward the school gate. Over the said gate, a big plaque was hanging. "Eagle Mountain Academy," it said. As always, the guards greeted them warmly. Alexander showed his student identification card and they passed smoothly inside the compound.
Inside the grounds of the school, the hustle and bustle of daily life resumed almost immediately. Students ran up and down the stairs, chatting animatedly among themselves. Others sat in groups and discussed matters unrelated to academics.
Just as Alexander approached the main building, he heard someone call out his name.