The power of hunger coursing through the men and women on the street was overwhelming. It may have only been a matter of days since the crash but everyone was well aware of what they had already lost. The rich and powerful among them had lost their authority and the poorer were in an even worst position than before. Humanity didn’t have much left to fight for and so it made the little that remained even more precious.
Groans and creaks rang out from the cracking shutters, the hinges giving way from the force of people slamming into it. The structure wasn’t designed to withstand such pressure. Samuel continued to struggle against the crowd as a loud snapping sound occurred, followed by a cheer and another rush forward from the people around him.
Stumbling, he found himself being thrown to the floor and yelped out in pain as a heavy foot trod on his fingers. Instant pain shot through his hand and up his arm, convincing Samuel that his fingers were broken. He tried to push himself back to his feet, but the pain was too much. He couldn’t use his hand for support, and he slipped, knocking into someone’s legs.
“Come on Sam,” strong hands hooked under his arms and yanked Samuel to his feet, Austin helping him to regain his balance. “We’ve got to move.”
With one arm remaining around his friend, Austin fought through the crowd and tried to make it out to the empty street beyond. But the shutters were up now and the angry mob finally had a real outlet for their rage as six men stood on the other side and tried to defend the soup kitchen. Austin glanced over and saw the shimmer of metal in the sunlight. Things were about to get violent and he had no intention of sticking around to be caught up in it.
With Samuel finally walking on his own, the two of them struggled on together, barging and shoving wherever necessary. Samuel was reminded of the first time he had tried to get back into the Trident building after the accounts were wiped clean. He had tried to remain the gentleman he knew he was, but by the end of it he was pushing back against everyone who stood in his way just like the rest of them. He was the same now, aware that even more was at stake.
Screams and shouts from the crowd came from every angle, the sound of punches being thrown and men and women getting knocked to the ground filling the street. Had the scene looked like this ten minutes earlier, Samuel and Austin would’ve added ample time onto their journey in order to avoid it. If only they had been so lucky.
This foodbank was currently one of the most sought after resources in the city. It had received a delivery of food no more than an hour before the crash occurred, meaning it was stocked to the brim and designed to provide meals to hungry New Yorkers for several days. No one could have predicted how the demand would sky-rocket so quickly, leaving the thousands living on the breadline with no other option but to literally fight for their next meal.
A heavy man slammed into Austin’s shoulder, throwing the pair of them to the ground. Both Austin and the man exclaimed in shock as it happened. Austin was pinned underneath the other man. Samuel turned to try and help Austin to his feet, doing his best with his injured hand.
“Oh man! Are you okay?” Terror pinched in Samuel’s voice as he noticed a bloodstain on Austin’s side, the red mark dampening his shirt and standing out like a target. Austin’s eyes grew wide when he saw it. He ripped his shirt up and searched his side for any sign of injury, any explanation for the blood. But there was nothing there.
“What the…” Only then did both men look to the man on the floor who had collided with Austin. The stranger was clutching his abdomen and trying to stop the blood flow, his hands and clothing quickly becoming sodden with the gushing red liquid.
“Jesus. We’ve got to do something. Hold on pal, you’re gonna be okay.”
Samuel followed Austin’s lead as he knelt down over the man, the three of them still being knocked and jostled by the fight that carried on within the crowd.
“We’ve got to move him,” Samuel spoke loudly to Austin over the noise. “We’re just going to get trampled here.”
“Okay,” Austin nodded, not taking his eyes off of the man who looked pale and frightened, struggling to maintain consciousness but clearly aware that he was being offered help. “Come on pal,” Austin encouraged him, “let’s get out of here. Then we can assess what’s happened. Okay? Can you stand? Put your weight on me. There you go. Easy does it.”
Austin helped the man to his feet again just like he had with Samuel, who moved around the other side and tried to help with his good hand. Between the two of them they managed to stumble out of the crowd, both Samuel and Austin protecting the stranger, warding off the crowd where possible. The blood that dripped onto the tarmac made for an easy guide though, people eventually noticing it and standing to the side, letting the three of them pass. It was a long minute, but eventually they were able to place the man down on the sidewalk again, his eyes flickering from Austin to Samuel as he sagged to the ground.
“There you go,” Austin continued to talk, his voice soothing over all the madness behind them. “What’s your name? Do you mind if I take a look at that?”
“D-d-Daveed,” the man shivered, his hands clutched over the wound.
“Alright Daveed,” Austin smiled, “I’m going to need you to move your hands just for a second,
