The Chain and the band from the club burst from the remains of a broken metal door into a narrow back alley next to a pair of stinking green dumpsters. Wars gasped hoping for a breath of clean night air but immediately recoiled. He wrinkled his nose in disgust and pulled his now filthy scarf over his face to block the stench.
"ACK! What is That…" He gagged staggering against the wall farthest from the trash.
Legend gave a breathy mirthless chuckle and clapped the taller man on the back. "Aw.. Pretty upper-city boy never been in the slums before, I take it?"
Wars gave him a dirty look that was somewhat blocked by the scarf that he still refused to drop.
"Quiet! Both of you." Time wheezed, as he coughed hard, pounding his chest with a gloved fist, trying to clear the concrete dust from his lungs.
Everyone else seemed to be in a similar state. Suddenly, a blaring siren echoed in the night around them from somewhere far away. The chain looked to each other with confusion and rested their hands on their weapons. Winona looked relieved.
"Oh thank Geebus.." She murmured and slid to the ground from her spot against the wall, with a small smile. "Everything is going to be ok.."
The drummer looked less enthused. She carried the smallest member of their band, bridal style in her arms. Dani, the songstress, was shivering and seemed to be in shock. She was among the worst affected by the glass shrapnel from the floor and one of her legs seemed to dangle unnaturally with one more bend in it than it ought to have.
"You." She turned to Time. "You're their leader." It wasn't phrased as a question. "Get them to safety.. They cannot stay here."
Time nodded.
"Winona…" The drummer continued, turning to her companion. "You need to get home. Now. As fast as you can. Take these men with you. I will take Dani to get patched up and will meet you at the house shortly."
"Valda, I-" Winona began to protest and was met with a Look that stopped her cold.
"Go. I have to take care of some things.. I will be home shortly. Call Rav as soon as you get home, please." Valda turned to walk out of the alley towards the approaching sounds of the sirens.
"But.." Winona tried to protest but the taller woman was already gone. She sighed and raked a hand through her hair, shaking dust, and bits of glass out of it. "I….guess we should probably leave before the police get here then." She sighed, pulling a small ring of keys from her pocket and tapping a bauble hanging from it. A small cheery chirp sounded from somewhere nearby. "Come on. The van is this way."
"….'Van'?" Asked Wind.