They walked through the city, absorbing the atmosphere around them. Thalia had expected the area to be filled with depressed and desperate people, but she found that many of the citizens and residents in this district were quite boisterous and busy. While they didn't have the fanciest of things, there were numerous stands and vendor carts selling a variety of items along the thoroughfare.
One noticeable difference from the institute was the quality of the goods and items available here; it was starkly inferior. The food looked as though it was only a few days away from spoiling, and some pieces appeared to have bugs crawling on them. The clothes and materials from the carts were made of worn-out leather stitched together with cotton thread.
As they ventured deeper into the heart of the district, Thalia recognized that even in a place with limited resources, a social hierarchy existed. Some individuals were fortunate enough to own their own carts and shops, while others wandered around doing odd jobs or wasted away, drinking and passed out on the streets.
The city's population was incredibly diverse. Thalia noticed people of all races, skin colors, and characteristics. In New Roark, the main factors differentiating individuals were money and resources. The chancellor had abolished forced servitude pacts, meaning that the only remaining slaves were those participating willingly. In a city like this, the prevailing concern among residents was whether or not one could pay for goods or services.
As they walked, Thalia spotted a little girl, perhaps ten years old, sitting outside a tent holding a piece of cardboard with writing on it. The sign read: "Will sing for food rations or money."
Meanwhile, Theo and Tyler were engaged in conversation and joking among themselves, while Valerie spoke with the Captain and Vice-Captain. They had paused at a small cart selling roasted meat, trying to determine the meeting spot for their contact within the city.
Thalia walked over to the girl and placed a few coins and bills from her monthly allowance into her basket. The girl looked filthy, her long dress—once white—now faded to a light yellow. She smiled, revealing two front teeth missing from decay.
"What song would you like to hear, lady?" she asked.
Thalia tried not to let her emotions overwhelm her. "Um, could you sing me your favorite song, please?" The girl nodded and began to sing in a sweet, soft tone. Her voice carried all the way to where Tyler and Theo were standing, curious about what Thalia was doing, they decided to walk up behind her.
The girl had a surprisingly beautiful voice. She sang a common song in New Roark called "My Dear Mother." It was a poignant ballad about an orphan boy who wrote a letter expressing the deep love and affection he felt for his mother. Throughout every step of his journey, he vowed to never forget her love. As the song concluded, Thalia felt tears streaming down her face. Theo placed a comforting hand on her back.
"Come on, sis, we need to head to the subway," he said gently.
Thalia quickly rubbed her eyes. "I'm coming. Sorry about that."
They walked back to rejoin the rest of the team. "Alright, from here on out, everything I said on the rail is now in effect. Keep your guard up and your eyes peeled," Dante commanded.
"Roger," they all replied in unison.
It had been at least 25 minutes since they last encountered any sign of life after passing the little girl in her small camp. They finally stopped in front of a street sign pointing toward a tunnel in the sidewalk. Thalia could barely decipher the dusty, beaten-up sign.
It read: [Subway] crossed out in red paint. Underneath, in red spray paint, it read: [Hell's Mouth].
Thalia was feeling a bit nervous. She had read about the subway while at the institute. It was described as a tunnel that allowed people from all over the city to travel conveniently, and it also inspired the modern-day monorail system.
They followed the direction indicated by a sign until they came across two massive shutter doors. The doors were covered in black spray paint, with red letters reading, "Welcome To Hell." Dante laughed, startling Thalia, who was still apprehensive about entering the tunnel.
Dante pulled up at the doors, but nothing happened at first until they finally started to creak open, revealing a poorly lit tunnel. At the base of the tunnel lay a small ladder. Dante didn't bother using the ladder. He just hopped down, followed by the vice-captain and Valerie.
Thalia glanced at Theo and Tyler to confirm that they were all thinking the same thing. They jumped down together, while Thalia elegantly floated down, careful not to break the heel of her boots. After walking for some time down the dimly lit passageway, they came across another giant door.
Two men stood in front of the door. The first man was seated at a small table, engrossed in a book. He was small in stature, looking almost feeble at about five feet tall. He had short black hair styled into twisted spikes and wore a sleazy-looking black suit that hugged his pale skin. In stark contrast, the man standing next to him was at least six feet five inches tall, with massive muscles that suggested he never missed a day at the gym. Thalia might have been impressed if he didn't look so silly wearing just a pair of black tunic pants and a white drape across his chest.
As they approached the door, the man at the table looked up from his book.
"Look alive, Riyaal. It seems we have visitors," the feeble-looking man said as he stood up, pushing his chair back.
"Hello, wary travelers. My name is Kindred, and this is my business associate, Riyaal. We are the gatekeepers of this underworld."
Dante spoke first, "Move aside. We have no business with you." He commanded firmly.
The little man frowned. "What do you mean you have no business with me? Anyone who wishes to enter the black marketplace must first pay the price."
"Wait, I'm confused. Since when has there been a fee? I have been in the marketplace countless times before, and there was never a cost to enter. The only requirement was that you must be strong enough to open the shutter doors," Valerie interjected, sounding both annoyed and intrigued.
"We're under new management now, sweetheart, but I'm sure I could work something out just for you," Kindred winked and smiled at Valerie. A gold aura and a sense of killing intent emerged from Vice Captain Alexander.
Valerie snorted in response. "Don't write a check you can't afford to cash," she said, lightly tapping Alexander on the arm.