"I know you guys are scared, whether you want to admit it or not. I understand that feeling, but I want you to embrace it and conquer your fear. If you can do that, you can turn it into the strongest weapon in your arsenal." Dante looked at each of them with a stern yet confident expression.
"And besides, if any of you cubs need to run or wet yourselves, I'm sure Valerie over there has some diapers and baby wipes. In the meantime, trust that your captain and vice-captain will protect you." Dante chuckled, his serious demeanor replaced by amusement.
"As if we would need help from a womanizing drunk and a lazy madman," Tyler snorted, pushing up his glasses and crossing his legs. Tyler's sudden outburst made Dante laugh even harder.
"Yes, I appreciate the confidence. I respect physical strength and mental resilience, and that's even more impressive." Dante turned to look out the window.
"It looks like we will soon put those bold and confident words to the test. Everyone, look alive; we are pulling into the station."
Thalia glanced out the window and couldn't believe her eyes. The rail took them over the colossal walls dividing the District cities, revealing the ground below. She immediately understood why they called District Nine the city of second chances. The entire area was run-down, and the buildings looked drastically different compared to the institutes. They were covered in moss and dirt, the ground was layered with rubble, and trash was piled up in scattered heaps.
There seemed to be minimal restoration efforts in the city. She could see people coming in and out of small, brown handcrafted tents. All the adults wore dirty, outdated clothing, while some of the children's clothes appeared to be handmade. A small group of kids were kicking a ball in a field littered with trash and broken glass, and steel pipes protruded from the ground where old buildings had once stood. Thalia could only imagine what life must be like living down there. It made her wonder why no one was helping to restore this city. Why would they allow these people to live like this?
"This is atrocious. How could we, as humans, turn a blind eye to these people's conditions? Our technology is advanced enough to at least set up proper dwellings and real homes for the residents," Thalia said, her voice choked as she resisted the urge to cry.
She felt a large hand resting on her head. "Don't look away, little dove. You are right. These people are suffering, and we are doing nothing to help them. This is the world we live in. We corral all of the criminals and undesirable individuals into one perpetual space to suffer, out of sight of the elite. All so that the other eleven districts can appear 'clean' and 'orderly.' It's a farce created by the Senators and the Round Table."
"It is not a farce. Each person down there has committed a crime against the public and the church. They are all sinners who have broken the Crimson Commandments. The Round Table and the Senators maintain order, while the Crimson Church upholds the laws. We, as citizens, obey those laws to keep balance in our society," Tyler interjected.
Dante clapped his hands slowly, mocking Tyler's explanation. "Wow, someone paid attention in their history and government classes at the institute. I would expect nothing less than a self-righteous answer from the Winfreed family's eldest son."
Tyler raised an eyebrow. Thalia knew that his expression conveyed apprehension and disapproval. Tyler often gave a lesson right after raising an eyebrow.
"Oh, is that so? Well, how, if you don't mind me asking, Captain, am I any different from you? Especially considering your father is the head of the Round Table and one of the most powerful oligarchs in the entire safety zone."
Theo looked up, perplexed. Thalia was shocked as well. They had never thought much about Dante's origins or family life, as he was already living with their Tia when they arrived at her doorstep. They just assumed he was an orphan their Tia had decided to adopt, since she always referred to him as her child.
He couldn't help but wonder: if Dante was the son of some wealthy and powerful benefactor, how did he end up living with them in Tia's condominium?
Theo smacked himself on the head. "I'm so stupid! It all makes sense now!" Thalia turned to him, still processing the information.
"What are you talking about, dummy?" she said in a serious tone.
"I overheard a conversation between our Tia and the Vice Director. He asked her how she was comfortable taking in a prince. Now, it all makes sense. He was referring to the eldest son of one of the most influential and powerful men serving directly under the Chancellor. He meant you, didn't he?"
Dante jumped up from the couch, grabbing his katana from the floor beneath him. Tyler also readied his bow, pulling the silver shaft from his hip. They stared intensely at each other for what felt like an eternity.
Three bells chimed.
"We are now approaching station B9," a woman's automated voice announced.
Dante broke eye contact first and walked toward the door. "Tyler, I respect your confidence and your unwillingness to back down. However, I urge you to learn when to speak and when to remain silent. While it is one thing to be passionate about what you believe in, I feel your thoughts and opinions on certain matters will evolve and change with real-world experiences."