This time, the people of Slough had been warned.
There was no hiding the fact that a battle was about to take place. An entire area of the city had been cleared out, with officials urging residents to evacuate temporarily. And while the reason was never officially announced, everyone could feel it, something dangerous was coming.
Still, the city couldn’t simply come to a halt.
Life had to go on. Accidents would happen. People would still need ambulances. Babies would still be born in hospitals. Emergencies, as always, didn’t pause for anyone, not even an Altered-level battle.
But that didn’t mean things continued as usual. No, Slough had shifted into survival mode. The streets were quieter than ever. Most residents had chosen to remain indoors, curtains drawn, lights dimmed, praying that whatever was about to unfold wouldn’t reach their doorstep.
And then there were the police.