Walled Angeles

The rest of the trip flew by quickly. Naos traversed the unchanging landscape that stretched on for tens of miles. When the city was in sight, half of a week had passed.

The closer Naos got to the city that was Las Angeles, the more people were around him.

It started with shacks that looked as if they were made of sticks one would find on the ground. They were spread out fairly a mile away from LA's walls. But they quickly grew in number as Naos got closer.

If this many people are outside of the city, then how many are inside those walls? Naos scanned the ghetto that wrapped around the big city. He noticed that most people were starving and stealing from one another.

As it is in any given community, there were some relatively wealthy people taking advantage of others. They would be gathering in groups to extort their neighbors.

Those endeavors succeeded and the rich got richer, and the poor grew poorer.

Naos turned his head straight toward the gate that had the largest crowd. It was full of people and violence, full of people who were just trying to get in or those who could get in on their own.

Once Naos had reached the back of the crowd, he forcefully pushed his way through to get to the front. He found a group of armored men clad in weapons for controlling the crowd.

The look in their eyes gave the illusion of a hardened soldier that dissuaded everyone from taking it too far.

When Naos would push past someone, they would grunt helplessly, unable to do anything in the face of someone so unexpectedly strong before long Naos was at the forefront and was face to face with one of the guards.

"Are you sure you can afford the toll?" The officer sighed. He was tired of constantly having to talk to people who could not pass through. Some even tried to cross forcefully.

Naos wordlessly placed a stack of cash on the guard's hand. Although he was looking for an ID or permit to enter the city, money entered his hand. What Naos had done was a crime.

It's as simple as that. Naos thought as he wandered the population. 

Even if what he did was a major crime, the officer of the law let it slide because he was feeling underpaid that day. His thought process was that if Naos could get into the city via bribery, he could stay inside just as easily.

The guard named Dominic shrugged, unaware of the butterfly that flew past him.

Naos's eyes dilated slightly as they quickly adjusted to the wave of light that rushed over him. After being on the outskirts for a day or two, his idea of the new LA was warped.

The result of such a viewpoint was Naos being stunned for a moment at the face of the true Los Angeles.

Next to him, a man noticed Naos's surprise and commented playfully, "Welcome to Walled Angeles, bastion of the wealthy."

Before Naos could respond, the passerby blended into the crowds. Walled Angeles... fitting.

The name "Angeles" meant angels in Spanish. The meaning of the city's new name could be taken in multiple ways. One could say they meant that the angels were protected.

But Naos had a hunch it wasn't like that.

...

Bribing the guard had been a large expenditure but a necessary one. It left Naos with about a quarter of the money he had left behind for emergencies. This meant that he would need to restock soon.

Finding a half-decent motel was not a problem. All it took was looking for an area that was avoided by the masses and looking around for a good few minutes before he saw a flickering neon light.

Naos pushed the rickety door. To see an equally run-down lobby desolate of people. In the back was a desk with a wooden bell on top.

He pressed on the bell and it made a quiet sound.

Tok

A boy about 15 or so years old rushed in. His clothes were dirty and his hair unkempt. The bellboy greeted his customer with gleaming eyes.

"Welcome to the Mort's Motel, good sir!" His eyes were lively, unlike his appearance. "How long will you- What can I do for you?"

His excitement was almost contagious if not for the fact it was overwhelming. It was like dealing with a toddler that had been given caffeine.

"I'm planning on booking for a week. Food included, how much is that?" Naos had to stop the boy before he went on a rant about something or other and distracted himself from a proper job.

"Right away, sir!" The boy turned around and did some calculations. "That'll be $90, sir!"

Naos looked into his eyes for a moment. "Here you go." He placed exactly $90 in the boy's hand.

"Thank you very much!" The bellboy looked as if he were about to start jumping up and down before bringing himself back down to earth. "Let me guide you to your room mister..."

"Naos."

"Of course, Mr. Naos!"

The bellboy led Naos up the stairs, it creaking with every step. This would've created an unfavorable image to all potential customers, but not Naos. This customer could sleep nearly anywhere.

Once the bellboy closed the door to leave Naos to himself, the man looked at his new room with impartial eyes. He saw this room as nothing more than a bed and roof over his head. The bugs and cracks strewn throughout the unkempt room did not phase him in the slightest.

Naos set down the sharp or hard objects in his coat before lying down on the bed. It made an unpleasant creaking noise before quieting down as he grew still.

The night passed quietly for the most part. That was until something woke up the light sleeper named Naos.

The sound was that of a door slamming on the floor below. Naos instantly connected this to the lobby that was near directly beneath his room. Two possibilities rushed through his mind.

One, it was another employee who did not have any regard for the possibility of someone staying here.

Two, the more probable option, someone was causing trouble of some kind. Naos climbed out of his bed and slipped the cloak on his back. The room was still illuminated by the moonlight when he left.