Chapter 208: The World Needs Heroes
[Chapter 208: The World Needs Heroes]
"The fire is now fully under control, and a perimeter has been established around the park. A large crowd has gathered outside, with reports indicating that the incident coincided with the Ultra Music Festival, where over forty thousand attendees were present." In the room, Taylor was watching TV, and she chose to change the channel.
Another news outlet was also covering the tragedy at Bay Park, displaying footage of a speeding vehicle crashing into the tent area. Some parts of the footage were blurred due to their gruesome nature. A bold headline read: "Ultra Co-Founder Russell Faibisch Crashes into Tent Area."
Taylor continued changing channels, each one covering the Ultra Music Festival incident. Every station was broadcasting breaking news about Ultra.
She picked up her phone again, having refrained from calling Ryan multiple times over the past few hours.
That's when she heard a sound at the door. Taylor turned around and saw Ryan had returned. She immediately dropped the remote and rushed over, scrutinizing Ryan from head to toe to ensure he was alright, breathing a sigh of relief when she confirmed he was unharmed.
Ryan tuned into the live news coverage as well, just learning that Russell had driven into the park.
Then the report began detailing the history of the Ultra Music Festival. In addition to Russell being held responsible, the winter music conference also got called out, along with a list of well-known DJs who had participated in the festival, with Ryan prominently featured among them. Taylor was mentioned afterward as a guest performer, alongside artists like the Black Eyed Peas, Pharrell, Sugarland, and others...
"I'm going to draft an apology statement tonight, expressing that while I was only a guest performer, I failed to ensure appropriate safety measures at the festival. I will also establish a charity foundation to prevent such incidents from happening again," Ryan said.
"I'll do the same," Taylor nodded in agreement.
Just then, the TV switched to footage of Ryan directing the chaotic crowd, holding onto a little girl's hand.
"Is that... you?" Taylor exclaimed, taken aback.
It dawned on her for the first time why Ryan had stayed behind.
"Just lending a hand," Ryan shrugged.
"You're going to be America's next superhero!" Taylor laughed.
...
Ryan then received a call from Berwick, who informed him that the traces inside the abandoned vehicles had been cleared out, and the vehicles were subsequently sunk into the ocean. Berwick and his team returned to Orlando, having come to Miami incognito as "stage construction workers." The videos and photos already circulated online clearly indicated they had been part of a public event, making it nearly impossible for them to be suspicious due to their attire at the park.
...
By that early morning, Ryan and Taylor's statements had already been released, making their responses the swiftest among all the stars involved.
Before long, Ryan's MySpace was buzzing with messages. Someone had even edited a photo of Ryan to wear a superhero suit, another swapped Superman's body with Ryan's face. That post got the most likes.
On Twitter's trending list, Ryan's name ranked third, only behind "Ultra Music Festival Riot" and "Bay Park."
Clicking on Ryan's trending topic revealed various photos and videos of him directing the crowd.
As for Taylor, her focus was entirely on the incident, but many people had already started speculating who the song Mean was truly written for, anticipating the public backlash.
...
The next afternoon, Ryan saw the MPD spokesperson's statement on TV.
The spokesperson announced that yesterday had been a tragic day, unveiling the investigation results that attributed everything to the out-of-control revelers and pointed a finger at the festival's lax management regarding "substances."
Various legislators from Florida began to voice their opinions, stating that the state assembly would pass new legislation to tighten penalties concerning drugs. Similar proposals were also suggested in Congress, like increasing regulations on festivals. Ryan noted that all of this would amount to nothing; it was merely a case of treating the symptoms instead of addressing the root cause.
However, this was a significant plus for Ryan's plans to establish his own music festival in the future. It could serve as a powerful weapon against other festivals; Russell wasn't the first, nor would he be the last. The festival organizers wouldn't let go of this opportunity; at most, they would merely turn a blind eye.
Thinking about the music festival, Ryan called Alex.
...
"Ryan, what do we do now?" Alex sounded anxious on the other end.
He had become the pariah of Miami, simply for being a co-founder of the Ultra Music Festival.
"What can I do? Who knew it would turn into such chaos?" Ryan shook his head, implying the acquisition would need to be halted.
"You promised me! I'm helping you..."
"This is a force majeure, like a hurricane. Russell is dead; the ultra music festival doesn't exist anymore."
Alex hung up, frustrated. Although he still had some use to Ryan, Ryan wasn't ready to reveal his intentions just yet; he needed at least a couple of days, waiting for the "scars" from the Ultra Music Festival to fade.
...
Over the following days, more facts were uncovered by internet users and news media; public discussions determined that the victims had been a group of wild, drugged-up revelers. After all, normal people wouldn't have been scrapping over pills. The media began to focus on Russell Faibisch's involvement, and given how extensive the situation was, the MPD aimed to crack down on his entire criminal organization, including the sale of drugs at the festival.
The fact that Russell was a donor to the MPD went unmentioned as if it had never existed.
Additionally, the little girl Ryan had been holding was identified by the media. CW, the investigating outlet, reported that the family was a regular one from Miami, expressing their gratitude to Ryan on TV. That news segment boosted Ryan's reputation even further.
In the following days, Ryan was featured on the covers of local newspapers.
It was evident that Ryan's role was being exaggerated. The reason was simple; the incident itself was disastrous, and showcasing Ryan as a model citizen was the only way to redirect public attention.
...
At the memorial service three days later, the governor, along with various Florida legislators, attended. The mayor announced that the park would reopen after renovations and be renamed "Memorial Park," further declaring that a statue over five feet tall in honor of Ryan would be erected, based on the image of him holding the little girl's hand.
"Thank you, Ryan, for your contributions to Miami. This world needs heroes," the mayor concluded, and applause erupted.
As the camera shifted, Ryan noticed a familiar face among the audience -- Nora.
He wondered if she was there for some property-related reason.
*****
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