Adam wasn't entirely convinced that the relaxed looks on everyone's faces weren't just forced facades, so he detached himself from the group to take a closer look for himself.

"Where are you going?"

"There's something I want to check."

"I'll come with you." 

Shae followed along behind him, temporarily separating from the rest of the group as well.

She didn't say anything or ask Adam what he was doing. Instead, she merely followed him in silence as he diverted off the wide street and made his way down a narrow alley, where he caught sight of a lone straggler.

The straggler was squatting in a corner, smoking a cigarette in an expressionless manner, and upon noticing Adam's scrutiny, he immediately erupted into a torrent of abuse, throwing up classic phrases such as "What the fuck are you lookin' at?", "I'll gouge your eyes out if you keep staring at me!" and "That's a fine-looking...