The Return of the Hades

Save their lives

52

Darien looked the man over and smiled calmly, the echoes and agreements of all the other patrons did nothing to sway him.

"Yes! I support!"

"Someone have the police on dial!"

"This man should really be arrested!"

Darien’s smile widened slightly, a mixture of amusement and regret evident in his eyes. “I assure you, I have done nothing that needs undoing. My intentions here were never to harm or frighten anyone.” His voice was steady, cutting through the crescendo of accusations and panic.

The crowd, however, was not easily placated. Fear had taken root, and with it, the need for a scapegoat.

“But you did something to him!” a woman shouted, pointing at the man struggling for breath on the floor.

“And about her, the lady!” another chimed in, her voice tinged with hysteria.

Darien sighed, his gaze sweeping over the faces around him, each twisted in fear, suspicion, or anger. “Fear often leads us to seek blame outside ourselves. These...incidents, though unfortunate, are not of my makin