"Woah!" Nash exclaimed, fists to his chest. His cheeks were flush; his eyes shone as brilliantly as a star.
Around him were rows of buildings--topped with straw roofs, walls of cobblestone, and floors of wood.
To Diamond, there was nothing of particular interest. They'd seen it a million times. "Have you really not been in a District before?" Diamond asked, pulling Nash's arm towards themselves as he trailed off to some random corner with all his stupor. "Don't go too far, some parts are rather dangerous."
"Really?"
"Yeah. People like to act like the Districts are the safest places on the blue planet, but just as they serve as entrances to the Tunnel, they also serve as exits for the deepest evils of the Tunnel."
Nash looked side to side, one eyebrow raised. "What is this 'Tunnel' you keep talking about, lady?"
Diamond grit his teeth. "Wh-huh? I'm a dude, not a girl."
"If you say so," Nash spat back, eyeing Diamond up and down, like there were anything to reveal underneath his clothes.
Diamond shook his head. "Sheesh, I know I'm girly, but that's just plain rude. I would smack you if you weren't so young--" He stopped moving for a second, looking carefully at Nash.
With all the light peering over the two, it was easier to take note of Nash's appearance.
His hair swung wildly, fighting back against the dim colors of the district with its clear, white coloration. Despite his roughened, muddled face, there was a certain cleanliness to Nash, distinct from physical appearance. That was in conjunction with Nash's face that seemed to always form a smile, like he'd never suffered any tribulation.
But worst of all, the boy looked exceptionally young.
"Wait... how old are you?" Diamond asked, stuttering from realization.
"Thirteen!" Nash responded, humming as he continued down the District street.
Diamond sighed to himself. "Thirteen, and you're been living by yourself? Don't you have any parents?"
Nash looked up at Diamond before promptly shaking his head. "Well, no. I don't think I have a mother... or father."
"What?" Diamond questioned, struggling to cough words out through his confusion. "Everybody has a mother and father, dingus. It's just a matter of where they are... or when."
"Whatever you say, lady," Nash said, dismissively. He continued trekking through the street, not bothering to look where he was going.
Diamond shoved back the anger cracking through his fists. "I already told you, I'm not a girl... woah!"
Without warning, a shadow loomed over the both of them. Big, brolic; it grumbled with all the detestation of a beast. "You... It's you!" the voice roared, directed at Diamond.
It stepped past Nash, who'd bumped into a wooden food stand, housing a number of meats too inexplicable for Diamond to name.
"H-hey, old man Jeff..." Diamond said, shaking. He looked to the right, where an empty alleyway was.
Jeff crossed his arms. "What did I say would happen the next time I saw you?" he asked, cracking his knuckles.
"Well, you have to understand that I have to go this way right now. It's not like I intentionally crossed your path--"
"I don't care!" Jeff exclaimed, taking another step in Diamond's direction, "You've yet to pay me for the goods you stole, then ruined!"
"Follow me, Nash...!" Diamond commanded, grabbing Nash by his arm while swerving a grab from Jeff.
Jeff turned around, watching as the two drifted off in the opposite direction. He quickly followed their tail, completely disregarding his food stand.
Nash looked back at the man in close pursuit. "What's this about?"
"Don't worry about it, just try to stay with me!" Diamond sputtered.
He took Nash along into an empty alleyway, then left into an open street where innumerable food stands stood.
They each had their own look to Diamond's presence, watching as Jeff ran after them.
Then, two followed in close pursuit. Then four. Then ten.
In just a few minutes, a crowd of people were all trailing Diamond and Nash.
"Damn it, why are all the people are screwed over in the same location..." Diamond cursed--feeling his chest tense from the constant running. All it took was one quick glace at the merchants behind him to lighten his tension. "Well--hah, no... no point worrying about it. They're all... old, and fat.
One of the men latched their arms onto Diamond's sleeve, but all it took was one quick swat at his hand for him to fall back.
Diamond exhaled, feeling the sound of pattering feet slowly drift back.
This was immediately undercut by the sound of clunking metal.
"What?" Diamond quickly asked, turning to his right. There, it was evident. A single Kingsguard member, running after them at twice the speed as the men before.
"Heeeyyyyyyy, commeeeee herreeeee!" they yelled, waving their arm at Diamond.
"Shit," Diamond bit, hastening his pace despite the growing flame in his lungs. "H-hurry, Nash. We need to get going."
"Sure, but where exactly are we headed?" He inquired, fully calm despite the constant running.
"Y...You'll know once we get there."
Nash nodded, quickening his speed past Diamond's. Diamond stumbled, but still managed to keep up. "Damn... you're fast..." he said, breath heavy.
"I know," Nash said, smiling.
As the two continued, the Kingsguard waved again. "Waaaaaiitttttt!" However, as Nash and Diamond both continued to move out of view, the guard instead lowered their torso, entering a full sprint.
Diamond looked back, stammering on his words. "Th-they're gaining on us...! Almost there!"
In just a few moments, Nash and Diamond ran into an open field, the only architecture being the cobblestone floor that made up most of the district.
However, there was one landmark that stood out.
At the center of the open field was one giant door. Its edges glowed with a deep red, allowing one to see through it if not for the dense amount of energy vibrating through it.
The door's material itself was clean and smooth, and yet, even that seemed to hold something within it incomprehensible to Diamond.
And, at the door's midline was a protruding blue, laying still as if locked by its creator.
"The entrance to the Tunnel," Diamond said, nudging Nash. "This is it."