"President Xavier, Miss Shaw, with us." The group of men in black who had rushed out from the crowd formed a human wall, shielding the pair from the pursuing fans.
Miles Xavier and Joan Shaw naturally assumed the men in black were their own security, so they followed them without a moment's hesitation.
Just as they scrambled into the car, the countdown began in the fountain square. Half of the crowd dispersed, while the rest stayed, waiting for the ice-and-snow fireworks display.
Miles and Joan got into the car one after the other. Joan looked out the rear window at the dense, dark crowd. Behind them, bursts of white ice pellets shot into the sky. At the same time, the clock struck midnight.
It was a real shame. They had come specifically to see the ice-and-snow fireworks, but now they were missing them.
