Cut Throat City

Here is the rewritten text:

In the scorching summer of 2005, the city of New Orleans lay in ruins, its residents reeling from the devastating impact of Hurricane Katrina. Amidst the rubble and despair, four friends - Blink (whose artistic aspirations were stalled), Miracle, Andre, and Junior - prepared for Blink's wedding to Demyra. The joyous occasion was just a distant memory as the group struggled to make ends meet in the crime-ridden Lower Ninth Ward.

Blink, an aspiring graphic novelist, had been working tirelessly on his magnum opus, "Cut Throat City". However, his dreams of publication were cruelly dashed when he was rejected by publishers. Frustration boiled over as Blink and his friends applied for FEMA aid, only to be met with a resounding silence.

It was against this backdrop of poverty and desperation that Blink turned to Demyra's cousin, Lorenzo Bass, a ruthless local drug lord. Bass offered them a lucrative job - robbing a casino in the city. The heist itself was a chaotic free-for-all, security guards descending upon the group like vultures as they scrambled to escape with their lives.

The aftermath of the robbery saw the group flee from the law, leaving behind the lifeless body of Andre, whose untimely demise served as a grim reminder of the harsh realities they faced. The trio, now fugitives, turned to Reverend for assistance in disposing of Andre's remains, while Blink and Demyra's relationship began to fray under the weight of their newfound desperation.

In a bizarre twist, Bass demanded that Blink "walk the plank" by exposing himself to a caged raccoon, but Junior intervened with a dog whistle, summoning his Rottweiler to attack the drug lord. The ensuing melee saw Bass kill the dog and prepare to shoot Blink, only for the trio to escape once more.

Meanwhile, Detective Lucinda Valencia was assigned to investigate the casino heist, but her efforts were hindered by corruption within the ranks of the police force. As tensions mounted, Demyra found herself threatened by Bass's goons and turned to Alderman Jackson Symms, whose wife she had provided hospice services for, seeking his help.

Symms, sensing an opportunity to advance his own interests, agreed to assist Demyra and broker a meeting with The Saint, a notorious crime lord. As Blink navigated the treacherous underworld of New Orleans, he began to realize that Bass's grip on the city was far more insidious than initially thought.

Detective Valencia eventually caught up with Blink, her eyes widening in horror as she beheld his battered and bloodied form. However, a conversation with Symms and a deeper understanding of the situation changed her perspective, imbuing her with a newfound sense of purpose and compassion.

As Blink, Miracle, and Junior embark on a spree of petty thievery, their motives are twofold: to line their pockets with quick cash and draw the attention of the elusive Saint. Their efforts prove successful, but Lawrence's discovery of their ill-gotten gains prompts an eviction notice, forcing the trio to seek out new opportunities elsewhere. A visit to a seedy strip club yields a bold display of their wealth, only to have them taken captive by Det. Courtney and his team. As a result, they're delivered straight into the Saint's hands, who's impressed enough with their audacity to offer them sanctuary in exchange for a steady supply of funds. Back in the Ninth Ward, Det. Valencia wraps up her investigation, urging Blink to pursue his artistic passions rather than perpetuating a life of crime. Meanwhile, Symms and the Saint engage in a clandestine meeting to discuss the trio's situation.

Fast-forward to a later point in time, and our protagonists find themselves stuck in a cycle of poverty once more. Blink proposes a daring heist at a FEMA office, but when Miracle takes things too far by killing a security guard, the situation spirals out of control. The ensuing firefight leaves all three men seemingly dead, their bodies riddled with bullets. Yet, in a stunning twist, Blink's survival is revealed as he attends the launch of his graphic novel, where Valencia offers her congratulations and gratitude for giving him a second chance.

As the credits roll, Symms makes contact with Courtney at Andre's grave site, taking aim and ending the detective's life. With Miracle by his side, Symms appoints their partner in crime as the new overseer of the Lower Ninth Ward, cementing their dark descent into a world of power and corruption.