That evening, Noah felt quite relieved that his parents didn't dwell on Michael's injury. The news of Governor Wallace's planned arrival caused a great stir among the inhabitants of Sector 9; Mr. and Mrs. Adams were no exception. So excited they were, that they tore through their small apartment in search of the few articles of non-work related clothing they possessed. Noah and Michael could do little to resist their parents' inhumane torture as they tried on the same three articles of clothing they possessed over and over again. Insanity is defined as performing the same act over and over again expecting a different outcome; Noah's parents were quite insane that evening.
Noah and Michael's torture did not stop until late into the evening, with their parents only satisfied after Michael began nodding off while standing. That evening as the two of them dozed off side-by-side in bed, Noah could see the city light dimly illuminating his brother's sleeping face. In quite a comical fashion, a thin line of drool trickled down Michael's chin, and one could make out his quiet mumbling.
"Chocolate... cake..."
Noah couldn't help but grin as he wiped off his brother's drool with his shirt. Hopefully there'd be cake tomorrow.
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Communications Log
1:29 AM March 2, Year 97 of Atuin
"Ah, Annabelle, pleasure to see you as always."
"Likewise Governor, words can't express how glad I am for your cooperation."
"Not a problem at all, I've been specifically instructed to assist you."
"Regarding... the project?"
"But of course, so many people are looking forward to your results! How has your experience been?"
"Well, it's been taxing."
"Must be, I can't imagine how suffocating it would be to be surrounded by such..."
"Filth?"
"Yes, filth, quite an adequate word."
"Nevertheless, I look forward to tomorrow."
"They will be honored to be part of our society's progress."
Call End
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Governor Wallace hated being outside the Entertainment District, but business was business. Reclining in the backseat, Governor Wallace did his best to suppress his displeasure. Soldiers clad in dark visors and heavy layers of kevlar surrounded him in humvees. Fixing a thin smile, he double-checked his hair in the backseat before stepping out.
"Governor, the people of Sector 9 and I are honored by your arrival." Governor Wallace squinted his eyes as sunlight bounced off of the portly man's bald head.
"Yes, yes. Likewise."
"I hope your day has been well. The microphone and speakers have been set up," the sector chief handed Wallace a small wearable device. "For today's itinerary we..." Wallace waved his hand, cutting the sector chief short.
"I'm not here for pleasure."
"I underst-"
"Have my orders been carried out?"
"Yes of course," the sector chief gestured towards the citizens behind him, all lined up in their best clothing. "The entire population-"
"Women? Children?" The sector chief winced slightly in displeasure from being cut off once again, but quickly recovered.
Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.
"Yes, we're all very exc-"
"Dr. Annabelle Penny? Where is she?"
"Doctor? I don't seem to recall." A corners of Wallace's lips curled upwards as his eyes twinkled in amusement.
"Ms. Penny... A uh...school teacher I believe."
"Oh, Ms. Penny. Of course!" The sector chief signalled with his hands, a woman with a young boy in tow detached from the crowd and came forward. The chief frowned upon seeing the young boy. "Ms. Penny, the child-"
"The child is no bother," Wallace stepped forward to greet Annabelle. "It's nice to see you in-person again doctor."
"Pleasure as always," Annabelle smiled.
"And the child?"
"That's him," she nodded. Governor Wallace leaned down.
"Hello there young man, would you honor me your name?"
"Noah, Governor sir." Perhaps imperceptibly, Wallace's face twitched as a look of panic flashed across his face.
"No need for formalities, just call me Wallace." The two continued this back and forth for a few more minutes, with Wallace questioning and Noah answering. To outside observers, there seemed to be a strange dynamic in play, with the older man strangely humble and polite in front of this small child. Before the conversation could drag on longer, and likely due to the noon sun weighing on her patience, Annabelle stepped in between the two of them.
"Alright, I think it's time you stopped being so buddy-buddy and moved on to business."
"Yes, of course doctor," Wallace replied. Pulling out his comm device, he mumbled a stream of words. Almost immediately, the soldiers in the humvees hopped off. Turning on his wearable microphone, he cleared his throat before beginning his announcement.
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The bright smile on Ms. Penny's face did little to calm Noah's nerves. He was already on edge from Ms. Penny dragging him to meet the Governor, now there was a strange tension in the air that made his stomach churn and skin crawl.
"Ms. Penny?"
"Yes, Noah?"
"Is it alright if I go back to my family?"
"Oh Noah..." Annabelle's expression softened. "Won't you wait until I show you the surprise?"
"Meeting the Governor wasn't the surprise?"
"Citizens of Sector 9, I commend all of you from gathering here today," Wallace's voice interrupted Noah's questioning. The crowd's murmuring and excitement also toned down in anticipation of the announcement's contents. "As I'm sure all of you are aware, production has been at record highs in Sector 9." He then continued to list many statistics regarding production and valuation, rambling on and on for the next two hours. As the citizens stood, sweating profusely, one could only wonder how the armor clad soldiers surrounding Wallace remained absolutely still. Finally, just before anyone could collapse, Governor Wallace's speech neared its end. "... and so, the higher ups would like to award Sector 9 the prestigious High Value Award."
The crowd erupted in cheer and began clapping, what an honorable day this was for them. To be recognized by the Upper City leaders was an award few sectors have ever received. Then, before the crowd could proceed into full on celebration, Governor Wallace cleared his throat again. The noise level toned down in anticipation of further announcements.
"However, it pains me to say that due to extenuating circumstances..." The crowd paused. The soldiers next to Governor Wallace shifted their stance, breaking the posture they've been maintaining for hours. "Sector 9 has been selected for a purge."
Silence.
Silence..
"Good day." Wallace walked away from the podium.
Silence...
One scream.
"Move in!" A blur of motion, the soldiers rushed forward. Sights aimed.
More screams.
"Ready!"
People begin jostling each other, a twisting mass of flesh. Some, the physically weaker of the group, pulled down and trampled beneath the stampede. Cries rang out high to the heavens, to a long absent all-powerful being.
"No."
Crying, hysteria, mania.
"Aim!"
There was no escape.
"This can't be real."
Annabelle's smile widened, her eyes manic in glee.
"Fire!" A cacophony of firecrackers, rounds of lead sprang forth to paint gruesome fireworks on the canvas of human flesh. The screams intensified, climbing in volume as vomit climbed up Noah's throat, who could no longer bear the sight of mangled torsos and chunks of flesh vaporizing into air.
"Don't look Noah," Ms. Penny placed her hands above his eyes. Though that did little to alleviate Noah's nausea as the smell of metal dug into his nostrils. In the absence of sight, smell and hearing intensified as cold sweat poured down his back. Then the screams began climbing down from its crescendo, and the bang bang bang of guns and thunk of bullets on flesh began to decrease in frequency. Finally, only a few sobs could be heard.
Ms. Penny lifted her hands, light pierced into Noah's retinas through the tears. As far as the eye could see, pools of red covered what once was a newly paved concrete road, haphazard shapes reminiscent of humans bent in weird contortions. Noah's eyes locked onto one last figure. By some miracle, Michael was bawling in the middle of the carnage, their parents laying before his fetal form. A soldier noticed too and began walking towards the unfortunate child.
"Michael! Run! RUN!" Michael snapped his head up and locked eyes with Noah. His light blue eyes shedding tears that mixed into his snot. Noah could see his mouth forming words, powering through his trembling lips.
Mom... dad...
A quick snap of a gun stock broke their locked gaze. As Michael laid dazed on the bodies of his mother and father, the soldier lifted their gun and fired. Through the back of his head, a spurt of crimson liquid, and now motionless. Noah felt two hands gently massage his shoulders, and a sweet dainty voice spoke from behind him.
"And that, Noah, is the surprise. Happy birthday."