The brightness of the night. The dazzling beauty of bright lights. It was a magnificent celebration. Happiness filled the streets. There was joy in the atmosphere. The city of Louhia was in party mode. The people with smiles on their faces walked to the city centre to celebrate Louhia's financial and economic status in the world. The sight of happy families and children gladdened the heart of the minister as he looked at them from his towering office.
"SIR!!" shouted an aide as she burst in with panic written over her face. Not turning back to look at her, he answered "You know you shouldn't be running into my office like that". "Sir! I apologise but there is a bad situation now!" she said aloud, trying to get his attention. "What is it?" he asked. "Sir! Back Louhia has been destroyed!!" the lady revealed. The minister looks at her with the most stoic expression on his face "How is that my concern?" he asked. Shocked at his response, she steps back. "But sir, millions of people just died" she says with teary eyes. "I do not care if every one of those worthless animals died. They were just wastes of lands" he says as he turns around and walks to her. "You barged into my office like it's your personal room. Am I that common to you now?" he asks as he walks towards her. The lady's eyes start streaming with tears. She knew what was going to happen to her. He looks at her dead in the eyes and barks so commandingly "Get on your knees". She couldn't fight it; she couldn't fight him. Her powerlessness disgusts her. "Are you hesitating? Do you remember where you came from? Do you want to die along with your fellow animals?" says the minister with a disgusted look on his face at her. She falls to her knees and she allows him to do what he wanted.
Finished, the minister pulls up his trousers and looks at the barely conscious lady on the floor. "Disgusting. You can't even do your purpose well. Make sure you clean this shit up". Spitting on her, he walks out of the office but returns to tell her "Oh yeah. Don't ever speak to me about those back water pigs again or you'll die like the rest of them". As he walks out, she's left alone with her thoughts. The anger and hate flowing through her mind took control over her. It coursed through her veins, igniting a flame inside of her. It was then she decided with all the hate in her heart "I swear I kill him"
"Look Dad, it's Minister Marnowac!" shouted an excited kid from his dad's shoulders. Joyous ovations ruptured the air as the minister walked up the podium. With a wave of his hand, he silenced the crowd in an instant, laying testament to the power he possessed over the people.
"Citizens of Louhia! I believe we are all here to celebrate our new status!" he started. Hundreds of people started clapping in happiness. As the crowd quieted down, he spoke again. "Yes! It is a thing of joy! Hundreds of years have been dedicated into building this nation! We have always been blessed with wealth as our heritage. However! There is a part of Louhia that is filled with venom! A part filled with darkness!" Upon this, the crowd got into a dead silence. "Yes! Back Louhia!" As he spoke these words, the crowd got into a rage. The hatred for the sewers of the world was evident through their screams. They shouted "KILL THEM ALL!" "THEY ARE NOT HUMANS LIKE US" "THEY ARE WORTHLESS ANIMALS". "I know! It's a thing of shame that such a place exists! But! I have brought good news!" The noise deadened again. The air of expectation could be cut through with a knife. "The population of Back Louhia has been completely eradicated"
There was silence. Then a clap. And another clap. Then a shout. And another shout. The shouts of joy filled the atmosphere. The crowd went wild in celebration. They were ecstatic. Jubilation rent the air. Happiness, joy and elation filled the lips of the citizens. From the children to the grown adults, there was delight. The lady crawled to the window and watched from the high rise in tears. Tears of detest and disgust. She saw the people dance like mindless zombies over the death of their fellow humans. The people rent their clothes, tore their hair and bloodied their feet. This sight could only be represented by one word
'Savage'
The anger swirled in her head "We're not the animals. They are the true animals". As she bit her tongue in anguish, causing it to bleed, she swore to herself "I swear I'll kill every last one of them!"
THREE YEARS SINCE THE GREAT RIFT
The fire crackled, illuminating the darkness. There was nothing. Signs of civilization only existed. Rotting bodies filled the streets. Their stench filled the air. Nature took over its rightful place. The fire looked at its surroundings. An abandoned building. The ceiling leaked drops of water. Grass and twisting vines had taken their place. The lone rat that ran through. It saw its master. The one that calls fire into being. The fire blazed more, shining to drive away the darkness from his master. The man watched over the fire. He saw the magnificence of his creation. He reached to it, wanting to feel it against his skin. A sleepy kid shuffles towards him. Retrieving his hands, he looks at the boy and smiles. He beckons the child to come over. Sleepily walking, the boy falls into his arms. "Now, tell me why you're awake" he asked the boy. "I couldn't sleep" the boy replied and snuggled up to him and added "It's too cold". The man patted the boy and lay him down next the fire. The child asked him from his sleep "Hyung-nim, when can we go out and play again?" Covering the child with a blanket, he smiles and answers "Soon. Very soon."
Stepping outside of the dilapidated building, he looks at the hole in the sky. Monsters don't come out that often anymore but there was no respite. Had they been cursed to a new life of everlasting suffering? The reader asks. No one knows. Not even the writer knows. The children had been exposed to this harsh reality and its starting to take a toll on their mental health. Tomorrow, he had to do something. He had to see a prophet.