A Mortuary of Riches

A few years ago, a random virus that appeared overnight wiped out 3/4th of the population. The world went into ruin for a bit, until society came together after dying down to about 3 million people. They then made so many things that they could only dream of making when the population was at its max. Soon, most of society moved to a high tech city so originally named "The Big City", It reminded people a lot of a Cyberpunk society. People did still live outside of The Big City, doing important jobs to keep the city afloat, like farming and livestock. One of these jobs was a mortician, where that job was taken by a man, his wife, and four children. A few years back, The wife of the man died, leaving him and his children alone. Well, the story starts with the man's eldest daughter, Judith-Ann, went outside of their mortuary, and to the graveyard when one of the fancy cars from The Big City came rolling in. Judith-Ann thought it was just a customer, for they were the last mortuary left. Her two brothers, Vance and Lloyd (A pair of twins) and her little sister, Historia ran over from playing and paused to see a young,clearly wealthy man. The man only seemed to be in his late twenties, but wasn't that handsome, for he had a ugly nose, and just a ugly expression in general. His blonde hair was sickenly greasey, and his green eyes had that look of disgust at the three younger children, before landing his eyes on Judith-Ann.

"Well hello there, you must be the missus of this home" The man said, going to kiss Judith-Ann's hand

"I am the eldest child of the house, not the missus" Judith-Ann replied, pulling her hand away from him, slightly disturbing by the look in his eye. The man silently looked her over, smirking, making Judith-Ann feel the desperate need of a shower.

"Well, we can talk about you more later dear. Is Mr. Mirisciotta here?" he asked, butchering their last name

"Yes, my father is here, I shall get him" Judith-Ann quickly ushered her siblings inside, slamming the door behind her, which did attract her father into the dinning room.

"Judi, what did I say about slamming that damned door?" Her father spoke, narrowing his eyes at the four children. Historia ran up to him, and he picked her up.

"Father, there is a man outside looking for you, and I don't feel comfortable around him…" Judith-Ann said, rubbing her arms like she was cold.

"A man? Let me go see him, must just be a customer, my daughter" he said, putting down Historia, ruffling Vance and Lloyd's hair, and patting Judith-Ann's shoulder before heading outside to talk to the man. Being the curious thirteen, eleven, and nine year olds they were, they peaked their heads out and listened in.

"Hello sir, how may I help you?" Their father asked, standing in front of the man. Their father was a scrawny man, and wasn't very tall. 

"Ah! Mr. Mirisciotta!" The man said, butchering their last name once again, "I have wonderful news for you!"

"Oh? And… what would that be, sir?" Father questioned, looking confused.

"Well, as a man with a need for entertainment, I have been rounding up all of those who are… less fortunate than me, and letting them participate in a game of life and death, and you are chosen!" The man said happily, like this was the biggest honor he could give the mortician.

"Excuse me, What?! No, I will not, I have children to take care of!" He screamed at the man, looking horrified.

"Oh please, If you die, I'll have them in the best orphanage around… but your oldest daughter… I might keep her" The man said, grinning in a sick and twisted way.

"My daughter is thirteen! She isn't even old enough to let me work with me yet!" The children's father started to back up, afraid. The man sighed in annoyance, and snapped his fingers. The man's car let out a loud hissing sound, and a large, slithery arm reached out, and grabbed the father, forcing him in the car. At the time, Judith-Ann ran out, hitting the man.

"Let! Him! Go!" She cried each word, banging her fist against the man's body. The man just rolled his eyes and slapped her, the force of it sending her reeling back and falling, only getting up to see the man drive off with her father, to The Big City. The other three children surrounded her, quickly. 

"Where is father going?" Vance asked, tugging on his sister's shirt to get her attention.

"That man took him!" Lloyd huffed, looking upset. Historia looked quite peeved.

"I want Daddy…" She mumbled, stomping her little feet. Judith-Ann just picked up her sister… then kicked a rock.

"God dognit! Now he's gone! What are we going to do now?!" She yelled, for she was quite mad. The twins looked at each other, and came up with an idea.

"We should go get him back" They said together, very seriously. Judith-Ann looked at them like they had four heads.

"Absolutely not! We are going to call the police and stay put!" She reprimanded them. They just scoffed.

"Come on, did you not see how expensive that care was?" Vance asked.

"He could buy his innocence and get us arrested!" Cried Lloyd. Judith-Ann thought about it, and agreed with what they said, and came up with an idea. 

"Fine, I'll go get Father back, you all are going to the neighbors! I'm sure Nice old Mr. Wally would take you-"

"I'm putting the bad man in time out!" Historia yelled, waving her arms angrily. Judith-Ann gave them all a look.

"Do you not know how big The Big City is?" She asked them sternly. The boys just gave her a look, and then looked at each other like, "Is she stupid?" Historia was getting fussier and madder at the second. Judith-Ann sighed, and dragged them inside. For the first time since their mother died, they felt very lonely in their home. Judith-Ann ran the house with an iron fist, sending them to bed early… she packed her own bags, left a note, and left the house… to find her three siblings already dressed, bags packed and ready to go. She groaned.

"Must you all be so stubborn? You're not going!" she snapped at them, ready to start screaming.

"Hey, he's our dad too! You have to let us help!" Lloyd cried, trying to reason with her. Vance nodded and Historia just looked pouty about almost being left out.

"Yes, He's your father too, but your children! Fighting with a rich man is not something you should be-"

"Shut up and let us join dammit!" Vance screamed at his sister. She sighed, and her shoulders fell.

"Fine, y'all can join… It would be better for me to keep an eye on you all… get in the car, we're driving to father"

The family had an older car, a Honda that people used to drive when the population was larger. The cars now could fly, and most just drove on these rails in the city, the road was mostly empty.

"So… Judi… do you even know how to drive?" Vance asked, buckling up in the back while Lloyd helped Historia buckle up before buckling himself. Judith-Ann got into the driver seat, buckled up, and started the car. 

"Momma taught me, now shut up and let the driver focus" With that, They peeled out of the driveway and towards the city, leaving behind their little mortuary, waiting for them to bring back the mortician.