SynchroniCity.
Sunday, April 16, 2006
Frantic and disillusioned she ran out to the balcony of her room once more, the mid-day sun shone feebly from the thick clouds of black smoke rising from all around the city. "As if, this goddamn city was at war" Emily thought to herself before another small explosion was heard in the background. Black smoke, violent cries and the constant and seemingly never ending sound of the breaking of glass everywhere. She went back inside disgusted as she sat on her bed, considering what she could do to kill time. The answer, she already knew.. Nothing.
The city was a wasted place. Curfew had been declared owing to the maddeningly violent riots, where nothing or no one was spared. Vehicles being burnt, people being attacked. There just wasn't any hope. Inside, the only thing that was being relayed on television was the news. The chaos was the direct result of the death of a movie star. The kind who was worshipped and was god to his fans. People thronged in huge numbers to see one last glimpse of their beloved star. He died a very natural death which made the current situation even more complicated to understand. A natural death did by no means explain the violence and chaos that ensued. The curfewed roads looked almost post-war. Gutted cars, splatters of blood, policemen and their shrill sirens.
As she sat watching the news channels which offered no hope of normalcy returning soon, her disgust had grown even more. Emily came to the city with hopes of a relaxing vacation and the past two days had been particularly traumatising. She was stuck to the confines of her room and the only consolation, the view from her room, was one of violence and chaos, which quickly replaced the peaceful green surrounding which she had taken to so dearly at first sight. And the fire from the burning vehicles only mirrored the peoples emotion. She longed to call and speak to her friend but she knew she couldn't, even the network was jammed. Communication in the city was at a stand-still, with every hour that passed by, the hope of the mob calming down anytime soon was lost. Infact, they grew more and more violent. Until the Special Task Force intervened and dispersed the raging mob with a conditioned ease.
The mob hadn't got anywhere near the top-floor where Emily was, yet she was struck with paranoia. As she watched policemen this time being attacked by another mob on the television.
What had started with mourning the death of their star had changed courses with disillusioned people now suddenly fighting pointlessly, attacking the system. Law and order out of control, the system being resisted the people got more out of control going on rampage. Emily and the rest of the people of the city were now thankful to be at home, safe for the time being from the shoddy violence outside. The sun was setting when Emily came out once more, Only this time the beautiful sunset was masked by a layer of thick black smoke. Hope as it seemed was crushed and burnt, rising up in smokes. The city, it shed silent tears.
