Political Caresses

We were all invited to the concert by them.  I didn’t want to go, but my friends and family insisted.

So, I went to see what the hubbub was going to be about.

It was about the inventor.

You know the one… he had started out as a small-time, man who didn’t do much but work in his basement and create something tiny and insignificant.  He lived only a few streets from us; and yet, had been snapped up by them...

The government.

The officials…

…the Yes Men of our society…

But there was another reason why I didn’t want to go.  I had heard about these concerts and what they did to the human mind.  These weren’t ordinary concerts.  They used them to hypnotise the public to make us vote for them.

I knew this was one of those concerts… and I didn’t want to be trapped in that auditorium with the orchestra and those politicians who had written the score and that inventor who had figured out this poetic pattern retains inertia… well, until something else changed its tone, its rhythm, its feel.  This was what I didn’t want to happen.  I wanted inertia, I wanted my world to stay the same… I wanted to be able to make up my own mind without being pushed by crooks.

However, when we arrived, I didn’t have a choice! 

The doors were slammed closed.

They were locked from the outside with a loud thud…

I began to panic! 

But as I looked around, I found that nobody else did.  They were sheep being led to slaughter as that sound emanated from the walls, coercing them into the auditorium; and I was being pushed and shoved in the same direction!

I found my way across the crowd to an unguarded stair well that led up to only the Gods knew where and I raced up them!  But all I could hear was that noise… that … I don’t know what to call it, but I hated it with such vigor I didn’t want to be anywhere inside the building!

I ran past door after door and they were all locked… I hated being here… and I hated the fact the orchestra was beginning to tune up as I found myself at the balcony of the dome right at the top of the building, right where I could see the whole auditorium. 

The view was amazing, as I witnessed everybody from my community calmly find a seat and face the stage.  None of them said anything to each other. 

There was no chatter.

There was no noise at all… just the orchestra tuning up.

It was creepy.

Then, I saw something happen… I watched in the wings of the stage, the inventor peer out at the audience.   He smiled as his invention was about to work out… his smugness made me sick to my guts.  Then, from the shadows, a man in shabby clothes turned him around and dug a knife into his gut hard.  Malice was strong on the features of this shabby man as the inventor collapsed and the criminal let him drop, pulling out his blade as he watched him die.  Then, the criminal disappears after the inventor did too… blood and all.  A moment later, a politician walks right where the man died as though nothing had happened, ready to work his ‘magic’ with the audience.

Once the conductor notices the politician, stops the orchestra from tuning and taps the dais, making them at the ready for them to play.  His arms are raised. 

He looks around at his people.

He raises his head, licks his lips…

At the first note the borderlands expire thanks to the hundred violins.  I turned from the immense sound and look through the dome’s curved glass facing outside and watch as the surrounding landscapes of where I used to live collapse in on itself.

Buildings are destroyed in massive explosions.

Fires are started by powerlines being brought down.

Roads buckle and move as parts of multiple buildings crush them.

I watch in horror as the place I’ve known for my whole life is destroyed by the invention by a man who has just been killed.

“Is she with us?” A Paramedic asked.

“I’m not sure.” The inventor muttered looking up, “She began screaming when my invention started up… she was sure that I was dead… that the world was coming to an end.”

The politician tapped him on the shoulder, “Can I see you for a moment?”

He rose to his feet, leaving her for a moment, “Sure.”

The two walked away from the scene and the powerful man whispered, “How could she know of my plans?”

“I’m not sure.” The inventor shook his head, “Unless she’s immune to the Political Caresses you’ve gotten me to invent… we’ll have to do something different.”

“Of course.” He grabbed his shoulder, stabbed him with a long dagger, and let him sit carefully into a nearby chair as he died, “But we can’t let you look at her, now, can we?” he looked over at her; the one who can’t live because of his campaign’s lies and workings that will eventually take over everything and make him out to be a hero when he’s not.  He turned and disappeared into the crowd, soon after, the inventor vanished from his seat too. 

My eyes fluttered.

My neck is sore from being in the same place for a long time.

Slowly, I look up and find I’m tied to a chair in a room.

There’s a man standing in front of me…

…the politician.

“You know what I’m up to… right?” he said quietly.

“Yes.”

“Well, we’ll have to put an end to that.” His smile spreads to a grin as he  presses a button on a cd player and the borderlands within my mind explode and disintegrate as a thousand violins play and echo around the room.

  

The Prison

Sit up straight.  Don’t put your elbows on the table.  Excuse yourself when you pass wind, when you burp.  Don’t fidget. Don’t bite your nails. Don’t whine. Don’t be rude. Stop being childish. Stop interrupting… stop… don’t… don’t…

There’s so many rules to the human condition, it’s a wonder we don’t all go crazy.

So, how did I end up in a mental hospital?  Yeah I’d like to know that too.  I’m not sure if it’s the rules of life that brought me here, or the fact I couldn’t face them anymore.

Or maybe, it was because I was found wandering around in my underwear reading Hemmingway one Winter night.  The police found me three streets from my house and my folks knew that the rules of The Community had gotten to me and it was time to put me where all the others had been placed who couldn’t handle life.

However, as I looked out the window of the day room dressed in the white track pants and shirt they gave me, I still had those rules screaming through my head… but at a much slower pace.  It must have been something they put in the water – or the pills they were feeding us – that slowed down the pace and pounding and screaming torture the rules attacked our brains.

But I did find that we weren’t permitted outside.  Even on the lovely, sunny days, we were kept indoors and away from the windows.  I don’t know why, but the staff kept us in the darkened cells of our rooms until the late afternoon when we were allowed to wander the halls again… and I never saw my family either. 

Not until one day, I saw my brother in the day room.  He stood as I entered smiling.  Then, I realised it.  Why they never let us outside.  Why we were never allowed to see family.  The Rules oozed out of his pores and screamed into my ears.  I could hear them all without him even opening his mouth!

Don’t… don’t … stop it! Stop it!... stop…it!

“No! Don’t!  Stay there!” I back up against the wall as he stood, his smile faltering on his face, replaced by tears as I looked at him with terror written all over my body.  I wished I could have hugged him… let him close, but I couldn’t.  He was doused in The Rules of Life and I was trapped in this prison of not being able to absorb them.

“Sis, please… it’s me.” Tears rolled down his cheeks.  He reached out a hand from across the room.  A gallant effort on his part to connect; and he knew I wasn’t scared of him, I was scared of what I could hear coming out of him, “You can hear them can’t you?”

“Yes.”

“The Rules of Life.” He said, “You hear them all the time.”

I crumbled crying, “They scream at me.”

The next moment, he was by my side.  His arm was around me, supporting me as I slid down the wall, “I know.” He whispered, “I used to hear them too.  I was in this prison too once.  But there’s a way out.”

I almost couldn’t look at him, “Please tell me… nobody will help me here.”

“Of course they won’t.  They expect you to do this on your own.” He said, “You have to accept them and face them head on.  During sunny days, do they lock you in your rooms?”

My eyes finally looked into his, “Yes.”

“The sun is the cure.” He smiled, “It helps you get better.” Assisting me to my feet, he walked me to the lounge where he had left a box on the table by the window where the sun had come out, “Come and sit by me at the window… come and get better so you can see the family again.”

I let him walk me to the brightness of the sunlight, holding my brother’s hand.  He sat down, patting the puke brown vinyl next to him, “Come on, sister.”

It was warm to touch as I sat down and let the sun warm my skin through the window.  I was there a few moments when the staff noticed and they rushed to grab me, but stopped, with one muttering, “Damn, we’ll have to let her go now.”

Another answered him, “Yep, she cured all because of what she’s learned.” They picked up their clipboards and made their notes about me and the Rules to Life, “First, though, we have to instill her with her rules again… as her living without rules to life isn’t good for her.”

My brother rose from the seat, leaving me there as the sun’s light filled my vision.  I felt its warmth fill my vision completely, and then I took a deep breath.

“First thing’s first, after we’ve replaced everything vital to her being human, we’ll take her back to Earth.”

“Are you sure that’s wise?” my brother asked, “On Earth her brother is dead… while here, I’m alive.”

“Yes, she’s still alive there but we just took her mind somewhere else.” Another voice answered, “So, no matter what, she’s imprisoned at some point somewhere.”

I opened my eyes and found myself in a hospital bed.  There were bars on the windows and a nurse watching over me.  She watched in amazement as I looked over at her and smiled, “You’re back with us.”

“What’s the date?” I whispered.

“You’re the first one to wake up.”

“The first one of what?”

“Don’t you know?” she smiled, “From the prison ship on planet Earth.  Here are the Rules of Life you must learn:

Sit up straight.  Don’t put your elbows on the table.  Excuse yourself when you pass wind, when you burp.  Don’t fidget. Don’t bite your nails. Don’t whine. Don’t be rude. Stop being childish. Stop interrupting… stop… don’t… don’t…”

Devil's Collection Agency

Chuck gave us 50 characters... told us to pick 5 of them and gave us 1500 words to write a story... I shoved all 50 characters into a room, picked five of them to play with and did my thing!

Hello friend.  Would you like to pull up a chair and have a drink?  It’s on the house.  Yeah, there’s not many people here yet, but just wait, I’m expecting company.

Even though there’s fifty people or so in this room listening to the quiet wanderer up on stage mumble about his exploits across the realms, nobody is really all that interested in him. 

But I am.

I’m interested enough to know it’s time to pull him off and let the friendly musician have a go before he beats the crap out of the shy guy… with his guitar.

Aaah, and here’s the last of them.

Quick close the doors before they all leave my establishment.  I want you to watch them all squirm as they realise they’re stuck here… mainly the last four who have shown up, and have found the last table is the only table they can sit at.

Why?

Oh… hehe… you see none of these people will get along very well.  And I want them to at the very least try. 

In fact, why don’t you join them?  Yes… I’m talking to you.  Here take their orders over there – yes I know what they want – and sit down with them.  It’ll be a tight squeeze, I know, but be the fly on the wall for an hour or so, and see how you go, while the friendly musician goes on stage.

What?  You’re back already?

The biased prostitute did what?  Yeah, should have warned you about her being a mind-reader when she touched you.  No wonder she punched you.  Here’s some ice for that black eye you’re gonna have tomorrow. 

Now, how did you go with the actor? 

Um… he stole your wallet?  Nah, you must have been sitting next to the aggravated thief … he really needs a good friend to turn him straight.  Oh, here he is, returning your wallet with all your stuff inside it.  How cool is that?  Not your wallet, but your stuff is inside it?  Okay… that’s a new experience, isn’t it? 

Oooh… look at that!  The actor is up on the stage quoting Shakespeare.  Very cool.  You don’t see that very often; and he’s great.  Hey looka that!  He’s going to do a play…and… with each character, he physically changes into that character!  Amazing!  Would you like another drink?  And here, let’s look at that eye of yours, it looks okay for now.  Go and sit down and enjoy the play… it’s a great classic.

Whose business card’s that?  Interesting!  An assistant… but who do they work for?  This is what I want to know… but then, I’m only a bar tender… anyway, I have other customers to serve… back soon.

Okay, let’s see that card… doesn’t say much.  Have you talked to them?  No?  Try to, see if they’re okay, because, mate, that one looks really tired.  Here give them a cup of coffee on me. 

Didn’t want the coffee?  Okay, that’s cool.  No probs.  I’ll let them come to me.  Isn’t the show amazing?  That actor hasn’t missed a beat… or a character!  Really great!  I love this play too – Romeo and Juliet – one of my all-time favourites.  I remember when it first came out at The Globe Theatre… it was fantastic!  I played … oh never mind.  Here have another drink.  And go and find out what the hell that burnt out assistant is hiding, could you?  I want to know all about my … customers… okay?  Good, thanks. 

What? Still won’t tell you?  Buy her a drink… get her drunk… screw her brains out… do what it takes to get her to tell you.  Are you shy about having sex in a public place?  I’ve seen so many of the customers here just go for it because I’ve wanted to know something about somebody else… it’s the ultimate blackmailing material to use against another person – especially if it means they don’t want anyone else to know something about them.

So, go… screw her and find out what her deep, dark, oh so dirty secret is… and come back here.

Hey, it’s been hours, where have you been?  Oh… you got her into bed… and she … hehe… mind-melded with you?  Great one!

Yeah I knew she’d do that.  Okay… cya, come back and talk to me when you can, if she lets you.

Hey, getting drinks for your table… good.  The assistant has you working well, doesn’t she?  What’s that?  You want to go home?

I’m sorry but you can’t leave now.  And your girlfriend won’t like it either… in fact she’ll kill you first before I will.

Why?  Aah, well, here’s the deal, buddy.  You’re to stay here until you get to know those five people at that table intimately.  And until such time you do, I can’t let you outa here. 

Why?  Because I said so asshole.

Hey… listen I make the rules here… and I tell you what to do, where to go and how to act.  These people and things are here because they screwed up on my watch… and they come to my bar because they belong to me. 

After all you made the deal, right.

You sealed it with a big, sloppy ol’ kiss… yep thought so.  You got a grope out while you were doin’ it, didn’t ya?  No?  Oh… you scored a dude to kiss… sorry about that.  Nah… not really, that’s piss funny!  But your ass and your soul belong to me now… and what I say goes around here.

So, go and do your shit at that table until I tell you otherwise.

No?

Listen, friend… haven’t you figured out who I am yet?

I’m not a demon…

I’m not an angel – as you may have figured out.

I’m … yeah, that’s right… oh shit…

You’ve died because my debt collector has come to your door knocking … and it’s time to pay your dues. 

And you’re paying them up front,

In cash not credit,

With your soul and mind,

And until such time, I think you’re ready to be let out into the world again I’m not letting you go.

When will that be?

Until I get bored with you  and until your new sex fiend of a girlfriend does too… and that won’t be for a very long time! Hey look a new customer.  Go and sit down with those five over there.  Play nice and don’t be a bitch about anything… just do as you’re told!

Hello friend.  Would you like to pull up a chair and have a drink?  It’s on the house.  Yeah, there’s not many people here yet, but just wait, I’m expecting company.