A broken world. That's what this was. This was the thought that was running through my mind as I walked through the desolate streets of Chuzpak City, although I believe at one point in time it was called San Francisco.
The buildings towered over me, lights filling the dark night rising until it met a glowing circle in the sky, almost as if it was a gateway to heaven. To most, the architecture was dazzling; skyscrapers so high they poked through the clouds and a giant light in the darkness giving comfort to most citizens of Chuzpak.
But not to me. I knew the truth about the city. The buildings loomed over me like tall figures watching my every move, ears listening as I whispered the government's secrets to those willing to listen.
And the glowing circle in the sky? That was the Control Center, where the government kept control over not just Chuzpak City, but the entire country. The entire world. I knew what occurred there, everything from spying and experiments on the citizens to work camps and mind controlled employees. Just about everything bad came from the Control Center.
And at the helm of it all was the president, William Cardon. He was at the reigns, controlling his spies and secret police who controlled the people. And while the government was painted as a democracy; House of Representatives, Supreme Court, president, and all, I knew that it was really just a dictatorship.
Cardon had come from a long line of men like himself as well, each one more vile and cruel than the rest. And Cardon seemed the worst so far.
As I passed another building, I noticed a mother and her young son sitting on a street corner, illuminated by the lights of the buildings above. They coughed, no doubt the pollution and poor air quality the cause of it. Luckily for me, I had a mask to protect from most of that, but it seemed this poor family didn't.
But as much as I wanted to help them, I knew that could never be the case. Even if I gave them my mask now, even if I provided them with food and shelter, it was too late for them. They were already a part of the city's vast poverty, and they would likely die in a few weeks at best. The air pollution was bad enough, but without access to food and water, and with the gangs running rampant through the streets, their survival was unlikely.
And to add onto all of that, there was a virus spreading around. It was no surprise, sicknesses like this happened frequently throughout Chuzpak City, with its dense population and poor sanitation, but this one seemed...different. It would cause bumps across the skin and the victim's lungs to slowly collapse. People could barely survive a week.
It was thought to be spread through not only the air, but also if it came within direct contact with the skin. And as I looked at the pair again, I noticed the bumps covering their faces and arms. Yep. It was too late. Even if I helped them now, they were too far gone. I would only become ill, as well.
And this city didn't need any more death.
All I could do was wish that it happened quickly for them, that they would pass with little pain and suffering. I wished it would happen in their sleep, so they could die quickly.
I wished this world wasn't so cruel.
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