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prologue
To be brought up in a close family with two parents who love and cherish
their children more than you may think possible, where what you want is yours
and often more. Where your dreams for the future are unlimited and where your
happiness knows no boundries. The one word that can sum this up has to be,
perfect. Only nothing stays the same forever.
and the answers are all up to me. As the song drew to an end these
particular words stuck in her mind. She didnt know why, they just did and she
couldnt help but feel they had some kind of message or were somehow relevant
to her. Little did she know that perhaps shed find the relevance and alot sooner
than she thought as alongside her sisters she watched the whole adult
population die from the deadly virus that had mysteriously swept across the
world. Everything theyd once had, now gone everything was beginning to
change.
part 1-Siva
Siva took one last tearful look around her room. It seemed so empty now
despite the fact everything was still where shed left it. It just didnt seem real
somehow it was if it was someone elses room to which she was just looking into.
She wandered slowly across the room to her bed where she sat down on the soft patterned cover and slipped her hand under the pillow retrieving a small pink diary from under it. She pick up the pen that stood alone on her beside table and
began to write.
Well I guess its all over now, everythings gone all the shops and empty
houses have been looted people swept up by the Locos or Demon dogz, we have
no electricity, no water, no food. Its all gone, its almost as if the adults took it
with them leaving us all behind in a world where what you can get is yours and
only the fittest survive, a world where the future belongs to us, it is what we
choose to make it. I guess the answers really are up to me.
After quickly scribbling her name she replaced the diary and picked up the
small black and white photo of her parents from her beside table then without
faltering or even looking back she left the room, closing the door silently behind
her.
part 2-Ebony
Ebony sat in front of her dressing table mirror and carefully applied her
makeup, a heavy black band across her eye making them look darker and give a
certain air of fear to her look especially when she added little bits of red to her
face. She smiled at her reflection, it was the perfect look. She quickly swept her
long braids into two buns on each side of her head then walked over to the large
wardrobe and began to rifle through her clothes finally pairing up a pair of tight
flame red leather trousers with a tight low cut simple black top and some chunky
red bangles she found in the back of her draw.
Perfect She mumbled to herself checking her reflection once again this time
also catching the reflection of her room in it too, the large faded posters that
adorned her walls seemed like such a long time ago as did the small battered
teddy sat on her bed. She felt the tears prick her eyes but quickly reprimanded
herself, she couldnt cry not now not after being strong throughout the whole
virus and not shedding a single tear not even whilst she watched her parents die,
she couldnt crying was a sign of weakness and one thing she was not was weak.
The way she saw it was that yeah the whole adult population had been wiped out
but they had to look to the future, they had to survive and to survive you had to
be the best and that was exactly what she planned to be whatever the cost.
Theyve all gone now. We are the adults and have to make a descision about our
future whatever we may choose we must make it work. I must make it work, I
must be strong and not show them how I feel, for truth never caused anything
but pain. I must not cry for it is a weakness and the weak always fail to survive,
especially now, in this world therfore I must reamain strong. Zoot will show me
the way, the right way, the true future, the one we have been waitng for and are
destined for. The future of Power and Chaos.
~*~
part 3-Java
Java sat on her bed flicking casually through her old photo album
selecting the pictures she wanted to take with her when they left. She smiled as
she looked at one of her favorite picture of her, Ebony and Siva when they were
little all dressed up, herself as the queen with Ebony and Siva her princesses.
They used to love that game and never seemed to tire of it. She sighed heavily,
she didnt want to leave but she knew there was no choice, they couldnt
possibly survive if they stayed, the tribes would soon come and loot their home
stealing all the things that had been theirs, besides if they left now theyd be
safe Ebony had promised them that much. A single tear inched it way down her
cheek as she took one last look around her old room but she swept it away
telling herself she had to be strong, she was the oldest of the three and it was
her job to keep them all safe like her parents would have wanted and for them
she was determination to succeed.
I promised mum Id take care of them and I will but itll be hard, too hard
but we dont have the luxury of choice now its a matter of survival in which you
have to be strong, stay alert and trust no-one. To get to the top you have to
survive and thats one thing I will do whatever happens.
part 4-A new life
The three sisters left their home in the dark of the night, the sky was
ashen lit by the few tiny stars that hardly illuminated the vast sky. It seemed as
if the stars had disappeared like the adults too. They walked along in silence not
knowing what to say to each other, conversation being one thing that lacked
between them. They occasionally exchanged a few words as they made their way
into the city. As they reached the edge of the city they subconsciously moved
closer together the large shadows cast by the tall buildings looming over them
making everything even darker. Siva shivered partly from the cold but more
through fear. The fear of the unknown. Java sensed this and put a reassuring
hand on her shoulder then turned to Ebony who was stood next to her.
So Ebony, wheres this tribe of yours?
Ebony didnt say anything for a few minutes as in truth she didnt know but she
couldnt let Java know that instead she kept on walking and gave a huge sigh of
relief as she saw the large sign appear in front of them
Here. Ebony replied as they stopped then, with one last glance back at the city
she headed inside.
The Horton Bailey Hotel, their new home. They were safe at last. Safe
from the tribal wars where the city tribes hunted down those who didnt belong
to a tribe but they no longer had to fear they were part of the most powerful and
feared tribe in the city, the Locos.
~*~
part 5- Life as a loco
Ebony a voice greeted them as the entered the hotel. Ebony swung
round to face a tall, slim guy who was dressed head to toe in leather of different
colours. His hair was in messy blonde dreadlocks reaching down to his chin, his
face was adorned with red streaks making his appearance more scary. All this
they noticed after being stood for a few minutes as the first thing they noticed
was his eyes. They too were RED and his pupils appeared tiny making him look
almost demon like. Siva cowered slightly behind Java who too was fascinated
and scared by this strange guy in front of them. Ebony unlike her sisters stepped
forward not at all affected by Zoots unusual appearance and hugged her friend,
glad to be out of the cold and danger.
After a quick introduction Zoot assigned one of his equally frightening
malitia to show Java and Siva where they would be sleeping whilst he himself
showed Ebony to her suite, directly opposite his.
Java and Siva looked round their room, the walls were a garish boggy
brown and lime green colour which werent exactly pretty to look at and the
bright red covers made the room even more hideous with its simplistic style a
small wardrobe, a chair and a small desk. Being tired and relieved to be safe
neither complained about it, instead they bid the other goodnight, climbed into
bed falling into a dream filled sleep.
Ebony, on the otherhand was delighted with her new room, spacious and
light, with a great view of the pool below. The blood red walls and matching sofa
and covers added a hint of sophistication and fright to the room which was
sufficiently furnished with a large wardrobe, a desk, dressing table, sofa and its
very own on-suite bathroom. after a quick examination she flopped back onto
the soft bed smiling to herself as she drifted off to sleep.
Ebony was woken by the blazing sunlight shining through the small
window into her room providing warmth and heat. She smiled as she heard a
soft tap at the door, she knew who it would be and sure enough Zoots figure
soon emerged from behind the door. carrying a tray ladened with breakfast. She
smiled slyly to herself. She had him exactly where she wanted him and now it
was time to play and boy would she play.
Ebony- Power and chaos, it all makes so much sense and its so easy to take
control over the city which has crumbled through the virus. I have Zoot eating
out of my hand everything I want is mine including Power. I am his queen, the
one he turns to for advice, help and fun, the one who stands alongside him as we
tear down the city streets creating fear amongst those who are weak and
powerless, those who will fade away and only walk amongst us as ghosts. I WILL
not be one of them, I refuse to fade away and accept what I have until I have
everything I want and that includes the one thing I want most: Bray.
Ebony stood tall and proud beside Zoot in the top of the Loco police car as they
sped through the city streets, the siren blurring, the loud rumble of the skaters
wheels on the hard concrete. She smiled as the hurried along to the old Railtrack
where they were meant to be meeting some Loco hopefuls. Zoot smiled at her
and wrapped his arm around her and she in turn did the same knowing he liked
having her as a queen, someone by his side to take command and control too,
someone who like him who when present created not only respect but Fear his
favourate four letter word. Ebony grinned as they pulled to a halt four darkly
clothed figures appraoched them and after Zoot she scrambled out of the car.
This was going to be fun, for her at least but two figures stood in the background
with not quite the same feelings.
Siva- Of all people, of all tribes Ebony had to know Zoot, a kid gone crazy with a
wild idea about perfection being found through power and chaos, the power
coming not from respect but fear and the chaos created by the craziness of other
city kids confused, scared and alone in the world, many for the first time with no
idea how their supposed to survive let alone live any kind of life therefore being
sucked into the turmoil that is chaos. Just today we saw four people they wanted
to join the locos, they wanted the glory, the power but most of all the safety,
knowing that if they were locos they wouldnt have to endure the suffering we
force upon them, they seemed nice, normal, whatever normal is these days but
Zoot didnt see it that way. He saw them as bait as a new toy and as he
approached them his eyes lit up with the joy which a child has when presented
with this new toy. And he played with success upon one of them. A boy maybe
just a year or two younger than myself, he dragged him off the wall up which he
was trying to scramble prizing him away from his friends, the only family he had
left. Then the torture began and all I could do was stand by and watch me too a
helpless victim caught in the wrath of this tangled mess we now have to call a
future.
~*~
part 6- Is this the future we want for ourselves?
Both Java and Siva watched nervously from the back of the small crowd of Locos
who were all cheering and laughing as Zoot tortured his chosen victim both him
and Ebony laughing with pleasure and callous at the obvisouly petrified boy
whom had been captured and abandoned by his friends leaving him to face the
Locos alone. Sivas eyes began to wander stopping and staring at the wall over
which the others had vanished, something inside her yelled for her to do the
same and be free but another part of her told her not to be so ridicules what did
she have to run to? Everything and everyone she had was here with them,
besides Luke a blue haired member of the malitia was staring at her intently
astounded by her beauty despite the fact that the strong red strips and heavy
black eye make-up masked her to an extent. She stared back at him but a loud
smacking sound made both of them jump in surprise breaking the gaze between
them. What she saw before her eyes now made all the blood in her body run cold
and she had to use every fibre in her body to stop her from yelling out as she
knew it would be no use, shed become part of it she knew it. After a few more
minutes Zoot returned to the car and quickly the Locos gathered themselves up
and began to speed away leaving a lifeless figure slumped on the floor blood
seeping through his clothes onto the dry ground. Siva quickly turned away the
feeling of guilty and helplessness to much and the salty tears crept over her soft
cheeks.
Two figures noticed this: one longed to reach out and hold her tell her
everything would be ok, whilst the other gave a scornful sigh, what they had just
done was part of their life now shed have to get used to it, there was no choice
it was a way of life for them whether they enjoyed it or not- the question was did
she enjoy it?
part 7- All you have to change is everything you are.
Java stared out the small window in her room watching the Locos scurry
to and fro following Zoots orders as he lay by the pool deep in conversation with
Ebony. She didnt know what they were talking about, nor did she really care
only she couldnt help but watch them. She couldnt explain it but she was
intrigued by this Zoot guy, sure he was crazy but they all were really, with no
laws enforced upon they were free to do whatever they wanted to do. They were
in charge, they made up the rules now and Zoot had his, Power and Chaos. He
was going to make sure everyone stood by them and so far hed done well
having not only the biggest tribe but the most powerful and feared one. For this
she admired him and she knew this yet she still couldnt explained why she was
attracted to him, after all it was only earlier that very day shed watch him beat
a child, barely younger than herself almost to death just leaving him to die
slowly and painfully as a sign to the other tribes of his power, a warning.
Java- Only a few weeks ago I would have found leaving a small child to die
barbaric and repulsive and deep down I know I still should but I cant help feeling
this is different, instead of feeling cruel all I felt was power, the power to what
we want something weve never had before. I like the way ours lives are now
only limited to our imaginations and with a world where 16/17 year olds are
consisdered old, its got to be a very unlimited world controlled only be the
strongest which is what I aim to be, the Locos are my stepladder to that. Siva
cried again today, thats all she ever seems to do these days I know shes hurting
inside we all are only Ebony and I hide our feelings, a sign of strength and
power. The power to survive!
Ebony rich laughter filled the warm summer air as she wrestled Zoot beside the
pool finally loosing and crashing into the water with a loud splash. She splashed
back through the surface of the water scattering tiny droplets of water over Zoot
and causing the usually placid water to ripple vigouroulsy. She laughed again her
laugh full of happiness and fun, a sound not heard in a long time since the virus
laughter had pretty much become extinct and to Ebony it was a relief to finally
be able to laugh and get things back on track. She smiled wickedly up at Zoot
who sat watching her from the side. She knew he was attracted to her the soft
caring look in his eyes told her that and she knew there was something about
him too that attracted her maybe as they were alike in many ways. She gestured
to him to help her out of the pool, he quickly jumped up to help her and as he
clasped his hand tightly round hers she used all her might and brought him
carshing down into the water too, he quickly emerged laughing too declaring war
on Ebony and they remained in the water splashing about happily for some time
forgetting everything and everyone around them, having fun just like the old
days.
Ebony- As the days go by and the more time I spend here with him the more I
realise that its Bray I want, it always has been right from the word go. I dont
know what it is about him after all hes the goody-goody type not like Zoot who
thrives from seeing others suffer. Maybe its just the whole Adam and Eve thing,
wanting most the one thing you cant have, longing to touch the forbidden fruit
and like them I will get what I want somehow, someday but until then I have
Zoot and I still have power, without that I would be nothing. Power is everything,
emoitions are nothing therefore I must mask my ture feelings and conquer the
Locos and with Zoot as a willing servant its going to be easier than I thought.
Siva watched Ebony and Zoot from the shade of the lush trees that surrounded
the hotel, she couldnt help but smile as she saw for the first time in what
seemed like and eternity people smiling, laughing having fun soemthing she
thought had been long forgotten. She too wanted to join in the laughing but
knew she couldnt, she didnt share their feelings, their ways. To them what had
happened that day was fun, showiung their power and causing chaos, the two
things Zoot stood for. The trouble was she didnt, she never had and never
would. Shed always been very openminded and unlike her sisters had always
believed that people should be allowed to feel and think what they wanted
without been judged or told they were wrong. This made her remember Nereeze,
her best friend, maybe her only true friend. Theyd never met the only contact
made was through the internet, letters and the phone but they had an
unbreakble friendship and had stood by each other through the good and bad
times. A tear slowly formed in the corner of her eye as she remebered the last
phone call between the two and the excitment they had shared after both their
parents had agreed to let them meet. She quickly wiped it away as she noticed
once again Luke was sitting nearby watching her curiously, he couldnt see her
cry, crying was a sign of weakness according to Java who had only the previous
night scolded her for it.
Siva- Why all of a sudden is it so wrong to cry and morn for those weve lost? I
know it can;t bring them back nothing will but why must we forget all the good
things we had back then? Java tells me that crying is a sign of weakness and that
the weak will not survive but I doubt that somehow. How can it be considered
weak to show your feelings and emmotions showing that you know how you feel
and relieving yourself of all the feelings built up inside of us than shutting them
away so that no-one can see them or help you constantly keeping yourself locked
away building up a fence around you thats impossible to break? But maybe Im
wrong prehaps the only way to survive is to change everything you once
thought, felt and were concerntrating only on the key thing: survival of the
fittest.
~*~
part 8-spyed by the eyes of an enemy.
Apart they coped, were strong and individual but together they were
destructive, each with there own distinctiveness, thoughts, feelings and opinions
and these things didnt mix too well together. Whilst Ebony became power
hungry thriving from seeing others suffer, Java became warrior like her only goal
to survive and nothing was going to stand in her way as she did this. Siva
however struggled to cope with the horror and corruptness of the Locos, she
didnt understand how her sisters could stand beside Zoot and watch as he
massacred innocent children without even batting an eyelid. Every single blow to
each child felt like a blow to Siva, like part of her too was fading and dying but
she was trapped becoming ever more claustrophobic yet there was no way for
her to escape.
As she stood in the back of the Loco car she flinched as she heard the
hard staff hit the small green haired boy who was only about 12, she couldnt
even bare to look she felt too guilty knowing that she was a part of all this
wether she wanted it or not. This was her life now. A life she hated more than
ever, even before the virus when shed never had any true friends who she could
confide in or share things with unlike Ebony and Java who had plenty of friends.
Before all shed longed for was a friend even after she met Nereeze she wished
for someone to be there with her throughout the day, but now she would have
given anything to go back to how things were before being a friendless lonely
teenager shadowed by her sisters who often found fun in making her life hell.
Siva-They always say you dont know what youve got till its gone and its true,
so true infact I would give anything to be back at home, with mum and dad living
a normal life even if it did mean putting up with Java and ebonys constant
bickering and occasional snide comments anything to be away from here. I know
it may seem the logical thing to leave but its not like that, once your in the only
way to leave is through death and the longer I stay here the more appealing that
looks. What makes it all harder is that neither of the others see it infact they
seem to enjoy it. Today I watched how all the other members of the tribe
worship Zoot as if hes some kind of God, theres this one Loco, I think his name
is Jaffa who practically kisses the ground he walks on. I hate seeing him do this,
throwing himself at Zoot like he does a willing slave to this retched cause, the
only person who even seems to have any kind of hate or resentment towards
them is Luke but even his is small and as much as I want to Im not completely
sure whether I can trust him, after all Jaffa is his cousin.
Java stood tall and proud watching as together Zoot and Ebony lynched some
child yelling at him demanding information from him. Their voices were loud and
terrifying and it was clear to see the teen was pertrified but he refused to tell
them anything about his tribe where they were or what they did and for this she
admired him, she admired strength her trouble was she also admired power
maybe a little too much and it was for this reason she allowed the beating to
continue whilst she stood there and watched tense so as not to allow herself to
flicnh or cry.
The locos were so engrossed in watching that they didnt notice in the
shadows cast by the building that loomed overhead a girl crouched hidden in the
shadows watching the Locos with the ut most discust and anger, how could
anyone do that and be so cruel to someone so young. Boldly she stood up from
her hiding place determined to do something, to stop them she couldnt stand by
and watch a member of her own tribe be killed in this savage way. Boldy she
stood allowing herself to be seen but luckily they were too engrossed in what
was going on to notice her. She had no idea what she was going until she saw a
figure, stood slightly away from all the others and then a plan came to mind, she
quickly ran her hand down to her boot to reach for her most prized possesion a
small dagger, it wasnt much but it was.... gone and at that moment a hand
grasped her shoulder tightly forcing her back down onto the ground.
~*~
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