The Empire: Part I

I wake up to dawn.

The sun weakly tries to penetrate the clouds, but to no avail. It will have been twenty one days since I last saw the sun if it again loses its battle with the clouds. As I rise from bed, my nightgown drips behind me, a silken wave gathering and receding.

From my window, the grey land is visible and crashes with the grey of the sky. If I close my eyes tightly I can picture what it was like before the Terrors. Colors were everywhere. People laughed in the streets and smiles did not have to be painted on faces to exist there. Couples would walk together hand in hand and stroll through the greenery.

This world is now a mockery of their love.

I sigh as I slip into my dress and pin my hair back. The efforts of our country have done nothing to save it from itself. I fear that all color will be wiped from the world soon. A swatch of red amidst the grey shakes me out of my reverie. I put on my heels with slightly more haste than usual, but know better than to get my hopes up.

I slip out of the building as two guards follow my shadow. I have learned to ignore them throughout the years, but never quite get used to their near constant presence in my life. People bustle along the streets in a great hurry, their heads bent down and mouths shut. The muted colors of their clothes are ghosts of their former glory and lack the passion of the red that flashed from the window.

A group of young ladies walk past me, also in a hurry. Their hair is up and their clothes are missing large chunks of fabric. I see a few men in suits stare at them greedily before I round the corner.

The center of the city is full of people as well. They buzz with electric movements and dart quickly from building to building. I must hurry if I do not want to be noticed. Suddenly, red strikes my vision.

I see him then and he turns to smile at me.

I look at my guards, "Get him."

To be continued...