City of the Forsaken

Smoke blew up into the sky and the ground shook as the gates to the crumbling city closed its gates. But maybe it was just crumbling for me. Maybe the closed city gates were to keep us safe but as the acidic air stung my nose and brought tears to my eyes doubt backed up every thought in my head.

The dirty water that was the only thing we had to drink and the only thing we could wash our clothes with were defining and symbolizing the life that we were leading in the crowded maze of our confines they called homes.

My senses were beaten around by the smell and sounds of the liquor and yelling of escapism.

I almost couldn't see the street just a few steps ahead of me. Now whether that was because of my shitty eyesight or the smoke. Hell, maybe it was both it's hard to tell.

"Lucia! Come hurry!" My friend and co-worker at the Ring, Nikola, ran up behind me swinging on his vest and holding his sword limply in his hand.

Darting after them I noticed that the smoke that was billowing into the sky from what looked like the center of time was turning red.

Red smoke...

The commanders.

********

The town square was filling up with people who were being dragged into yard. The commander dressed in a blue uniform stood on a platform in front of the crumbling stone church. In her hand was the head of the town's mayor.

Looking around I could see that amongst the drunk and sick this did nothing to intimidate them.

No one cared about that fool so no one was sad either.

Twisting around the people in front of me I could see about six soldiers on either side of the platform.

"Your mayor has been killed for treason. Until a new leader has been appointed we will be here to keep the peace." She stuck her chest out with pride in the justification of her duty.

Nikola burped and leaned against his dull blade kicking up his open-toed boots onto a cracked open and mud-covered whiskey box.

The commander surveyed the people.

"You may return to your day. If any more changes occur you will be summoned back to the square."

It took a short amount of time for everyone to stumble and meander out of the town square and into the pothole-ridden muddy water streets.

Walking up to the commander we made it a few feet infront of the commander before we stopped by her soldiers.

"Welcome to the Mud Pit. Hope you leave soon." Nikola snarked to her before moving to the opening of our street way before waiting for me.

Looking up at her I could see the gleam and shine to her uniform and looking at the soldiers who stared blankly ahead I could see that their uniform was just as clean.

"I really do hope you guys get to leave soon."

I didn't look back till I was in the middle of my street next to Nikola and all I could see was the fog and smoke which was pretty blurry to me.