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Blacke Livet

 I remember always watching the crowd like a wolf watching a flock of sheep. Looking for the weak, the slow, the fools. Only now I look more like prey. I can be revealed and caught in the blink of an eye; or even worse, I could be sent to the gallows and end up dead. Everyone has an advantage over a mere and lowly servant. So I have to be faster than ever, smarter than ever and luckier than ever. It's maddening. Fortunately, no one pays attention to yet another servant, another insect scurrying around at the feet of the rich and strong. I enter the square. I feel my arms hang limply at my sides, even though they're ready for anyone who wants to stop me. That's usually my game: walking through the most congested parts of the crowd where I'm not seen or recognized by anyone. Instead, I follow the crowd around the square. My vision is no longer clouded by the fantastic scenery around me. I see beyond him: the crevices between the rocks and the security agents in white uniforms behind every shadow. The impossible world appears clearer. They barely look at each other and never smile. Only the ones that look alive, crossing here and there with slow, well-to-do men and women. Despite the heat, the sun and the traffic lights, I've never seen a place so cold. What worries me most are the video cameras hidden in the facades and alleys. There is just a few in my sector, near security headquarters. But here they are in all trades. I can see them everywhere. Someone else watches you here. The tide of people sweeps me along the main avenue, some taking a seat outside to watch the crowds pass by while enjoying their morning drinks. Some watch videos on monitors attached to the wall or hung from the tops of oversized buildings. Each one shows something different, live programs, even news and color programs that I can't understand. They all get mixed up in my head. People there don't even blink in front of the videos, as if they ignore them completely. The Palace casts a thin shadow over me, and again I find myself admiring how each anise is spent in a stately and luxurious way. But then a repetitive sound snaps me out of my trance. At first, it sounds like a siren, but it's different, a little more serious and heavy. Without thinking, I turn in the direction of the noise. In the bar next to me, all the monitors are showing the same broadcast. This is not a real statement, but a news call. Everyone stops and watches in rapt silence. When the noise ends, the reportage begins. Nathan appears on the screen suddenly surprising everyone, for a brief moment the uncomfortable silence settles until he finally starts to speak: ____________ People of Atlanta, I apologize for the interruption, unfortunately as you know the lives of many are at stake, I come through this communiqué to warn that now our country must be divided in two, those who support the reign of the current king, and those who wish a new Atlanta, one where everyone has what they need, where people are happy and prosperous together, a place where we can all raise our future children in safety, everyone must choose sides, I declare that today I announce my fight for the throne, everyone who wants to support me from now on will follow my command, stop doing whatever you are doing, close your stores, don't harvest the food, don't distribute anything, just attend this silent strike, the soldiers and security agents don't protect no one, except those who support my reign, everyone who crosses their arms and stops contributing to the economy temporarily, will be treated by me as my supporters, this is not a mere whim on my part, it is a fight that is being made by the weakest, the elderly, children, the sick, people who are unable to fend for themselves, say no to slavery. Stay with God. And know that I am on your side. - Suddenly the people around me start to move, some seem scared, others are paralyzed, the owners of stores and restaurants who heard the announcement and decide to support the prince, close their stores, expelling the rich who use the services and closing the doors at protests, in a matter of seconds everything becomes crazy. A deafening sound occurs behind me, I turn to observe what it is, a blonde appears on the big screens and televisions scattered around. _______________ Five minutes ago there was a terrorist attack in the capital. There were concentrated explosions in government buildings in the west of Sector 1. According to reports, the Court, Treasury House and Palace were damaged, the Court was not in session this morning. The blonde then leaves the scene to give way to the image of a burning building. Security officers evacuate buildings while throwing water on the flames. Identified by a circular black and red symbol on the arm, they run from one side to the other. _____________ The royal family was not at the residence and there are no confirmed deaths so far. The king must address the nation within the hour. A man next to me clenches his fist and pounds the counter. _____________ It was the prince! The king's allies are losing us, so they come to scare us in the south! - Some join in the provocations to curse the prince. _____________ We had to wipe these people off the map! - resounds another. Many vibrate in agreement. It took all my strength not to jump on these cowards who will never be taken from their homes and sent as cheap labor to an unknown place. War is inevitable I think to myself. Part of me rejoices as the next images are broadcast: the marble facade of the courthouse pulverized by explosions. These people are not invincible. They have enemies, enemies capable of hurting them and, for the first time, they are not hidden, they will be forced to fight one way or another. The anchor returns, paler than ever. Someone whispers a few words behind the camera as she flips through the cards. Her hands shake. ____________ Apparently an organization claimed responsibility for the attack on sector 1 - she says, stuttering a little. The shouting from the men at the bar quickly dies down. Everyone is eager to listen. _____________ A terrorist group calling themselves leaders of the people released this video a moment ago. ______________ Leaders of the people? ______________What the hell is...? ______________ Is this a joke? More confused questions echoed around the counter. No one has ever heard of them not even me. On the monitor, a terrible picture awaits me. A woman in front of a shaky camera. A black bandana covers her face, showing only her blood red and black, living eyes. In one of her hands, a pistol; in the other, a girl holding her arm. _____________ We are the Leaders of the people and we defend the freedom and equality of all human beings... - the woman says. It doesn't take a genius to know that a bar full of angry, violent ricassos is the last place a ragged soldier would want to be. But I can't move. I can't take my eyes off the screen. _____________ You consider yourself the masters of the world, the kings, but your empire is at an end. Until they recognize us as human, as equals, war will knock on their door. houses. Not on the battlefields, but in your cities. In your streets. Where do you live. You don't see us, and that's why we are already everywhere. Her voice resonates with authority and thoughtfulness in the last few words. The video ends. The monitor shows the presenter again, now with her jaw dropped. Growing roars drown out the rest of the newscast as those around the counter find their voices. They shout against the prince. They call him a terrorist, a murderer, and inappropriate profanity. Before his eyes fall on me, I'm back on the street. Except that, all along the avenue, from the square to the Palace, those who support the king are swarming, coming from the bars and cafes that are closing. Other poor people who appear in their servants' clothes, and simple workers disappear into the alleys and corridors, in an attempt to escape, and I, who am not stupid, follow them. When I find an alley, the screaming starts. Against all my instincts, I turn around and see a man lifted by his neck. He pleads with the aggressor: _____________ Please, I don't even know who these people are! ______________ Who are these people? - the soldier shouts in his face - Who are they? - Before the poor servant can answer, he has his throat cut, blood pours on the soldier's face, as well as those around watching and crowding around the scene, laughing and cheering. I continue on my way without looking back, the golden tip of the palace is my lighthouse, my guide amid the panic of the streets while I dodge the hallucinated and maddened people. The gates need to enter the palace. I don't even want to think about being trapped here, surrounded by walls, with no way to reach my goal, which is to enlist as an infiltrator in the royal family environment. The agents run up and down the streets. They don't know what to do or who to protect. Some round up the few servants and force them to their knees. The poor things tremble and beg. They repeat several times that they don't know anything. I can bet that unfortunately all of these will die at the hands of the king's supporters, however, I still wonder who these leaders of the people are, and why did they appear now? As soon as I arrive at the battalion, I hand my file to a sergeant who is there, sitting at a table, with a sour expression. ___________ My name is Blacke Livet and I have been recruited into the protection of the palace. - I say over my shoulder. It doesn't take long and his gaze hovers over mine. For some reason, I feel like I'm being scrutinized. _____________ Who sent you? - asks. _____________ It's not my case. - I answer. _____________ So why are you here? - He looks suspicious. _____________ I saw on television that the prince told me to choose a side, I want to protect myself, so I came from Nigrum to enlist for the king's side. - He tightens his eyes and lips. There's a hard edge to his voice that makes his words sharper. _____________ Accepted. - Apparently they are not demanding much, as I glimpsed the entrance to the palace I could see that there are almost no soldiers. It hurts inside just saying it out loud. I'm on the king's side. But I need to do this to help the side I really want to win. His words dry up. He goes back to watching and studying me as we walk through the halls. Thinking. ____________ What will my job be? - I mutter to myself. - ____________ You will guard the entrance to the gates and make rounds at night, any intruders who try to enter here must be searched and sent to the 10th battalion. _____________ Right. - He proceeds with the questions more calmly. It's like drilling a hole in a dam to let all the water flow out. I wouldn't be able to stop the words even if I wanted to. He explains to me everything necessary, I answer his questions with all sincerity, and then he shows me to the back room in the barracks where I will be sleeping, hands me the white uniform, and explains how the meals work, once the man tells me leave it alone I feel a knot rise in my stomach, I may be a soldier, I've been trained to put up with the worst things you can imagine, yet I'm still a human being, with emotions, like right now I'm afraid.