A Selection of Monologues and Short Stories

Bliss

We are known infamously by The Direction as The Agitators. 

We are all outlaws.

We are an alliance.

We know only of names; names of individuals.

We are Elowen. Quorra. Omix. I am Nim.

The Government were elected out. All of their unrealistic ideas left with them. The repetitive schedules. The bland grey of everything. General life was miserable.

The Direction were elected in. All tenants within Ostmont were delighted that finally things would get better. That there was hope for us all after centuries of having the same rules in place. Now that a new party was in power, the problems that had been created but never corrected could finally be solved. 

That's what we thought anyway.

**********

"People of Ostmont. We want to thank you for your support and votes in electing us as your new leaders for the next 50 years."

Cheers erupted throughout the streets, tenants packed in next to each other like sheep following the shepherd, for as far as your eyes could allow. Everyone straining to catch a glimpse of these new people. Our new hope. I can't quite see the face that fits the voice, but I know she is female from the shrill tone that makes your teeth quiver. 

"We can't begin to imagine was the past 50 years has been like for you. We understand that The Government has made unwise choices. This, as a result, has caused an unhealthy environment for the tenants to live and to have children. Even with The Direction now in power, we know that it will take some time before Ostmont can be a happy place once more. But, we assure you that years down the line, Ostmont will be pure bliss."

My mind begins to wander. I watch as the silent faces around me are transfixed, soaking up everything that is being said. Just lots of propaganda in my opinion. Thats how you create a campaign, gain votes, win elections. But, as I watch, faces begin to change. A low murmur begins to cover the drone of The Direction's speaker. I face the front again, trying to concentrate on the words leaving the woman's mouth over the low hum that sounds like a swarm of wasps is about to attack the entire city. Then I hear it.

"In order to keep the population under control - both mentally and physically - The Direction have decided to give away a drug called 'Bliss.' As the name implies, the drug will keep everyone perfectly blissful, virtually eliminating political unrest and the desire to overbreed."

My chest begins to tighten and I want to escape the walls of people around me. But I can't. I thought life would be better. We all did. I thought I would be able to live rather than just exist. We all did. But I won't. We won't. We believed that the problems with Ostmont would be solved. But they haven't. All that we have gained from this election is a party full of extremists. I need to leave.

**********

So I did. And now I'm here. Miles away from The City. Underground. Digging. Uprisings began all across Ostmont. The common ways of living were abolished four months, eighteen days ago... and counting.

Our alliance has a rule. You look out for yourselves on a daily basis. But today is different. We've arranged to meet up, after months of being alone, to discuss a strategic plan to overthrow The Direction. I've been in this T-Juction for what feels like an eternity now. I absentmindedly pick at the bits of gravel that have settled under my nails, hugging my blackened knees, covered in scars and hardened dead skin, now numb from incessant crawling across the cold, hard ground. I rock gently to myself, repeating my name over and over to keep myself calm. I prefer to be moving when I'm on my own. Staying in one place makes me feel trapped. I hate being trapped. It reminds me of horrible things that I don't want to remember.