afterglow // kaylor oneshots

it's you and me

Author's Notes: Look who's (kinda) back! It's me! Lol, hi guys! Never took a hiatus from writing before, and it's good to be back tbh. Remember that oneshot idea that went: inspired from Miss Americana and the Heartbreak prince, set in America but at an indefinite time in the future. Inspired by the hunger games, there is this big city where everyone is rich and then there are nine districts that are poorer and are ruled by the bigger city. Homosexuals are not tolerated. Because if you remember this then you get kudos :')

But yeah, this is not complete, let's call it part one/small drabble, but I wanted to give you something and I also wanted to publish something because I've missed you guys a lot :) Anyway, if I have enough will/inspiration, I could probably post the complete oneshot and hence part two. Please tell me what you think of this (I've written this in March) and tell me if you'd like me to finish this idea. Hope you are all well :D

Enjoy!

—

Everyone was holding their breath. Everyone was looking up at the big screen, an announcement bound to change America's history for better or for worse. The square was crowded; there was not a single nook empty. Mothers, fathers, sons, daughters. Families, couples, widows. Everyone was there, gaze pointed towards the tower. The voice of a man with silver slicked back hair echoed in the town. Even the people that hadn't managed to take it to the streets were listening to the verdict, their head appearing from behind the windows.

It was early morning; the nineteenth of November. Wheatmoor was wide awake, the rays of the sun bleeding warmth upon the golden fields surrounding the dystopian nation. Stonedale City was the wealthiest of them all; where women wore big and exuberant gowns, men squeezed inside black tuxedos, and the ceremonies were far too pompous. The nine districts that surrounded the capital, on the other hand, had no other choice but to bow down before the rich people's feet. Civilians were often times left to die, their stomachs too hungry for proper food. But Stonedale City was deaf to the pleads coming from the towns. Instead of spending money in useful buildings for the poorer people, they preferred to waste it on extravagant dresses and useless and ignorant events.

"...Now, the time to announce the winner has come."

Among the crowd; Karlie was there. The pointed hood of her long raven cloak hid half of her tense face as she waited with bated breath. The dramatic pause that the silver haired man put between the past and the future made Karlie swallow thickly, as he slowly raised the scoreboard until it reached the sight of all the viewers. The verdict was being broadcasted live from Stonedale City, and Karlie knew that part of her district — District Scarlet — was hoping to see the color of their own town displayed on that screen.

But then the man spoke, showed the scoreboard to the public, and the verdict lingered in the winter and freezing air like the stabbing pain that a sharp knife would leave behind. Karlie heard the majority of the crowd explodes in cheers, the sound deafening to her ringing ears. She stood there, disbelief freezing her whole body as she remained motionless among the euphoric horde. When she lowered her gaze gradually, everything seemed to move in slow motion as she took in her surroundings. The old, white bearded man who lacked a few teeth that stood in front of her was manifesting all of his joy by throwing his wrinkled and dirty hands in the air, grey bloodshot eyes closing and screams of pure victory spilling from his chapped thin lips. The woman beside him, however, was holding her daughter close to her chest, a fearful flicker inside her dark wide eyes. When the mother glanced down at the little girl, Karlie saw her cup the kid's terrified cheeks and noiseless words stream out of her trembling mouth. And then, the two held hands, and hurriedly escaped the still celebrating mass of people.