If Only The Government Was Colourblind

Chapter 1

Then: April 12th

All citizens. This is your daily announcement that curfew is now in action. Any lawbreakers and offenders caught wandering about after curfew shall be punished accordingly, however is seen fit. We are watching; always. You have been warned. Goodnight.

The loudspeaker cuts out with a crackle. Not quietly the way people who are caught are cut. Its quite the opposite; loud, prominent.

I roll onto my side on my bed, one leg hanging off the edge. I stare blankly at the wall. Theres no point to our lives since the enactment of curfew. Were not allowed to travel outside the borders. Only authorities like the guards and government personnel are able to. The only places were allowed to go are places that are always being monitored by the cameras and the people seated behind them.

Hangings and lethal injection had been outlawed by the government a few years back. But there was a shocking increase in crime rates. Criminals thought that no matter what they did, they would not be put down like a sick dog or strangled to death by a rope anymore. They would only serve time in a jail cell meaning that resources would be provided for free. In reality, they are given no real punishment besides their own isolation and boredom. 

Due to this increase of crime, the government decided to bring back at least one of these punishments; hangings. Only now, all hangings would be public. This was to serve as an example and a warning of what would become of any offender.

The next phase was the military presence. One day they werent there and the next, they were everywhere. In the streets, stationed outside of certain buildings such as the bank and parliamentary buildings. But the guards obviously cant catch everyone. The government wasnt satisfied with the decline in crime rates. They wanted it down further, as close to zero as they could get it.

The installation of surveillance cameras was the next phase. They caught so many more people within the next few days after the cameras were set up. There were many hangings, sometimes multiple people in one day.

The fourth and final phase was the introduction of the curfew. Crime rates dropped heavily. Committing crimes in daylight is much harder than during the night. The curfew meant that people who abided by the rules would stay inside. This would be the majority of the population. There would be a few stragglers but they were easily caught.

I only hope that I dont lead the same fate as one of those stragglers.

I throw the blankets back and get up silently, slipping shoes on. I pull a jacket off a hook on the back of my door and shrug it on. I stop for a second and listen. Nothing. I go to the window, slide it open, put a leg out, followed by the rest of my body and crouch on the roof. There are no cameras pointed at my window or even my roof so Im safe here. Its being on the street where I have to be most cautious; the guards are down there.

I crawl across the red clay-tiled roof until I reach the drain pipe. I get a firm grip with both hands and swing my body around. I take my feet off the roof and let them dangle. Then I slowly lower myself down, using all of my upper body strength so I dont drop from too great a height. I drop down once Im low enough, bending my knees to avoid straining my ankles. I flip my hood up and over my face, tuck my hands in my pockets and walk as quickly and quietly as I can.

The silence of the night is almost deafening, engulfing me and suffocating me. It makes me conscious of my own heartbeat and breathing.

Im here. I turn and check around me. Clear. I make a right and walk slowly into the alley. No one. I push my sleeve back and check my watch. Hes late. Where is he? Please God, dont let him get tangled up with guards.