Wrath of a God

Governor Augustus Richmond was nothing short of annoyed. The thieving filth of the land stole his beloved’s most dear piece of refined jewelry, a diamond-encrusted heart-shaped locket. It wasn’t so large as to be gaudy, but enough so as to flaunt their wealth and power, to show off that she towered above the vermin that were of lesser bloodlines. Those animals, he thought to himself. His personal police force, which he would joyfully refer to as his smiting hand, scoured the ghetto in search of the prized piece of sterling and diamond. To think I was REWARDING them by allowing them presence at my inauguration.

It was his 12th successful election, so he thought it was only fair to allow the lower class to attend this one, and now only, time. Of course, saying he allowed them to attend was a bit of a stretch. Everyone not in the pure-genetic class had a chip inserted in their spinal cord at an early age that had some… influence on their day-to-day activities. Let’s say, to disobey their superiors, it would be an immensely unpleasant experience for them.

‘Rewarding’ the lowers wasn’t the only motive behind his invitation, he needed good PR. The public loved seeing politicians involving their working class, and with there being cameras at the inauguration, he couldn’t resist. On camera, he was a caring, honest man who was true to his word with every promise he made to his workers. More food ration tokens, more water, maybe an extra bed in the single room homes four families shared would surely put a smile on their faces. Now, no one said the quality of everything would improve. Sawdust in their soup, piss-soaked sheets on a bed littered with mites that were no thicker than a sheet of hemp fabric. And the water? It hasn’t been clear for them in some time.

But they didn’t have to know that before his election. 12th election, that is. Their chips also offered some guidance for the muddled gene pool filth as they cast their votes for the only man running. They dare not offer one of themselves up for election due to the unfortunate consequence that would befall them.

Ring

It was the head of his police division. “Did you find it?”

“No sir, housing unit A62 has been cleared. No locket. We took care of the civilians who were inside. They insisted they’ve never seen it, so-“

“Liars,” the burly man shrieked into the phone, red with fury. “Those bastards saw it plain as day across Beatrice’s neck at the inauguration. It was on all of the large screens as we walked on stage. They saw it, they know what it looks like, and I want them to be dealt with for insulting me.”

“Yes sir, we already have plans to send them to the Pits.”

The Pits, a nightmare for anyone who was born in the muck of the town. A hard-labor camp, though some would argue that those of less-pure bloodline already have a hard-labor-inducing lifestyle, the difference is no one returns from the Pits. The survival rate there is six months to a year at most, and some would rather take their own life than suffer the excruciating inhumane circumstances they would be subject to with that sentence.

“No trial, no paperwork. I want the men, women, and especially their damn rat pups sent there if they even think of insulting me by playing dumb. I know they have it. Find. It. Now. Sergeant. If they resist, you know what to do.”

“Yes sir.”

Click

The governor sat back in his leather-bound chair, huffing as he watched the chip monitor. There was software that allowed him to pinpoint specific GPS locations, but that wasn’t his concern. His main concern was the status. A green light meant the individual was abiding by the laws set. They went to their 18-hour worksite and went home without staying past curfew. A yellow light meant they were flagged for the Pit. The screen became steadily more and more sickly as yellow swamped the monitor.

Ping

A red light glowed at the sound. That could only mean one of the lowly wretches resisted his wrath and was swiftly taken care of. Governor Richmond chuckled in amusement. “Fight as you must, I will get back my sweet’s locket, even if I have to purge the whole lot of you.”

Ping

Ping

Ping ping ping

Pingpingpingping

“Darling?”

“Not now, my dearest. I am handling this. We will find your locket, and if it is tainted and covered in filth, I will get you a new one. Maybe this time I will find one to match your eyes. I would have nothing less for you.”

The board was overwhelmingly yellow, but red speckled throughout, steadily rising to its more muted counterpart.

Ping ping ping

“My darling Gus, you would never believe what I found while getting dressed for dinner. Oh dear, it caused quite the chuckle to come out of me!”

Oh, how he couldn’t resist his charming wife. The large man turned in his chair to see her standing before him. Even after 55 years, he had yet to tire of her beauty. “Oh? What do you have there?”

“That’s the thing! I must have stored my locket in my clutch. The air felt so dirty with those animals near us, I was terrified it would dull the shine. How silly of me!” She let out the sweetest laugh, as though her forgetfulness wasn’t causing unheard panic not but a mile from their home.

“Oh Beatrice, I am so happy you found it.” Augustus stood from his chair with a groan and approached his wife with an endearing look, ignoring the increasing magnitude of the pinging occurring behind him. “Here, let’s have ourselves a wonderful dinner to celebrate? I’ll open one of your favorite wines from the cellar. How about that?”

“That sounds divine.”

With that, they walked arm-in-arm to the dining hall as the monitor became overrun with red.