Short Story: The Spot

Short Story: The Spot

The Spot

The Government never saw it coming. Their teachers never saw it coming. Their parents turned a deaf ear to the signs. And the poor victims would never have dreamed of anything like this. The only thing that everyone did have in common was a mutual panic; mass hysteria gone out of control. That’s what it all came down to, because the feeling of helplessness was common. No one could have done a thing to prevent the events that led to the destruction of civilization. No one.

People who survived the tragic chaos that tore open a hole in their lives, have lost the memory of what it was like to live in harmony; to think and feel like a normal human. Nothing could go back to the way it was anymore. The next Generation are now in control of the once beautiful, but now dilapidated, cities. As teenagers march through the streets, images of Authority and Adult power are torn down, cremated and will be slowly forgotten. The flags that were cherished by the Adults are being used to clean up the dog messes left behind.

It was not unusual for human bodies to be found in dumpsters. After the war there was a large increase in the death toll. So much so, that the first step, since proclaiming The Spot as the official Neo Republican Government, was to clear up the corpses. The stench was so overwhelming that after a while many youths became sick. Then there was the STD epidemic which spread faster than fire on dead wood. Syphilis, Gonorrhoea, and that other one that kills, the “unspeakable” AIDS, you name it. There wasn’t a single thing excluded. The pharmacies were poorly run. Condoms were purchased by the bundle, as a special way to combat these undesirable diseases. However, pregnancy was still a hot case that was being worked on.

Racism was entirely eliminated. It was an Adult issue that would remain where Adults now were - in the grave. Politics were dealt with differently from when the Adults had hegemony and “order”. There had been an election, but the result lasted only 3 months. It was held to give others a chance to taste power. The juridical system was run mainly by vigilantes rather than having a police force, which seemed more tedious and boring to handle. Prisons were no longer used because they stood as an Adult symbol of control. No one controls anyone anymore. However, there was still need for capital punishment, but it was public and a little more different than you would expect.

Everything is not all gloomy in this new world created by tomorrow’s generation. Every night is just one big, drug induced party. Young girls take promiscuity to a new level. Who knew that you can do a whole population within a week? The only interruption would come from the bombs and fire crackers that were being set off by hooligans; no, citizens to be more accurate. Buildings that weren’t being used properly were being knocked down.

The best tradition that the Neo Republic could offer was Friday Game nights. No, they had nothing at all to do with videogames. Several players were placed in a building that contains a timer set to go off within 15 minutes. The object of the game is to eliminate your opponents before the timer goes off. If the timer goes off the building explodes. The Spot blog thought it would be a good idea for dealing with criminals, so its more of a criminal sport; with one small exception: do-gooders who want a thrill because they don’t make marijuana like they used to.

Somewhere, although things are all fun and play in the city, are the Rota-programmed fanatics who worship The Spot. They are the nerds and geeks who shrill at the thought of socializing. They congregate around web shops and computers, forgetting their hygienic needs and indulging in the delicacies of computer browsing. They were the ministers of The Spot, preaching the voice of The Spot to the whole Neo Republic. They are happier now, because they are needed and people take them seriously. How else would anyone besides a techno geek understand 010?

As bad as this new Utopia sounds, rumoured plans for a new revolution and a better life are being electronically messaged through the numerous blogs on the cult sites.

It is unclear why suddenly there was a war in the first place or when the Neo Republic took over. No one knows anymore where the Adults are, nor do they care. All anyone can recall is a youth in armour carrying authority in his hands, shooting his own fate.