Chapter VI: Tuba's Story, Part II
"Sir, you are making your speech in about two minutes."
My speech. So it's finally come. I have been dreaming of the moment I will save the people, and the full gravity of my achievement still hasn't sunk in completely yet - and it's already a day after I did it.
I already know what's going to happen, but I still feel nervous. There will be cheers from the majority of the people. I will start my speech, and about a quarter of the way in, an assassin will jump out of the crowd, still blinded by the old government's corrupted hand. He won't be shot in front of the crowd. That will make the crowd believe that the new leader is just as insane as the last. no, I will sidestep and the assassin will rush into the hands of the guards, who will take him away.
My assistant walks up to me and tells me that it is time to face the crowd. I take a deep breath and begin walking down the long, dimly lit hallway. I stride confidently toward the giant double doors. Two assistants rush to the doors. and slowly open them, the tiny beam of light coming from the crack growing wider and wider until the doors are completely open.
Immediately, my ears are assaulted by the blaring cheers of the crowd. The day is bright and the sky is cloudless, and seeing all the happy faces of the freed residents of former Eastwind City makes me smile. I walk to the middle of the wide stage and motion for the crowd to silence. The crowd slowly dies down, and once they are fully quiet, I tap on the microphone and begin my speech.
"Welcome," I say into the microphone, "to a new dawn for each and every one of you!" The crowd cheers. "Now, I know very well the suffering you good people endured under your previous dictator. But I assure you, I am nothing like that. I am not even a dictator!
"I will be the president of this new city, and as president, I will establish a firm and open democracy. You people have been beaten and malnourished under the previous ruler. I was just like one of you, a few hours ago. And I saw these innocent people being treated unfairly, a few hours ago. And I said, 'no more,' a few hours ago. And a few hours ago, I became the mere hand of the hammer of the people. And now, a new day has come, and we are free!" The crowd goes wild, except for one man who dashes to the front of the stage and hops on, a knife glistening in his hand. He charges wildly toward me, and when he is a few inches away, he finds me right next to him as he is running into the arms of my guards. The crowd hushes, some gasping.
"Here," I say to the crowd, "is an example of a poor individual blinded by your old ruler. He has not been through what we have." Some of the people look away, and some cover their ears, trying not to witness this man being publicly executed.
"And like you are all expecting now, the old ruler publicly executed people who opposed him. But not me. This man will be talked to, and when he sees the truth, he will be a happy, free man, just like all of you." I smile. "Now, back to this new opportunity. You may have noticed that when you were freed, flags came down with a symbol burning on them. That is the symbol of this new city, which will now be named Woodfire City!" Once again, the crowd claps and cheers. "You must be thinking, 'what a peculiar name!' Well, I assure you, this name was picked with care. The wood represents the toughness of the people of this city, and how even when they are chopped down, they will rise again as a beautiful work of art. The fire represents the undying determination to achieve freedom and happiness, as well as the undying heart and soul of the people. So welcome, and I hope you enjoy your life in our new city!" The crowd's cheers and applause is so loud, it almost deafens me.
I stroll back towards the doors and hear them close behind me.
-•-LOTDH-•-
I sit on my throne. It's now been 10 days after I freed the city. I beckon for my servant to come to my side.
"What do the reports say?" I ask him.
"Seven more people have gone missing, sir, and over twenty have reported strange noises at night and one has reported seeing a mysterious column of smoke pass by with no fire under it."
I rub my forehead. This situation has become even worse. "Ok. I just need some time to think this through. Could you give me some privacy for just a few moments?"
"Absolutely, sir." My servant walks away, his back fading into the darkness of the hallway. I sit there for a while, then decide to get up. Maybe walking around will clear my mind.
I walk down the hall and into my assistant's room. Oddly, she isn't there. She is always cooked up in her office for one reason or another. I shrug it off and head outside to the streets. Nobody is outside. Not even a trace of life. Now I am scared. I really do not like this.
Suddenly, out of nowhere, a column of smoke streaks through the sky, followed by another, and another. They are coming from all directions. They creep closer and closer towards me. I back up slowly, terror coursing through my veins. Suddenly, I stop. I hear whispers behind me. Taking a deep, shaky breath, I slowly turn around. I only see the outline of the figure and it's evil pumpkin head before it and all the columns of smoke rush towards me all at once. I scream, feel a blast of unbearable pain, and everything goes black.
To be continued in the future books.
End Chapter VI