Chapter Sixteen.
Forced Despair
I head to school feeling refreshed and exuberant. It must be because of my shiny new trophy. I have exams, but I’m not particularly worried as I‘ve revised.
The test is an hour and a half long, my wrist aches from writing so much.
I’m relieved when it’s finally lunchtime. I see Calix as he leaves his class.
“Hey, how did you do?” I ask
“Hey, Champion! I think I did well, I didn’t revise much but I have a photographic memory and a love of the subject so that should see me through,” he smiles cockily.
“You are so annoying Calix, I revise for weeks to do well but success comes so easily for you. It isn’t fair,” I pout
“It isn’t fair that you won the Crying Champion trophy after one attempt and I have never won it. Where have you put it?” he asks.
“It’s in my bedroom, on top of my wardrobe .If Jasmine or Charlotte come over, they are going to want an explanation!”
“Just tell them it was for an onion chopping contest,” he smiles ,arms folded, standing tall and confident, despite the fact he’s only just come out of an exam.
“It has Gloomsday written on it!” I remind him, “They won’t know what it means .Don’t worry,” he says, reassuringly.
“The vote is being counted and we should know by tonight. There will be a televised announcement but it’s likely Dad already knows. He always has to be the first to find out official matters in the city,” says Calix, looking irritated.
“What happens when you find out the result?” I ask, curiously.
“I’ll use it for positive change. I’ll make minor adjustments to the city and try and resolve conflict but I won’t do anything extreme ,even if the results of the vote are extreme,” he says wisely.
“Calix, I think sometimes you are just too good to be true,” I say, feeling he’s faultless at times.
“Don’t forget that I am broken Seren .Flawed, damaged and hurt,” he says, reminding me he is far from perfect.
After school, we both head to the city, smiling and walking hand in hand. I think that sometimes for a broken couple in a city of despair, we are just far too happy and in love. In some ways I think the Kings conquest to destroy us and the divide of the city, only makes us stronger and stick together more.
When we enter the city, cinema-sized screens greet us with the headline ‘Breaking
News-Result of public vote Pro Despair 57%,Pro-Happiness 43%’.Other headlines read ‘The City stays Broken. Victory for the King!’
“Did you know the results of the vote already?” I ask Calix, thinking it’s strange that the media should know the result before the prince.
“No. This is the first I know of it, same as you!” he says, gazing at the screen in amazement.
“And what do you think of the result?” I ask, trying to gauge his reaction.
“I’m pleased, I guess .It’s not extreme .It’s balanced enough that it may end the divide. I’d be more concerned if it was severe either way,” he says.
“But I thought you wanted a majority rules situation,” I say.
“Well that was more because of Dad‘s dictatorship, to give the city a fair say. But I’m happy it’s turned out like this. The Smiley’s are not a minuscule percentage so they can’t be persecuted.
Everyone’s opinion will be valued now,” he says smiling.
“I don’t know. It’s still in favour of Pro-Despair ,the King will only use this to his advantage Calix,” I say, thinking it’s probably The King who’s behind the leak to the media.
“Maybe. Do you think this vote was a bad idea Seren?” he asks, looking concerned.
“No. You had good intentions Calix. As you say ,it wasn’t extreme either way. The Pro-Happiness group has a substantial percentage, so they can’t be penalized for being abnormal anymore,” I say, trying to look at the positive element of the vote.
“That’s true. Dad can’t write off 43% of the city as insane now,” he laughs.
Walking through the city, I realize that there are quite a few people wearing colour, even though it’s still illegal. Maybe the vote wasn’t a bad thing after all. The Smiley’s are still smiling, and the hostility isn’t as apparent.
Just as I’m beginning to think Calix’s plan has worked better than expected, I look up and see a giant billboard being erected .Men on ladders are busy with glue, to paste a poster that reads ‘The public have spoken-we are Broken.’ Similar posters are being put up throughout the city, which causes me to believe that the king is already working at broadcasting the dominant view of the city, persuading the minority to conform and join with the rest.
“I think that judging by these posters, Dad is pleased with the result,” says Calix, reading my mind.
“I agree, but don’t you think that if so many Smiley’s weren’t imprisoned, the vote would have been closer to a tie or even in their favour?” I ask him.
“Possibly. But I don’t think it’s anything to worry about. Somebody had to come out on top.
Dad would have still started a Broken advertising campaign even if The Smiley’s had won.”
“Yes ,that’s true .What should we do now Calix?” I ask, keen to have some fun after a day of talking politics.
“Let’s go to the city centre and get some ice cream to celebrate the vote and your winning of the Crying Competition,” he says enthusiastically ,grabbing my hand.
We walk briskly through the city, passing men wearing a uniform of black, with dark sunglasses on and badges that read ‘Despair Enforcement Officer’. They seem to be scattered everywhere throughout the city.
“Halt!” one says, stopping us on our quest.
“Yes?” enquires Calix, bewildered by the mans request.
“Why are you looking happy?” he asks, his tone deadly serious, almost threatening.
“Why? Because I’m with the girl I love and we’re about to go and get some ice cream!” says Calix, without any fear in his voice.
“I’m afraid I can’t allow you to do that Sir. I ’m going to have to search you. You too Miss,” he says ,glancing at me suspiciously.
“What for? We haven’t done anything wrong,” I say angrily. This man is ruining our day.
He ignores me and searches Calix. He holds up his hand.
“And what do you think you are doing Sir, wearing this?” he says holding Calix’s engagement ring ,staring at it with disgust.
“It’s not a crime to be engaged. And I do not want you man-handling something so personal,” says Calix forcefully.
“It’s a symbol of love and happiness. I’m going to have to confiscate it Sir,” he says taking the engagement ring, putting it into his jacket pocket.
Calix stares at him with a hatred I have never seen him exhibit before.
“Oh, you too Miss! I’m going to have to take yours as well,” he says, reaching for my finger.
“You will not! I don’t think you realize who you are dealing with here. This is the Prince!” I say, pointing at Calix.
“I realize perfectly well who he is. I am under orders from the King. And a King is higher than a prince. Now, are you going to give me that ring or am I going to have to arrest you?” he says coldly ,taking handcuffs from his belt.
“Give him the ring,” says Calix seriously.
I hand it over, to fulfil Calix’s order only, not his.
“Okay. Well seen as you have cooperated, I’ll let you guys off with a caution. But I’ll have you know that smiling and happiness are illegal activities, so obey the law or we’ll wipe the smile off your face by throwing you into the slammer,” he says, smiling himself at his own joke.
Calix nods but doesn’t say anything.
The officer walks off and Calix and I both look at each other, speechless and dumbfounded.
We continue to walk silently, sadly. The officer it would seem has succeeded in his aim of stamping out happiness. He took my engagement ring!
“Calix! We cannot let this happen, that was all I had left of our would-be marriage and he’s taken it!” I say furiously.
“I don’t really think we have a choice. Dad has more power than I do. He’s taken this up a level again. He’s starting a zero-tolerance crackdown on happiness, I know he is!” says Calix.
“He can’t get away with this tyranny all of the time. The vote was supposed to end all of this,” I say, finally having had my fill of the King.
“We’re still engaged Seren ,the ring is just an object, it’s nothing. I think the vote may have backfired ,but nothing will stop Dad. I think it’s just his nature,” says Calix.
“We are not engaged Calix. Ring or not, an engagement is when you have a wedding pending and we don’t because of your Father. Nothing will stop him, that much is true .But we’ve got to confront him, together,” I say, refusing to be beaten.
“We’ve tried that tactic before, it didn’t work then. Why should it work now?” asks Calix doubtfully.
“Because it’s our only option and we can’t just stand back and let him continue doing what he’s doing .Look around Calix, just an hour ago there seemed to be some hope, I saw some colour and smiles. Now every happy face has disappeared, everyone’s wearing black and those officers are revelling in and abusing their new found power,” I say, witnessing the only yellow clad citizen left being dragged screaming and handcuffed by a Despair-Enforcement Officer.
“You’re right Seren .I may not be King ,but I am the Prince and I can’t just turn a blind eye to the citizens being treated like this. Dad’s started a regime of forced despair and it’s wrong .He’s going to insist everyone is broken or lock them up if they refuse to be. We can’t allow him to take democracy away from the city,” says Calix passionately.
We go together to the palace. I actually feel afraid to go near the King. In the beginning I think I saw him more as a comical villain, a permanently annoyed man who liked to take out his unruly temper on his citizens ,over trivial matters. Now I genuinely saw him as a monster, a person with almost ultimate power who cared nothing for the lives he was ruining, the freedom he was taking or had any moral sense of what was right and wrong. He is a man you could not reason with, a man who would listen to no one, a man who believed that only his opinion was right and that anyone who disagrees should be eliminated. Yes, my heart was full of fear. I am shaky and short of breathe.
The citizens we passed looked as terrified and dejected as I was feeling .I could tell by looking at them alone, those who chose to be broken and those who were forced to be. There was now an atmosphere of entrapment, like a net had been cast over the city. I would have likened it to having been in a gothic snow globe of exciting melancholy before, now it was a cage of darkness and terror.
We head through the back gate’s of the palace ,to avoid the guards as I’m not supposed to be here. The king is at home, the raised flag informs me of that.
I feel sick as we walk through the corridors of the palace, the one place left in the city where there is still a sense of safety. A luxurious and peaceful habitat sheltering the King from the reality of being a citizen.
“Where will he be?” I whisper to Calix, who’s eye is ever-watchful for lurking danger.
“In his study, it’s likely. Planning more ways to control and persuade citizens to pass on the culture of the Broken,” says Calix.
“Do you talk to him often, when it’s just you two at home in the palace?” I ask, wondering how this family set up actually works.
“Not a great deal. Dad always reminds me of my responsibilities and duties as Prince, but there isn’t really any father and son time if that’s what you mean,” says Calix, with a hint of sadness.
We approach the grand and imposing door of the Kings study, which is barred by two intimidating guards, whose eyes light up in the way a predator or hunter’s eyes do when they spot their target and go in for the kill.
“Seren Loneheart isn’t allowed in the palace Your Majesty,” the guard says, before we even ask to enter the study.
“I’m the Prince, if I say she’s allowed ,she’s allowed. We have to see the King, it’s important,” says Calix officially.
“The King told us that Seren Loneheart is never to come here ,Your Majesty. You can see the King alone ,but not with her. Miss Loneheart I’ll escort you out,” says one of the guards.
“Calix I’ll go. You see your father alone. It’s important,” I say, marching off so as not to suffer the indignity of being dragged out by a guard.
“Are you sure Seren? I’ll come with you if you prefer. I don’t have to see Dad,” says Calix.
“You do. Please talk to him Calix. You must do something,” I call, walking away with a tear falling down my face, my voice high and shaky with emotion.
“Okay .I’ll go .If that’s what you want Seren,” he says, disappearing into the King’s lair.
I wait outside the palace for what feels like an eternity for Calix to return from his talk with the King. It’s getting cold and I start to shiver .As well as feeling frustrated and bored for having to be patient, I feel nervy and on-edge. I’m constantly looking over my shoulder, expecting a Despair-Enforcement Officer to drag me off to jail just because I’m me and the King doesn’t want me here.
Finally I see Calix approaching. He walks slowly, not looking particularly satisfied with the outcome of whatever went on in the Kings study.
“Well?” I ask, my heart thumping from a combination of eagerness and dread of what Calix is going to say.
“Well that wasn’t what I was expecting at all,” says Calix quietly, as though reluctant to tell me what just happened. He looks like something is playing on his mind.
“Don’t tell me, he’s now made family talks illegal in case they result in any form of contentment,” I say sarcastically.
“No Seren .I’ve never seen Dad like that before. He was coughing a lot and seemed short of breathe. He told me he was too tired to deal with me right now and for me to go away as I was the least of his problems. I’m really worried about him ,he seems very ill,” says Calix ,looking upset and afraid.
“Oh come on Calix ,he’s faking it. It’s just an excuse so he doesn’t have to hear what you have to say. You know he’ll try any tactic to get his own way,” I say ,not feeling slightly concerned about the King’s health.
“He’d never fake illness Seren. It’s weakness and he despises that above all else .I’m so upset, he’s the only family I have left, I can’t bear to lose him,” says Calix, sitting down lifelessly on the palace garden wall beside me.
He starts to sob and shake. I’ve never seen him look this devastated.
“Oh Calix no, please don’t cry. I’m sorry I didn’t take your Dad’s health seriously .Look I’m sure it’ll all be okay. You need to call the doctor. Do you know if the Kings receiving treatment?” I ask, putting my arm around Calix’s shoulder to comfort him and feeling guilty of accusing the King of faking his symptoms.
“I asked him if he’s having medical intervention and he said no. Even though he has symptoms that he can’t deny himself, he refuses to believe there’s anything wrong with him and said he wouldn’t have a doctor anywhere near him .He thinks medicine is for weak people .I just hope it’s just a cold or the flu and nothing serious that’s wrong with him,” says Calix.
“Why don’t you call a Doctor and have him just turn up at the palace?” I ask, trying to think of a way around the Kings self reliance and denial of help and care.
“It’s no good. He’d just refuse to see the doctor and it would be a waste of their time. I have never known Dad to be this sick before. In fact he’s always been so strong and in good health, it’s come on so suddenly,” says Calix as we start to walk away from the palace.
“Don’t think I’m not taking this seriously Calix, because I am, but I think that maybe you’ve blown this slightly out of proportion because of the shock. It was unexpected for you to find your Dad in a state other than his usual ultra feisty, stubborn self. You went into that room prepared for a fight, so that adrenaline you never burnt off may have resulted in this big upset.
He probably just does have the flu like you said,” I say, refusing to believe that the King could ever be defeated by an illness.
“Maybe you’re right. I did expect him to be full of his usual fiery temper, not an exhausted, coughing old man who just wanted to be left in peace .Everyone gets flu ,I was a fool for thinking that Dad could be an exception,” says Calix, looking more relieved now that he’s convinced himself of our flu theory.