A Discovery Lost (Short Story)

[Druidus]

A Discovery Lost
​

She stood in front of the window, staring at the people before her. They were dying,
horribly. The young girl stared in shocked horror. She saw a young man shot down by
someone in the uniform of the Guard, and, behind him, a child violently rolling on
the ground, clutching her throat. A women shot in the back, as she ran. The deaths
unfurled before her young eyes.

There was a voice behind her, but she never turned to look, so entranced was she by
the scene before her. It was the voice of the President, her father. “It’s alright,” he
said, “I am here.” She still never turned.

“Step away from the window.” He said. There was still no response.

“Step away from the window!” He repeated, more forcibly.

This time, she turned, to look at him, silently crying, tears streaming her innocent
face. “Daddy, the Guards are… are… killing people,” she spoke, softly, “Why are
they killing them, Daddy? Why are they doing it?”

The President hesitated for a moment, before coming over beside her. “Precious,”
he said, “Those are bad people. They are criminals. They threatened our security,
and they have to be punished.”

She looked up, still sobbing, and managed to ask “Really?”.

The President responded, “Yes, Precious. If they had their way, you and I wouldn’t be
safe. They want to hurt us.”

The girl turned and went back to the window. After a moment, the President spoke
again “Come on, now. Step away from the window, and go back to sleep.”

She came back to the President, hugged him, and then climbed back into bed, a smile
on her face, content, once again, with her world. Those were bad people, and they
were gone now, because of her Daddy. She loved her Daddy. With that, she slipped
into her sleep again.

The President watched her awhile, thinking. Finally his daughter was safe. His people
were safe. Safe from pain, and truth, and choice, and fear. He’d never let the rebels
end that security. He walked to her, placed a thin strip of paper like material into
her mouth, and then left. He’d always protect her. Always.

(Not bad for five minutes of work, I suppose...)

 

[michel]

Ouch.....good, but Ouch.


I needed a 'cheering up fix' - that was all to vivid, and easily imaginable.

 

[Druidus]

needed a 'cheering up fix'

I know what you mean.

that was all to vivid, and easily imaginable.

Sadly, yes, it is all too imaginable. I'm debating whether I should expand upon the story... I know there is so much room for it to expand, but I worry that it would turn out like so many novels about a totalitarianistic and fascist future do. It's been done, and I don't know if I could expand adequately on the past works to make it new, original, and exciting.

 

[Pussyfoot Mouse]

Excellent! Looking forward to more.