The City of the Broken (Prince of the Broken) (19 page)

“
So this is Gloomsday?”

“
Yes, tonight we have the annual Dud-Firework show and Crying Competition” he says.

“
And what does that involve?” I ask.

“
Come along tonight. Its my second favourite event of the year, after Black Ball of course.” he says and  shake my head.

“
When does the voting finish?” I ask.

“
Whenever everyone has voted. But I don’t expect it to take longer than three hours”.

“
Are
you
going to vote?
You
are a citizen” I ask, intrigued.

“
Actually that didn’t occur to me Seren. Now that you have reminded me ,I will. I want
all
citizens to vote and I am no exception” he says, stepping out of the car to go and queue with all the other citizens.

After what seems to have been at least an hour, due to Calix
’s insistence on resisting V.I.P treatment to jump the queue, he returns.

“
So…What did you choose?” I ask, waiting for the moment Calix reveals his true feelings.

“
Well there was no neutral option. So I chose Pro-Despair, but it wasn’t an easy decision. At one point I was going to choose Pro-Happiness just because I felt sorry for The Smiley’s” he says uneasily.

“
So how did you make up your mind?” I ask.

“
I’m a flawed person and this is a flawed city. I couldn’t be a prince of a kingdom of happiness. I want the city to stay broken” he says honestly.

For once, Calix
’s opinion startles me. He’s usually so fair minded and humanitarian, this is the first time I’ve seen him use a selfish motive to decide something.

When the voting closes and the night falls, Calix and I head to
the park to watch the dud-firework show.

“
So what is the crying-comp all about?” I ask baffled.

“
Well, the fireworks and the competition are interlinked. When the fireworks fail to go off, we have a competition to see who can cry the loudest and the longest. The winners prize is to be crowned The Crying Champion of Gloomsday. We’ve done this every year since the city was founded. Its tradition” he says enthusiastically.

When I arrive, I see that there are fireworks waiting to be let off by professional look
ing men dressed in fire-proof safety suits. The crowd is at a distance and it all looks set to be a proper fireworks show .I hear the sound of a rocket taking off, a loud bang but see nothing.

The crowd gasps ,only to groan and sigh collectively when nothi
ng appears in the sky. A child begins to cry, which results in a mass cry from every member of the audience, who all begin to sob and wail.

“
Is this the competition Calix?” I ask, not believing that I have ever seen anything so bizarre.

“
It is indeed .Join in, you might win!” he says, nudging me.

“
No! I don’t feel in the mood for crying. How can all these people just cry on cue ?” I ask.

“
They’re all broken, it comes naturally to them because they are depressed. But crying for hours is tiring so you have to have
real
endurance to win this competition. The most I ever managed was a time of one hour and nineteen minutes ,just after my mother died and that
still
wasn’t enough” he says.

The sound of banging and whooshing is everywhere, but not a single spark br
ightens the black night sky. The sobbing continues. Some people cry so painfully, their sobs so full of anguish that I’m inclined to go and hug and comfort them. But I don’t, figuring they might be on a mission to win.

“
Are you going to cry tonight?” I ask Calix.

Then I look up and I realize he already is. Silently, not making a show of it as the others are. A tear runs down his face, his eyes look hurt and lost. Just looking at him makes my heart on a mission to ease his pain.

“Calix, don’t cry!” I say, feeling sad myself seeing him, even though I know its only for a trivial reason.

“
Its okay Seren, Its just for the contest. I can be very competitive. Look, you join in too. I’ll give you a motive that should bring a tear or two. My
Dad
. Surely my mentioning him will make you break down” he says quickly ,before continuing his silent sobs.

“
Calix! Your Dad makes me angry, not sad. Seeing you upset might make me cry” I say truthfully.

Calix crying breaks my heart so powerfully, even I
’m astonished when I start to wail, looking much more unattractive than him as my face scrunches up like a  baby‘s. Suddenly it all gets too much, I feel I have been holding a waterfall back behind my eyelids and the dam just broke. My failed wedding dreams, that dreadful hospital and Anita’s breakdown, having to fight the King constantly ,being surrounded by miserable people. Why haven’t I been crying everyday? I start crying and blubbering uncontrollably, louder than everyone else .It seems that I’m the only one who’s still crying and everyone has stopped to stare but I continue. I cant stop. My head hurts because I’m crying so hard. My eyes sting, but the hurt keeps fuelling the fire and I continue. It feels liberating and satisfying to do this, let it all out. I feel out of breathe ,but I don’t stop. I don’t think I’ve ever cried this hard ,for so long before.

“
Seren, Seren. Its okay! You can stop” calls Calix, trying to calm me down.

“
No Calix, I cant. I feel so upset!” I wail, my face soaking.

“
But you don’t understand! You won Seren.” he calls.

“
I won? What?”

I open my eyes. All eyes are on me and a man dressed all in black, with gold buttons, appears with a trophy
‘Ultimate Gloomsday Crying Champion’.

“
I cant believe I won. How is this possible?” I turn to ask Calix.

“
Really Seren, in all my years of coming to this contest I have
never
seen someone cry so powerfully as you just did. You were off the Richter scale of tears. You
deserve
to win” says Calix, in disbelief.

I return home, clutching my trophy with a mix of euphoria for winning and that bitter sadness of my reasons for crying still remaining. I never thought my melancholy could bring me victory and glory, but I guess it could only happen in The City of the Broken. Calix seemed genuinely impressed by my prize .As though I was like Frederick Forefront clutching the Black Ball trophy.

“
I have to admit Seren, I have always wanted to win that competition. I try every year and have never won, yet you succeed on your first attempt” he says with mock envy.

I stick my to
ngue out at him.

“
Well you did recruit me because you thought I was broken Calix, I guess I really must be to come out on top in a competition of crying among all the other citizens” I say ,feeling both smug and worried about my level of sadness.

Calix sto
ps at my street to drop me off.

“
So I’ll see you tomorrow champion” he says, kissing me goodbye.

“
We have exams tomorrow Calix, don’t forget! When will you know the result of the public vote?” I ask him.

“
Oh, I totally forget about the exams. I’ll have to stay up all the night to revise. Hopefully tomorrow I’ll know the results. I’m sure Dad will be just as eager as I am to know” he says, rolling his eyes.

I wave him goodbye as the Rolls Royce speeds off, looking as distinctly beautiful and out-of-place in
my street as Calix himself.

Despite the fact I know I
’m in for some hard-core revision that will keep me up past midnight, I walk to my door smiling, my face aching with glee. I won! Most people would consider this a trophy of shame, but in The City of the Broken, today
I
was the girl that everyone wanted to be.

Chapter Sixteen.

Forced Despair

I head to college 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 its 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.

“
Its 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 its 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 wont 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 college, 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 screen
s 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 its 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 .Its not extreme .Its 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 its turned out like this. The Smiley’s are not a minuscule percentage so they cant be persecuted. Everyone’s opinion will be valued now” he says smiling.

“
I don’t know. Its still in favour of Pro-Despair ,the King will only use this to his advantage Calix” I say, thinking its 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 cant be penalized for being abnormal anymore” I say, trying to look at the positive element of the vote.

“
That’s true. Dad cant 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 its 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 its 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.

“
Lets 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.

“
Its 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 cant 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, its nothing. I think the vote may have backfired ,but nothing will stop Dad. I think its 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 its our only option and we cant 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 cant just turn a blind eye to the citizens being treated like this. Dads started a regime of forced despair and its wrong .He’s going to insist
everyone
is broken or lock them up if they refuse to be. We cant 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 broke
n 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, its 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 its 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, its important” says Calix officially.