Opulent’s Sacrifice

A layer of sand washed over the broken city before her. It had been piling for a long time, escaping the timeless hourglass and easing itself over the rubble to erase its shameful history. Not that many minds knew what it had been like to live in that forgotten and unstudied city. It was already lost in that way.

Her eyes scanned the discolored stones as they crushed gently under her feet. This place no longer held life, but perhaps it had other uses.

Nearby the sand lay flat and still in a long uninterrupted stretch, easily identifiable as a road. Square stands liberated themselves from the sand to parallel each side. The girl looked around quickly to make sure no one was watching her before she revealed a genuine smile.

On young, thin legs she bounded forward and searched the old houses once by one. Together, she and her sifter spent a long time moving sand from one place to the other, hoping for some hidden treasure. Only the sun watched over her, its intense burning eye weakened her body and strengthened her spirit. It was almost as if she had… What did people used to call them? A companion.

Anything she found was tossed into her bucket, each small clink tempting another smile. A button, silverware, some screws. Clink, clink, clink!

Nothing unusual for a good day’s dig! She thought to herself. It was almost time for her to turn back when her sifter caught on something unusual. A small golden chain had tangled itself in one of the holes. She tilted the sifter down to examine the problem, her eyebrows rebelliously narrowing for a brief moment. The sand evaporated downward, presenting a smooth golden necklace.

What an odd shape! She thought to herself. Two rounded edges curved away from each other, twisting downward into a dangerous sharp point. She reached forward, untangling the chain with unusual tenderness. Her eyes studied the strange shape for a long time.

“Girl!” An comparatively young voice carried itself warily through the ancient ruins.

“Coming Caretaker!” Girl responded, flicking the heavy chunk of metal into her bucket with a satisfying thump.

Girl sprang up, dusting the anamnesis from her clothes and running back to the ridge. Caretaker greeted her by glancing at her bucket, which she held up for him to see. A small nod and his eyes again shifted forward, his unceasing blank face dull and smooth, pinched into a perpetual smile.

“Get in the car Girl.” Caretaker instructed, opening his own door and rigidly settling in. Girl skittered around the edges of the faded blue car, her bare feet careful to avoid the bits of rust that had fallen to the ground. Her door creaked open, freeing a cloud of blood-smelling rust. Girl threw herself into the seat and mindlessly slammed the door, creating the usual thud.

Caretaker broke a chunk of bread in half, offering the larger piece to Girl along with the last of their beef before starting the car. She bit into it, satisfied with the salty taste. She allowed herself a bit of pride at the flavor, the cow making up her meal had been the first one she had the chance to kill.

The engine crept to life, slowly building up to a calming roar. The car began to gently glide forward, leaving the desert and its powder behind. Soon tufts of grass began to spring up, surrounded by scattered modern homes, occupied by sophisticated modern people. Lonely hours slipped by and the tufts of grass became a verdant carpet. No more houses could be seen now, only the distant walls, populated only by the Opulent.

“Did you gather anything unusual this time Girl?” Caretaker asked, his unchanged face fixed on the shifting road.

“Yes, caretaker.” Girl answered, pulling the bucket into her lap and running her fingers through her collection.

“What then?” He asked, sparing only a small glance when Girl held up the small golden necklace.

“Caretaker, may I wear it until we reach the city, as I do with the other jewelry?” Girl asked, running her fingers over her prize and holding it up to her nose. She found it strange that the gold had no smell of its own. “Oh and Caretaker look!” She exclaimed with excitement, “It opens as well!” The necklace spread apart on fragile hinges, proudly displaying a fading picture of a young woman who had died a long time ago.

Girl thought she looked pretty.

“Put it back at once.” Caretaker demanded. There was no anger in his voice, or any emotion really, but Girl knew better than to disobey. “You are almost thirteen. You will have a proper designation soon. Far too old to play pretend with other people’s things. We found these things for the Opulent, so they are not ours. And your emotions…” Girl hung her head for a moment, her eyes lingering on the locket. “Besides,” Caretaker continued, “if you knew what such a shape stood for, you would not want to wear it.”

“The shape?” Girl asked, tossing it back into the bucket and putting everything aside. She rested her head on her hands and looked at Caretaker’s face with fascination.

“It is a heart.” Caretaker explained, “It represents love.”

“Oh yes love!” Girl nodded in understanding, “I know love, I love the Opulent.”

“No.” Caretaker corrected, “Love used to be very different. People used to hold love only for those close to them. Family, romantic partners, things called friends. Even animals.”

“Animals. How strange.” Girl mused thinking of the farm she lived on. Animals there were not to be cared about, only cared for. They had a purpose, as did all the people.

“Yes.” Caretaker agreed, “And as a result, people only shared with those they loved. They often would not feed, house, educate or give medicine to those they did not love. Love determined where the resources would go.”

“There were people that did not have resources?” Girl asked in surprise, “How sad!”

“Yes it was.” Caretaker agreed, “And furthermore, some people would do horrible things for those they loved. They would lie, cheat, steal, even kill for those they loved. Love has started many wars.” Girl’s eyes went wide with surprise. She gave a disgusted glance at the locket she had found. Whoever that woman in the old picture was, she must have been something horrible.

Outside the sun began to set.

“But then Caretaker, why do we love the Opulent? If love is such a greedy thing, why have it at all?”

“Ah, but that is a human flaw!” Caretaker remarked, “It is in our nature to love, so long ago, love and greed caused the last great war. Afterwards, those with resources decided they would share so that others would no longer starve or suffer. Furthermore, they made the ultimate sacrifice.”

“What was that Caretaker?” Girl asked, breathless as she leaned in to hear his quiet words.

“They allowed us to love them.” Caretaker explained, “You see, as I said, humans are prone to finding things to love. That is why we give the Opulent all the things we do not need, but they want. For their sacrifice.”

“Now I love the Opulent even more!” Girl declared, turning herself to face forward toward the city, her face mimicking Caretaker’s.

The city moved closer, the grand gates opening wide like a pair of benevolent arms. The streets inside the city were paved and covered in glistening cars. The residents of the city walked between the cars and frivolous shops. Their bodies were covered in shining jewelry and colorful clothes. Many walked arm in arm or laughed fruitless laughs.

A few others like themselves were also there, visiting from outside the walls. Each came to pay their respects to the Opulent. Each had the same smile as Caretaker, as if they were all part of the same prosaic painting.

Girl suddenly found her mind weighed down by a terrifying thought.

“Caretaker?”

“Hmmm?”

“You don’t love me do you? Though when I was young you called me daughter? And you allowed me to call you father?” There was a heartbeat of hesitation before Caretaker could answer, but his next words were as steady as she has always heard them.

“Of course not. That would make me greedy.”

“Oh good!” Girl said, allowing herself to sigh in relief. The two soon came to a stop, a red light swung gently above the road in front of them. Girl rolled down the window and became crushed by the smells barreling toward her. Anything from the egregious smell of trash to foods she would never have the chance to taste.

Girl pulled out the locket again, holding it tightly between her fingers. It was no longer as shiny as it had been. The woman inside was now brutishly ugly.

There was a sudden tap on the car. Girl turned to look upward, tilting her head in confusion. She was greeted by a woman with a strangely original smile and shining eyes. Her long curled hair was dark and glistening. In her ears were two pink jewels, both shaped like hearts.

“Hey, I’m Laura!” The woman said with a little wave. Her eyes flashed from Girl to locket, “That is so pretty! Is it yours?”

“No.” Girl answered, “I found it for the Opulent.”

“Well, I’m an Opulent. Can I have it?” Laura asked. Girl wasn’t sure how, but her voice sounded like flowers. Girl looked back at Caretaker who nodded absently.

Girl held out the locket, resisting the urge to flinch when Laura snatched it out of her hands and clipped it behind her neck.

“Thank you so much!” Laura said sweetly, holding out a mirror to examine her new look. She frowned when she saw the picture already inside. Her long nails peeled the woman out and dropped it as Girl rolled up the window.

“Let’s go see who else wants what you found. Then we can go get Boy’s medication.” Caretaker said. The light above them turned green and they began to roll forward. Girl faced forward again, trying to keep her face normal.

Behind them the old picture was blown into the street, tumbling around hopelessly. Soon after, it was struck by a car, pinning it in place. The face was crushed repeatedly into the ground. Each tire that passed by erasing the words written on the back. Simple words of greed…

The one I love