Shantytown, Community G.

The Wastes and all its communities had a common theme of being impoverished, but there are certain areas that are worse than others.

In Community G, Shantytown is one of the worst.

In this dystopian settlement of shanties, shacks, and tattered tents, it was especially common to see the corpse of Synths and Geneforms laying in the streets even more than other parts of this community.

You may wake up one day and see your neighbor dead in front of your tent. In Shantytown, such an occurrence was not uncommon.

Today, this impoverished settlement had a visitor who didn't belong here.

Around 1:00pm, a female Synth walked into Shantytown.

Unlike the thin and malnourished residents here, she looked fresh and healthy. She had grayish black hair and cybernetic emerald green eyes that accentuated her mechanical titanium body.

She wore clean and comfortable black hiking pants and a dark blue short-sleeve top made of merino wool, making her look out of place here. She accessorized her dressing with a black and white face cap and reflective sunglasses.

She hid a knife under her clothes for protection.

She also wore a scarf that hid the bottom half of her face.

On her left hand, she had a digital silver wrist-watch. She raised the wrist-watch to her chest area, projecting a holoscreen in front of her.

The holoscreen displayed a map of community G. In the map, a red blinking arrow highlighted her intended destination.

She ignored the weird gazes that were being thrown her way as she persevered and walked through the impoverished streets.

She soon arrived in front of a tattered green tent.

She looked at the map on the holoscreen to confirm that she was in the right place, then she put it away and asked in a polite tone. "Hello, is anybody home?"

The first time, there was no response.

"Is anybody home?" She asked again.

After about 30 seconds of silence, a weak voice sounded out. "Go away".

She pursed her lips in silence for a few seconds. "Ma'am, I won't take much of your time, I just want to hear a direct account from…"

"Go away!" The weak voice sounded in a louder but hoarse tone.

Hearing the pain in the voice, she winced slightly but she didn't give up. "Ma'am, please I'm here to help".

This time, there was only silence.

She waited for 20 more seconds, then she became bolder as she asked politely. "Can I come in?"

There was no response.

She hesitated, then she mustered the courage to move forward. "I'm coming in". She said as she opened the tattered tent and entered inside.

Inside the tent was empty and desolate, and reeking of a pungent smell of piss and sweat. Her mechanical nose scrunched up instinctively as her face turned pale, but she didn't retreat in repulsion.

Instead, she looked down and finally laid her eyes on the only inhabitant of this tent- a mature Geneform who was shriveled and thin, left with just bones.

She wore rags that were soaked with sweat, clinging to her bony body. Her breathing was weak and ragged, just barely there.

Her heart winced at the sight.

This was a dying woman who was just a step away from death.

While she hesitated, a familiar weak voice sounded. "Leave".

She looked down and realized that the woman finally opened her eyes. Her eyes were blood-red, weak, and watery as she struggled to look at her.

The sight made her freeze up, but then she remembered the reason that brought her here.

She ignored the pungent smell and directly sat down on the dirty floor.

Noting this, the dying woman paid more attention to her.

She flashed a smile. "Good afternoon ma'am, my name is Audrey, Audrey Ross. I work for the Freegrid Collective, journalist branch". She pointed to the badge on her chest which confirmed her identity.

[Audrey Ross- Freegrid Agent]

She rarely wore the badge since it easily revealed her identity and may expose her to danger. But today, she felt the need to wear it for authenticity.

The woman stayed silent.

Audrey smiled at this, taking it as silent consent. "Ma'am, I've been looking for you for a long time now. Please I want to ask you a few questions about your late daughter, Emilia Josh. I hope you can answer".

The woman didn't saw a word.

Audrey was not discouraged. "Please, can I record our conversation?"

She got no response, but she put her digital wrist-watch to recording mode nonetheless.

At that moment, the weak and hoarse voice finally sounded again. "You're a young woman, you're putting your life in danger".

Audrey froze, but then she nodded resolutely. "I know".

The woman sighed, then with some struggle rolled to the side, hiding her face from the reporter.

Audrey started the interview.

"Ma'am, can you please tell me about your daughter, Emilia Josh?"

The woman opened her mouth to answer. "…"

"Can you tell me when the abuse started?"

"…"

"When last did you see your daughter alive? What state was she in?"

"…"

"Do you want justice for your daughter?"

45 minutes of heartfelt questions and answers later, Audrey finally stood up to leave the tattered tent.

Her emerald green eyes were watery with tears, and her lips were tightly pursed.

Before she left, she dropped a paper bill. "Here's 1 pound as thank you".

She turned to leave, then she paused. "Ma'am, please don't die. There's still so much to live for. If not for anything else, live to see justice for your daughter".

With that, she left.

…

At the top floor of a certain wooden inn in community G, Room 11.

The room was simple with a single bed on top a bedframe, a single wooden table and chair that were just beside the window, and an electric lightbulb.

Sitting on the chair was a beautiful Synth with emerald green eyes- Audrey Ross.

Due to the neon storms in the sky blocking the sun and leaving the world in a state of perpetual evening, the room was barely illuminated but this didn't stop her from working.

Her computer was on the table, a printer was at the corner of the table, and her fingers were moving rapidly across her keyboard as she wrote an article.

The title of the article was…

[#Justice for Emilia]

["Here is the tragic story of Emilia Josh, the 13-year-old girl whose only dream was to survive, to learn, to live, and to build a better life. Unfortunately, that innocent desire for education became the path that led to her death."]

["Here is another case of slavery, child brutality, and injustice."]

["They said it was for her good, that sending her to live with her aunt in the city would open doors to a better education, a brighter future, and a safer home."]

["But for Emilia that promise became a trap."]

["The hands that should have shielded her became the same ones that stripped her of childhood, dignity, freedom and peace."]

["It began with Victor Rafael, the cousin she should have been safe with. He was the first to betray her trust, sexually violating his cousin."]

["When Victor's sister caught him and told their father, Emilia thought it would end there. But she was wrong, that was only the beginning of a nightmare that spanned across years."]

["The uncle who choose evil over protection continued what his son began."]

["What started as one act of betrayal became years of abuse hidden behind closed doors, covered by family ties, and enabled by a demented culture that teaches girls to endure rather than speak."]

["When Emilia fell ill, the aunt she lived with, the one who should have stood between her and harm chose to protect her husband and son instead. She hid the medical tests that revealed what had been done to Emilia, and just like that, the truth was buried, just like her voice had been for years."]

["Year 713, August 18th, Community G in the Wastes, Emilia's mother recognized her daughter's corpse among a batch of corpses to be burnt."]

["Emilia didn't just suffer sexual assault, she was sold into slavery!"]

["To cover up their sins, Emilia's aunt and family secretly sold the little girl into slavery to the Zmer gang. They hoped to erase their sin that span across years, they never expected the mother to find the corpse of her child."]

["Emilia was sold into slavery, but since years of sexual assault weakened her and left her suffering from Vesicovaginal Fistula, she wasn't strong enough to endure life as a slave before being sold to a rich client."]

["Emilia died unjustly!"]

["And yes, the Zmer gang is engaging in slave trade and child trafficking!"]

["People of Community G, on the surface, they pretend to stand by you and help you fight the tyranny of the Federation, but they're Wolves in Sheep's clothing. The Zmer gang sell your children, friends, and family to enrich themselves!"]

["I've tried countless times to send a digital message out and ask for help, but for some reason, for months now, my computer can't connect to the global network. This is the only way I know of to spread the truth, through a pamphlet."]

["I'm doing this knowing that I may likely die, but I'm not scared."]

["I'm a rebel, I'm a freedom fighter, and I'm Audrey Ross!]

As she typed to this point, her fingers trembled, showcasing her true feelings but she didn't stop. She continued typing.

["For five years, Emilia suffered in silence, enduring sexual abuse from her uncle, Andrew Rafael, and his son, Victor Rafael till her body gave out and she was sold into slavery."]

["A year later, her voice still echoes."]

["Her uncle walks free, her cousin is out there, the Zmer gang is out there, and I am still asking, how much longer before justice comes for Emilia?"]

["Mother, this can be your daughter. Brother, this can be your sister. Together, let's rise up to fight injustice! Let's fight the Zmer gang!"]

["This is not just about one girl from the Wastes, this is about every girl child who was told to keep quiet. This is for every girl and slave whose justice was delayed, dismissed, and denied."]

["JUSTICE FOR EMILIA!"]

["JUSTICE AGAINST THE ZMER GANG!"]

["JUSTICE AGAINST PARASITE!"]

Click!

As soon as she typed the last line, Audrey took a deep breath even though she didn't need oxygen to survive as a Synth.

He lips trembled in fear, yet she continued.

She leaned back and clicked the enter button of her computer and the printer at the side of her table churned to life as it began printing page after page with the article- #Justice for Emilia.

A few minutes later, after 200 copies were printed, she left to Gary and Mary's restaurant where she ate a sumptuous Synth-meal and enjoyed a delicious Synth-beer.

She smiled in a self-deprecating manner. 'Maybe this is my last meal'.

When she returned to her room in the inn, she didn't return alone. She brought back with her a few young tramps who survived in the Wastes by running errands and doing odd jobs for people.

She solemnly gave each of them dozens of copies of the pamphlet, then she paid them 5 Cents each and sent them out.

"Throw them to as many people as you can".

The tramps nodded with gleeful looks on their faces before quickly rushing out. This was perhaps the easiest 5 Cents they've ever made in their lives.

After that, Audrey sat on her bed and leaned against the wall, waiting for the end of her life.

…

[AUTHOR'S NOTE: Emilia's story is based on a true story, Ochanya Ogbanje. #JusticeforOchanya.]

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.