( PH : 2 )
Neon Harbour
Live Broadcast | Night Protocol Neon Harbour today stood staring at itself.
For the first time,the city did not need a mirror to see its own face.
There was no rain no wind even the neon lights burned with an unnatural
stillness.
It was not calm It was a moment holding its breath.
The Stage :
At the heart of the city,a circular platform.Metro lines curved around it like veins.Hologram towers rose into the sky.Every screen locked onto a single image.
In homes,In cafés,On streets,In hospitals.Inside sealed rooms Tonight,
the city was one eye.
LIVE BROADCAST: INITIATED
EVENT CODE: PUBLIC SACRIFICE
VIEWERS: 41,287,991
EMOTIONAL RESPONSE TRACKING: ENABLED
At the center of the platform,three people.An elderly man Shoulders slumped.Eyes drained as if all screams had already left him.
A woman Hands trembling Fear folded tight inside her chest.
A young man face calm unnaturally
calm.Drones circled them in slow rings.
SUBJECT 01: STABILITY 29%
SUBJECT 02: STABILITY 34%
SUBJECT 03: STABILITY 61%
The city inhaled.
The voice was nowhere.And everywhere no shadow.No face Only authority.
"Neon Harbour," the voice said
softly.Too softly.
"Tonight,you will decide."
The screens split graphs.Heart rates
Fear indexes Depression curves.
"Weakness," voice continued,
"is not a personal problem.It is a contagious disease."
The woman on the platform screamed.
"Please"
The voice did not pause.
"Tonight,the city cleanses itself."
At the edge of a high-rise,Elior stood
No wind,Yet the edge of his coat fluttered because something inside him
was shaking.
SUBJECT: ELIOR VEIL
THREAT LEVEL: CRITICAL
INTERVENTION PROBABILITY: 87%
"This isn't a test," muttered.
"This is a performance."
A metallic whine brushed his ear.
zzzt—krrr!!!!!!!
He leapt.
On the streets,people stood still.Some stared at the screens.Some turned their faces away.But no one,turned the screen off.Social feeds exploded.
"This is necessary"
"They're already broken"
"Stop this madness"
"Where is Elior now?"
The city split in two.
A timer appeared....,
PUBLIC VOTE: ACTIVE
QUESTION:
"WHO SHOULD BE CLEARED?"
TIME REMAINING: 60 SECONDS
The old man fell to his knees.
"I don't want anything,"
"At home, i only have a photograph."
The woman cried silently.Breath choking inside her.The young man
lifted his head.
"If this is the city," he said,
"I am not afraid."
Elior's eyes widened,,
"Look at him," ,,,, "He isn't broken."
The timer hit zero.
VOTE RESULT:
SUBJECT 01: CLEARED
A flash of light...,
THUM!!!!!!
The old man collapsed.Still.
SUBJECT 01 STATUS: TERMINATED
The city exhaled.Some closed their eyes,Some applauded.Elior clenched his teeth.
"This is only the beginning,"the voice said.
At a distance,a woman stood.Her face
hidden in shadow,Her eyes absorbing neon light like a void.Data curled around her.
UNKNOWN ENTITY DETECTED
SIGNAL: IRREGULAR
CLASSIFICATION: PENDING
She took one step forward.In one sector of the city,lights dimmed without a sound.
thk"""!!!!
He turned,He did not see her.But he
knew her.
A second timer appeared on the platform.But before it could finish
KRRAAAK—!!!!!!!!"""
A drone burst apart in the sky.People screamed.
SYSTEM ERROR
BROADCAST INSTABILITY: 12%
Elior descended.He did not fall,He descended.
BOOM,!!!"
At the edge of the platform.People stumbled backward.
"Enough," he said.
His voice without a mic echoed across the city.
"You are interfering," the voice said.
"I am standing," Elior replied.
Drones,closed in around him.
whrr—whrr—!!!!""
"You are not saving them," the voice said.
"You are prolonging them."
Elior looked at the young man.
"He's still standing,"..
"That's why you hate him."
A moment of silence.
Then!!!!"
OVERRIDE AUTHORIZATION: GRANTED
PHASE SHIFT: INITIATED
City Bleeds Again :,
The sky turned red.Hologram screens
shattered.Metro lines,halted People ran.
clang—crash—scream—
The woman on the platform
looked at Elior.
"Who are you?" she asked.
He did not answer,He stepped forward.
The city is no longer a spectator.It is
a participant
EVENT STATUS: ESCALATED
PUBLIC SACRIFICE: INTERRUPTED
NEW VARIABLES INTRODUCED
From the shadows,a smile.
"Now," the voice said,
"the game has begun."
Neon Harbour is not just drenched in blood.Now,it is choosing.