Chapter 2-Arthur G. Walsh

21.4.19

"It's been five days, how much longer do we have to hold out?" questioned Mrs. Alinac.

"'Till the government figures out something, or till it gets wiped out." replied her husband.

The news was on. The headlines seemed haunting. A reporter was talking about the many guilds that had formed. And she was making it pretty obvious that order wasn't going to survive much longer.

"Most government officials have now resigned. It is becoming clear that The Anarchists Guild is gaining power. Their leader, Arthur Gulliver Walsh, is with us here today , to discuss the various homicide and vandalism allegations against him and the rest of the Anarchists, put up by the UGARP." roared the television, and then a middle aged man , with salt and pepper hair , came into view, dressed in a fresh black suit.

The UGARP, Thomas thought. United Governments for Adequate Response to Power game. What a grand name for a body whose only memorable act was being formed!

" So .....Thomas? You figured out your power yet?" asked his father breaking the silence.

Thomas shook his head."Still three question marks."

Thomas opened his terminal to check again , but he knew that the situation hadn't changed.

"Well that's a shame. I have been practicing with mine for a while , I can even grow wings now."

"That's great." replied Thomas , albeit blankly.

His eyes were fixed on the interview on the T.V. The interviewer and the man sat in front of what appeared to be a green screen, showing Anti - UGARP riots in Manhattan. They sat in two opposite sofas, slightly tilted towards the camera. Arthur G. Walsh spoke as confidently as if he was innocent, but his words implied the opposite.

"Is it true that you are related to the murder cases springing up lately, Mr. Walsh?" questioned the interviewer. At that point, most of the interviewers worldwide were interviewing Anarchists; those who wanted to take down the government, and now had the power to do so. Other journalists, though, didn't ask the questions they should be asking, fearful for their lives. This interviewer, Mrs. Simmons, though , was different. Currently , all that mattered to her was the TRP of her show. She wanted it to become the "voice of the new world."

Arthur replied to her question without hesitation. "Yes, I committed them myself."

Mrs. Simmons was shocked by the honestly that man had. Almost made him admirable. If only he wasn't a murderous gang leader., she thought.

"Okay....um...Mr. Walsh, what did you do for a living before the Power Game began?"

'Power Game' had become a universally accepted term.

"I was a bartender. Before that I was a para trooper in the army." replied Mr. Walsh.

The interviewer thought for a moment, and then without looking at her sheet of questions, produced a question on her own.

"Sir, you worked to safeguard the lives of people, and now you're killing them?", she asked, trying hard not to show even a hint of emotion. "What brought about this change?" , she added.

Arthur looked up at the ceiling and closed his eyes. After a few seconds he opened them and spoke. "When I think of a world without the government...I only see peace. I see people not being forced to flee their homes, forced to pay money just to live. I see them making communities of their own accord. I see people being judged by their own kith and kin, and not strange old men on payroll. I see no corruption, no people being forced to fight and die for OTHER'S beliefs. I see a world where all of us...are Kings and Queens. I see a world where everyone gets a chance to be a hero. I....see heaven.", the man breathed deeply after his speech. The interviewer, on the other hand, was speechless. She was so moved that she considered joining the Anarchists Guild, but soon came back to her senses.

It was Arthur who spoke first.

"Are you Pro-Government?" he asked the interviewer.

"Yes".

"Why?"

Mrs. Simmons thought carefully for a moment. The question had taken her by surprise.

"I believe that peace is only possible in a world with order. And only a large organized body, like the government, can achieve order. Anarchy would mean pure chaos." said Mrs. Simmons.

"That's bullshit." he whispered under his breath, but loud enough for her to hear it.

"Pardon?"

"Why do you think order and chaos are two different things?"

"What...do you mean?"

"Order is simply one of many states this world can exist in. It is just a concept created by us humans . Chaos is the true nature of this world. This world was born out of chaos. ORDER was born out of chaos! Chaos IS order! And order is chaos.", reasoned Arthur.

The interviewer, only understanding half of what he had said, replied, "But still, I firmly believe that government is the answer."

"Hmm. And are you ready to kill for your belief?" asked Arthur , almost threateningly.

"Most definitely not.", she said. If Arthur was trying to intimidate her, then he had been successful.

He answered his own question.

"I am. I am ready to kill for my beliefs. I will do whatever is necessary to create MY utopia. And after it is done, I'll repent for my sins."

This man has some extreme beliefs, the interviewer thought.

"As far as I know, you never performed any criminal activities until five days ago." she inquired.

"Correct."

"Then how did you manage to reach the top of the leaderboard in the Power Game. How did you find it in yourself to kill so many people? And for that matter, do you kill people to increase your points?". The questions were getting personal now.

" As for your second question, I believe I told you I was a para trooper. Killing is nothing new for me. The only difference is that in those days I killed for others' beliefs, now , I'm doing it for my own."

The interviewer was dumbfounded. "And the rest? Do you kill to increase your points? Is that why you're at the top of the leaderboard?"

" Do not misunderstand. I have no interest in the game. I'm simply using the assets it gave me to further my interests. I kill people because the government will not cease to exist as long as it has supporters. My heavy amount of points- a consequence of that."

" So you kill anyone who supports the government ?"

"Yes, unless they join me."

The interviewer felt a lump go down her throat. She definitely does not intend to join the anarchists and she's pro-government. Definitely in the danger zone. She decided to ask a rather bold question.

" Well, I am pro-government and, as you would have guessed, I don't intend to defect to the Anarchists. So, what's stopping you from killing me?" she asked, still feeling stupid that she asked this.

Arthur closed his eyes and sighed, as if relieved that she asked this question. He reached into his coat and pulled something out. The interviewer realized what it was, but it was too late.

"Nothing.", Arthur replied tone-deafly, and without a moments hesitation, pulled out a pistol and shot the woman in the face.

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"Holy shit!" , shouted Thomas, jumping up from his chair. His mother covered her mouth and gasped loudly, clearly shocked. His father, on the contrary, stayed composed, only saying "Damn" in the heat of the moment and just stared at the screen. His mother covered her mouth and walked out of the room. There was just silence for a few seconds. Deafening silence.

Thomas spoke first. "Shit man! This world has become way too screwed up in just five days."

The T.V. screen displayed a "We're experiencing technical difficulties" screen.

"Well, that's expected of humans. You give them the ability to do as they wish, and the first thing they do is crime.", said his father grimly.

The only thing that Thomas could say was "Yeah".

He'd heard too much philosophical shit today.