(Maulensview is a society in which people terrorize people in other parts of the world by using remote-controlled robots.)
It was a normal day in Maulensview. Everyone in town violently gripped a controller as their eyes were fixed on graphic, gory images that depicted real life. All of them, from ages 2 through 81, were mashing their fingers on buttons that manipulated their every move. If they pressed A, their machine would shoot, B- they would fight, and C- they would stab. It was as if their "gaming" screens had dictated their every move. Their actions on the screen, whether it was robbery, rape, or murder, were not followed by a bit of empathy. Whether it was stabbing a young child, punching an old lady, or slicing the …show more content…
They did not find joy in terrorizing people in the other half of the earth; instead, they were disgusted at the thought of doing so. As they sat in the living room, they conversed about the little bit of good that they saw in the world. “What a marvelous sunset,” said Ben. “I agree,” said his wife Linda. “It is hard to believe that in such a place that there would be something so beautiful." Their children, Wyrick and his three-year-old sister Malaya, began to take notice of the sunset. It was astonishing, for each of the sun's rays gave each cloud a marvelous, luminous outline. Wyrick then looked at his younger sisters bright, blue eyes and was mesmerized by how every minute detail of the sunset was so precisely reflected by her shining crystals. Shortly afterward, Malaya yawned and gently rested her small head on Wyrick's shoulder. As she slept, Wyrick's grandfather, Raymond, quietly conversed with Ben and Linda. He spoke, "I remember when I was a little boy, my father used to tell me that this used to be a very friendly place..." The three's conversation faded into the night until everyone was …show more content…
The last words that Raymond read from his poetry book resonated throughout Wyrick's dreams. The words “upon an abyss of mindless deeds, ghastly demons pierced precious souls” were repeated in Wyrick's dream as he had visions of himself murdering countless helpless souls. It was a nightmare. There he stood, wielding the controller that gave him the ultimate power – life or death. The poem echoed in his mind as he dreamed of himself effortlessly slicing millions of bodies. All fell victim to his wrath, for he was like "a ghastly demon that pierced precious souls." The poem was his drumbeat. As he made rivers turn from blue to crimson in flurrying flashes - "...demon that pierced precious souls." As helpless souls scattered across deserts in vain efforts to avoid their doom, - "...demon that pierced precious souls." And that demon made Wyrick's heart pound when he woke up the next morning. While nearly paralyzed by his own fear, he thought of his family; the thought of them, of course, would relieve him, and it