Tuesday 4 April 2017

A-Z Challenge 2017 - C is for Centre

Welcome to Day 3 of the A-Z Challenge 2017. This month I'm sharing my "Black & White Snippets" - snapshots of some of the characters, places and concepts that populate my forthcoming YA dystopian trilogy, Black & White. There won't be a lot of details or spoilers - just short scenes and vignettes that give you a hint of the world I've created. Today, it's C for Centre.


The Centre. A collection of low-lying buildings – gleamingly white, of course, like everything else in Harmonia – into and out of which moves a constant stream of guards and administrative personnel, busy, quiet, efficient. The place gives the impression of perfect order.


What you never see or hear are the inmates. Each trapped in a tiny room, with no need for human contact as meals are provided three times a day via a hole in the wall. They could be screaming their heads off, but the rooms are soundproofed. There’s no need to worry, though. No one can get hurt in Harmonia, so nothing too bad’s going to happen to them.

30 comments:

betty said...

What a sad state they live in, but then of course they did something to "earn" the title of inmates. Very interesting snippet.

betty

Nilanjana Bose said...

Sounds a bit ominous! How did they get in there? Intriguing excerpt.



Nilanjana
Madly-in-Verse

Toni said...

Hmm. Foreboding. I believe I will make an effort to stay clear of the Centre!

Deepa said...

I could kind of picture the scenario in my head & it felt so sad.
Well narrated :-)

Nicola said...

I can relate. It sounds like my office when I'm working on a project - minus the food through a hole. I have to starve. But the screams go unheard and the solitary can drive one stir crazy :) Sounds very intriguing, Nick.

Unknown said...

That is no way one have to live. It looks dark, sad and lonely.

jgifederizo said...

Oh, yeah, nothing to bad could happen...I don't believe you! LOL!!!...This only makes things much more interesting, Nick :)

My C post is up: Contents with all the Feels

Keith's Ramblings said...

This is like a scene from a very dark movie. You've got everybody wondering Nick.

Today in Amble Bay!


Tasha Duncan-Drake said...

There are many ways to be hurt and I don't think they defined their parameters very well! Chilling.
Tasha
Tasha's Thinkings - Shapeshifters and Werewolves

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

Creepy. How would they know when someone died?

moon said...

Well crafted, intriguing scene with a strong element of suspense! How do writers do that?
Moon
https://aslifehappens60.wordpress.com

Preethi Venugopala said...

Sounds ominous. What happened to them?

C.D. Gallant-King said...

Did they "earn" the title of inmates? Wild guess that the protagonist is among them and will have to escape?

C is for The Toronto Circus Riot of 1855

A Tarkabarka Hölgy said...

Ouch. Talk about dystopian... *shudder*

The Multicolored Diary: WTF - Weird Things in Folktales

Debbie D. said...

Such a bleak world, belied by the name, 'Harmonia'. This sounds like a fascinating story. Can't wait to read more!

Debbie @ THE DOGLADY'S DEN
Latest Post: CHERRY HILL PARK: First love is the hardest!

Suzy said...

How sad for those in Harmonia. Not harmonious at all. thanks for dropping by my post.

Cathy Kennedy said...

What a lonely, sad situation to be in! I can't imagine what it's like locked away 24/7. There's always consequences to ones' action. So sad! Thank you for checking out my critters I drew for the letter "C" in my A2Z series, Art Sketching Through the Alphabet! Happy a2zing, my friend!

Jean Davis said...

How could anything bad happen to them, indeed. I do wonder how they get in there if everything is so well ordered on the outside. Perhaps they come in underground or are drugged? I like how you make me wonder a little with each of these posts. :)
Discarded Darlings - Jean Davis, Speculative Fiction Writer, A to Z: Editing Fiction

Shari Elder said...

Brilliantly creepy. Identifying place as a story character, equally savvy.

Anonymous said...

I'm pretty sure those inmates are screaming and going insane. o.o

~Patricia Lynne aka Patricia Josephine~
Story Dam
Patricia Lynne, Indie Author

Hilary Melton-Butcher said...

Hi Nick - that's pretty depressing to read - how awful ... I'm not happy now - !! I need tea and a cream cake ... tea is fine the cream cake is not around ... but great writing - sleepless night ahead ... cheers Hilary

http://positiveletters.blogspot.co.uk/2017/04/c-is-for-cattle-and-cow-cooper.html

Yolanda Renée said...

Can not imagine such a place!
Great snippet!

kaykuala said...

They are all behind bars! But who are the ones running the show? Interesting proposition that adds to the mystery!

Hank

Laura Clipson said...

Oh wow that sounds so ominous! Makes me want to know more.

Donna B. McNicol said...

Eerily intriguing! WOW~

C: Carolinas & Catskills
DB McNicol, author & traveler
Theme: Oh, the places we will go!

lyndagrace said...

I wonder if the inmates know of each other. Sound proof rooms? A lifetime sentence? Hmm…

Liz A. said...

Oh wow, that's the scariest thing I've read. If this gives me nightmares, I'm going to yell at you.

Random Musings said...

Something about that really piqued my interest and now I need to read this book!
Debbie

Anmol Rawat said...

There's no need to worry, but I guess there is a revolution rising within the confines!

Darla M Sands said...

I like grim tales filled with angst. This is good stuff. Best wishes!

http://darlamsands.blogspot.com/