The Malachite City Journal Entries
by Natalia M. Lopez
University of the Incarnate Word
Natalia M. Lopez is a Texas-based English student and the Executive Editor of this year's Quirk issue. Aside from Quirk, her work has also been featured in BeyondThought Journal and plans on continuing to share her fiction and poems. She is a first-generation college student and hopes to make her family proud through her accomplishments at the University of the Incarnate Word, such as her role in the publication of this journal as well as winning the James E. Tilton Creative Writing Award in 2023. Natalia believes in the power of creativity and literature and couldn't imagine a life without it.
September 19, 20VI
District 3
Year 6, Day 262
I was late to the tower today. There was a Clan Zero sweep, or I guess a better way of saying it is that they tried to sweep. District 3 has done a good job at keeping the gangs out of the area, even though they always try to force their way through the gates but they’re too stupid to understand that their numbers don’t mean much. But yeah, I was late because I ran into some goons that did manage to squeeze through and I had to keep them from stealing the groceries Atlas and I got. A flock of those masked dummies tried to take the goods from us as if that would make us comply, see what I mean when I say idiots? We got some good stuff too, none of that rationed shit, so of course we beat their asses and booked it.
I got back just in time to see Michael shoot a sapphire smoke flare today, so I shot back my good day lavender and then black smoke for Clan Zero activity. I wonder if his District is getting any better. Atlas told me they’re on the chopping block right now ever since the Stingers gang took control of most of the small businesses, lots of them have been in business for years too. It’s really sad for the families. They’re copying Clan Zero because they tried that over here a few months back. I guess since they’re the second largest clan, they want to steal from the big kahuna of Malachite City. Atlas also said he and some of the other Borderliners had seen Zeroes snooping around the 5 borders. His squad is gonna poke around and find out why because I think that means another pissing match is gonna go down. Which means another District will be claimed. They’ll pull a North Korea on it like how they did with District 1.
Updates? Districts 4 and 6 are rebuilding their bridges. Communication is still super limited throughout the city; I think the phone lines are still being monitored so a lot of people don’t want to call between Districts. They’ve been trying to send letters, but even the mail system is jacked up. I tried sending one to Michael, but when he wrote back, he said he got it two months later. Oh yeah! Atlas said he and the Borderliners are thinking of rebranding and becoming a resistance alliance to defend the city! I told them I’d be down to join if they started recruiting soon. From what I know, the majority of them are from around here in 3, so they’ll have to outsource into the other Districts, which isn’t a big problem since they already jump from one division to another, I mean why else would they call themselves “Borderliners”. It’s about time someone is finally going to do something about these violent clans. I could barely do anything to help when the gang wars first started, but now seems like the perfect time to kick their asses back. Those Zeroes and Stingers won’t know what hit them.
PIXIE TALIS
September 30, 20VI
District 5
Year 6, Day 273
Her smoke flare was that lavender color again. Atlas came to 5 yesterday, he says she seems hopeful. I’m not sure of what though; these fights sure as hell aren’t getting any better. Perhaps it’s just her District that’s starting to recover, because everyone else seems to be in the trenches. Just last week, we had Stingers in the neighborhood dragging people out of their units. They like to fear monger people into getting into line. My tower was fine, but it’s only a matter of time before they try to get me as well. Atlas says the other Malachites are calling us the “Belly-Up District”, and they aren’t entirely wrong. I overheard the neighbors trying to protest when a group of Stingers broke their door in, but evidently, they just gave up and let themselves be taken. Like drooling cattle. It’s so fucking embarrassing.
The older population is getting the shorter end of the stick. Poor Miss Tammy next door, she was killed for refusing to pay them protection money over the weekend. I heard the gunshot from down the hall. Sirens woke me up the next day. It’s infuriating what has come of this District, the entire city as a whole. We used to be glorified up by the country until New Year’s six years ago when it seemed like all these goddamn gangsters exploded from under our noses. When I told Atlas about my neighbor, he didn’t seem surprised either. He was fortunate enough to leave District 1 before they were claimed by Clan Zero; he's seen how it goes down: they cut the District off from the rest of the city so they have full control of everyone and everything. Such freaks. No one knows what they’re doing to people either, which makes it so much worse.
I hope he doesn’t tell Pixie about the rise in violence and Stinger activity here. She’ll start to worry about me and plan something crazy like jumping the border. She tried it a few months ago after I told her not to, but did I really expect that girl to listen? Granted, the Stingers weren’t as big as they are now and traveling between Districts wasn’t as difficult, but I don’t think she knew that they were going to strip her of her belongings when crossing. So, what did Pixie do when they started to pat her down? She argued and started swinging. Next thing I know, Atlas is at my door saying she’s on the Stinger’s “Do Not Cross” list in every District they control. To keep her at bay, I make sure to shoot sapphire flares often, so she sees that things are going well for me. Everything else, she can find out through Atlas. Or the rumors that spread.
Updates: Doctor says that I have to wear my oxygen mask indoors now, which is so dumb because wearing it for too long hurts, AND that means I’m not getting any fucking better. The pollution seems to be getting worse and making my lungs strain more. The medicine he puts in the tank helps, though I would much rather go without any of it; it has this weird cooling effect that makes it feel like I’m drinking ice water with gum. This city has fallen on hard times, I doubt all six Districts could actually resist the gangs. Even if I do survive this mess, I’ll just keep on suffering. And this new group that Atlas is starting to promote, what the hell is that boy thinking? How are we to stop the fighting if more clans start to form? Fighting fire with fire is the last thing we need. From my understanding, this third gang, because that’s basically what it is, is supposed to be the ‘hero’ of the city and defend us common folk from the Stingers and Clan Zero. He and the Borderliners are already starting to become an issue too; the gangs know that all they do is snitch about their activity to the neighboring Districts, so they know what to look out for. He used to ask me if I wanted to join, but how the hell can I if I'm short of breath almost all the time? I’d say leave it to the police, but even they’ve been corrupted. The capitol also happens to be in District 1, so it’s up to the people to govern themselves. I guess it could be worse, but at least we’ve been able to create some order among the chaos. I’m powerless, so there’s no point in sweating over this.
MICHAEL BANDIDI
October 12, 20VI
District 3
Year 6, Day 285
Clan Zero broke through District 5 and fights started to break out throughout the neighborhoods. I haven’t gotten a smoke flare from Michael in the last couple of days, I don’t know what’s going on. Obviously, I’ve heard of people getting caught in the crossfires or being “arrested” for protesting the fights, but Michael wouldn’t get involved like that. Not directly. I really hope he’s okay. I can’t ask Atty to check on him either, he told me that anytime there’s turf wars, the BL’s leave that District out of fear that their group will be followed. That, and the amount of gang members in the area must be through the roof right now.
On the bright side, Atty is officially announcing his group to the other Districts! They’re calling themselves the “Switchbacks'', like the blade. Pretty cool. AND!!! I also heard that a lot of their members have been from District 3! Even cooler! That means we’ll be their Primary District (but not in the way the other two have theirs, we’ll actually be treated with respect). I was the first person he recruited too; aren’t I special? Plus…I really miss Michael. I’ll be able to move from District to District if I join, so it’s a win win: Fight back, and reunite with him. It’ll be like how things were in high school, I’ll be able to style his hair again, I just know it’s grown out now. He was never good at twisting his hair.
Wow I didn’t even write about the fights (this is per borderliners and what I was able to see from my tower):
A lot of fires, some in building units
Started off with guns but turned into bat fights and knifes ( I guess they started to take shit personally)
Turf lines were drawn and are being pushed against one another
Towers are being searched for rival hideouts (which I bet is taking them forever, so many of these buildings look like Quarry Bay)
Borderliners are also being targeted. Atlas says neither of the gangs want shit to spread. I guess they want everyone else to be scared…or something, I don’t know. I guess they don’t like snitches.
One final note, I know Michael isn’t shooting any flares, but I’ve been sending white smoke with sapphire so if he does see them, he’ll know that I’m supporting him and the District from afar. He’s always liked to act very stoic and nonchalant, but I know deep down he gets scared. He’s always been like that, up until high school when he’d get real mad, but he never expressed it. Unless it was to me. Such a Capricorn man.
PIXIE TALIS
October 14, 20VI
District 3
Year 6, Day 288
Finally! I got a smoke flare from Michael today. Two puffs of orange, so I guess it’s still a bit rocky. No one has been able to go in or out of the District much. The subways aren’t as controlled as the main border gates, so 5 has been able to get some extra supplies from the adjacent Districts. But while I was out today, I overheard a lady crying to the Stingers that stood at the gate. She goes, “Please, have mercy! My son lives in District 5, let me go find him!” I felt sorry for her because all they did was curse and kick her away. It wasn’t like this before either; traveling between Districts was allowed up until a gang sort of like the Switchbacks tried to rebel, and they flopped. They’d sneak into gangs and blow it up from the inside. Now, when people do manage to cross on their own, they just…disappear. I won’t say they kill them because no one really knows what happens or where they go. But most people just assumes they’re killed. It also doesn't matter which gang is controlling the gates, if they find out you crossed without going through their customs, closed casket. No obituary either.
Speaking of which, Atlas said he was thinking about bringing a couple of members into 5 to help the District out, all we’d be doing is bringing supplies and keeping people safe while we wait for Atty’s greenlight to act. Then we’ll really be able to bring both gangs down. They need all the help they can get. No one else is getting close to them, all those wimps in the other Districts are too scared that they’ll be next. Good thing it’s MY District that’s stepping up — we don’t like to take shit. I don’t like to take shit. And neither should they. It pisses me off. If anyone else were in their position, they’d have their hands out and begging for help. No one from outside the State wants to help either.
I remember during the first year of the wars, Michael and I talked about leaving the city completely. We wanted to bring a whole group of people with us, but after a while he started saying stuff like “no I won’t make it” or would just say that “we’re safer in the city”. And he was right for a while, but after year III, it got so much worse. That’s when the city got divided up; The clans drew the first turf lines and built these armored gates around them too, and for what? I get they’re just trying to control and scare people, but the border idea was so stupid. Same goes for the sweeps. They didn’t start doing them until smugglers got caught working with whatever rival caught them. It’s almost year VII and I’ve been thinking of how much we’ve had to put up with; so many families got separated since the borders went by the county. But I try to not fall into those thoughts that often. I know Michael does, and it’s sad because I know he mopes in that mindset. I wish I was close by to cheer him up.
PIXIE TALIS
October 15, 20VI
District 5
Year 6, Day 288
All hell broke loose when the Stingers and Zero wars started. Zeroes smoked my tower out and raided all the units. I was one of the first ones to get dragged out too. I wasn’t aware up until that point, but when the turf lines were drawn, my neighborhood became part of Stinger territory, so immediately there was a spike in Zeroes in my area trying to take the turf. I knew what they were doing: they were looking for Stingers and smugglers. And since it could have been any one of us, we all had to be searched and questioned. I had no idea some of my neighbors were Stingers, but apparently many of the units in the tower were being used as hideouts. We were kept outside for the majority of the time; the air quality was worse than I thought. What’s more, we had to stay warm around bonfires, so the smoke was hard on my lungs. I wasn’t able to bring my oxygen tank, nor would the Zero’s ever allow it. As organized as they can be, they don’t have the space to be sympathetic for some people’s accommodations. A part of me is almost glad that it wasn’t Stingers raiding us, we would have been thrown around like ragdolls and probably gotten beat.
I can feel my body…eroding. Every day, my coughs get harsher, and my lungs get weaker. Walking upstairs has become unbelievably taxing. I don’t know how much longer I have before I suffocate. I’ve done everything I could: the windows stay closed, I don’t leave the unit very often, I even sleep with my fucking mask on! What the hell else am I supposed to do?! Doc did say I needed to keep my oxygen flowing at all times, but he didn’t forecast the gang wars being this severe. I was hoping I’d get a higher dosage soon, but I haven’t been able to get a hold of him since I got back home, so I’m currently left to my own devices.
When I shot the orange flare for Pixie today, I realized that at some point, she won’t be getting any more. I never told her about the illness either and no one knows it's getting worse. My fate is sealed, I’m bound to die before Christmas. I can’t let her find out. She’ll be miserable, and from what Atlas has been telling me, his Switchback gang sparked a new fire in her. I worry that if she finds out I’m sick, she’ll get herself in trouble. I know she’s going to leave her District whether I like that idea or not – the political climate right now is one step away from setting off a landmine, I’m scared that her attitude will get herself hurt. She’s always been like this. I’ve watched what these Stingers have done, they’re unapologetically aggressive. They boast about how many disobedient Malachites they throw in a ditch. I don’t want Pixie in a ditch.
I came up with this idea to build a smoke flare generator if the day comes that I die before she knows why, or before I see her again. I can set a timer so that it will shoot a flare everyday right before curfew. It won’t be too difficult; I’ll just have to make sure that I get enough flares so that it doesn’t run out quickly. I could also ask Atlas to help as well. This’ll only be a temporary solution though, maybe it would have been better if I told her. I don’t know…I would have felt worse making her see me grow weaker and thinner. Pix has always had this sort of glow, she’s like a sparkler on New Year’s. If I had told her that my sickness has the potential of becoming terminal, it would weigh on her shoulders every day. I don’t think she would have been the same. Now I really think I should have told her, maybe 3 has medicine that 5 doesn’t. Shit…it’s like I dug my own fucking grave.
No update today. I have no need for it.
MICHAEL BANDINI
November 10, 20VI
District 5
Year 6, Day 314
Today is the day that the Switchbacks entered District 5. I got my little crest and loadout last night. Our color is red, I had to pull out the old fits to match the armor and blend in with the crowd. Atlas recommended we don’t wear too much of our color so that no one suspects anything, I think if anyone saw a group of people wearing the same shade of red, it’ll be easy to put two and two together and realize we’re a third gang. We have the best color anyways; only loser bozos wear black or green. My division was tasked with taking out border control so the rest of the Switches can come through with their vans, we’re set to do so once curfew hits. We’re like a secret frontline! I didn’t ask for a gun or anything with bullets because I wanna punch their faces in with my own hands…and maybe a bat. Or a crowbar?! I would love to swing a crowbar!
I’m already thinking about how exciting it’s going to be to see Michael again! I bet the wars have made him a lot more skinny. More skinnier? He’s just skinny. The last time I saw him was the beginning of this year: we both stood up on the roofs of our towers and saw each other from afar. I’m glad that we both live near the border too. If we lived one more building away, I wouldn’t have been able to see him. I remember waving and jumping so he could see me, and he too waved back, that was when he shot his first sapphire smoke flare, and I shot my first lavender flare. But after a few months, he stopped coming outside and would shoot from his window. I have no idea how we came up with that communication idea without talking about it before, I guess we’re just that connected. Same goes for Atlas, how’d we manage to make a mutual friend at a distance? But even back then he looked skinnier than in the pictures I have before the wars, that or maybe he was just too far. That slimy brown leather jacket that he always wears looked the same on him, but I could tell that his legs were slimmer. We’ll see soon.
Right now, I’m with Atlas and a couple of others in a hideout close to the center of Michael’s neighborhood, we have to stay put just until the rest of us successfully cross over. We’re hiding in a busted-up bodega near the center of the District full of Borderliner supplies (I should probably start calling us Switchbacks since that’s what we are now). From what I can see through the planks covering the windows, Stingers move in swarms just like Zeroes; but not as organized and in formation. They’re messy, they kind of remind me toddlers. This area was already run through by them, which is why we’re safe, had it been unmarked, the bodega would’ve already been trashed. I can’t really see as I write because if we use too much light we may get caught, so I have to use my little night light and whatever I can get from the streetlamps.
The District itself looks so much more busted than mine. Like, on the way here we saw a bunch of abandoned cars, some of them burned to a crisp and flaking ash. Builidngs were boarded up, others fortified. If you saw anyone out on the streets, they were probably heading to work or home. No one liked being outside anymore. I mean, how could they?
I’m getting impatient. I told Atlas that if he doesn’t come with me to find Michael, then I’ll go by myself. He’s acting…very weird. Like he’s already very finnicky but now he’s stiff. He used to sound so excited when I would tell him about my plans to see Michael again, and now he’s telling me that going alone is dangerous and that he doesn’t want to leave his mates? As if they’re kids, they are literally grown men. He just doesn’t get it. Atlas left District 1 because he had no one to stay for, I don’t think he’s ever had a Michael in his life, so of course he doesn’t have a sense of urgency! Or even understand what a ride or die is, a real one, at least.
I’ll have to find Michael myself. I already know which tower he lives in anyways so why the hell do I need Atlas for? I’ll just wait until curfew when we’re out on the streets to see which window he shoots his smoke flare from. And then! I’ll shoot mine from right below him, so he knows that I’m coming up the stairs! And when he opens his door to see if it’s really me, I’ll already be at his welcome mat! Oh my gosh I’m already so hyped!
PIXIE TALIS
November 11, 20VI
District 5
Year 6, Day 314
Pixie, I know you’re going to find this journal eventually, I wish it were under different circumstances. I hope I’m not in the room when you do find it though. You’ve gone through a lot already... I’m sorry I never told you about the sickness. A part of me wished that I would have recovered before you saw me again, or at least before the borders stopped being so controlled so that we could be close to each other again. You know, you’d think I would have more to say during my last hours, but I’m a bit stumped to say the least. All I know is that I wish I got to see you again. I’m sure you’re still short. And your hair is probably long now, do you still wear those pigtails? When I showed Atlas our senior portraits, he says that your face hasn’t changed much since prewars – that gives me some comfort. You’ll notice throughout this journal that there’s sketches of you scattered, I did so in case I was raided and got everything taken away from me. I knew I’d be able to leave with this journal, I didn’t want to forget what you looked like. He also told me how excited you were to be able to cross the borders under the Switchbacks and see me again. It’s a shame I didn’t get to see you in their regalia.
I’m also assuming you found my smoke generator. I feel like a liar now that you know that the past days have been fakes and saying that I’m sorry will never be enough. But I really am so, so sorry that I hid this from you. I didn’t want to make you worry. I wanted you to stay a spitfire. You were always hopeful for the future. I think that was the one thing that kept me going for so long, your hope. I never really had much of that. It was adjacent to yours, and then we were separated, and my hope disappeared just like how you did. But seeing the lavender helped. I would buy lavender stems any chance I could just to feel you a little bit closer. And they helped for a bit, breathing had always been hard. But I would always let my lungs suffer a little more so that I may get to heal my heart with those stems.
Please find this journal, Pixie. Publish it when the wars end, anything. Our stories need to be told, show the world what happens when your government does a shit job at defending its people. And if you can’t, burn all those idiot gang assholes to the ground like you joked about. I know they weren’t jokes. I wish I got to see you do so. I never really believed in an afterlife, but lately I’ve been hoping that I get to see you again from the other side. And please don’t get yourself too hurt or killed either. You have a life to live, one more promising than mine.
I’m sorry Pix Stix, I hope you can forgive me.
From your very best frie
Interview with the Author
1. What inspired you to write this piece? What was your thought process throughout?
This actually started off as an exercise for my Fiction Workshop class last semester, the prompt was to write an epistolary story based off of one our readings. I remember being inspired by how strong the voice of the narrator was, it was like having a conversation with someone through the pages. Since this is mainly a character driven story, I had to keep telling myself to make them feel like real people. Their world had to be real. The stakes had to be high. Good stories tell, great stories capture.
2. What do you hope readers will take away from your piece? What effects do you want the piece to have on the person, community, or society?
I really wish I had a better answer for this, but I truly hope that what I write inspires someone. I just remember growing up reading and watching so many great stories and wondered if I too would be able to get my ideas out there, and as I've developed my craft, I've learned just how much thought and detail goes into every single line. My story has been compared to a lot of other things, but even underneath the similarities are factors that make it unique. That is where the power of writing really shines through.
3. What is your favorite piece of fiction (short story, novel, flash fiction, etc.) that you’ve ever read? Why?
Not The Hunger Games! I bet everyone was thinking the same thing, and honestly, The Hunger Games didn't even cross my mind while I wrote this! The very first piece that I remember having an iron grip on me was The City of Ember, and that was back in middle school! I've always been drawn to stories with energy and great world building because I know how exciting it is to transfer ideas into words that make it become that much more real. The City of Ember is dystopian story similar to mine, I guess what you consume is what you pump out.
4. If you plan on continuing to write, what are some goals/plans you may have for your future?
I'm sure all writers plan on having their "big publication", and I'm no different. This story is only the beginning of my journey as an author. I want to become an editor and get the rest of my work published that will reach audience that's bigger than Quirk's. Not for the fame either, but rather to show myself how far I can go with my passion for writing.