A/N: So, I've had this idea for a while and I had the sudden urge to write it. I only have a prolouge at the moment, and I don't even know how far I'm going to go with this, or how much I'll end up writing of it. But I wanted to share what I had anyway.
Bird Song
Prologue
A History of the Loud Years, by Harriet Smith: There was a time when humans could be controlled at the mere vibration of the vocal chords. When humanity was ruled by those who could use their voices, and not those who could use their minds. These were the Loud Days, and for the end of them, we must be grateful. We are grateful.
The birds haven't sung in over a decade, now. When the ban on music came into effect a hundred years ago, it was only meant to apply to humans. Not to beasts, or birds, or creatures of the sea. But over time, the Authorities decided that animal song was just as dangerous as human song, and slowly, it began to disappear. No one's really sure how they did it; but one day, ten years ago, the world woke up and the birds had ceased to sing.
To be honest, no one really complained. After all, everyone knows just how dangerous music is. They are taught it in school, told of the havoc and pain that occurred in the Loud Days, before everyone realised just how terrible music really can be. It's used as a weapon now. Competing armies of Singers use their voices to maim and destroy. It sounds stupid, but as the children are taught, things were worse in the olden days; in the days of guns and missiles and nuclear bombs. And anyway, singing is more effective than any of those things. Why shoot a man when you can bring him to his knees in agony in half the time?
And so music is banned. No singing, whistling, humming or anything that could resemble any of the above. That's the law, and those who violate it… well, you really don't want to know what happens to them.
oOoOo
Laws for a Safe and Just Land, by the Authorities: Law Seventy Five, Section B, Sub-Section 3: Music is forbidden in the strictest terms. It is dangerous, and as such, will be treated as a weapon. Anyone found using music in any way – other than uses sanctioned by the Singers – will be put to death in whatever way the Authorities deem appropriate.
If anyone asked him, Kurt Hummel would swear, like everyone else he knew, that he had never heard music in his life. After all, the ban had been in place for over a hundred years, and no one would ever dare to violate it. If Kurt Hummel said that, he would be lying. The truth is, music has been a part of his life since before he was born. It thrums in his veins, it huddles in his chest, just waiting to be set free. Kurt's mother used to sing to him when he was a baby. Very quietly, of course, and every second she risked being discovered and dragged off by the Authorities. But she did it anyway. Kurt doesn't know why; and after her untimely death, he guesses he never will. Still, he can remember how it sounded. How wonderful it was.
One thing that always sticks out in his mind is the time his mother sung him to sleep when he was eight years old. It was a few days before she died, her skin already looked dull and her eyes tired. But she took the time to lull him to sleep with her voice and then cradle him into her body, before kissing his hair and tucking him into bed. And just before she left, Kurt could have sworn he heard her murmur something else. But then she was gone, and a few days later, she was dead. Her words that night are just one more secret Kurt will never know.
oOoOo
A/N: So... should I keep going?