Chapter 14
Rapture
When the city of Rapture had been at the height of its prosperity, it had been home to almost fifty thousand people. Years of growing ADAM addiction and the civil war of 1959 and the following onslaught of attacks brought that number down significantly, and by the time Andrew Ryan and Frank Fontaine had both been killed, Rapture was populated by only twenty to thirty thousand. In the following few years, the great depression and fall into anarchy left thousands more dead through suicide, murder or the gradual flooding of the cities buildings.
Rapture's exact population was now anyone's guess. The empty streets and halls often made Rapture feel entirely deserted, but there were still hundreds hiding in barricaded homes, others moving frequently from one secluded spot to the next just trying to stay alive. All had long since given up hope of ever seeing the sun again, or living a life of normality and security. Most felt betrayed and humiliated, as at one time they had all placed their trust and their lives in Andrew Ryan's hands, and a further majority had since had either backed the two-faced con artist Fontaine, or had their minds warped and loyalty won by the delusional, psychotic Dr Sofia Lamb. Wherever the people of Rapture had chosen to place their faith, they had been used and abused, and dumped like slag when they were no longer useful.
Yet, when word had spread that Sofia Lamb had vanished, the people did not rejoice as they had perhaps done at the news of Ryan or Fontaine's death - for they were all now accustomed to having someone in charge, they expected and accepted someone oppressing them daily. So when the public address speakers fell silent, most were left far more afraid than they had ever felt before.
It was therefore both a terrifying shock, but also a subconscious relief, when on that day - the speakers came back to life. Down every passageway, through each chamber and atrium of Rapture, Edwards voice was heard at once by all.
"People of Rapture - I beg of you all to hear me now. Please... give me these few minutes to speak to you and offer you my dream, so that we can hopefully share it." He paused, as the echo of his last few words rebounded for a while through the corridors.
"As I'm sure you all know by now, Sofia Lamb has left us - fled to the surface like a whipped dog when we all saw through her lies. It was not our fault that we believed in her, for she promised us so much when we all had so little left."
Across the city, ears were perked, startled whispers bounded around as they waited for the next sentence. "But whilst Lamb persecuted the innocent and murdered at will in the name of the greater good, she let our great city crumble around us! She sat and watched as our homes were flooded, our food supplies dwindled! And now, thanks to her - our time is growing dangerously short, to save Rapture, to save ourselves..."
Some that were listening, even those spliced to insanity, began to nod in understanding, even agreement. Others, loyal members of the now defunct 'Rapture Family' held back their instincts with doubt, and growled in anger at the slandering of Sofia Lamb's name, yet none stopped listening.
"I am not Andrew Ryan. I lived and worked within the system, just like all of you. I suffered and lost much during the war, just like all of you. But through it all, I still love Rapture - it is my home, it is OUR home!" He raised his voice with passion and emphasis.
"A few days ago, I awoke 'The Thinker', and gave us back our lights and power. As of today, I have saved Arcadia and the fishing docks from being lost to the sea. That I have achieved as one man alone. Think what I could achieve tomorrow, with all of you by my side! I see Rapture not only dragged from the edge of oblivion, but I see it reborn through all of us! If you want to save this great city, if you want your life back - I ask only that you come together in peace and friendship tomorrow by the Rapture Dedication Fountain on High Street, where at 5pm I will answer your questions, give your thoughts a platform from where they can be heard, and together we can work to forge a future! Rise, Rapture, Rise!"
The speakers cut off, and Edward collapsed back into the wingback chair. He had been shaking the whole time, his finger trembling uncontrollably as it had held down the 'speak' button on the microphone. He looked upon the pile of transcripts of Andrew Ryan speeches that he had gathered with extreme gratitude, and then to his left where he'd position his favorite framed picture of Sheridan - both great men had helped him deliver that speech. Still his heart was beating with the apprehension, the question of how his 'call to arms' would be reacted to out in the streets of Rapture.
Paupers Drop - Limbo Room
Grace sat on a bar stool she'd pulled from the wreckage and sat up against the stage she used to perform on, her arms folded upon it cradling her head. She'd heard every word of Edward's public address, but could hear nothing in it other than the words of Andrew Ryan, re-hashed and re-shaped certainly, but still she couldn't shake her sincere doubts. She had come to befriend Edward despite their history, still in her heart of hearts she couldn't condone his homosexuality, despite the willingness of the rest of the city to do so. But Grace feared that their new friendship may be tested by even greater strains in the near future - it was for that reason she hoped desperately that it would be words only that Edward managed. She hoped this was as far as he would come, and that the rest of the city would pay him no heed, seeing him for the insecure, inexperienced boy he really was at heart. However - if Edward did gather momentum and start to forge a new great chain, Grace feared she may have to betray her promise not to stand in his way - she instantly regretted even making such a promise. Rapture was finished, had been for years, and no matter how hard Edward may kick to try and keep the cities head above water, they all needed to drown. Rapture needed to die - for death would still be far better than a third term in a re-hashed vision of the same, gilded cage.
Her heart sank and she buried her face deeper between her arms, as she heard cheering and howls of delight from outside. In unison the gaggle of splicers in the distance cried out "Rise! Rapture! Rise!"