Hong Kong Young Writers Anthologies Fiction Group 3 - 2017 | Page 404

Years quickly passed, and a ship appeared over the horizon, sailing down the Whangpoo until it docked at the Bund. Hannah
welcomed Ben with open arms as he stepped off the ship.
“I knew you would return.”
“I could never forget you, Hannah.”
Ben, in his ghostly form, turned to Hannah as a large grin threatened to split his face. The quiet city was filled with their
memories. The beginning of their life together. The formation of their friendship. The love sparking between them. It was
amazing.
This was why Ben loved Shanghai with so much passion. This village near Shanghai held so many memories that he holds dear.
The Old City of Shanghai itself, with its ancient winding streets, temples and gardens, street traders and steaming hot buns, was
where they had continued living in the later parts of their life together. It was his home.
“How about the future? What does it look like?”
“We will go forward in time, but brace your feelings. The Shanghai you love will not be the same.” Hannah drew Ben into a hug
and together they travelled through time again.
The future appeared before Ben now. There were many high-rises, but not just any normal buildings. They were coated in blue
plasma, whirling at high speeds as the elevators moved. Cars hovered on top of roads, shooting with such speed that Ben got
confused at just how fast they were going. Jets floated in mid-air, arms extending from them to clean windows. Robotic
attendants followed humans around, providing them necessities at their request. The buildings reached up almost to the sky and
people seemed carefree. It’s an ultra-smart city, a tech dream.
However, Ben noticed one thing. Everything, actually. Everything that made Shanghai precious to his eyes was gone. People
walked around minding their own business, not one stopping to smile at or greet someone else. They treated their robots like
trash and the robots, bound to be loyal to their masters, received the abuse with no complaint.
Then came fire. Shanghai going up in flames. Robots, with their minds intent on taking revenge on the abusive humans, turned
back on their masters, razing everything in their path. A war between humans and robots begun, violence was at every corner.
What little remained of what Ben loved was destroyed utterly.
Ben, even when a ghost, fell to the ground in pain. Tears welled up in his eyes.