a song for viola

"A city riddled with criminals and steeped in poverty.

Where violence is a way of life, and its streets full of blood;

its citizens downtrodden, trapped in an abattoir.

The kingpin, Marko, controls the city.

With the whole criminal underworld at his beck and call,

Women. Money. Power. Authority.

He had everything he wanted.

Amidst the hardships, there were still little simple joys people could turn to;

if it only could take their minds off what lies beneath this city.

The roadside bookshops with wizened storytellers;

the occasional opera troupe;

the travelling circus;

but above them all, there was The Picoult Sisters.

Yet it has been days since the Picoult Sisters have gone missing.

The most popular singers in town; their overnight disappearance reeks of suspicion.
The police have been silent; the Triads claim no responsibility.
As the city mourns its daughters; all four news agencies in town are working round the clock.
This is the biggest news story the city has ever seen.
Everything is on the line;
Everything, in a bid to get the scoop on their disappearance.

The public clamors for information-

If your news agency solves the mysterious disappearance of the Picoult Sisters, sales figures raked in would drive your competitors bust.

It will be wise, to conduct your investigations immediately."

NTUWKWSCIFOC2009. Coming 6-10 July.