“So this is what the fuss is about.”
I look down. The placards are strewn across the ground. Every ounce of reasoning tells me to turn away and rejoin the line as quickly as possible.
Bizarrely enough, I ignore it.
My hand reaches down of its own accord. I lift the placard to my face. The message printed in large crimson letters is short and direct.
WA
KE
UP
“Ok, come on.”
My senses return with a jolt. The rush of fear and adrenaline nearly cause my knees to buckle. My traitorous hand stuffs the card into the pocket of my coveralls as we quickly return to the line just as the SVRs and Dogmen regain a semblance of order.
The new man chuckles softly. “I guess I should have repeated the gesture to move.”
I almost stumble. “You didn’t—?”
“All it takes is the smallest disruption to create disorder in the machine. Remember that.”
We fall silent as the Dogmen stalk by, staring savagely at the lines. My mind turns like the gears of the machines I maintain at work every day. If I heard correctly then this man has caused the chaos on purpose. Which makes it my responsibility to report the incident. The Dogmen are right there, almost in my face…
My mouth will not work along with my mind. I remain silent as the Dogmen pass.
What is wrong with me?
“I’m not sure what happened here.” The lead Dogman glares at the lines. “But it had better not happen again. Now move it!”
The lines advance, orderly and in unison once more. Other lines join us, moving like ants toward our destination.
The Industrial Center.
The buildings loom high above us, belching smoke and ash that expel a constant layer of heavy smog over The City. The towers cast heavy shadows over the worker lines, smothering us with almost audible insistence.
Obey, the buildings seem to whisper. Obey, obey, obey…
The Manager intones over the loudspeakers, uttering the Workman’s Maxim.
“It is a privilege to serve for the glory of the Sovereign Empire. Every citizen owes the Sovereign their allegiance, their support, and most importantly, their silence. All hail the glory of the Sovereign Empire.”
As the Dog of War image displays on towering screens and the national anthem blares, every citizen places fist to heart in silent submission to the glory of the Sovereign.
Once the anthem ends, we immediately stride to our workstations. As I advance, I hear the voice of the man behind me.
“We’ll be in touch, Franklin.”
I stop cold. Something about that word tickles my consciousness. “Excuse me…?”
“It’s your name.” The man never breaks his stride. “We all have one. My name is Jack. Keep moving, Franklin. You’ll be contacted soon.”
Jack is quickly swallowed by the shifting crowd. I move as though in a dream. I know what is wrong with his mouth now. I remember.
It is a smile. Not a forged mockery like the Smiling Man, but a genuine one — full of warmth and actual emotion.
I cannot recall the last time I have seen that.
Chapter 2
Streams of light effuse through the blinds as though the sun shines harder for them, illuminating the room in saffron shades like a photograph dusted in gold.
Yet the only thing I feel is fear.
For I know what happens next: the booming sound at the door that rattles the hinges, the look of animal fear in her eyes. Her hair swings as she protectively clutches her son, the child who now wears a mask of fear instead of a face.
The door splinters inward, and I see their twisted, inhuman faces. The suited figures snarl, delighting in her screams. She pulls her son away from the table, disrupting the tablecloth. A mug of coffee slides across and falls to the floor.
The pottery shatters. Warm liquid pools across the tiles…
WA
KE
UP
When I open my eyes I immediately know something is wrong. The Smiling Man is activated as normal, but his cheerful delivery is completely mute. His mouth moves, but the words are not audible. I panic, thinking my hearing has somehow been damaged.
“Amazing, isn’t it?”
My heart climbs to my throat at the sound of the voice. Jack sits in the corner on my stool with the same hint of a smile on his lips.
“What…what are you doing here? What did you do to the screen?”
His smile broadens. “I shut it up. Isn’t it amazing? Listen. You can actually hear your thoughts.”
I don’t want to listen. I risk a peek outside my narrow window. No one is in sight. No black vans or dog-faced suits striding out to kick my door in.
“I don’t know how you got in here, but you’re putting me at risk. If the Dogmen find out…”
“The Dogmen.” Jack’s voice is scornful. “Intimidators, nothing more. If they have an original thought between the lot of them I’d be surprised. I’ll let you in on a little secret about the Dogmen.” He leans in, dropping his voice to a whisper. “They don’t exist.”
“What…?”
“Not the way you think. It’s an illusion.” Jack gestures with a magician’s flourish. “Like this city. Tell me, Franklin, do you know the day and year right now?”
I frown at the question. Something flickers across my mind like phantom lightning, but the thought quickly fizzles out.
He tilts his head curiously. “When was the last time anyone mentioned the date, Franklin?”
“Don’t call me that.” I take another look at the empty streets. The Smiling Man continues his silent delivery, oblivious to the traitorous discussion.
Jack seems to read my thoughts. “Don’t worry about the screen. It can’t see us. Costs too much to manage that kind of surveillance. Illusion, I tell you. You’ve been tangled in a web of lies, Franklin. But now it’s time to wake up.”
Wake Up. The words pop up in my mind in bold letters, just like on the placard. It can’t be coincidence. I shrink away from Jack. “You’re…you’re one of them.” I remove the placard from my jacket on the bed and hurl it at him. “One of those…terrorists.”
He watches amusedly as the card flutters to the floor. “If that’s so, then you had better turn me in. You know what to do.”
I glance at the red button on the wall. All it will take is a simple depression, and I’ll be linked directly to the authorities. It can all be over, my life can return to normalcy.
Moments tick by. Each second is an eternity.
Jack’s smile illuminates his face. “Can’t do it, can you? Do you know why?”
“I don’t…want to get caught up. I don’t want any trouble.”
He leans forward as his tone becomes serious. “You want a way out, Franklin. You’ve been fighting it. The control they exert. With their propaganda, the hypnotic suggestion in the morning delivery, even the sedatives in the food they force into you. They can do all of that, Franklin. But they can’t have your mind. Not if you refuse to allow it.”
He tilts his head again, as if listening to something. “Get dressed, Franklin. They’re coming for you.”
I dress automatically, even as my heart tries to escape my chest. “Who? Who’s coming for me?”
“Listen. They will tickle your ears with feathers and feed you honeyed lies, but when you look into their eyes you’ll know the truth. Fight them, Franklin. Not with your fists but with your mind. You can’t let them have you.” He stands up and approaches the hallway. “You’re too important.”