The Shock of the New

Chapter 36: Fleeing the Scene

As Collins and the officer walked into the flat, Eleanor asked "What about my recent activities? What are you talking about?"

The two of them didn't answer, instead choosing to walk into her kitchen and sit down at the table

"Can I get either of you a drink?" Eleanor asked both of them. The officer scowled at her

"Please sit down Ms Johnson. We've got a few things to discuss"

Sitting down at the table, Eleanor felt very uneasy

"Look, what's this all about?"
"Ms Johnson" Collins said "Over the course of the last few days, we've been monitoring you. We're very concerned about your actions"
"Like what?"

"Like your conduct during the recent cyber attacks" The officer slammed his fist down on the table causing Eleanor to jump slightly
"What are you talking about?" Eleanor asked "All I've done is follow correct proceedure and-"
"You mean like leaving messages behind to mock us?" The officer sat back in his chair "You think that attacking our systems is funny don't you?"

"Don't talk bullshit!" Eleanor snapped at them "I've worked hard every single day I've been here and I've never expressed any contrary views!"
Collins sighed "Look Ms Johnson. You can get as defensive as you want, but evey single time there's been of these cyber attacks, you've been nearby."
"It's a coincidence!" Eleanor could feel herself sweating "How many people live in this place? How many of them work in the mining colonies-!"
"Don't try to deny it!" The Officer yelled causing Eleanor to go silent "We know where you went last night! In the Prager district, meeting with dangerous fanatics who support this sort of deviancy!"
"Oh shit" Eleanor thought. She turned to Collins

"Mr Collins please! You know I'm a hard and loyal worker for the W.E.R.. I'd never do anything as illegal as this!"
"We found the taxi that took you there" Collins replied "We ran a check through it's AI systems and we saw everything it had done!"
"Then why are you after me?" Eleanor was nearly in tears at this point "It's the cult you want! I'm just a stooge!"
"They'll be dealt with in due time!" The officer stood up and walked over to her "But in the meantime, you're under arrest for aiding and abetting this sort of thing!"
Eleanor put her head in her hands "But I'm not doing that! I'm just an innocent victim who-!"
"Innocent victim!" The officer spat "Don't make me laugh! You darkies are all the same! You just want to undermine the holy white race of the W.E.R. any chance you get! Frankly you deserve to be taught a lesson every now and then!"
Eleanor angrily looked up at him

"What the fuck did you just say!?" she replied raising her voice

"Don't take that tone with me, you ignorant black!" The officer fired back "I am your superior and you will obey me!"
Eleanor seethed with anger "I don't care! Don't you ever call me that-"
The officer angrily smacked her in the face "Don't back talk to me! You're just like your father!"
Eleanor stared at him with anger
"Oh yes, I've read the file" the officer chortled "Beaten to death for being a filthy race traitor! Frankly he got exactly what he deserved-"
"Enough!" Eleanor smashed her fist directly into the officer's face knocking him to the floor. She then kicked him in the head repeatedly causing his face to become more and more bloody with each blow. As one would guess, assaulting a police officer (especially if you're not white) was a serious offence in the W.E.R.. But Eleanor didn't care, she was so consumed with rage she just kept slamming her foot into the officer's face.

Eventually she realised the gravity of what she was doing and stopped.

Eleanor stood in the kitchen breathing heavily. She couldn't hear any other sounds. Looking down at the officer, she saw that his face was covered in blood which was starting to soak onto the floor.

Eleanor then looked up to see Collins staring at her.

"He provoked me!" Eleanor desperately tried to defend her actions "He insulted my family!"
Collins began to stand up.

"Please!" Eleanor felt a lump in her throat "I lost all control. Don't tell anybody about this!"
Collins simply looked back at her with a grim look on his face. He then began to walk away.

"Please!" Eleanor was now on the verge of tears "I'm sorry! I'll be more loyal!"
As Collins took out his mobile phone, Eleanor panicked. Blinded by fear, she grabbed the nearest chair and hurled it at Collins. It slammed into his head with a very loud thump and Collins fell to the floor dropping his phone in the process.

Now Eleanor was really scared. In a panic, she ran straight out the flat and down the stairs of the housing block. She kept running and running, not paying any attention to her surroundings. Eleanor just wanted to get away from the nightmare that was now unfurling around her.

Eventually Eleanor stopped to catch her breath and hid in a very small alleyway. She then began weighing up her options.

Going back to the flat was a big no-no. If she did, it would only be a matter of time before the Lunaville police burst through her door and hauled her away for assaulting a police officer. She briefly considered going to the nearest port and heading back to earth. Only problem was that the W.E.R. would have put out a bulletin by the time she arrived and she'd be apprehended before the ship could even take off.

At this point, things were really looking bleak. Eleanor sighed and resigned herself to most likely rotting away in a Lunaville prison camp for the next few decades. Her only regret was that Sofia wouldn't have anyone to look after her.

She then remembered what Joel had said to her the previous night. Eleanor whipped out her phone and dialled the number she'd been given. For a few seconds, she received a dial tone. Then a voice that sounded a lot like Joel's said "Hello?"

"It's me" Eleanor replied "I wanna join the cult!"
"Eleanor?" Joel's voice sounded puzzled "What brought on this change of heart?"

Eleanor laughed nervously "Let's just say I had a little run in with the authorities..."
"Understood!" Joel's voice laughed back "Now where are you?"

Eleanor looked out of the alley way

"In a little alley on the west side of Steven Crowder Boulevard" she told him

A few seconds later Joel spoke again

"Ok we've got your location. Now listen to me and do exactly as I say unless you want to spend the next few years living on bread and water!"