The Holo Earth

Chapter 10

Liam's hand trembled as he fumbled with his keys, the weight of the day's events pressing down on him like a physical force. The encounter with the Veritas Society had left him shaken, their warnings about unseen manipulators echoing in his mind. Yet, paradoxically, it was Zolok who had actually helped him today. The contrast was jarring, leaving Liam feeling adrift in a sea of uncertainty.

As he finally managed to unlock his front door, his phone buzzed insistently in his pocket. Liam pulled it out, squinting at the bright screen in the dim hallway. A news alert flashed across the display: "Civil unrest escalates in Algeria. Death Toll at 1,534 and Rising."

Liam's breath caught in his throat. The words on the screen seemed to blur together as his mind raced back to earlier that day - Ray's hushed Arabic conversation, the tension evident in every line of his body. Suddenly, those fragments of overheard dialogue took on a horrifying new context.

"Those poor innocent people," Liam murmured, his voice barely above a whisper in the empty apartment. "What have ordinary Algerians done to deserve this?"

The question hung in the air, unanswered and heavy with implication. Liam stumbled to his couch, collapsing onto it as the full weight of everything crashed down upon him.

Liam glanced at the clock, a nagging feeling tugging at the edges of his mind. There was something he was supposed to do today, wasn't there? No, the only upside to this Algeria situation was that it distracted Ray and he could have the night off. The weight of the day's events pressed down on him, pushing away any other concerns.

He turned his attention to his laptop. His fingers moved almost of their own accord, navigating to a search engine.

"Veritas Society," he typed, his curiosity and desperation overriding his exhaustion.
The results loaded, a mixed bag of information that only served to deepen Liam's confusion. Some sources painted the Veritas Society as brave truth-seekers, while others discredited them as a dangerous conspiracy theory cult. Claims about the old trope of the universe being a simulation and aliens with different physical laws filled his screen, each assertion more outlandish than the last.

One headline caught his eye: "Veritas Society: Conspiracy Theorists or Dangerous Cult?" The article, written by Jennifer Lawson of the Associated Press, was a scathing exposé. It detailed accounts from former members who described the Society as a cult-like organization preying on vulnerable individuals. Experts warned of radicalization tactics, and there were troubling questions about the group's finances.

As Liam read, a sick feeling grew in the pit of his stomach. The Veritas Society had seemed so convinced, so earnest in their warnings. But this article painted a very different picture. Could he have almost fallen for their manipulation? Or was this article itself part of some larger deception?
A soft knock at the door broke through Liam's troubled thoughts. He closed his laptop with a snap, his mind reeling from the overload of conflicting information. As he opened the door, he found Ethan standing there, backpack in hand and eyes wide with anticipation.

"You promised to help me with my homework," Ethan said, his voice a mix of hope and uncertainty.
Guilt washed over Liam like a tidal wave. In the chaos of recent events, he'd completely forgotten about his promise to Ethan. Here he was, lost in a world of shadowy conspiracies and global conflicts, while this child - this beacon of innocence - simply needed help with his math homework.

Taking a deep breath, Liam made a decision. The world outside might be a confusing, dangerous place, but right here, right now, he could make a difference. He could be the stable, trustworthy adult that Ethan needed.

"I'm sorry, kid," Liam said, unable to meet Ethan's eyes for a moment. He'd tried so hard to be dependable, to be someone Ethan could count on. And now, when the boy needed him most, he'd almost let him down.