What Happened Next

Prologue: The Rest of Your days

'Name?'

'Winters, sir. Malcolm Winters.'

'Watch your step off the bus there, Mr. Winters.'

'Thank you, I will.'

'My name is Officer Cambridge. I'll be your greeter today. Apologies if you can't hear me through the mask. It does tend to muffle.'

'I can hear ya.'

'Did you have a pleasant journey?'

'Wasn't too bad. About three hours too long, though.'

'Yeah, they built this place out in the sticks for a reason. Double-yew... Double-yew... Ah, Winters. Yep, you're on the list. Let me just tick your name off here. Oh. Says here you've got a record. Anything we need to worry about?'

'I did three months in jail twenty-odd years ago.'

'Hmm, I see. What did you do?'

'Broke a kid's jaw at college.'

'Would you say you're still violent?'

'No. Mostly not.'

'Alright. I'll write no risk. Now, where do you hail from?'

'Masterson.'

'Masterson. I've heard of it. Is that here, in New Hampshire?'

'Yes, sir, it is.'

'Well, then you're in the right place. Welcome to the New Hampshire Distanced Living Center, Mr. Winters.'

'It's a lot bigger than I thought it'd be. Figured you'd be putting us away in chicken coops.'

'Yeah, it's sizable. A thousand homes, a library, a hospital, a schooling hall, a function hall, a chapel, a farm, and a fishing lake. The result of six months of intensive construction from some of the finest firms the state has to offer. Mad rush to get it finished, given the circumstances.'

'How tall is that perimeter wall?'

'Twenty meters. Tall enough to keep everybody inside, that's for sure. Electric wire around the top, too. Now, if you've got this far, I imagine you're pretty set in your decision.'

'I am.'

'But I have to read you this notice from the United States Crisis Authority, all the same.'

'Go right ahead.'

'Dear Avoidant, once you pass through the gates behind me, you will never be permitted to come back out. You will live out the rest of your days inside the New Hampshire DLC, and you will be buried in the allotted cemetery on the far east side. Contact with the outside world is strictly prohibited. Do you understand?'

'I understand.'

'And you've already surrendered your cell phone? And there are no electronic communication devices in your luggage?'

'Correct. They combed through my bags before they let me on the bus.'

'Alright then, Mr. Winters. Now, that one was from the government. This one is from me. This really is your one and only chance to remain in the general population. To have the freedom to get on a plane. To go to the beach. To spend Christmas with your loved ones. To my right, there is a tent. Inside the tent, there is a registered nurse. Should you wish, she will administer a dose of the Lavitika vaccination. It's completely painless. You may then board a shuttle bus, and it will return you to your home – to your family and friends, and you will not need to enter the DLC. Now, please consider this very carefully. Do you wish to receive the vaccination?'

'Over my dead body, sir.'

'Alright. Then please pass through those gates, Mr. Winters. You'll find a desk just on the other side. The officers there will assign you a chalet. Have a pleasant future, Mr. Winters.'

'Thank you.'

'Next!'