"This all began about thirteen years ago, in 2066" she began, her voice soft but sure, as if she had been practicing to recite this her whole life. "I was three, or at least that's what I was told. Anyway, do you remember when that warehouse exploded, out in that undeveloped little town in the middle of nowhere?"
I nodded. That warehouse explosion had made the news, not because the warehouse had been important, but because it had wiped out all the workers as well as the entire surrounding town, leaving nothing behind but dirt and rubble for at least ten miles in all directions.
She continued. "Well, do you remember how that explosion was big news for a few hours, and after that it was never mentioned again, never even referenced?" For this one, I had to think back, really think, and try to remember the events around that day. As far as I could tell, she was right, so I nodded, prompting her to continue.
"Well, there was a reason it was never mentioned again," she said, looking around as if she was afraid someone might find us. "In all actuality, it was never supposed to be spoken of to begin with. Someone leaked the story to the media." Her face was grim, but also set, as if she was afraid she was about to start crying at any second. "The government took care of them."
"Wait..." I said, "you mean they...." she nodded, and despite her best efforts, I could see that her eyes were glistening with unshed tears before she rapidly blinked them away. "And as for the survivors," she began, before I cut her off.
"What do you mean, survivors?" I asked, my curiosity, as always, getting the better of me. "No one survived that explosion."
She frowned at my interruption, but then sighed. "Yes, because that's what they thought. The government knew, though. They knew that there would be survivors. They also knew exactly what they were going to do with them. After all..." She looked me right in the eye. "after all, they planned the whole thing."
I waited for a laugh, for a "fooled ya!" or something of the sort. But I could see in the girl's eyes that she was telling the truth. There was not a single sign of laughter or maliciousness or even lighthearted fun in her eyes, only grief, and shadows and memories.
YOU ARE READING
Glass Houses
Science Fiction"They built up all these lies like glass houses, too dangerous to move around in, but at least that house kept me warm at night. Now I lay in bed shivering with fear of the very people that claimed to protect me, to protect us all. The windows in...
