Glitched

Different

© Mintoraty January 9th 2014

The hordes of people scurried around the dome shape that would later turn into a cylinder after its transformation. It always scared me because if you weren’t in that simulation, it had the power to send shock waves that paralyzed every nerve in your body. Instant paralyses scared me shitless.

I stayed away from the crowd until I could spot someone with more flavoring, Dakin. I long for another moment for Erude, even if it’s just for one more moment. I just want him back… A descry sends me flying forward into the mosh pit of deranged, hypnotized people in their white body suits. The unluckies.

Speakers roared, resonance bouncing every direction. The voice at first coughed and hesitated. Someone new. Naïve voice, had to be new. Or maybe I’m delusional. 

Everyone was listening—waiting. I stood among them. Being swept away with the sways of direction change to the voice.

“H-hello?” His voice cracked. Fading from the background he squealed out, “Is this thing on?” The microphone boomed and everyone cringed and some shouted in piercing pain to shut it off or make it stop.

“A-hem.” It coughed. “This is known as protocol fifty-two. Please get in lines regarding age for proper tabulation. Youngest to oldest. If you are found outside your age group—things… Will get messy and you’ll be taken to the Dome.” His voice droned on. I searched the crowd for someone. Anyone I might know their name to.

The lines were currently messy. The booths hadn’t appeared. The doors were shielded, but the hazmat suits were piling to the sides in perfect horizontal patterns. All lining with the stingers, clamps, chains—anything to keep us away. Or at least intimidated. Most don’t pay attention to them. They try to stay focused on what’s straight ahead. Literally. A head is right in front of me. Nearly bald and black, the face was just as ugly as the behind.

His face was rough and dour. Grimly gazing at me, he huffed out something and pushed a girl in front of him further into the crowd. Watching him go irritated me. I should have got his name.

“Please follow the new rule change in two-B-eight-fourteen-C-C-C-C” He kept saying C for a while. Tedious and unnerving to my back. It just sounds like a recording broken down and someone needs to slap it right. “Two-hyphen-slash-slash-twenty-J-M-C24.” Rule change? “Proceed to the left and move throughout the slides. They will keep taps. Do not leave the—Excuse me?” There was a weak voice in the background, “Uh huh. Really?” More inaudible murmurs. “Purple goop. For the younglings. Steel barren walls will enclose after six meters of drop off.” How many have I missed? “You will first collect your name tag and head to the tabulation square.” I don’t remember any of this!

Now the rules I would know. “Only vote for one please.” The voice changed to a British female, “We want it to be fair compared to the turn of events from the previous Callings. If we catch you repeating, you will be drawn to the side for preparations.” Preparations. Death. Torture? Maybe I’ll try it. Just to see what they’d do to someone that they won’t even know. A face they rarely see. I had to be in the systems. I had to. I don’t usually buy chips. I can’t afford most of them. Dakin doesn’t supply me money. Just a roof. I owe her so much. I need a way to repay her. I don’t want to use the Calling as a way to repay her.

“Now. Please begin to follow protocol.” The man’s voice appeared again. Where did the naïve man go?

Someone shoved me forward. I couldn't muster up enough courage to look at the face because I’d be trampled if I didn't move with the surplus wave. Compressed, I can feel the heat of everyone around me. There is no personal space at this time. We’re being ingested into the mouth of the gates of the haze mat suits. Mayhem was surely to follow.