by Travis Knoll
A click was heard of a portable tattoo marker and a backlight was turned on, illuminating a glow in the room. They black light invisible marked so Mithra Man and the Lifers at the top could track my mark without the Uprising, or other Lifes seeing anything. The TV tube propaganda turned off and I faded in and out of consciousness. I peered at the Mithra Man.
"There will be a time when you're needed. I have your number to call upon you, for you to be spared. I now own you, as I believe you owe me some money after your little tax stunts," the Mithra Man said. He vanished in the darkness outside the interrogation room and I blacked out completely.
The building was rushed by Lifers that were integrated with hopeful parts of Life and Half-Life. They threw garbage bins at the building’s glass windows, breaking it, and in the back, shouting was heard, asking for the people inside to let the TaxMan be free. They continued to yell and throw things, as a man from across the street from the building lit and threw a Molotov cocktail at a parked car.
I was unconsciously dragged by the two armed guards into the conference room, and they walked away from me as the lights continued to fade and flicker, running on reserve power. Talks, Signs, and Alex immediately grabbed me and pulled me aside. I was exhausted and bleeding on my right arm, which when I came to, I covered quickly with my sleeve as they took me from the conference room to the back exit.
The Lifers rushed to the front of the building, breaking in and screaming for their freedoms and rights to be upheld. Their echoed voices rang in the building, as overhead the intercom came on, a broadcast was streaming President Johnson. He stated that the tax was going to be lowered, and that the government should serve the people in order to better all of our lives. He persisted in saying that since it was an election year, he was allowing some of these freedoms back to the great Lifes of this nation and knew that others around the world would follow.
The Lifers looting the area paused and watched the President speak. They were in awe at the new information of lowered taxes—they'd been pacified.
Rabbits chased carrots, dogs sat for bones, a moth went to the flame, fish were lured by worms, and Lifers killed for cash... They had all of the Lifers’ thoughts.
Underground, at the Uprising command center, everyone was clapping enthusiastically. Smith pointed to the live projection of President Johnson on the screen stating that the Uprising had won their rights, and all the people shouted. Smith was alerted to the orders to bring up the power to the system once again.
March 27, 2035
San Francisco, CA.
Sage Brook Assisted Living -- Geary Blvd.
11:37
Things never changed at the bottom; it was the top that pushed the teeter-totter in the masses’ direction. This direction had allowed me to wear my typical attire, putting back my hoodie and jeans on to subsequently blend in with the day walking society. I wanted to try to have a half-hearted off-the-grid lifestyle, but I knew things would change, as it was the only thing that was certain in our lives.
I walked into the nursing home with a bouquet of azaleas in my hand. I smiled at the on-duty nurse, and of course I gave her one of the flowers out of the bouquet with another endearing gesture. I signed the ledger at the desk and she opened a drawer and handed me an envelope with a key inside of it.
"Someone left this for you a while ago, and said to give it to you at this time," the nurse stated.
I peered at the guard on duty with a glowing smile and I put my arms out, insinuating that I was ready to be patted down.
"Security measures have changed, boss. Thanks to you, and you know where she is," the guard said.
I stared at that key in my hand as I walked down the hall from the lobby. The key had the words “Deutsche Bank” inscribed on the outside of it, and I placed it in my pocket.
Mother was lying on her bed, staring at the blaring noise of Pat Sajak on the Wheel of Fortune. As I kissed her, she shouted that I was letting the cold in, and complained about a stranger kissing her. I only smiled and glanced at the TV tube of the Wheel of Fortune for the poet who wrote: The Road Not Taken, two roads diverged in a yellow wood, and sorry I could not travel both...
"It's Robert Frost," I said. I grabbed the briefcase that I left previously, placed the flowers by her side, and departed the room.
I pulled out the key to the Deutsche Bank in my pocket and ran from the nursing home. The streets were now flourishing with vibrant Lifes changing the face of the city. The Lifers were mingling with the Unlifes in the streets and the people were happy for now.
I walked into the bank and presented the teller the key to a safety deposit box, holding a briefcase.
"Right this way, sir," the teller said.
The teller showed me to the safety deposit box that my father had left me. I looked around, making sure that I was alone, and opened the box. On top of the money that my father took rested a booklet that was his Life's work on elite class structures of secret societies, it appeared from the dawn of man. The booklet had some sort of crest on the top of every page. I flipped though the pages, saw detailed drawings and instructions about certain buildings I had no idea of, all linking money changers from the historic dawn of humans. I peered around and filled the briefcase with money. There was a note at the bottom that stated that here was another piece of the puzzle.
I took the money, notes, and thought I was going to put it toward a clean Life. An effort to become a Half-Life, to be able to help both sides, or bridge the gap between Life and Lifer and run an honest business. The TV tube in the corner of the safe room came on, and was the exact same video of President Johnson and Pastor Michael as before in the interrogation room. I sorted through my pockets and couldn't find any earplugs. My mind went blank as I put the money in my briefcase like a drone.
My brain became partitioned like a hard drive, thinking two conflicting thoughts at the same time, but being forced to do one. I turned and walked out of the bank like a drone, my interior voice was still present, but it wasn't able to do anything to my body, they had control. I opened the door and bumped into Stephanie on the street. We stared into each other’s eyes and I felt I should run. She looked at me as my eardrums rang and I couldn't think. She reached for my hand and the caresses of her soft skin on mine felt nice, almost arousing.
"We both have marks now," she said, as she tightened her grip on my hand and we walked together.
Instantly Alex jumped out of a cab, leaving it running, and pushed her out of the way to the ground, staring at both of us. Alex peered deep into my eyes, as they were wavering, and my heart was pounding like I had just done a bunch of cocaine. She grabbed me and helped me into the cab, pointing at Stephanie to stay put.
In the cab, she pulled the sleeve of my hoodie back. I cringed in my entire body, feeling extreme pain and convulsing. She pulled out a small backlight from her purse and placed it over my right wrist to reveal a mark.
"Shit, they placed an invisible mark on you. There's no way to get it off. It will subside, here," she said. Alex placed a pair of glasses that worked as de-hypnotizers that helped me regain consciousness, calming the thoughts in my mind.
I felt normal again. The air coming in the cab was fresh, the green leaves on the trees were vibrant, and I knew perhaps the war had just begun for me. The cab swerved in the intersection and our bodies pressed against one another. Alex and I looked at each other silently with our lips just inches apart.
"If only you didn't have a mark," she said with a smirk.
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