2042: An American 1984-Dystopian Thriller

by Leigh Holland

  Delilah entered the room. Rachel greeted her as though she were an old friend and they hugged warmly. Delilah sat on the stool by the bed and muted the Spider-screen with a wave of her wrist.

  “How are we today, Rachel?” Delilah asked.

  “Wonderful.”

  “Good. How many fingers am I holding up?” Delilah asked.

  “One.”

  “I want you to see three.”

  Rachel looked again and saw three. “There are three.”

  “Good, but you’re wrong. There’s one.”

  “Indeed, there’s one. I was wrong.”

  “No, you weren’t wrong.” Delilah insisted. “There are three and there is only one.”

  This should have confused Rachel, but it didn’t. She looked and there was indeed only one finger, and three. There was no contradiction. “You’re right, Delilah.”

  Rachel stood at the center of the room as Delilah walked around her in a circle taking her in, sizing her up. “Your treatment is going well. It’s been a very long road, but it’s working. You will be my greatest success story, Rachel.”

  They both sat down once again. Delilah said, “Lets finish our discussion, at long last, about Truth.”

  Rachel twitched. Something deep within herself threatened to place her in danger of pain and torture again. She forced it back. She would not go back to the water room again. Ever.

  “I said I would show you my truth, and I have. It’s The Truth. I have freed you from your delusional state, restored your sanity.”

  “What is your truth?” Rachel asked, then corrected, “The Truth, I meant to say.”

  “Power. Control.” Delilah told her. “That is truth. This Kingdom is eternal, Rachel. I will tell you a secret. It’s always been here, in one form or another. Its less successful, earlier forms made errors, errors we have learned from. And now we have finally overcome in the struggle to hold absolute power for all time.”

  Rachel was silent, her face expressionless. She glanced at the electro-shock machine in the corner.

  “Rachel,” Delilah told her, “I promise not to torture you for anything we say in this session. I promise. How can you be cured if you do not share honestly?”

  “I thought God was the only absolute eternal power.”

  “We are God.”

  “That’s blasphemy.”

  “That’s reality. That’s truth.” Delilah informed her. “Whoever controls the God Idea in effect becomes God, ruling over men in his name.”

  “Don’t you fear God’s reaction?”

  “I already told you. We are God.”

  Rachel wiggled her bare toes, nervous. She needed to avoid pain. Delilah was tricking her, perhaps?

  “This is not an attempt to trap you. This is my deepest self-revealing to your deepest self the ultimate truth of THIS world.” Delilah explained. “And you’d best pay attention. Internalize this lesson, unless you want to suffer further.”

  “Will I be killed?” Rachel asked.

  “No.” Delilah said. “Don’t be ridiculous. Why would I want to risk giving your memory power with anyone? I won’t make that mistake again. I seek merely to bring you into my kingdom. End this struggle between us, the struggle within yourself, once and for all.”

  “What do you want power and control for?” Rachel asked.

  “For its own sake, of course.”

  “But you don’t rule the world.” Rachel protested. “There are other countries fighting this one, even if as we speak you’re crushing the rebels from within.”

  Delilah laughed a terrible, deep throated laugh. It echoed in Rachel’s mind and sent a chill up her spine.

  “What makes you think my kingdom doesn’t rule the world?” Delilah asked, laughing again.

  “But history...”

  “...Is whatever the Kingdom says it is.”

  “Science?”

  “The same.”

  “Truth.”

  “The same. And language. The meaning of life. How well off everyone is. Everything and anything is only whatever we decide it is, because we have power and control. Forever.”

  From deep within, Rachel felt anger rising. “You will eventually falter. You always do. There will be another turn of the wheel that will set men free from you.”

  “And if that happens, it is but a temporary interruption. However, I say it has never happened. The Kingdom is eternal, as I told you. Do you deny this?”

  Rachel looked at the machine in the corner again. “No.” She replied.

  “Oh, Rachel, what is it that you believe will save these people?” Delilah inquired, speaking as if to a small child. “Their deep connection to God? Why, we’ve taken care of that for them by replacing it, tricking them. The human spirit, perhaps? Well, how is your ‘human spirit’ holding up under treatment these days, dear?”

  Rachel wept, and Delilah wiped away her tears gently as always. “Dear child, don’t fret. The future is perfectly ordered, with the established order never to be challenged again. This is what it means to finally have peace, dear. Why, the Saints really are Saints, you see, keeping this peace.”

  “I never betrayed Temperance.” Rachel said of her treatment.

  “Ah, but you told us everything and then some. But you aren’t referring to that, are you? Yes, it’s true. You haven’t really betrayed her. Not in your deepest self. And how do you feel about the Profit? The King of my Kingdom?”

  “I despise them utterly.”

  “You will come to love him. Everyone must come to love him, so their hearts are filled with thoughts of the King and only the King.” Delilah said. “Good. We will make room in that heart for the King, won’t we?”

  Several men came in and took hold of her, despite her flailing attempt to resist. They placed her in the bed and prepared her for more shock treatment. Rachel continued to scream, even after being rendered immobile by the restraints. Yet the men didn’t move the machine near her bedside, nor did the nurse come in to begin. Delilah motioned to someone outside the door. Through the door entered Temperance. She was clean, primped, and dressed in her Elect uniform. She wore a bonnet on her head and a golden band on her ring finger. Rachel was unable to hide her wounded feelings. Temperance was married, and had obviously been released from this tormenting place for some time now.

  “How long have I been here?” Rachel asked Delilah, not wanting to see the look in Temperance’s eyes. It felt like ages.

  Delilah came to Rachel and adjusted the head restraints, then replied, “Many, many months. You were the most difficult case yet.”

  Delilah moved to a corner of the room, revealing Temperance, who towered over the side of Rachel’s bed. Rachel gazed deeply into those aquamarine eyes, seeking some sign that she was still true to their love deep within. But her eyes were flat, revealing nothing. Temperance’s facial expression was one of thinly veiled disgust.

  “I’m so sorry, my love.” Rachel told her. “I’m sorry.”

  Temperance placed the buds in position, then plugged in the machine and moved it closer to the bed. Rachel felt a deep panic within.

  “What are you doing, Temperance?”

  Temperance stopped for a moment, and looked at Rachel. For an instant, Rachel saw what she was looking for. There was still something of their love left, hidden deep within Temperance. Temperance faltered, and briefly Rachel thought she might refuse to continue in her task. Delilah glared at her then, and Temperance’s eyes went flat and emotionless once more.

  “I know you’re only doing this,” Rachel told her, “because they’re making you do it, and you don’t want to be tortured again. I can forgive you for that, my darling.”

  Temperance’s face contorted into a mask of rage. “I hate you, Rachel! I hate you with every fiber of my being. I don’t fear the torture. It was the best thing that ever happened to me! It showed me the right way to live. I was cured. Until you’re cured, you will be a degenerate, reviled, putrid blemish on this community. And you aren’t even tha
nkful to this good woman for saving you. Typical heretic.”

  “You don’t mean it.” Rachel insisted. “You’re putting on a show for Delilah, so you won’t be punished.”

  Delilah Hale left the room, making sure Rachel saw her turn off the Spider-screen completely. There was now no one to see or hear them in the cell. Rachel’s eyes pleaded with Temperance. But it was to no avail. Once Delilah had left the room, Temperance’s expression turned to one not merely of anger and blame, but also of sadistic glee.

  Temperance smiled, and turned the setting of the machine up. “I’m going to enjoy this thoroughly.” Then she flipped the switch.

  Rachel cried out in agony. “Why? Why?” She kept repeating in between shocks. Finally, she stopped asking why, and she lay still and silent.

  XIII.

  She strolled through Enduring Freedom Park, enjoying the feel of the breeze on her face, and sipping her tea. A woman passed by with a baby carriage, and she bent to play with the infant. They exchanged pleasantries and a brief conversation.

  “How far along are you?” The woman with the new baby inquired.

  “About six months.” She smiled, feeling a small kick. She rubbed her belly lovingly. “I never thought I could have children, but now we have a happy surprise on the way.”

  “Congratulations! Children are such a blessing.”

  “Yes, I couldn’t agree more. My husband doesn’t like me to go for these walks in the park while he is working, but I get so bored, just waiting for the big day. The nursery is ready. I have enough baby clothes sewn for now.” She sighed. “I just can’t wait. I get restless.”

  “Don’t worry.” the woman told her. “It will all be over soon enough, and then you’ll discover the central meaning of our lives as Kingdom women!”

  “Yes, of course. You’re right.” she agreed. “I shouldn’t fret so much.

  Well, it was nice to meet you. Congratulations on your new birth!”

  “Thank you!” The woman said, walking on.

  As she continued, she approached Mrs. White. She twitched involuntarily, then settled herself down. Mrs. White had once been known as Temperance Turner, her love- she broke off the thought. It was a Heresy, and it must never be acknowledged, not even to herself.

  “Oh!” Mrs. White said in surprise. “You’re increasing. As am I. Aren’t you thrilled for me? I’m due in October.”

  She was shocked that Mrs. White had spoken to her at all, much less in a friendly manner. She responded in kind. “Yes, I’m happy for you.” Somehow, it rang hollow.

  Mrs. White insisted they sit on a bench in the park and talk for a bit.

  She couldn’t think of a good excuse to refuse, so she sat with her, as far at the opposite end as she could.

  “Look,” Mrs. White said, “I betrayed you. I told you I would. Why were you so surprised?”

  She looked at Mrs. White, taking in her appearance. Mrs. White was a new creation. There was really nothing left of Temperance Turner. She remained composed. “I’d rather not discuss the past.”

  “Indeed, that’s an excellent idea.” she replied. “I’m so glad you’ve gotten past it. You know, you really are Delilah’s best work, her greatest turnaround of all time. Say, would you and your husband like to come for dinner at our house sometime?”

  “I’m afraid I can’t.” She said, getting up and walking away.

  Her husband was an influential man in the Gates. The Whites probably wanted to try to use her to get to him, for their own benefit. She simply wanted nothing to do with Mrs. White. She didn’t want to be reminded of her past. It was both painful and confusing. She could hear her call her name, but she pretended not to hear her, and walked more briskly.

  Having lost her, she used a tree to hold herself up and catch her breath. She had not been running, but she felt winded all the same. She had to use the breathing techniques her doctor taught her to keep from panicking. After her release, she had continued to have nightmares, particularly about drowning and suffocating. She had also developed claustrophobia and chronic inexplicable pains.

  Having caught her breath at last, she saw something carved into the tree. It read, “Paul loves Anna 4-Ever”. She traced the name “Paul” with her finger and struggled to hold back tears. She wanted to say his name, think of him often; but these activities were forbidden. They led down the road to Heresy, and now she had a baby on the way. She had to remain reformed for the baby’s sake. She remembered his last words to her: As long as we’re alive, there’s hope. But Paul had been wrong about that. Rachel had no hope without Paul. Rachel had never stood a chance.

  Storm clouds gathered, and she was out without her umbrella again. She left the park and went into a nearby restaurant. Seating herself in the lounge, she ordered a glass of juice, and watched the Spider-screen programming while she waited for the rain to taper off. An employee went into the janitor’s closet to retrieve a mop. The image of the closet jarred her memory. She had written that freedom was the freedom to choose whom one loves. She sighed and balled up her fists. She took out her portable Web Browser and looked up the definition for freedom, and repeated it to herself several times, until the heretical memory faded from her mind. Looking at the Web Browser, she saw that the word for the day was “love”. She looked up its definition. Love- 1. The utter devotion and affection one feels for the King, his Profit, and the Kingdom.

  She turned the Web Browser off and pocketed it. The employee put the mop back in the closet and nodded to her as he walked by. She continued to watch the program, keeping an eye on the weather outside.

  The program was interrupted to bring breaking news. The Kingdom had finally managed to capture the second in command of IS. This was a breakthrough in the War Against Terror. Everyone in the restaurant was cheering and clapping in joy, and Rachel was joining in enthusiastically. Soon, the King would return to reign for a thousand years! The pieces were falling into place, and she was so lucky to be alive during these times. As she felt her baby kick within her, she knew she would raise the child to defend the Kingdom to the death, for there would never be room in her heart for anyone other than her King. She began weeping joyfully, pleased that she would soon see her King; pleased that she had ended the struggle within herself, that she had finally crossed the hurdles of her past, and she had overcome. Mrs. Christian loved the King.

  Thank You!

  Thank you so much for reading 2042: An American 1984. If you enjoyed this book, I’d like to ask you to please do me a favor and leave a review at https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06XCPLBTN

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  Once again, thank you!