swings around in my direction.
“Please be advised you are interfering with Party security. You have fifteen seconds to move or we will open fire.”
I hear a few screams and the crowd behind me thins.
“You can’t scare us,” yells a voice behind me.
The seconds count down in my head.
“Matt, you need to move. You’re not supposed to be out here. You need to step to the side and return to your room. There is a serious penalty for interfering with Party security.”
It’s Liam, the head of security. His words are harsh but they don’t match the look on his face. I can tell he won’t shoot me – but I don’t know about the rest.
“Get out from in front of the vehicle!” the bullhorn screams. It’s so loud my ears ring.
The gun moves towards the crowd behind me.
“Killers!” a woman behind me screams. She has a small boy standing in front of me. He looks at me. His eyes are like marbles. His body is trembling.
The gun moves toward her.
I run in front of her, on the opposite side of the fence.
“Matt, please, Dr. Thompson doesn’t want you out here.”
“Then turn the Hummer around! What are they doing out here anyway? No one out here is armed! It’s a peaceful rally and the Party sends guns?”
“We need to keep everyone in line.”
“It’s more than what’s necessary.”
“Matt, you need to come back inside.”
“Not until security turns around.”
Liam crosses his arms over his chest.
“Killers!” the woman yells again. She’s wearing a shirt with a picture of a smiling man on the front. Above his head says Roberto Munez, 1990 – 2011 .
“Ma’am,” I say, walking in her direction. “This isn’t a good idea. You need to leave.” I’m opposite her now, the fence is the only thing between us. I feel the tank behind me. Adrenalin rushes through my body. I feel like my head might explode.
“Killer,” she hisses at me.
“I haven’t killed anyone,” I whisper back.
“You’re one of them!”
“Look.” My voice is so low that only she can hear me. “What’s your name?”
“Angela.”
“Okay, Angela, please leave now. I’ll do my best to make sure nothing bad happens again. But you need to go. Now’s not the time. If you want to make a difference for your group, you should really go.”
A loud crashing sound fills the air. Security has fired another shot in the air. My heart jumps into my throat. It’s enough for Angela. She grabs her son.
“You better not be lying,” she says as she walks off.
I walk back towards Liam. I can’t tell if he’s mad or surprised about what just happened. He grabs my arm without saying a word and pulls me back to the hotel.
Chapter Nine
Matt
Saturday I spend in mandatory lockdown in my room.
Lockdown is punishment for not following the rules. And this was only my first infraction. I don’t want to find out what happens the second time around.
Sunday they’re allowing me out. I spent all Saturday watching the opposition outside the hotel, holding signs like they were part of a labor union, even though they’re really opposed to the Party. It’s the only way they can protest without being driven away by guns.
By Sunday morning the crowds have dispersed, but I’m pretty sure the heat wave that’s hit the desert is the cause of their disappearance more than anything. If you look outside in the middle of the afternoon, you can watch the streets melt.
It’s like the sun is closer to the earth here in Nevada. It’s brighter, bigger in the sky. It’s like the earth bulges out here. That’s possible, you know. Gravity changes the shape of the earth. For some reason the effect feels greater here.
I’m sure it has to do with geography, but I like the idea of the earth bulging towards the sun. It certainly feels that way. And, anyway, I did learn in Physics it’s possible.
The heat doesn’t stop us from meeting at the pool once we’re allowed out of our rooms. It’s on the eighth floor, and
“Please be advised you are interfering with Party security. You have fifteen seconds to move or we will open fire.”
I hear a few screams and the crowd behind me thins.
“You can’t scare us,” yells a voice behind me.
The seconds count down in my head.
“Matt, you need to move. You’re not supposed to be out here. You need to step to the side and return to your room. There is a serious penalty for interfering with Party security.”
It’s Liam, the head of security. His words are harsh but they don’t match the look on his face. I can tell he won’t shoot me – but I don’t know about the rest.
“Get out from in front of the vehicle!” the bullhorn screams. It’s so loud my ears ring.
The gun moves towards the crowd behind me.
“Killers!” a woman behind me screams. She has a small boy standing in front of me. He looks at me. His eyes are like marbles. His body is trembling.
The gun moves toward her.
I run in front of her, on the opposite side of the fence.
“Matt, please, Dr. Thompson doesn’t want you out here.”
“Then turn the Hummer around! What are they doing out here anyway? No one out here is armed! It’s a peaceful rally and the Party sends guns?”
“We need to keep everyone in line.”
“It’s more than what’s necessary.”
“Matt, you need to come back inside.”
“Not until security turns around.”
Liam crosses his arms over his chest.
“Killers!” the woman yells again. She’s wearing a shirt with a picture of a smiling man on the front. Above his head says Roberto Munez, 1990 – 2011 .
“Ma’am,” I say, walking in her direction. “This isn’t a good idea. You need to leave.” I’m opposite her now, the fence is the only thing between us. I feel the tank behind me. Adrenalin rushes through my body. I feel like my head might explode.
“Killer,” she hisses at me.
“I haven’t killed anyone,” I whisper back.
“You’re one of them!”
“Look.” My voice is so low that only she can hear me. “What’s your name?”
“Angela.”
“Okay, Angela, please leave now. I’ll do my best to make sure nothing bad happens again. But you need to go. Now’s not the time. If you want to make a difference for your group, you should really go.”
A loud crashing sound fills the air. Security has fired another shot in the air. My heart jumps into my throat. It’s enough for Angela. She grabs her son.
“You better not be lying,” she says as she walks off.
I walk back towards Liam. I can’t tell if he’s mad or surprised about what just happened. He grabs my arm without saying a word and pulls me back to the hotel.
Chapter Nine
Matt
Saturday I spend in mandatory lockdown in my room.
Lockdown is punishment for not following the rules. And this was only my first infraction. I don’t want to find out what happens the second time around.
Sunday they’re allowing me out. I spent all Saturday watching the opposition outside the hotel, holding signs like they were part of a labor union, even though they’re really opposed to the Party. It’s the only way they can protest without being driven away by guns.
By Sunday morning the crowds have dispersed, but I’m pretty sure the heat wave that’s hit the desert is the cause of their disappearance more than anything. If you look outside in the middle of the afternoon, you can watch the streets melt.
It’s like the sun is closer to the earth here in Nevada. It’s brighter, bigger in the sky. It’s like the earth bulges out here. That’s possible, you know. Gravity changes the shape of the earth. For some reason the effect feels greater here.
I’m sure it has to do with geography, but I like the idea of the earth bulging towards the sun. It certainly feels that way. And, anyway, I did learn in Physics it’s possible.
The heat doesn’t stop us from meeting at the pool once we’re allowed out of our rooms. It’s on the eighth floor, and
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