Page 6

Myall

The streets are empty and eerily silent, the cool air biting my cheeks as I trudge home from another mind-numbing shift. Gray buildings loom on either side, their blank facades like a mirror to the emotional void we’re forced to endure.

I clench my fist, pushing against the heavy weight in my chest. There has to be more than this hollow excuse for a life.

My grandmother’s stories of a time before The Harmonization Authority echo in my mind, taunting me with glimpses of a life I’ll never know. I try to steady my thoughts, reminding myself of the potential consequences for even thinking such rebellious ideas.

I’m so lost in my bitter musings that I almost miss it—a flash of movement in a shadowy alley. My instincts kick in and I slow my pace, peering into the darkness.

A lithe woman crouches in the shadows, vibrant red hair spilling from beneath her dark hood. Her slender fingers work frantically, the dim light flashing off a small metal tool as she tampers with her NeuroMod. My breath catches as I realize what I’m seeing.

She’s defying The Authority by sabotaging her device—or at least, she’s trying to.

I should report this immediately—it’s my job, my duty as a Compliance Monitor. Yet I stand frozen, drawn in by the fierce boldness of her defiance. My mind races with conflicting emotions and thoughts as I struggle with what to do next.

She glances up, her eyes locking onto mine. It’s like time has frozen, the air thickens between us, charged with the thrill of rebellion and discovery. The shadows of the alley dance around her as her lips curve in a mischievous smile.

“See something interesting?” Her voice carries a hint of challenge.

My words catch in my throat. “I…what are you doing?”

She holds up her wrist, the NeuroMod’s screen flickering erratically. “Living. You should try it sometime.”

The distant wail of a siren echoes through the night. I watch as her eyes widen in fear, slowly backing away from me.

“Fuck,” she mutters, pocketing the small blade she was using to tamper with her NeuroMod as she continues her retreat down the alley.

“Wait,” I call out, surprising myself. “I’m Myall. What’s your name?”

She hesitates, then grins. “Arden. Catch you around, Myall—if you’re brave enough.”

With a wink, she disappears into the shadows, leaving me standing there with my world turned upside down. I stare at the spot where she vanished and take a deep breathe before resuming my walk.

As I round the corner to my apartment, a patrol drone buzzes overhead. I freeze, heart pounding in my throat.

Did it see me? Does it know what I just saw?

The small gray drone pauses, its scanning beam sweeping the street. I hold my breath, willing my face to remain as impassive as always.

“Citizen, state your purpose in this area,” the metallic voice of the drone demands, slicing through the evening air like a knife. My heart stutters, adrenaline surging through me as I struggle to mask the panic swirling in my gut.

Swallowing hard, I force my voice to remain steady. “Returning home from work shift. Compliance Monitor Myall Hansen, ID 24601.”

There’s a moment of agonizing silence as the drone processes my response before it responds. “Verified. Proceed.”

As it zips away into the night with a soft whir, I exhale shakily. Close call. Way too fucking close. My mind races as I hurry home, Arden’s defiance echoing in my thoughts. A tangled mix of hope and fear tightens in my chest. I’ve never seen anyone challenge the system so openly before.

I know I should report her. It’s not just my job—failure means severe consequences. If anyone finds out that I knew about her bold act of rebellion, I could end up in one of The Authority’s detention centers, facing possible recalibration.

“Living. You should try it sometime.” Her words echo in my ears, stirring something long dormant inside me.

Unlocking my apartment door, my hand trembles slightly as I hold it up to the biometric scanner on the wall.

I step inside, catching my reflection in the mirror—my green eyes, wide with a mix of awe and trepidation—stare back at me.

My normally tan skin looks pale and lifeless under the harsh light.

My fingers twitch, itching to do something, anything. But what? Report her? The thought makes my stomach churn.

“There have to be others,” I mutter, running a hand through my mousy brown hair. “Other people who want more than just…to exist.”

The implications of Arden’s rebellion hit me like a shock wave. If she can tamper with her NeuroMod, what else might be possible? My mind kicks into overdrive, considering possibilities I’ve never dared entertain before.

But the risks.

I slump onto the dark gray sofa, my fingers clenching and unclenching in my lap. Every muscle in my body trembles with indecision.

The room around me suddenly feels suffocating, as if its walls are closing in on me.

A faint sheen of sweat appears on my forehead as I try to calm my racing thoughts.

My NeuroMod vibrates against my wrist, sensing my rising emotions.

Every part of me pulls in a different direction, uncertain which way to turn.

Yet the memory of Arden’s fierce smile, the glimmer in her eyes, stirs something in me. A yearning for genuine connection with real emotions, for the depth of emotions I’ve only glimpsed in my grandmother’s tales.

There must be a way to challenge the system, to feel again.

Standing, I pace again, my mind awhirl with questions and possibilities.

The shrill wail of sirens jolts me from my thoughts. They’re getting closer. I rush to the window, peering out cautiously.

“No, no, no,” I groan, spotting the telltale blue and red flashing lights of Authority Enforcer vehicles converging on the area where I last saw Arden.

I should turn away, pretend I saw nothing. But my feet are rooted to the spot, my eyes fixed on the scene unfolding right outside my apartment complex. A flash of red hair catches my eye—Arden, darting between shadows, pursued by the imposing figures of Authority Enforcers.

“Come on, come on,” I urge under my breath, willing her to escape. If she’s caught, she could easily rat me out.

Suddenly, an Enforcers gaze locks onto me. I duck instinctively, heart pounding.

Shit, did he see me?

I force my breathing to slow, knowing I need to appear calm, compliant. I’m just another law-abiding citizen, nothing to see here.

A sharp knock at my door a minute later makes me jump, my stomach bottoming out. “Compliance check!” a stern voice calls out. “Open up!”

Fuck.

Taking a deep breath, I school my features into a mask of placid neutrality.

The NeuroMod on my wrist emits a warning beep, taunting me with the knowledge that it can sense my true frame of mind despite my efforts to appear composed.

“Coming!” I call back, my voice steadier than I feel. My hands shake as I smooth my hair and approach the door.

As I reach for the door handle, I silently pray that my NeuroMod readings won’t betray the tumult of emotions beneath the surface to the man on the other side of the door.

“Good evening, Enforcer,” I say, opening the door with a practiced smile.

The Authority Enforcers cold eyes scan my face, then peer past me into my apartment as if searching for something—or someone.

“We’re investigating a disturbance in this sector that has been reported by multiple citizens. Have you witnessed any suspicious activity in this area tonight?”

Swallowing hard, Arden’s face flashes in my mind. “No, sir. Just a quiet evening at home.”

“Really?” he asks, his tone skeptical. “You didn’t see a woman with red hair in the area?”

My heart pounds so loudly I’m sure he can hear it. If other citizens reported Arden, they might have reported me too.

“I… I’m not sure,” I stammer. “I thought I saw someone earlier, but I didn’t get a good look.”

the Enforcers eyes narrow. “Where exactly did you see this person?”

“Near the maglev station on Fifth,” I lie, pointing in the opposite direction of where I actually saw Arden. “But it was just a glimpse so I can’t be certain.”

He studies me for a long moment. I force myself to meet his gaze, praying my face and my NeuroMod don’t betray me.

“Very well,” he says finally. “If you remember anything else, report it immediately. Failure to do so is a violation of the Emotional Harmony Act.”

I nod, relief washing over me, but I keep it hidden. “Of course, Enforcer. I understand.”

As the door closes, I lean against it, my legs weak.

What the fuck am I doing? I just lied to an Authority Enforcer. For her. For a stranger.

Panic swells within me, accompanied by a flicker of exhilaration. Memories of my grandmother’s stories flash through my mind, echoing the bravery of those who stood against the system.

I slump back onto my sofa, heart still racing from the close call. The echoes of sirens fade into the distance, but the image of Arden’s defiant act burns bright in my mind.

The weight of tonight’s events presses down on me. I’ve spent years playing it safe, burying my doubts deep beneath a veneer of compliance.

Standing abruptly, I pace the small confines of my apartment.

If I say something, do something… I could lose everything. My job, my freedom, maybe even my life.

But a voice in my head, one I can almost hear like my grandmother’s, asks, ‘What are you really living for if you do nothing?’

I pause by the small window in my living room, staring out at the cityscape. The NeuroMod on my wrist feels heavier than ever—a cold metal shackle binding me to a life without choice. Its constant thrum pulses against my skin, reminding me that freedom is just a fantasy.

“There has to be more than this,” I murmur, touching the cool glass. “A life where emotions aren’t controlled, where fear isn’t the only constant.”

My reflection stares back at me, eyes conflicted.

I can’t take this any longer.

I want out.

I want freedom.

I want her.

I square my shoulders, determined. I can’t stand by any longer—but I have to be careful.

I return to the sofa. If there’s one person willing to fight back, there have to be others.

Perhaps we can band together and form a network.

Leaning forward, elbows on my knees, I begin to plan—searching for a way forward.