[WP] In a totalitarian future society, A lonely CCTV operator suddenly becomes involved in a plot to overthrow the government. Soon, a large crippling event will occur in which he/she must turn a blind eye.

I awake to my alarm then use my bucket. It’s getting pretty full, I hope that they empty it again soon.

I slide into my chair and begin another day.

Click. 

“THGT U WLD WANT 2 SEE THIS. NXT CAMERA.”

Looks like whatever they have planned is going to happen now.

Click.

The moment I click all of the monitors in my room begin displaying the same image. A view of the State Building from a great distance. The picture quality is great, It’s clear that this isn’t from a shitty old security camera.

In the foreground there are televisions displaying propaganda. I’m beginning to think that this is all for me when one by one the televisions switch to the same view of the State Building. It’s already pretty crowded in the square below. A few people realise that they’re on the screens and start pointing towards the camera.

Not for long. There’s a flash from the direction of the State Building. Then another flash. The camera is blinded. As the camera starts to compensate for the intense brightness, I can make out a fireball engulfing the area that the State Building used to stand in.

Everything is tinged a reddish-orange. I think that the camera is broken, but realise that the fireball has cooled, It’s reddish-orange now, and still brighter than the sun.

They took out more than just the State Building. I can see city blocks for kilometres around have been flattened immediately. From this distance I can still see the shockwave expanding, the beginnings of a mushroom cloud.

Some of the buildings sheltering those in the square from the direct view have burst into flame. Some of the elderly in the crowd remember their ‘Duck and Cover’ drills, and begin dragging others down with them.

Suddenly the image is replaced by a ‘Technical Difficulties’ screen. It looks like someone finally woke up over at the censorship bureau.



Click.



‘Technical Difficulties’

Click. 
 ‘Technical Difficulties’

Looks like they took out all the cameras too. They must have turned off everything.

Since I can’t work I slide back into my cot and wait. I’ve just woken up and can’t get back to sleep. The propaganda starts again. They’ve decided that I’m not going to work today. Great.

Time passes. I have no idea how much. An hour? Two?

The power goes out. They didn’t even think to give me a torch. At least the fucking propaganda has stopped.

I’ve been in here long enough now to know exactly where everything is. Making sure that I don’t step in my bucket I feel my way over to the door. With the power out maybe the lock is too?

I push, and the door opens. The hall is full of dim red lights. There’s a sign on the wall the wall that reads “Office of State Surveillance”. I have no idea where the exit is, but begin walking. Anywhere is better than here.

Click. 

That’s not a good sound. I feel cold steel pressed against the back of my head.



“Going somewhere Citizen?”


The voice sounds male, but I don’t dare turn around to confirm. 



“I.. I…”

I haven’t spoken in so long that I’ve almost forgotten how.



“Come with me.” 


The pressure from the gun increases and I start walking. Anything I can do to stay alive a little longer. I guess I’m a coward after all. I swallow, getting some moisture into my suddenly dry throat.

“Where are you taking me?”

Silence. The gun presses just a little harder. I decide to shut up.



We come to some stairs. They only go up. I guess that my “Office” was on the lowest floor. I begin climbing. And climbing. I walk up stairs for almost 5 minutes until I come to a door.


Guess this is where they take us when its time. I wonder if they’ll bill my family for the bullet?

I decide to open the door. At least this last act is of my own free will. I’ve been in the dark for so long that the outside light is blinding. I stand there dazed until the guard presses his gun into my back again.

Shielding my eyes I take my first step outside in an eternity. Through the tears I make out a blue, boxy shape. I blink to clear my eyes and Its rear opens. Is this the work van from the other night?



I take an uncertain step forward, expecting the guard to shoot me at any moment. Another step. I’m scared to look back over my shoulder. Will I see the guard sighting me? 

Back at the van, the man from the other night waves me forward.

They actually managed a rescue.

I’m free.

/r/WritingPrompts Thread