Fictionaut

By Gareth Lewis

In a volatile society seemingly guided by social media, Odella becomes the unwilling public face of resistance after winning a reality show she never wanted a part in.

Julie claims to be a visitor from outside Odella’s fictional world. She’s probably insane, but knows things she shouldn’t. Even when her presence sends the story awry.

A 20,000 word dystopian novella.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Gareth Lewis
• Release date: Sep 2, 2021
• ISBN: 9781005940157

Gareth Lewis

Gareth Lewis has written a number of novels and shorter works in a few genres, including fantasy, science fiction, and thrillers. A programmer, he has a degree in computer studies, and lives in South Wales.

Book preview

Fictionaut

Gareth Lewis

Smashwords Edition

Copyright 2021 Gareth Lewis

Smashwords Edition, License Notes

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each person you share it with. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then you should return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Any piracy of this work shall result in the forfeiture of the pirate's soul to the author. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

Chapter 1

The feeling of being watched wouldn’t leave. Even when supposedly off the grid. It was more than the familiarity of being looked for: idiots waiting for some mention of her, or a message from her, as though that’d happen. Most seemed incapable of grasping the concept that someone didn’t like social media and had no wish to take part.

Their mentality exacerbated the impression of constant surveillance that put her on her guard in public.

Although she found the idea of not being watched almost as disturbing.

It took an effort for Odella not to peek out the ragged curtains, their decrepitude suggesting how long it’d been since these houses had seen use.

Certain they were alone and unobserved she forced her focus onto the conversation. Their collective paranoia should ensure their privacy.

‘How do the masks work?’ asked Byren. The frown lent an asymmetry to his perfectly chiselled features, his bouncy blond hair inappropriate for subterfuge. He held the clear white enforcer’s face mask gingerly, as though to avoid damaging it. Or to avoid contamination.

‘What, you want blueprints?’ asked Symmar. Not openly aggressive, but it wasn’t far from the surface. He had dark brows inclined to brooding and never escaped the shadow of his stubble. He argued with Byren on principle. An irritating habit, but Odella wasn’t sure what she could do about it. Or what she would do.

At least part would be the class difference. Byren Dyson came from a reality family who’d been in the spotlight since before his birth. A volatile lifestyle, their value to society judged on how entertaining they remained rather than the work they contributed. They’d been around long enough to establish a stability that allowed Byren to dabble in edgier pursuits.

Symmar had a less public upbringing and eschewed social media on principle. The pair would never get along, even without other factors.

‘It’s a reasonable question,’ said Odella, in a probably doomed effort. ‘What are its limits?’

Myam frowned, not looking up from her pad. It was the only tech not left in the box outside the door, as she’d programmed it to be safe from eavesdropping. ‘It ID’s the wearer to the system as someone to remove from recordings or broadcasts. Doesn’t even leave much of a blur. It’ll compromise pictures taken outside a sealed system. The helmets relay their own transmissions, but I’ve hacked these to send static. It won’t stop them operating, but I’ve isolated them as much as possible.’ A few years older than the rest of them, she stuck to the background unless discussing technical matters.

‘Happy?’ asked Symmar.

Byren ignored him. ‘Thank you. So what we wear other than the mask will only matter for witnesses.’ Worth considering, though probably just reinforcing his point. Symmar would charge in.

‘This’ll be so cool,’ said Danuan, far too eager and giddy. A counter to Myam’s inconspicuousness, he experimented with flashy haircuts and clothes, seeking attention, and avoiding anything tasteful with what must be a conscious effort. ‘They’ll never catch us.’ Hardly a cautious attitude to law-breaking, and Odella didn’t consider enthusiasm a substitute for rational thought. From Myam’s expression, she wasn’t alone in that. But Symmar considered him useful.

‘We should be cautious and limit it to quiet stuff,’ said Byren. Smart, but it was as though he wanted a fight.

‘If you’re scared,’ said Symmar, in an overly conciliatory tone, ‘run along home.’

‘I’m concerned about getting caught while achieving nothing,’ said Byren. ‘But if your intent is to act without care for furthering any cause you espouse, then go right ahead. Again.’

Symmar glared. ‘Maybe you’d have a cause too, if you knew what it was like for your family become suddenly poor because of a hatemob lied to by someone your father snubbed. Your family’s status insulates you against that kind of thing though, doesn’t it?’

‘If no one who doesn’t share your experiences can embrace your cause,’ said Byren, ‘how can you hope to win hearts and minds?’

His glare deepening, Symmar straightened up from the wall he leant against, ready to stalk across the empty room separating them.

Odella stepped between them and glared at him. He returned the glare, before turning away and pacing. She was dealing with children. Without the authority to take away their social media.

‘We may only get one chance before they bypass what we’ve done to the masks,’ said Odella. ‘Planning would be wise.’ She turned to Myam, not wanting to cause offence impugning her work—though she seldom reacted to anything. ‘I assume we can’t be sure it’ll hold out indefinitely?’

‘I wouldn’t,’ said Myam. ‘Smart move is to do something big. Splashy. But not overly destructive. There’s the chance they’ll track us down. We want public approval, not to scare everyone.’

‘We could deface the administrative building,’ said Danuan. ‘The area’s quiet at night, but it’ll get an audience in the day. It’ll be awesome.’

Odella didn’t share his enthusiasm. How long would that take? The masks may hide them, but she doubted it’d obscure whatever they did. Enforcers would respond as soon as the damage showed up on the cameras covering all public areas.

‘What do you mean deface?’ asked Myam. ‘It’s a big place. The glass is tough, and if you break it that escalates things and draws attention faster. If you’re thinking of graffiti, that’s quickly cleared.’

Danuan