Saturday, June 14, 2008

You know the feeling that someone is watching you in the lift, although you're alone? This has come true.

A short account by #32

day one -
the Management installs CCTV that watches the lift lobby, and video-feeds to the LCD screen. this means that while you are waiting for the lift, the screen shows live footage of your back view, from the camera at the top, the eye of an owl that never, ever sleeps. but watches, and records. every move you make.

same day-
the Management sends a note to every doorstep:
Don't worry, we're watching over you.

days later-
the new lift they were constructing? completed. bright, fast, and new. mirrors around so you can inspect yourself, tweak your appearance, un-mangle your hair, pose, and prepare. problem is, it has a camera installed inside. problem two: the camera feeds to the same LCD screen in the lift lobby. imagine the horror! paranoia grips you while you're in the lift. people are watching. it's the people. it's the Management. they know about Us. there is no escape. We decide to put all meetings in the lift on hold, to see if it's safe. the Heads are at discussion. we await their decision.

days later-
what does this all mean? you may ask, young reader. it means our movement is restricted. the sole place we could transmit valuable encrypted notes is lost; our networks cut. Agents cannot appear friendly, for fear the Management would suspect liasons. we cannot sing to ourselves in the lift, talk to ourselves, dance like a rockstar. we cannot even change out of our Everyday clothing into our supersuits. Management sends another note:
Don't worry, we're watching you.

unknown time-
we've fled the premises. the Agency sent a burn-after-reading note, instructing us to do so. shortly before this, Management were sending forces down the corridors, cleaning out houses, checking genetic codes. escaped out of the window while i still could. suffered a cut on my knee. heading towards location P. god knows when i can write again.

(partially based on the true events of the installation of the lift CCTV)