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Dreadhorse Chapter 3
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Dred’s night eventually led back to his hotel room, the soft ambient lighting casting a warm, inviting hue over the minimalist space. The same advertisement for his services that had started his night played on a display down the hallway. The automatic door cut it off mid-sentence as it closed behind him. After endless small talk and carefully crafted smiles at the rooftop meet and greet, the quiet solitude of the room was a welcome relief. He loosened his tie, letting the fabric fall limp. He sat on the edge of the bed, exhaling deeply.
As he leaned back, resting his head against soft pillows, his digital assistant chimed in, picking up the pace of his evening routine. The familiar voice of his AI, calm and emotionless, began to rattle off summaries of the data center he’d be overseeing in the coming days. Dred half-listened as it droned on about worker dissatisfaction, absenteeism, and social dysfunction. It was the same story, just a different setting.
“Data Center 17,” the assistant continued, “staff morale has decreased by 15% in the last quarter. Reports of increasing conflict among employees, incidences of addiction, and…”
Something caught Dred’s attention. “Social worker assigned to Data Center 17: Lor Travers.” The name hit him like a spark in the darkness.
“Wait, Lor?” he muttered, sitting up. It couldn’t be. He hadn’t heard that name in years.
“Yes, Lor Travers,” the assistant repeated, “assigned to Data Center 17. Engaged in community outreach and staff support…”
His thoughts raced. Lor was a name from his past. They’d been close friends before ambition had driven Dred away from the person-centered path Lor had chosen.
“Lor,” Dred whispered, a smile creeping onto his face. Nostalgia tugged at him. Working with Lor wasn’t without its challenges, given their divergent views on social engineering. Yet, the idea of reconnecting was… comforting. And then there was Kel—Lor’s adopted daughter.
Trying to picture her now was impossible. Last he’d seen her, she was just starting to form words, a wide-eyed child with an infectious curiosity.
The sudden transition to static crackling in his earpiece jolted him. His assistant was malfunctioning.
“Assistant. Restart,” he commanded.
Instead of obeying, it flickered back to life with a chaotic glitch, displaying unfamiliar patterns. He frowned at the screen. Numbers danced with garbled text, subtly reminiscent of something he’d seen before. Hidden beneath was an unexpected phrase, “Project Visionary: Phase 2 Imminent.”
Dred’s heart dropped. The phrase wasn’t something he recognized within his normal scope of work. He tapped keys, trying to dig deeper.
Suddenly, the screen blinked out completely, plunging the room into quiet darkness. Shit. Whatever this was, it transcended routine glitches. His fingers hovered above the interface, torn between pursuing answers and caution. His inner voice warned him: was he ready to uncover something far more significant than mere data center inefficiencies?
And there it was—the feeling of being watched. A tingle up his spine. His snooping had been discovered.
The half-open drapes fluttered suddenly, as if propelled by someone outside. Panic nipped at his edges. Were they listening already? Had someone tipped them off? Was his old friend’s assignment part of something larger? One look at his now-black screen confirmed his fears—an accidental glance into something dangerous.
Dred paced tightly in his room, dread coiling in his stomach. Lor and Kel were already embedded there. Was he too late? Was their re-connection part of an already orchestrated plan?
He grabbed the nearest secure communicator, eager to warn his friend. The calls went unanswered, each attempt ringing into silent voids. As the last call echoed into nothingness, Dred realized he had underestimated what he’d stumbled into. The conspirators were alert now, and his next move needed precision.
The night loomed large in the window, a vast unknown, as Dred pondered his next step, teetering on the precipice of truth—and danger.