Source...
Part 10 (The Unexpected Confrontation): Recap
Cunnelda Treydor. The ICO's mouthpiece.
Annetta's chilling stare fell short of any effect as she scrutinized her sister from head to toe. Several years had passed since they last met. Older sister no longer held any power over her. "I see you've moved up in the world of ICO, sis," Annetta stated wryly, shaking her head as if a revelation dawned slowly studying the emblem of The Interdisciplinary Consortium Orbit.
Cunnelda smiled warmly, but the words that spewed from her mouth were chilling, laced with a venomous sting. "And I see you and Amos are still the same losers in our family," she shot back.
Amos squinted as a familiar shape took form. His eyes widened in shock as the tall, lanky female with harsh features approached. That her outfit was embossed with the ICO logo was disheartening. That she spoke with an authoritative tone as though representing the government that suppressed her people was confounding. That she took one glance at her only brother and dismissed him with disdain and disgust was typical.
Cunnelda turned. One security guard immediately rushed forward and took a stance behind her, his weapon pointed as he leaned over and lowered his voice as he imparted what must be urgent information.
Amos' eyes widened. Although partially covered, that face he'd never forget. It was Matchov, the orderly who worked to transport residents to the various ICO facilities.
Amos looked away, careful not to reveal he'd recognized him. But he'd never forget the experience. Seething, he remembered that Matchov was the man in charge who ordered Benetiz to remove his specialty goggles, commenting that he wouldn't need them where he was assigned. His ears sharpened as he overheard the exchange between Cunnelda and Matchov before Matchov stepped back.
"Take them first, they're the leaders. The sheep will follow. This one is Amos Goodall, Man Number, ICO-9708," Cunnelda revealed pointing directly at Amos. "Document him. He escaped from ICO North where he'll soon return to finish out his incarceration. Sedition is now added to his crimes."
Annetta's head jerked back as she stood close to Amos, blocking the guard's path in his attempt to handcuff her brother.
How did Cunnelda know the details of her brother's imprisonment? she wondered. Hands now shaking, Annetta tucked them inside her pockets. Then, in a defiant voice, the words spewed from her mouth loudly so all in the small holding area near the edge of the woods could hear.
But Cunnelda interrupted her.
"All of you gathered here, especially my dear brother and sister, will never realize your full potential. You're all losers and will never have your name engraved on the Wall of Success."
Angered at her sister's belittlement of an entire populace who refused to be dominated by ICO, Annetta's hand flung up.
"How dare you think I'm stupid enough to be enthused about working my way up the ladder to the Wall of Success. You don't even realize that it was you that placed me in a position to assist in dismantling the ICO structure."
Annetta didn't want to mention Roy Watson, Amos' friend, so continued. "This past five years, all citizens were being monitored and our conversation recorded. But I managed to secure a position at ICO North under the guise of switching my career choice to research. With my nursing degree and one in medicine, I was immediately accepted. I later discovered it wasn't my credentials, but you, my dear sister, who made it all possible. How cunning you are Cunnelda. So much that you're actually stupid allowing ICO to use you are their mouthpiece."
Cunnelda stood as though shocked at her sister's words and demeanor.
But Annetta wasn't finished.
"This is the first time all three of us are together in the same space. Freedom's fresh air now rumbles of rancid human flesh burned by your illustrious overseers. May as well put all our cards on the table. I have nothing else to lose."
"That's how I gained the schematics to the complex. As far as we can tell, the ICO isn't an institution created for the "good of the people to promote their welfare." It's like a virus spewing out a infectious disease. Their cover is "humanity's savior through research". What a joke!"
"As far as we can discern, no one yet has been saved by that cult. A hostile takeover of our society by mind control. So gradual in fact that we were blindsided. That's when I realized Amos was right the entire time. And I almost disowned him because of you."
Impressed by his little sister, but a bit afraid of the consequences for them both, Amos chimed in delivering a belligerent tone. "What we've come to realize about you, Cunnelda, is that your belief in betraying one's family was a small price to pay when one considers the imaginary gains to be acquired in ICO society. We hope your name engraved on the Wall of Success serves you well the remainder of your life. Hopefully, that won't be too far in the future."
Cunnelda dismissed Annetta's tirade, but took note of the implication of Amos' words. She snorted and almost released a laugh but instead replied immediately so as to regain some semblance of power in the military unit's presence.
"Threats to authority will ensure you never spend a free moment again outside ICO facility compounds, Cunnelda hissed before continuing, "And I've made sure you two will never see our parents again in this lifetime."
Despite being handcuffed, Amos and Annetta lunged toward Cunnelda.
The officer behind her stepped in front and butted Amos's head with his weapon. Immediately, Amos fell to the ground, knocked unconscious.
"Kick him," Matchov shouted. When the result wasn't to his satisfaction, he hissed, "Harder." The fragment of life Amos had clung to hoping he'd live to see his parents again faded as Annetta knelt to the ground and embraced her brother.
Without a word, Benetiz, along with the other rebellious captives, stared silently at the event unfolding. The military unit moved even closer, creating a small sphere of imprisonment. Julius, restrained at gunpoint, could do nothing but look on helplessly.
Now, Part 11: (A Parents' Secret)
Amos remained curled in a fetal position. It can't get any worse than this, he thought, writhing in pain.
Annetta leaned close to Benetiz. "We've got to get Amos out of here. Did you notice the guard impart something to Cunnelda? The shock on her face was priceless. Something's amiss. I feel within my being that Amos is a part of it in some odd way."
But they could do nothing as handcuffs prevented their movements in his direction. Matchov shoved the weapon between Annetta and Benetiz. "Stand back. No talking, and make ready to move from this location." he ordered.
Other guards picked Julius up from the ground and tossed him like a rag doll into the military transport vehicle. Orders for the others to follow rang out.
When all protestors were secured in the military transport, guards slammed the door shut.
No light. No seating. And barely enough fresh air filtered through the vehicle as it raced along the road toward a secure ICO location that housed other dissenters throughout the years.
With the help of a guard, Amos sat upright on the ground. Groggy though awake, images floated through his mind of seeing military vehicles depart from the area.
Stretching his neck in both directions, he searched for Annetta, Julius and Benetiz.
Cunnelda stood with her hands clasp squarely on her hips, lips curled in a sneer mingled with a half laugh studying the vehicle's movement away from the holding area near the protestors' meeting place in the warehouse.
She pointed toward the warehouse. "This dilapidated place is useless. Make sure it won't be used again in opposition to our leader," she ordered.
Guards immediately returned to their vehicles. Within minutes, the warehouse was reduced to rubble in the explosions that followed. Cunnelda stared blankly beyond its walls to the accolades next to her name once her report was submitted to ICO.
Turning, she scrutinized Amos. What an exciting ending to the day, she exclaimed!. But the kept the next thought to herself.
Won't mom and dad be surprised at the latest development.
As though she could read her oldest daughter's thoughts, Hannah Goodall grasp her chest and heaved heavily, a tear forming as she stood next to the window enforced with steel bars staring out over the courtyard. The mysterious ICO medical facility housing an indeterminate number of elderly citizens granted a limited view of their surroundings. A prison setting disguised. No more, no less.
"Why haven't they visited?" she asked slowly, her speech slurred from years of illness due to lack of proper medical attention.
A hand touched her neck as her husband, Walter, approached and stood behind her, gathering her to his chest, then placing his head on her shoulder.
"I have no answer, dear," he reminded her in a thick and unsteady voice for the untold number of times. But he must have patience and not become upset. Sunken eyes, an abundance of flesh forming on her face now surrounded by thin, and silver strands that hung past her shoulders.
"Perhaps they are unable to else...". Her voice trailed off.
"Now stop talking like that. Our children understand how to maneuver through the ICO and keep themselves safe. Especially Cunnelda and that cunning husband of hers. If anyone survives, it will be her. Survival of the richest, remember."
Deep down, he wanted to laugh had the moment been years earlier when ICO first arrived. But their situation over the past five years was now dire. His hands gripped his wife's shoulders, more to brace himself than to assure her.
Hannah continued.
"But what if Amos is captured and taken in for tests?" I'm scared for him, Walter." Wringing her hands, she turned toward her husband and peered deeply into his eyes.
"We thought we could protect our baby boy forever. How foolish!" Hannah's hands flew up and covered her face as tears flowed freely.
[to be continued]
18 December 2024, @mariannewest's Freewrite Writing Prompt Day 2590: fragment of life
28 January 2025, @mariannewest's Freewrite Writing Prompt Day 2630: implication
26 January 2025, @mariannewest's Freewrite Writing Prompt Day 2628: kick him harder
29 January 2025, @mariannewest's Freewrite Writing Prompt Day 2631: discuss this more
4 february 2025, @mariannewest's Freewrite Writing Prompt Day 2637: mysterious clinic
5 february 2025, @mariannewest's Freewrite Writing Prompt Day 2638: Did you authorise this?
20 february 2025, @mariannewest's Freewrite Writing Prompt Day 2653: survival of the richest
If you'd like to return to the beginning of my series, here are the previous parts:
Part 10 (The Unexpected Confrontation)
SOURCES:
a) JustClickindiva's Footer created in Canva utilizing its free background and images used with permission from discord admins.
b) Unless otherwise noted, all photos taken by me with my (i) Samsung Galaxy 10" Tablet, (ii) Samsung Phone, & (iii) FUJI FinePix S3380 - 14 Mega Pixels Digital Camera
c) Purple Butterfly part of purchased set of Spiritual Clip Art for my Personal Use
d) All Community logos, banners, page dividers used with permission of Discord Channel admins.
e) Ladies of Hive banner used with permission of and in accordance with the admin's guidelines
f) Thumbnail Image created by me in Canva.
g) "Flames." What is Apophysis 2.09. https://flam3.com/
1 What is Stable Diffusion? StarryAI.Com. Online at: https://starryai.com/stable-diffusion