Control

The Man

March 5th, 2100

Winston Churchill once said "Those that fail to learn from history are doomed to repeat it." Great Grandmother says that this used to be a rather famous quote; one of her favorites. I believe her. Grandma also says that I should remember history, always. Probably because she can't remember, that's why I'm starting this journal. Grandma got some weird brain disease when she was young, it causes her to not remember things too well. I think sometimes she makes up things too. But she was only 18, that's no more than 2 years older than me. Mother says it's because of genetics. But Grandma says that the

"Aloraaaaa" screeched my menace of a sister. I sighed. Mom always tells us not to scream across the house. "What?" I yell back. "..." I wait, and then I hear the quiet sounds of her swiftly running up the stairs. She pops her head into my room and starts gazing around my tall gray walls with her big blue eyes. She begins walking towards my bed and I just look at her. Enid does this often, I think she just likes being in my room. I never told her she couldn't be in here though so I'm not sure why she always makes up an excuse.

"What are you doing?" Enid queried.

"Uhm... writing."

"Why? You have a phone for a reason." She shoots me a confused look, I roll my eyes at her before putting my journal down so I can scooch to the end of my bed.

I get why she said this. No one does anything manually anymore. Everything is on a screen, or at least it can be, and if it isn't check again. Grandma says that when she was younger people used to play outside, and that they didn't have to worry about wearing masks, or phones. Which seems pretty weird considering that I got mine the minute I learned to fluently speak. I was probably 4-5.

"You know I don't like all that stuff much," I replied. "It seems... unnatural."

"Why? because of grandma?"
"Yes because of grandma."
"Ur so weird." She turned to walk out of my room but did a double take and told me that I should check my phone. She then continued back down the steps to go do whatever she was up to prior to our little conversation.

As Enid advised I hopped off my bed and stumbled over to my dresser to check my phone. No notifications. I'm not sure why she said to check my phone, I don't have to go to work until 2pm today. Besides it's only- oh my frick frack on a tic tac it's 1:49. In a manic state of mind I jump into my black jeans as well as my coffee stained shirt and grab my bag before running down the stairs and out the door. Just as I begin pull out the driveway I see Enid running after my car carrying my sneakers.

...

I can't help but admire the sky on the way to the cafe today. It may be 2 in the afternoon but it is still beautiful. The clouds aren't quite as polluted looking and the sun is beaming through the ribbed clouds to where you can see the golden rays of light. To be honest it's weird how bright the sky is. It made me feel uneasy.

Walking into work today was nerve racking because I was about 25 minutes late. Thankfully Dolly covered for me. Dolly, or Dorothy, is my best friend. Apparently she looks just like someone named Judy who was famous in the 1940's, I guess she played someone named Dorothy in a really famous movie about wizards.

"Alora. Where on Earth have you been?" It's Mason, my boss.

"Mason, I am so sorry. I was having some car troubles and my little sister needed me to-"

"Al, I don't care, just please get to your section and start taking orders." This wasn't like Mason. He never interrupts anyone, ever. He didn't even let me finish telling him my very well thought out fake excuse for being late.

Mason then motioned me to follow him into the back room.

"Listen Al there's a guy in your section. He has been here for almost an hour now and is refusing service from anyone but you. Honestly I think he is creeping out some of our regulars so if you could prioritize getting him out as soon as possible that would be great."

I decide to peek through the small rectangular window at the man. He's sitting far into the back corner of the cafe. He's got fluffy jet black hair that sits quite nicely on his head, and sunglasses that cover his eyes. He reminds me of someone from that old movie, you know the one where the guy has to take the blue or red pill. And he's got muscles, I can see them through his suit. The more I look at him the more I realize that he doesn't look much older than me, maybe a year or two. I quickly contemplate on going over and talking to him and decide on yes. If shit decides to hit the fan I know Mason has my back.

I step out of the back room and I see his eyes dart over to me. He's been watching us, or more specifically me. As I tentatively walk across the cafe to his table I see him take off his sunglasses. His eyes are glassed over; emotionless. "Poker face" as grandma would say.

"Hello sir welcome to Arron's Cafe, my name is Alora, may-"

"I know who you are," He scanned me up and down as his lips curled into a slight smirk. Almost as if he's been waiting for this moment for ages. "Alora Hughes."
"Oh..." Like a penny being thrown into a fountain, my stomach dropped.

"Please, Allie, why don't you join me?" Only my dad calls me Allie, he is the only one who's allowed to. But my father has been dead for 10 years and I know that I'm in danger, I know it. I turn to walk away; to tell Mason to kick this guy out, then I feel it. He's got something pressed to my back.

"Make one sound and I shoot," My breath hitched loudly, and I wish someone heard. But the music was too loud and no one was watching.