First shift

I N T E R N A T I O N A L

B E S T

S E L L E R

F I R S T M A R T E H W .

S H I F T A

N O V E L

“First shift has begun! Eracaid has demanded a higher quota, you are working extra hours” screamed the manager to Faron and all the other workers.

“Are we getting bonus? My mother is sick, we could use the money” He asked.

“The only bonus you’ll be getting is a bonus strike!” the manager responded.

“It was worth a try” one of Farons co­workers said to him. The compound they resided in was a scorched brown prison overrun with weeds with the skies filled with smoke. In the distance you see the executive district free from grit and polluted air, on a hill overlooking the working districts and the slums in which Faron lives.

Faron was on repairs. He trekked through the thick black smoke that filled the corridor on his way to the faulty machinery. There was a thin metal rod lodged in one of the cogs, bringing the wool and cotton threading production to a halt. He carefully lowered his hand in, feeling the heat and smoke blow on his hand. Faron grabbed the rod and pulled as hard as he could, but to no avail.

He tried once more. The rod was sent flying, hitting the wall behind him. Turning around, Faron noticed the rod had gone half way though the wall. Investigating further, he removed the rod and found he could pry open a panel with it.

Faron squeezed inside and came to a dim corridor. Travelling down the hall, he came to a very old computer, powering it on, revealed some old news reports.

Faron’s grandmother had told him of these times, before she died, she was only still a little girl. Continuing down he was lead into a vast room. At the end was a strange metallic box, pulling off the rustic cover, Faron found a chip within, attached to a small but complicated circuit board. Pulling it out the lights around it faded out. Inspecting it, he had little clue what it was. Faron walked back, however felt something on his leg, he looked at his foot and saw a red laser, beaming on him.

Delma sat at his desk and readjusted the photo of his father, Magnus Eracaid, founder of Eracaid Incorporated. The company

Delma now proudly owns. He looked up at his neon lit ceiling and then to his vast office. Seymour, the chief manager, stormed into Delma’s office “Sir, an employee has gone missing and we found a hole in the wall, leading into maintenance.” He revealed, “Send men to investigate!”

“Yes, sir!” Seymour walked out of the room.

The lights hanging from the ceiling suddenly came to life and alarms were flaring. Two sentry turrets raised from the floor. At this point Faron could do one thing. Run. He darted behind the wall before the turrets could shoot him. He sprinted down the hallway to the hatch he used to get in. He made it to the hatch and slammed it shut. Running through the building, Faron realised once he got outside, there was nowhere to go.

Just as Faron exited the building the manager stopped him in his tracks.

“Going somewhere?” Faron’s heart was pumping. The manger looked down at Faron’s hand.

“What have you got there?” A drip of sweat went down Faron’s cheek.

“Come with me.” He led Faron across the compound into his office, while gripping Farons shoulder tightly. Within his office was small and incomparable to what he has seen of the executive district.

“I swear, I don’t know what this is! I just found it!” the manager walked over to his window and pulled down the curtain. Faron knew he was dead.

“Do you have any idea of the immensity of the crime you have pulled?” he said as he sat down in front of Faron. He gulped.

“What are you going to do with me?”

“Thank you” Faron could not be more confused.

“Um, excuse me sir?”

“I said, thank you,” Faron sat extremely intrigued “I don’t work for Eracaid. Well, I do, but none of my loyalty is true.

You just shut down the country’s security. There will be an uprising within days. Come over here.” the manager walked over to a patch of dirt, felt around until it collapsed, revealing a deep, seemingly endless hole. Faron walked over, and was pushed in.