The Know 11

suggestion: play the song that is playing in the story while you read for an more intense effect. C=

"Okay but I don't like it." Riley said playfully.

Suddenly the robot reanimated as if it forgot something. Its body seemed to tremor for a second, hesitating briefly then rolling behind the bar. It must have turned no a stereo system because relaxing lounge music began to play. The robot then resumed his frozen state back in the corner.

"Wow this sounds old, and yet somewhat relaxing, in a creepy kind of way." Riley said leaning back in his chair a bit more.

"'In a Manner of Speaking' by Nouvelle Vague." I said looking down into my drink.

"You really like music don't you."

"Yeah, if society wasn't they way it is... I think I would enjoy a life as a musician. But then agian if life was different... I might not be here."

Riley stood up, glas crunching under his feet, bowing to me and extending out his hand.

"May I have this dance?"

The lyrics are surprisingly relevant to our situation; and the light coming in from under the door is illumintaing the broken glass and casting tiny multi-colored beams acrossthe dull room. Even the air holds a sparkle as dust captures some of the light. Just as I look up at him there is a knock on the door. Riley immediately withdraws his hand and turns around. A new mood fills the air, and the room seems to lose its charm. The robot activates and starts on its way over to the door. The mist is back in the air again confirming my fears. I quickly stand up and walk ahead of Riley.

Colbert is just abut to pull open it open when I hear an unfamiliar beeping sound on the other side. Suddenly the door is blown inward with such force that it lands on the robot knocking it down. Sparks from the red light on its chest explode into the air and the bright glow of its eyes fade to black.

"Government Control Agency (GCA)! Get on the ground!"

But before we could comply the sound of gunfire pierces through the already loud room. My right shoulder flies back at the impact of the bullet, forcing my body around. Time freezes as I'm spun around by the bullet, and I see the fear in riley's eyes. Reacting quickly I move with the flow and spin completely around. By the time I reach full circle I'm down on one knee my gun drawn and firing. I the man who came in first; another bullet whistles past my left eye chipping my sunglasses. Shattered pieces lodge themselves into my face just missing my eyeball. The next agent goes down. Two left. One left. Another bullet, this time hitting me dead in the center of my collar bone. One last shot is fired from my gun striking the last man in the forehead. He falls to his knees and then topples onto the floor. The music ends and there is silence.

I stand up, drop my gun and stagger backwards, looking down and holding my collar bone. I peel my hand away and see my black wet glove shinning in the dim moonlight of the doorway. I stumble over to the bar and fall against it slightly, smearing black liquid across the counter top as I make my way behind the bar. I turn to the mirrored wall and look at my face through an alcohol advertisement. I see the oil dripping down the left side of my cheek only reminding me that I am fake.

"Acala!" Riley finnaly says snapping back to reality.

My right arm is frozen halfway up as I stare down at the oil. Riley begins to walk over but trips and falls onto the glass covered floor. He lifts his top half up with his arms to look down at his legs, only to find a pool of blood under his right thigh. He scrambles across the floor and attempts to get up, but shock sets in and he lies there motionless.

"Fake, fake, fake..."

I keep repeating the words over and over, like the insane inhuman creature I am. In a trance I walk over to my gun and put it back under my trench coat. Then I grab Riley with my electronic arm and drag him out the door.

"Fake... fake..." I continue to mumble.

IU begin to walk further down the alleyway, but then stumble over raised pavement, and fall onto the ground. Riley landing on my legs.

"Fake..."

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