The Rise Of The Consortium

It wasn't morning yet. She woke up with a terrible series of vibrations of that device on her wrist. She looked around her with squinted eyes. It was midnight. Everywhere was silent as if there was no sign of life.

The device flashed with a list of tasks she had to do right away.

It is an emergency service they need, she thought to herself. But at this time of night? She rubbed her eyes to see the list properly. She had to repair something at a place that was quite far from where she lived, or where she normally worked.

She found her headache was quite fine. She blinked looking at the pitch dark outside, trying to gain every single bit of energy to get out of the house. But how could she get out when her mother would be sleeping on the couch in the living room? That thought made her heart beat faster.

She quickly straightened herself and wondered what to do. She can't open the door as it sounds weird all the time anyone opens it. Also, she didn't feel like she had gotten enough sleep. She checked the time and she was right. Only about three hours? Her eyes filled with tears as she felt disappointed with the device. Does it have to wake me up like this? At this hour?

She looked at the screen woefully to see how much will the work reward. She couldn't find anything. It was surprising that it didn't have much written. Only the location provided. But it looked sparkly. It looked as if it was some sort of special offer that won't last long. There was a tiny dot on the corner of the task option. Tapping on that, she found a tiny notice that said reward depends on the level of the task. She hoped it won't be another dusting job, else she'd seriously file a complaint to the workers' association.

She noiselessly got off her bed, not trying to wake her mother. She was glad to have the light switch on, she won't have any problem looking around. Slowly she stepped ahead and peeked out of her room to look at the couch in the living room. She hid her device on her wrist with hand to avoid its light to spill in the dark living room. Nothing as visible in it, not even from the light that reflected out of her room.

She tiptoed out of her room towards the couch to see clearly where her mom was asleep. From the shape, she realized there was no one on it. She parted her fingers from her device to allow a tiny amount of light for her to see. But there was no one. Where did her mother go? She got a goosebump wondering where did her mother go at this time of night.

She removed her right hand from her device. The magenta light fell in the room, making everything look reddish. Her breathing had stopped as she kept searching for her mother in the room. She panicked as she couldn't think where else to look for her. She thought her mother might be resting in her room.

She tiptoed to her mother's room quickly to see whether she was there. There was no one as she looked around with the magenta light that fell from her device. She even went closer to the bathroom in her room and found no one there. Where was her mother at this moment? Did she fall down in her sleep and got called by the swirl?

Suddenly she remembered what the doctor told her. 'People get trailed towards the swirl. They think the ones they've lost are calling.'

Did she get trailed after the swirl and I couldn't even know about it? What was I doing? Her head ached as she walked towards the couch to sit. It must be so dark outside, how did her mother walk away just like that?

As she rested her head on her palms dejectedly, her device beeped, reminding her work. This work literally had nothing written what she should be doing. Was this trusty? Should she go to her work or go around looking for her mother?

Did her mother said anything before going out and she could not listen? But why she had to go at this time? What was so important? She couldn't even say how long it's been since she's out. But this work looks important as well. She decided to finish the work quickly and then search for her mother.

Let out a sigh and got up from her couch. She has to go anyway. Who knows if a treasure is waiting for her at work? No matter what, she has to get out of her home to do what needed to be done.

She got back to her room and after inner hesitation, she changed into a clean set of clothes. She looked at her washer bag which kept piling up every day. She has to find time for that as well. The prospect of going to that wretched washers shop gave her another goosebump. But that's the only one in the city. Does she have any choice?

She reached the main door of her home, only to find it mildly locked. Her mother left it unlocked? Her eyes widened as she opened it and quickly jumped out to have a look around her house. From the porch light, she could see things clearly. There was no one. She got even more confused about what she should do right now. Whether she should lock the door or leave it like this as her mother did.

How could she leave it open? If she has to lock it, the key must be somewhere. It wasn't her typical home where she could lock an open with her device's sensors. They lived in an old-style lock and key home, which she didn't know why it happened.

After five minutes, she locked the door of her home, the key was left on the tiny table near the door. It wasn't that cold when she stepped out of the front porch. Rather, it was a bit of relaxing after the harsh daytime. The weather never stayed consistent. Someday it would be raining and other days it would be gloomy but full of irritable humidity. She hoped for some dry weather and clear sky in the morning. It was still dark, a few stars hardly visible.

The location written was in the description indicated that she has to go somewhere in street six. Her heart pounded faster wondering why is even walking. She paused to think about it. The place was somewhere in street six. But she heard it was restricted. How could she go there if she's not allowed to go there at all?

She looked at her left wrist again. The order which was written was still glittering, but her heart couldn't trust it. No details and a location, so dangerous. Wait, what danger? She thought about it. She just heard not to go there but never heard the reason. Does anyone know it? She doesn't even know what happens when one goes there.

She got another series of stingy vibration from her device, making her jump and clutch her wrist. Today might be the day to discover what's there. Plus, it's midnight. Who would know who went there? But, what if someone questions her? She doesn't even have the name of the customer who wants the job done. Just a plain order. If something is at stake, it is her work permit. Well, it is better than living without her identity.