The Imposters

 

Something has been changing in the past few days… I’ve been coming to work, and the same old people have been different. Paula from human resources was such a cheerful and uplifting spirit here at the office, and lately, she’s been in shambles. The work gets done though, and even faster than before. Quite odd.

Pardon me, I haven’t introduced myself, I’m Andrew. I’m a columnist for a newspaper that specializes in what people want to know (gossip and such). Not a job that I Like particularly, but I don’t go after anyone like the paparazzo and such if that’s what you’re thinking. I write some humorous (or at least try to) thoughts that celebrities might be having in some pictures. It’s a fun little “bit”. The atmosphere at work is nice, I’m not very social but I do get along with everyone and have a laugh here and there with some of the funniest and outgoing members from the redaction.

Although, like I’ve been saying in the beginning, something has been changing. Colleagues that were very fun and talkative have been quiet and work only focused (kind of like copies of me actually). It is very strange how a work atmosphere can change like this.

I went to the bar next to my house for a few beers and to think about what’s been going on. Anthony, the barman and closest friend (more like closest listener) I have is working tonight, going to talk to him about all of this.

“Hey Anthony, how’s it going around here?”

“Same as usual, and on your end? Same old same?”

“Actually, things have been different at work… Can’t quite explain it but my coworkers don’t seem to be the same way they used to be…”

Anthony seemed intrigued by my observation and stopped cleaning the same glass he’s been cleaning with a not-so-cleaned cloth…

“Tell me more about this Andrew… It does seem odd, and only you have noticed this? Have you talked about it with anyone else?”

“No, actually you’re the first one I talk to about it”

As I say my last words to Anthony, I feel like I’m making a mistake trusting him. But at the same time, I doubt my own intuition, because Anthony has always been there for me. I must be fearing that he might think I’m crazy. Let´s face it, I’m being weird.

I drink a few more beers as I explain what I see and feel to Anthony and start to look at my surroundings. People aren’t even talking, they are just sitting and having their drinks calmy. No loud noises, no fighting, no one playing pool, nothing… People sitting back and drinking. This one guy has been drinking the same beer for at least an hour and a half. I need to tell this to Anthony when he gets back… Oh, there he is! But I’m bleeding? What the…

I wake up. I’m not in the bar anymore. I’m tied up to a chair, I believe. Can’t see shit, It’s darker than black in here. I smell alcohol, lots of alcohol. Maybe I’m still at the bar. I should shout for Anthony, he might help… I start hearing some footsteps behind me, someone is approaching…

“So, you figure it out before it was your turn… You’re not the first one and won’t be the last for sure!”

It’s Anthony's voice, but he’s being quite different. Doesn’t sound nor speak like the same person I’ve known for years, it’s a much more somber tone. He lights a candle, and we are in what appears to be a dungeon… I hear bugs crawling on the walls but can’t see them. Water droplets dripping on the floor everywhere, this is a very weird place…

“What are you talking about Anthony?”

“Well, you noticed the reset.”

“The what?”

“Yeah, I and a few others have been working towards a perfect society, one where people work and be productive and nothing more. No crime, no depressions, nothing, everything works as it should work, every little piece of the puzzle fit like this! It’s perfect!”

I’m really scared right now; Anthony sounds like an absolute madman! Perfect society? Nothing is perfect, nothing can be perfect! I should get him to continue to ramble on this matter and buy me some time to get an opening and escape from this hell.

“And how do you plan to achieve this perfect society? And what have you done to my coworkers and everyone else that was at the bar?!”

“You humans… You have no sense of appreciation, you just take and take and only think about yourselves, you are not capable of living in a community! Our father abandoned us to focus on you... Why? So, you can stay on Instagram all day spreading hate? Or faking that you live a fulfilled life and mislead countless others into trying to achieve the same mindless way of living in a self-centered world where you simply are awful to one another? Is this what you humans want for a living? We can’t stand the sidelines and watch this anymore…”

As Anthony finishes his speech, he approaches me with an eerie-looking device that has some sort of living tentacles. He reclines my head back as if he was going to wash my hair or something. How can I stand so calm in a situation like this, I’m about to lose myself, my person? But what Anthony (or whatever he is) is saying makes total sense… We might become mindless robots, but society would indeed become more efficient this way, should I just embrace this and follow their way? Not that I have much choice here…

 

Part II will be available soon