Drip.
Drip.
Drip.
The bright red pool of blood grew larger at his feet. He was awake now. No, now unconscious again.
Drip.
Drip.
The rhythm of the sanguine dripping was interrupted by the sound of sirens. He came-to, suddenly.
“My head,” he thought, while flipping down the sun visor to get a look at himself in the mirror. The reverse side revealed nothing but solid upholstery and no mirror.
“Cheap piece of crap,” he murmured. “Shyla, can you take a look at my head?”
He turned to his partner’s seat but found it empty. Shyla wasn’t there.
He paused, straining to remember the moments that brought him to this point. He adjusted the rearview mirror to assess the damage himself.
“That is going to leave a scar,” he thought. A gash above his left eye was still dripping blood, though it seemed to have slowed down somewhat. His eyebrow and beard on that side of his face were saturated with the viscous crimson liquid, giving him a grizzly appearance.
The siren changed pitch and started to fade. It was moving away.
“Guess they aren’t coming for me.”
Shyla
He turned again to the empty passenger seat. “Where did she go?” he thought. He looked around but saw no sign of her anywhere. Her phone and purse were gone. There was nothing. Did he have anything? He checked his pockets and found his phone, wallet, and keys. He noticed something extra in his chest pocket and pulled it out to a take a look.
It was a small folded piece of cardstock, about the size of two business cards. It read:
United States Agency of Common Sense
Est. 2025
Protecting America from Ignorance
Washington, DC
Inside the fold it read:
Your acquaintance, friend, or loved-one has been taken for processing. The US ACS algorithm has determined that recent behavior, writings, blog or social media posts, and/or other speech or expression demonstrated by your acquaintance, friend, or loved-one, is ANTI-COMMON SENSE, as defined by the COMMON SENSE act of 2025. For your protection, your acquaintance, friend, or loved-one has been remanded to the custody of the US ACS for reeducation.
Please accept our apologies for any inconveniences this process may have caused. If you find yourself struggling at any time with ANTI-COMMON SENSE thoughts, please contact the nearest office immediately for free prevention and reeducation measures.
Your nearest ACS office is located at: 1 Common Sense Drive, Wildwood, Missouri.
“Free prevention and reeducation measures. What a crock of crap,” he said.
He pulled out his cell phone and dialed a number. It rang twice before a soft, but confident voice came on the other end and said, “This is Parker”
“Parker, they’ve got Shy.”
“They… what? How? Why? She didn’t even…” Parker stammered.
“I know, she never hit send. It doesn’t make any sense.”
“The algorithm is getting more advanced. Wait, does this mean they didn’t take you?” Parker asked.
“Well, obviously not. Though I’m not sure why. I must have gave them a little bit of trouble when they pulled us over. I’ve got a big pistol-whip gash on my forehead. They really messed up my beautiful face.”
“Let’s be honest, it wasn’t much to look at anyway, Jack,” Parker retorted.
“Your an asshole,” Jack replied.
“What are you going to do now?” Parker asked
“I need some steri-strips, some ibuprofen, and to find Shy.”
“But, she’s gone, Jack. There are no reports of anyone coming out of the ACS camps. Yet, anyway.”
“Yet. That’s why we have to find her. And we have to finish our mission.”
“What are you going to do?”
“We’ve said enough, Parker. Common Sense, you know. Let’s meet and we’ll discuss.”
“The usual spot?”
“The usual spot. 30 minutes.”
He took one more look at the empty seat beside him, wiped his brow, and put the car in drive.
They’ve gone too far. No more.
