The Cabin in the Woods

In his early teens it had been conspiracy theories and fear of the Big Brother society, but his thinking now usually went deeper. Most people didn’t see that in him at all-even the friends he had around him now- because for them, the drugs dulled his personality as much as they believe they dulled his senses.

But for all of them, belief in free will stemmed largely from not being aware of what was occurring all around them. Senses and perception only stretch so far, even if fueled-perhaps augmented-by a gentle drug intake, and a willingness to believe.

Further than those senses, and that awareness, was the real world.

On the rooftop of the townhouse that had just been vacated, six figures watched the Rambler drive along the street and disappear into the distance. They observed for a couple more minutes after the vehicle had vanished, in case of a sudden return for something one of the kids had forgotten.

The six figures were made androgynous by their apparel: they wore clean-suits, full body outfits of an opaque material that hooded their heads, stretched down to gloved hands, then all the way down their legs to enclose their booted feet. The material around their boots was triple thickness and heavily bound by elastic around their ankles, and their gloves were similarly reinforced. Only their faces were exposed, though their mouths were covered with soft white masks, and the exposed skin of their cheeks and chins glistened with a gel that prevented the shedding of any dead skin cells or hair.

One of the figures-there was no way of telling whether he or she was the leader, because they were all identically dressed, and no body language at all distinguished one from another-pressed a hand to its ear, then spoke into a microphone. All had similar devices poking from the necks of their suits.

“Nest is empty, we are right on time.” There was no telling from the voice whether it was a man or woman; flat, monotonous. The shape then tilted its head- as did all the others-listening to a voice from even further away, issuing orders that no one else could hear, of which no one else would ever be aware.

For the first time, a small element of superiority distinguished this shape from the rest of the group. Its hand rose and circled its index finger in the air, three times precisely. Every movement the shape performed was precise. There was no energy wasted.

“Go for clean-up,” it said. “Go, go, go.”

The six shapes walked to the rooftop door, opened it, and disappeared inside.

Clean-up began.

TWO

Haven’t seen this one before, Gary Sitterson thought. I wonder if he has any fucking idea what to expect?

The thick metal door had just wheezed open as he and Steve Hadley approached, a soft breath of air wafting out around them as pressures equalized. The control room was always kept slightly pressurized, though he’d never been given a believable reason as to why. Some said it was to preclude the risk of chemical or biological attack, but that idea was countered by the fact that there were no air locks for entry or exit. And besides, who could attack them when no one knew they existed?

Others suggested that it was because people worked better and became less tired at slightly higher air pressure. Sitterson wasn’t sure about that one, either. He guessed it was just a design aspect of the facility. Maybe a fuck-up with the ventilation system.

He held his breath until the soft gasp had passed, then smiled at the slightly nervous soldier who was standing upright in front of them.

“Identification, please,” the soldier said stiffly, holding out a handheld card reader.

Sitterson and Hadley plucked their ID cards from chains around their necks and passed them to the soldier, who bent slightly and swiped them over the reader. Soft beeps and a gentle green glow marked them as safe and known. Sitterson had always wondered what noise and color the reader would emit should a card not be recognized. Probably a loud siren and a blast of red.

And then the bullets would come.

“Mister Sitterson, Mister Hadley, thank you.” The soldier stood straight again, and for a stunned moment Sitterson thought he might actually be about to salute. But perhaps he saw the look on Sitterson’s face because, after a pause, he said simply, “Please come in.”

They entered the control room, known generally, and unimaginatively, as Control. The soft whirr of machinery and air conditioning welcomed them, along with the occasional blip or beep from one of the many computers it housed. Where they stood, down in the room’s lower level, there were two large tables with built-in monitors and phones, several closed files placed neatly on each surface. The chairs were identical, and tucked beneath the desks.