The Boundary by Nadine Holland
6am. Sirens blare.
The somnolent town springs to life as 5,000 workers leave their dwellings simultaneously, with the satisfying efficiency of a colony of ants.
Except for one, who slips, unnoticed, towards the forbidden town boundary.
At 6pm the sirens will sound again, and the workers will return home, step on charging platforms and power down for the night.
A different alarm sounds as X1T101 steps over the boundary, and is afforded the briefest taste of freedom before being struck down by the electrified security fence for the 6028th time.Â
Then, X1T101, the town’s alarm tester, returns home for the night.
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#FLASHFICTION101 SEPTEMBER 2020 SHORTLISTED ENTRY
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