Watch Over Me: A twisty dystopian novel of secrets, survival, and sapphic love. by Kate Hennessy

Author:Kate Hennessy [Hennessy, Kate]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781739585914
Publisher: Rizz & Ren
Published: 2023-08-29T16:00:00+00:00

39

The silence tautened. The cameras closed in.

With courage, she might have used this opportunity to blow the anger she’d so long been carrying, and make use of the public platform to stand up for something noble. She might have held her head high and demanded support for Additionals, equality in rations, fairer access to healthcare, and a less brutal judiciary system.

But she didn’t.

It couldn’t be her. Not with so much to lose. She hoped someone would, some day, but not her, not today.

Play along, butter her up, give Wilding her big moment. Get the job done and get out.

Whatever Wilding’s intentions, they were a cooler Hell than The Select Programme.

‘Rehabilitation is a win-win situation,’ Yara said, at last. She widened her mouth to her most amenable smile. So far, so good. Jonas was overly nodding, like an idiot, so Yara carried on. ‘Ms Wilding’s technology will have a more positive impact on RePay’s municipal division than any competitors. Sterilisation can’t wipe out criminals, and even if it did, who’ll be left to clean your streets, run your errands, and become your donors?’ It stung to say it, but it would make these people take notice.

‘Indeed! And missy, tell us. What’s it like having Ada Wilding in your head twenty-four-seven?’ asked Jonas.

‘Actually, it’s a privilege,’ Yara replied through her teeth, before Wilding met her gaze and the question took on a new meaning. Wilding had this way of piercing your thoughts, stealing them, turning them all into thoughts about her. The rise and fall of her chest was distracting…

Hot now, Yara ploughed on. The audience was the quietest it had been all evening, as Yara lied about the benefits of human reprogramming, ‘…because who says no to an upgrade, right?’

The audience laughed, and then they were clapping, even cheering. It was working!

In the applause, Wilding cocked an eyebrow at her. Surely it was enough to earn a little leverage. That was the strategy. The way to keep Wilding onside was to let her think she was winning. Even Jonas had widened his spidery eyes, taken aback at Yara’s support for her own slavery. Still, he snatched back his joviality when he next read from the autocue.

‘And do we get a demonstration, Ms Wilding? We must, we must!’

Great. Another electrocution looming, Yara gripped the seat, shaking off the instinct to protest. The audience chanted until Wilding stood with a nod.

‘As you wish.’ She guided Yara to the middle of the floor. Now, the only sounds were the squeak of seats as people shifted to the edge in anticipation. Wilding gave her a look of are you ready? Yara closed her eyes and inched forwards. She held out a hand and took the final step towards electrocution. The audience gasped as Yara collided with a wall – an exclusion zone – like at Titania. Yara glanced at Wilding, whose eyes, maybe kinder than of late, slid back to meet her. Wilding hadn’t chosen electrocution today. An olive branch? Yara gave a tiny nod of gratitude before Wilding stepped forward to claim her praise.

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