Member-only story
FICTION
Surfacing
Foreword — Prompt
Time to wake up.
Let roust about now.
Your world has changed.
There we go. Wakey, wakey.
Those suits are yours. At least till they wear off should you make it that long.
And the masks, they are kind of special too. More on them in a minute.
Everybody ready? I can’t call you by name as you are all dressed in those underwater suits. And you are somewhat distant — none of which helps recognition. But the guards keep you in sight, you can be sure of that.
But your recognition was known, is known. Each of you was condemned to die for crimes against society. Aren’t you lucky to be here today?
And today could be your second chance. Could be. But that’s doubtful — the odds are, well, against that.
Of the last 12 only 1 made it — only one found the badge, sunken at the bottom of an old wreck some miles off the southern coast. You see, we have hope for you — hope that you will find the badge, too — hope that you will find the badge before you die — as a meal, or as a wraith of the sea.
Find the badge, and you live, all is forgiven. Otherwise, all is lost — or better yet — you are on your own till all is lost.
