RinoZ
patreon
Chapter 932 - Shadow of Fear
🕑 Added 2022-02-03 00:24:49 +0000 UTCSorry for the long delay. Going to push for another one to get done today.
The orphans were playing in the street below and Enid smiled to see their carefree antics. One of the older girls caught her eye through the window and waved cheerfully, flashing a broad grin when Enid waved back. It soothed her old heart, watching the young ones play. Goodness knows she wouldn't be around much longer, but little moments like this were a reminder of why she worked so hard. Everything they did in Renewal was to provide a better future for the displaced people who had made a home here, and none had suffered more than the orphans.
She frowned. If only she could protect them from the shadow that now lay over the town. She'd seen it, that hesitation in the evenings when the tradesfolk where contemplating working for a few more hours. Or the wavering hint of fear in the eye of the farmer as they counted the hours of rest they'd had the previous night. So many had disappeared, vanished from their offices, fields or, somehow, even from the street in broad daylight!
She'd been talking with Mr Hollin the smith about the lacking supply of raw iron as they walked toward his shop, only to find the man had been abducted right next to her mid-sentence! The fact she hadn't heard or seen a thing only made the effect all the more chilling. She'd even taken several more steps, wondering why the usually talkative man would cut off so suddenly.
"They are causing havoc," she growled to herself.
"Who is?"
Enid jumped then realised her assistant had entered the room as she brooded on the emergence of these 'Sleep Police'. Her surprise only added to her growing resentment. They had her jumping at shadows!
"The sleep enforcers, whatever you want to call them," she grumbled. "People are scared of their own shadows, they record their hours of rest daily to ensure they remain above the threshold. It's a reign of terror is what it is!"
She slapped the desk in front of her for emphasis.
Jonathan watched her antics with an air of resigned amusement. It was far from the first time he'd heard this rant from the mayor and wouldn't be the last.
"This wouldn't have anything to do with the fact that you yourself were amongst the first to enjoy their hospitality?"
"Of course not," Enid snapped, "this is about the wellbeing of the people."
In truth, she'd felt more than a little embarrassed at being abducted from her home when trying to get some extra paperwork done. She'd been operated on five hours of sleep a night for weeks up to that point. If they were going to grab anyone, it was almost certainly going to be her. A warning would have been nice though! She doubted that Anthony had to put up with this sort of treatment within the Colony.
Her assistant sighed and began to roll out the same arguments he'd employed the previous day.
"It's hard to describe what's taking place as 'an attack on the wellbeing of the people' when they are literally being forced to sleep. Productivity is up. People report being happier and more content. Crime is down, which I didn't think would ever happen, given how low it was to start with. The number of couples falling pregnant has risen. Even the orphans are performing better in school. I have to say, the Great One was clearly onto something when they decreed people sleep more. The effect it's had on the place is incredible."
Despite the litany of benefits that people had been experiencing, Enid's scowl only grew deeper.
"But the abductions are causing people to be afraid. How secure can someone really feel when they are terrified of vanishing from their own home!"
Jonathan strolled over to her desk and dumped another handful of papers in front of her.
"Yes. People are scared of being abducted," he agreed, "but it's not nearly as bad as you say. You make it sound like they're getting murdered, when in fact they are getting a good night's rest, a cup of tea, a massage and a haircut. If it weren't for the disorienting experience of being nabbed, people would probably be lining up for the service. The teddies of the Great One are also proving to be exceedingly popular."
He flicked his eyes to the bookshelf in the corner where a plush and fuzzy ant with a fierce look on its face stood pride of place in the centre of the shelf.
The Mayor shuffled in her seat defensively.
"It's fluffy," she said.
"Of course."
"But that's beside the point!"
"I'm not convinced that it is," finally cracking, Jonathan placed his hands on his hips and levelled a weary glare his stubborn boss. "The only question that really matters is this, do you want to live with the support of the Colony, or not?"
"With," Enid replied immediately. "We wouldn't enjoy anything like the prosperity we have today without them. Forget that, we wouldn't even be alive."
"Right. Then you have to be prepared to adopt some of their values. This sort of stuff happens amongst the ants all the time and they seem to operate just fine. In fact, they probably push the boundaries harder than we do, which is likely the why the Great One insisted on this rule in the first place. It was only a matter of time until they applied this rule to us as well. In their mind, they're helping us. And they are!"
Taken aback by her usually mild mannered assistant's direct speech, Enid finally slumped in defeat, a pose she was little accustomed to.
"I just wish they would have consulted us. At least given us a warning. There are so many things I have to deal with and then I had a hundred missing person reports show up in a week, after I got abducted myself!"
"I think it just goes to show that they really do think of us as part of them. This is something that they live by, and therefore so should we."
"I have to admit, that worries me slightly," Enid admitted slowly, "do we really know what it means to be part of a monster society? Are we really ready for everything that they will decide is good for us? They have been so, so good to us this far, and I trust them, but I worry about the future and what might happen after I'm gone. This time it was something small, sleeping requirements, but what about next time?"
Now finally the true concerns of the Mayor were brought to light. Her assistant shouldn't have been surprised that she was worried about what would happen in her absence. She always worried about that.
"It's too late now to worry about integrating with the Colony," he reminded her gently, "we are a part of them now. We just have to ride it out as best we can."
Enid sighed and looked out the window at the young orphans playing so happily in the street. At least they were free from such concerns, and the fear of vanishing overnight. As long as they were content and growing strong, then everything else was fine.
Comments
chris
im curious about more plushies too, like the keeper, simple but recognizable and an armored brown bear thats more stylized plushie than just the usual cutsie teddy, tho u could make both for sarah. id at least 3 plushies. ive got a growing niece, 1 for myself and 2 bffs with toddlers. :D <3
Nathan Quitugua
Is it bad that my mental image of crisis is like that of a sea urchin except with tentacles and 3 mouths clumped together in the middle? And tiny is essentially a giant version of a winged monkey wizard of Oz style except with like almost Samoan style tattoos going up both arms and around the face? As for invidia... think the last artist who envisioned him did a pretty good job based off your sketch
Nathan Quitugua
Considering the fanatical devotions of Crinis who it's based off of...that honestly makes alot of sense. You also get the added benefit of actually seeing the object of your zealotry from time to time if youre lucky. Additionally...im fanning myself right now that you actually replied to my comment :)
RinoZ
If they were a normal organistion they would likely do that, but in their eyes they are enforcing an almost 'divine' command. They are zealots, in other words. If you aren't sleeping right, you are spitting in the face of the Eldest, and don't deserve a warning.
RinoZ
I've been meaning to try and get some plushies done for the longest time. I want one for Anthony, Crinis, Tiny and Invidia, but I'm super hesitant about it. I really need to find the right design
RinoZ
I'm no crime statistics expert, but my thinking was that people being better rested are less likely to lose their tempers and do things they would regret.
Edgar maya
😂😂😂 the sleep police again 👍👍👍
Dustin
I second that, if you make a freaking plush toy of Anthony I would immediately get one. The amount of work you put I to this just makes me happy to have been supporting you. Only thing I'm upset about is that you now create 2 of my favorite stories to read and I have to wait in turn for each lol. Keep up the great work, we will help edit :)
Nathan Quitugua
He raises a good point...I think the sleep police should have something of a "warning" or "ticket" system set in place so that the people know when they are hitting their limit and are going to be abducted soon. Granted I can see Enid's point that she's a grown ass woman and she doesn't need kids telling her she needs her rest...but I think a few generations of living with the sleep police and it would just be a cultural norm in Renewal.
Patrick
6 to 8 inches long, everything fluff to be child friendly and I was thinking more early anthony, then anthony in different stages after. My kids barely year and a half and she loves plushies
Nathan Quitugua
At which stage? Like we talking shiny diamond studded back carapace (rhinestones) and thematically speaking, are we going for a rust colored look or more bright red? Maybe even a grub plushie would be nice. Like im actually considering making one and just trying to envision how it would look/function. Would the legs just be thin and filled with fluff or would we want it to be posable with wires in them? I know the antennae would be that way for sure. The eyes would be a plastic but do I want a fine hex grid painted on them? And how big would the chompers be?
Patrick
Just wanna put it out there...if you happen to partner up with someone to make anthony plush toys I would so get one for my daughter....just saying....
Titaniumtac
Her death will be a hard one to swallow one day
Runaway_Cactuar
Fuck, they get free merch for getting kidnapped? That's so not fair! I want to get kidnapped now lol
Jadedknot
Enid worrying about the orphans, lol. Little does she know.
Crazy Abe
Additionally, Criminals know that they are *ALWAYS* being watched by people that keep track of EXACTLY how much sleep they get. . .and in turn, can quietly report them for any crimes they commit.
Bob
It would at least improve peoples' tempers, which would reduce violence.
Unraveler
So more sleep reduce crime rate somehow?
JaegerMaxim
They get free haircuts AND get to sleep in? Nice
Weaver
Damn, Enid is so wholesome! The Colony will probably have statues of her by Anthony and the Queen, when she will leave them for the Celestial Anthill!
M Afxarr
Good to catch up with Enid and get to hear about the sleep police once more. Not surprising she got nabbed for a nap
jackkiwi
HYPE
