Cam and I didn’t talk about the phone, and we didn’t say anything to Diaz about Dan Driver. How could we, without busting ourselves? Instead, we went about our final driving class with the other recruits. Our final exam took the form of a 2-mile driving course that tested the skills we’d been working to master over the previous month.
Díaz timed us as we demonstrated accelerating and braking around corners and on wet surfaces, maneuvering between randomly appearing obstacles at high speeds, and tailing a “suspect” vehicle. I’d always been good at the course, but today, I was exceptional. It was as if I knew exactly where the obstacles were and could apply the brakes exactly at the moment I needed to. The entire 2-mile course took me only 3.5 minutes, and I had managed to avoid all cone strikes, earning a perfect 100 points, something I’d never done before. In fact, no one had.
At the end of the day, we were bused back to the main campus and let out for the weekend. When we’d first arrived, Cam and I had driven separately, in case one of us was dismissed before the other. I sat quietly in my car, watching as the other recruits drove away.
The phone in my pocket vibrated again, drawing my attention to the object I had put off looking at since the bus ride to EVOC. I breathed in deeply and pulled the phone out of my pocket, only to be greeted with a series of chat messages.
System: Welcome, Max.
System: The River flows, and your service continues.
System: Dispatcher assigned…
fourth_wall: Welcome to the party.
fourth_wall: You have two hours to respond. You’re testing my patience.
fourth_wall: You have one hour to respond, Endr. I’m not fucking around.
The last message had come in over 30 minutes ago. There was no way this was real…was there? I wondered what would happen if I didn’t respond. When I clicked the notification, the message took me to the last screen of the Endr app, the Dispatcher tab. There, I saw each of the original chat messages from fourth_wall that I hadn’t received notifications for.
The various screens, in order, were: Dashboard, Active Fare, License Status, and Dispatcher. The Dashboard tab showed that my Endr Status was Yellow and that I had a D1 License. Under “Active Fare,” it read “No active fare assigned. Request a new assignment from dispatch.” Under that, my current vehicle was listed as a Chevy Chevelle, even though I was sitting in a Honda Accord. Weird.
Clicking through the various other screens, I saw that “No active Fare” was listed in the “Active Fare” screen. The License Status screen repeated my status (a Yellow D1 license) and allowed me to equip upgrades for my car. It was a strange app. I didn’t quite understand what I would use it for, but it was very clear that the dispatcher didn’t appreciate my lack of response. I wondered if that was why I had Yellow status?
Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.
I decided to send a message to fourth_wall so they knew I wasn’t ignoring them before I left the compound.
Max: Hello?
A few seconds went by, and the following message came in:
fourth_wall: I see you can use your thumbs for something other than butt plugs.
Max: What?
fourth_wall: Let’s not get ahead of ourselves. Nice job on choosing a handle, btw. I see creativity isn’t your strong suit. I refuse to first name you.
Max: Who are you?
fourth_wall: Okay then, let’s try again… Maximus Ryder. 23 years old. From Somerville. That will work out quite nicely. Your location shows you between Devens and New Braintree, meaning you’re a State Police recruit candidate.
Max: How did you know my name? Did you talk to Dan Driver?
fourth_wall: I want you to remember something for all of our future conversations… I know everything about you, Somerville. The Elysium Pro has built-in biometrics and a camera. In addition, I can obviously see your location.
Max: Do I work for you?
fourth_wall: Yes and no, but let me start from the beginning… You are now an Endr working for the Bureau of Afterlife Dispatch. I am a dispatcher for this geographic area, serving the same organization. It is my job to offer you fares via this app that support the organization's overall well-being. Are you good so far?
Max: Dan mentioned his fares. Is what he told me true? Do Endrs really run people over?
fourth_wall: Dan should have never told you about his position inside the Bureau. Is there anyone else who knows about this App and about our organization?
My heart sank as I thought about Cam. He had been there for the initial conversation with Dan and in the back of the cab when I had first logged in. I did my best to reel in my worry, as I remembered I was now on camera.
Max: No.
fourth_wall: Excellent. Then there’s nothing to worry about. As an Endr, you are entitled to all the benefits that people working for the Bureau receive. You are now aphthartic and amaranthine. You are, however, not autarkic.
Max: What the hell does that mean?
fourth_wall: It obviously doesn’t mean that you are any wiser. Aphthartic means your body is stronger and immune to sickness and disease. Amaranthine means you do not age.
Max: …and autarkic?
fourth_wall: It means that, unfortunately for you (but fortunately for us), you need to consume something to survive.
Max: And that is???
fourth_wall: Souls, Somerville. Spirits. Whatever you want to call them.
Max: I need to eat people’s souls?
fourth_wall: Don’t be so dramatic. You need to accept the fares that I offer you and help the target souls reach their destinations.
Max: Like to the afterlife?
fourth_wall: No, that is a Reaper’s job. Your job is to “run them over,” as you eloquently put it. Your vehicle has special equipment that transports each fare’s essence into another realm.
Max: That makes no sense.
fourth_wall: Neither does the universe, but such is your life now. After you accept a fare, any vehicle you drive will transform into a vehicle that your license level affords. You can also activate certain vehicle upgrades, depending on your level of experience. Currently, your license is D1, but I can help you with that.
Immediately, my license status turned green, and a pop-up message blocked my view of the Dispatcher tab.
New Fare Assigned!
Target: John Bailey
Profession: Website Moderator
Location: Springfield, Massachusetts
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