Literary Lion – Watcher
Here’s my story for Laura’s Literary Lion challenge. This week Mr Lion has supplied the prompt word “eye“.
Marcus settled back into his chair after one of his infrequent visits to the kitchen. This is where he felt at home, felt alive. Banks of monitors stared back at him, each showing a different scene.
Here a road, there a bedroom, on another scenes from corporate CCTV flashed past – an office, a stairwell, employees catching a sneaky smoke on the roof…
Some men had armies to enforce their will. Others knew the human psyche so intimately they were able to manipulate people into doing almost anything. Marcus had his monitors. His window on the world. Knowledge was power. And he knew everything.
Within his peer group he was known as “The Eye”. He was at the top of the pyramid. He knew everything worth knowing. And he used it to his advantage, regardless of the harm he caused to people’s lives.
A scene on one monitor caught his eye. Wasn’t that… yes! A middle-tier government minister. Not so high as to cause him problems but high enough to have a reputation to protect. And the lady he’d just entered the hotel room with? She was at least a nine, maybe nine point five (Marcus had no trouble objectifying women, and it would come as no surprise to learn that he’d never had a meaningful conversation with one). The minister was married. To someone else.
Fingers flickering over his keyboard, Marcus activated the webcam on the laptop in the hotel bedroom and began taking screenshots. He’d get a pretty penny for this, maybe buy himself a new server. Who would pay more for these pictures, he wondered? The minister to keep it quiet, or his wife for leverage in a divorce? Life was good!
Unseen in the corner of his room, a tiny lens watched his every move, streaming images back to base.
There’s always a bigger fish.
Very soon, Marcus is going to learn this. Because actions have consequences, and Marcus’s cosy little life is about to change in unexpected and unfortunate ways.
Is Marcus a journalist by any chance?! 😉
LikeLike
Heh heh 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Watching the watcher.
LikeLike
Someone needs to!
LikeLiked by 1 person
True, keep them in check.
LikeLike
There is always a bigger fish. 😉
LikeLike
Hee 🙂
LikeLike
Who watches the Watchmen? 😀
LikeLike
I’ve watched Watchmen several times, so me I guess 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Mwahahahaha!
LikeLike
🙂
LikeLike
I can’t leave a candid comment because someone is watching me….
LikeLike
More than one person, probably. And your cat.
LikeLike
That would be cats plural. I’m really in trouble!
LikeLike
😦
LikeLike
Yes, there’s always a bigger fish. I’d say, “Poor Marcus.” but who can feel sorry for a slimy guy like that. Well told, Ali. 🙂
LikeLike
I added a couple of extra bits to make sure nobody felt sorry for slimeball Marcus 🙂 I’m glad you liked it!
LikeLike
This sounds like one of Rod Serling’s introductions to a “Twilight Zone” episode!
LikeLike
It did end in that way, didn’t it?!
LikeLike
Marcus is about to get harpooned! ❤
LikeLike
Yeah, big time! Couldn’t happen to a nicer person 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
That end! Bigger Fish everywhere.
This post reminded me of the recent hackers group which attacked sony. I can’t remember their name
LikeLike
One wonders sometimes who’s actually at the top.
I think that one was the Lizard Squad.
LikeLiked by 1 person
“He knew everything worth knowing. And he used it to his advantage, regardless of the harm he caused to people’s lives.” how sad that there are people like this in the real world- not just the fictional. Enjoyed!!!
LikeLike
There are far too many people like that around the world. I’m glad you liked it!
LikeLiked by 1 person