Home > Fiction > FF – See No Evil

FF – See No Evil

Here is my story for Friday Fictioneers, hosted by Rochelle. This week’s photo was contributed by Roger Bultot.

For the other stories, click on the froggy!


I’m off to the cinema this evening to see Spiderman, hence the early posting of my story. I thought I’d use some of my lunch break to write this, rather than rush this evening 🙂

Copyright Roger Bultot

 

See no evil.

That was the central tenet. Nobody wanted to know. Nobody cared. It was the law. THEY enforced it.

When Samuel saw thugs beating up a boy, he couldn’t look the other way.

He knew it was wrong. He knew he shouldn’t. But he did it anyway. He shouted at them.

They abandoned their attack and fled.

Maybe he would be lucky? Maybe THEY hadn’t noticed?

A creaking disabused him. The hands on the Watcher opened. It looked at him.

He headed home. Maybe he would have time to say goodbye to his wife before THEY came for him.

 

  1. July 17, 2019 at 11:53 am

    I didn’t understand why this dystopian state would be in favour of street violence

    Like

    • July 18, 2019 at 6:41 am

      Me neither. They’re evidently a nasty bunch.

      Like

    • July 18, 2019 at 4:18 pm

      People who get involved are people who care. They argue and campaign politically and aren’t just good little consumers…

      Liked by 1 person

  2. July 17, 2019 at 12:01 pm

    A good, well-written story, Ali. THEY don’t play around, do they? What a nasty bunch. It sounds like A1’s who dislike humans. Let’s hope a group like that never takes over. Or maybe a group of humans can come together and rip out THEYS’ chips or just turn them off somewhere. Humans need to find controls for them.

    Like

    • July 18, 2019 at 6:41 am

      It could well be AIs. Messing with us as part of an experiment 😦

      Liked by 1 person

  3. July 17, 2019 at 12:38 pm

    So let me get this straight….

    1. Looking at evil things is wrong, and is punished in this society.

    2. Thus, looking at evil is itself evil.

    3. The watcher is watching the protagonist watch evil.

    4. Ergo, the watcher should be punished as well.

    I’m sure they’re coming for me next anyway…

    Liked by 6 people

    • July 17, 2019 at 1:15 pm

      Surely not the looking that was wrong, but the getting involved?

      Liked by 1 person

    • July 18, 2019 at 6:47 am

      Yeah, you really shouldn’t have read this story. THEY noticed…

      Like

  4. July 17, 2019 at 1:14 pm

    Dystopian and depressing.
    Nicely done.

    Liked by 1 person

  5. July 17, 2019 at 1:18 pm

    The future is now! Which is why I wear a different disguise when I go out. 🙂

    Like

  6. July 17, 2019 at 3:28 pm

    Very, very clever, and very frightening.
    Why didn’t he video it like everyone else?

    Like

  7. July 17, 2019 at 6:13 pm

    That could explain a lot about the modern world, maybe we are supposed to just start looking the other way and ignoring all the wrong we see…

    Liked by 1 person

    • July 18, 2019 at 6:59 am

      We’ll all become little islands, uncaring about everything else.

      Liked by 1 person

  8. July 17, 2019 at 6:47 pm

    How strange and creepy-orwellian. If this were an opening page, i would read on to find out why.

    Liked by 2 people

    • July 18, 2019 at 7:02 am

      I expect the next page begins “It began innocently enough. During the latter half of the 21st century…” 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  9. July 17, 2019 at 6:50 pm

    Dear Ali,

    That’s a pretty stiff penalty for speaking out against wrong. Very disturbing story and very well done.

    Shalom,

    Rochelle

    Like

    • July 18, 2019 at 7:05 am

      Dear Rochelle,
      Yes, something has gone horribly wrong with this society. I’m glad you liked it!
      Ali

      Like

  10. July 17, 2019 at 6:53 pm

    Oh, I like this very much. Damned if you do, damned if you don’t.

    Like

    • July 18, 2019 at 7:10 am

      Yep. What a society to live in…
      I’m glad you liked it!

      Like

  11. July 17, 2019 at 7:51 pm

    While it’s not a world I would like to inhabit, I like this dark dystopian world you’ve crafted here. It’s not even that far from reality. I’ve heard of people getting sued for trying to assist someone in need. This is where that kind of thinking will lead us. Well done!

    Like

    • July 18, 2019 at 7:16 am

      I have too – try a bit of CPR, save a life but break a rib and you get sued. Madness. Let’s hope it never gets to this point…
      I’m glad you liked it!

      Liked by 1 person

  12. bearmkwa
    July 17, 2019 at 8:14 pm

    Ohhh, that one was scary! Great write!

    Like

  13. July 17, 2019 at 10:19 pm

    Christ that is terrifying, the watcher is a really sinister idea, chilling stuff

    Like

    • July 18, 2019 at 7:25 am

      I’m imagining these things all over the country, silently watching for any transgression…

      Liked by 1 person

  14. July 18, 2019 at 12:48 am

    What an awful world this is. We need Bruce Willis or maybe someone younger to come in and save this horrid world.

    Like

    • July 18, 2019 at 7:36 am

      Hey, don’t be counting Bruce out of the fight just yet 🙂
      I’m glad you liked it!

      Like

  15. July 18, 2019 at 2:14 am

    Machine overlords that expect unwavering obedience or else. My worst nightmare! It has the feel of Atwood’s The Handmaiden book/series about it. Good writing, Ali.

    Like

    • July 18, 2019 at 7:39 am

      It’s certainly a world gone horribly wrong. AIs run amok would certainly be a plausible explanation. I’m glad you liked it!

      Liked by 1 person

  16. July 18, 2019 at 4:27 am

    A man with conscience, Samuel was a good man.

    Like

    • July 18, 2019 at 7:42 am

      He was, but it did him no good, sadly.

      Like

  17. July 18, 2019 at 4:42 am

    i think it’s time for spiderman to come for the rescue. 🙂

    Like

    • July 18, 2019 at 7:45 am

      Ha, coincidentally I watched the new Spider-man last night 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  18. gahlearner
    July 18, 2019 at 9:57 am

    This gives me chills. The concept of the statue as a watcher is brilliant. We’re frighteningly close to that in many places where we thought it could never happen.

    Like

  19. July 18, 2019 at 12:16 pm

    A very well written dystopian tale of an upside-down crazy world. And, the statue opening its hands to reveal the Watcher was brilliant.

    Liked by 1 person

    • July 18, 2019 at 6:47 pm

      And pretty scary to see too, I bet! I’m glad you liked it 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  20. July 18, 2019 at 4:45 pm

    That’s horribly dystopian and altogether too plausible. Well written, Ali!

    Like

    • July 18, 2019 at 6:47 pm

      I reckon we’re not a million miles away. I’m glad you liked it!

      Like

  21. July 18, 2019 at 10:45 pm

    Enjoyed! I saw the hands opening to ‘see’ him. Not my kinda world!

    Like

  22. July 19, 2019 at 3:53 pm

    The price for doing the right thing.

    Like

  23. July 19, 2019 at 9:42 pm

    Well, this is not a world I care to live in. This is very depressing.

    Like

  24. July 20, 2019 at 9:06 am

    Oof, that’s an uncomfortable place to be. But not far removed from reality.
    (Hope spiderman was worth it.)

    Like

    • July 21, 2019 at 5:18 am

      Not far enough removed I reckon.
      (Yes it was!)

      Like

  25. July 20, 2019 at 3:28 pm

    Very creepy! Hopefully it’s not a glimpse into our future. It already seems like there are things THEY don’t want us to notice. 😬

    Like

  26. July 21, 2019 at 7:47 pm

    People being punished for speaking out against evil is not that far-fetched… unfortunately. Good one, Ali.

    Like

  27. July 28, 2019 at 12:06 pm

    Covering evil is not that dystopian when you think about it 😦

    Like

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