Welcome to the Neighborhood

As the sun streamed into the bedroom, Lisa awoke blinking. “urg my head”, she sat up slowly trying to recall the previous night but couldn’t remember anything after leaving work. She looked round her bedroom, no not her bedroom. It was A BEDROOM, but not one she recognised, it reminded her of a posh hotel bedroom, with a king-sized bed and wall mounted TV. She started to feel more startled and scared as she looked around for clues of what was going on.

After being confident she wouldn’t vomit, Lisa stood up and realised she was wearing Silk pyjamas. Perfectly sized silk pyjamas, which did not belong to her.

“Hello?” Lisa called out not sure what she hoped for but was greeted only by silence. She walked bare footed across the plush carpet. The room was nicely furnished by seemingly no luggage or belongings could be seen, including Lisa’s bag or clothes. As she looked around for any indication of where she was, a booklet on the desk nearby caught her attention.

The cover showed a sunlight suburban street and was titled “welcome brochure for Neighbourhood 42”. Lisa picked it up and thumbed through it quickly without really looking at it.

“What the hell?”

Next to where the booklet had been was a leather binder, with information, a set of keys and a TV remote. Lisa didn’t recognise the keyring, but it looked like a set of house or office keys and a car key.

The whole scenario was just confusing. Lisa feared the worst, but what kind of kidnapper left you alone with car keys? She bent her arm to look at her watch when she first saw the metal band on her wrist, she started suddenly feeling the weight of the matching ones on her other wrist and both ankles. She picked up the remote flicking on the TV hoping to see the news, maybe even of her disappearance and work out the time.

Instead, the TV tuned to the welcome channel and an overly chipper female voice intoned in the overly calm voice over the top of a montage of scenic neighbourhoods and happy people.

“Welcome resident, to the neighbourhood. Please do not be alarmed. You have been **** to serve in power stations the great Graalq empire. The human race still utilises primitive chemical and nuclear fuel to generate energy, but thanks to innovations by glorious scientists working for our glorious Graalq overlords, we have a new and better source of energy. Emotions. By creating a heightened emotional state in individuals we can harvest the energy via the surgically implanted neural interface to power the Graalq way of life. The neighbourhood you are placed in is one such power plant, the house you are in will be your primary residence and you may use any of the facilities. The welcome back and booklet will further expand and highlight the rules of your neighbourhood.

So once again. On behalf of the Graalq. Welcome”

As the video ended the screen changed to shots of space before the welcome message started back up again.

“What the actual fuck was that?!” Lisa said. Once again, she picked up the booklet this time paying more attention. A picture caught her eye, a small grey metal disk maybe the size of a 10p on the back on a woman’s neck. With trembling fingers she reached behind her and felt her own neck. There just below her hair line she could feel a disk.

She put the booklet down and picked up the leather binder.

RULES

Although you will be well looked after you will be faced with scenarios designed to create heightened emotional states for energy production. Although all emotions are useful, the most productive are negative states. Specifically embarrassment.

The neighbourhood consist of 153 individuals both male and female from a variety of socioeconomic backgrounds and countries, to allow for the widest array of harvest scenarios.

You have full ownership of the house you awoke in, along with the car in the garage and any other goods inside the house.

Most other rules, laws, and system of government you may create amongst yourself.

The harvest implant will function as a translator as required.

The bracelets can be remote operated to restrain you if required.

Noncompliance will not be tolerated.

After an analysis of your life, it is recommended that you continue with your previous job as a law enforcement official while in the neighbourhood.

After you have settled temporary transfer to other neighbourhoods for trips and recreation can be arranged.

“The is just getting weirder and weirder” Lisa went to the window, throwing open the curtain. Lisa realised she wasn’t in a hotel but instead just in a house. On a street. The street looked like a set straight out of an American TV show, large houses and white Pickett fences. None of this could be real surely.

Lisa decided she should go outside and explore maybe work out what was going on see if there was anyone about that could explain things. After a glance around she saw a door that looked like it might lead to a walk in closet. She opened it gingerly, not quite sure what would greet her inside. “ooo”.

There inside the large walk in closer, bigger than her bedroom at home hung her WPC uniform and nothing else. The emptiness surprised her more than anything. After a second staring she figured she should put it on. Better than going outside as she was.

Lisa looked around trying to see what else there was to wear, but all she could find was her uniform; A Black skirt, the white shirt with the checkered epaulettes, the tie, her hat and jacket. She continued searching for some underwear, and shoes to go with it. Normally, he would wear a comfortable bra and underwear, tights and flat black shoes. But here all there was, was a semi sheer black G-string that looked like it could double as dental floss, a lacy black and white checkered push up bra obviously designed to be more sexy than supportive, some stocking and a suspender belt. And black 3 inch heels. The only saving grace was at least the heels weren’t too narrow Lisa was confident she’d be able to walk in them.

Although the uniform was her, albeit freshly laundered and pressed. She had never seen the rest of the clothing in her life. She never wore thongs, the bra looked ridiculous, and she hated stockings and heels, but seeing no other choice she quickly dressed, picked up the keys on the desk and walked outside to get her first proper view of neighbourhood 42.