The Hive
Page 30
#HasCassieSurfacedYet? the screen asked. The mob howled. The bloodlust and repudiation made Cassie’s stomach curdle.
The word “NOW” exploded onto the screen. The mob screamed itself raw.
And then:
Cassie McKinney appeared on-screen. Helpfully, in case anyone didn’t already know her face, a chyron read “@CassieMcK39” and “LIVE WEBCAST.”
She sat in front of a haphazardly hung white sheet; a clichéd way to hide clues to her location, and a compelling visual that brought to mind hostages, terrorists, victims. Shot from the waist up, Cassie wore a denim jacket, buttoned halfway, with a green T-shirt underneath. The damage to her hair, hacked into ribbons and patches, was mitigated by a bandana tied around her head. She wore no makeup. A constellation of bruises dotted her left cheek and chin.
Out in the mob, a hush, as more than one person remembered: “Jesus H. Christ. She’s a kid.”
On the screen, Cassie gazed into the camera levelly for several silent, excruciating seconds. Despite her disheveled appearance, her eyes were clear. Focused. Then she licked her raw, chapped lips.
“You know,” she said conversationally, as though speaking to only one person and not the furious crowd of Hivers ready to rend her limb from limb, given the chance. “You know, in retrospect, I guess it was sort of a tasteless joke.”
She shrugged one shoulder.
Then: “Sorry.”
The screen flashed once and then returned to black.
*
#HiveAlert: #CassieMcKinney just hacked into every billboard in the city. HOW IS THAT BITCH STILL ALIVE? #HiveMob
Omg if you’re wondering if #HasCassieSurfacedYet? look outside your windows.
Breaking news: Level 6 perpetrator #CassieMcKinney has seized control of streaming billboards. “In retrospect it was a tasteless joke,” she says. #HasCassieSurfacedYet?
Y’all Hivers in #CassieMcKinney’s city are terrible at this. Bring the girl down South and we’ll #KillOnSight like the patriots we are. #SouthernersDoItBetter
I mean, she admitted it and apologized. Are we done yet? This whole Cassie thing has gone on wayyyyyyy too long. #DoPeopleReallyStillCareIfCassieHasSurfacedYet?
She barely said sorry. Not buying it. Nooooope. We should still #KillOnSight, right?
Hey @elisa917sunshine, doesn’t #CassieMcKinney kind of look like your fifth-grade class photo in her streaming vid? LOL
BLINQ ALERT: #CassieMcKinney remains at Level 6.
Why is the BLINQ feed reminding us Cassie is a Level sixer? Did they think we’d forget? Fishy.
@Animalsounds20913847 do you know why they just said that? Should we be concerned? #KeepCassieAt6
Guys, rumor has it the govt is going to downgrade #CassieMcKinney, pass it along, they can’t do that. #KeepCassieAt6
Honestly I’m kinda bored by the Cassie story now. Let’s downgrade her Level and move on already. #ImOverIt
I swear if the government cancels her Hive conviction we should riot in the streets. They can’t take this power away from us. #HiveJusticeIsTheBestJustice
The government gave us the power of the Hive. They can take it back. It’s not, like, written into the Bill of Rights or anything. #LawStudent
Weird that #CassieMcKinney looks so much younger in real life than she did in her BLINQ photos. Was someone Photoshopping to make her look older, more guilty? #ThingsThatMakeYouGoHmmmm
Ask yourselves: How does a Level 6 perp evade #TheHive for this long AND manage to hack into government-controlled databases? The is coming from inside the house, #sheeple. Wake up! #HasCassieSurfacedYet?
I seriously cannot believe no one has killed #CassieMcKinney yet, ya girl is like a ninja. Makes me kinda respect her now.
Consider this: What is an apology, anyway? If the regret is there, do we need her to fall on her sword? She said “Sorry.” Is that enough? What else does Cassie McKinney owe us?
Idea: #LeaveCassieAlone since she apologized and, like, that’s what she needed to do, right?
I will chase Cassie McKinney for the rest of my life if she gets downgraded. IT’S NOT FAIR. #PowerToThePeople
Maybe if someone’s been able to outrun a #HiveMob for this long, we should just let her go? Should we #LeaveCassieAlone?
R u kidding me???? One word??? She says ONE WORD & every1 is all #LeaveCassieAlone?
What else do you want her to say? You want her to dissect every word? It was a dumb joke and she said sorry. Get a fucking life. #LeaveCassieAlone
Gotta give it to #CassieMcKinney, she just issued a master apology in less than a dozen words. I know some politicians who should take lessons from her!
That shrug tho! WTF? #Level64Ever
Uh, “that shrug” was like saying, “Yeah, OK, I’ll apologize.” What stream were YOU watching? #LeaveCassieAlone
Can’t believe #CassieMcKinney just hacked into the ad system LOL. Girl’s got bigger balls than POTUS. #TooSoon?
#BLINQReaderPoll4390: Who thinks we should #LeaveCassieAlone? Vote: bl.inq/poll4390
ENTERTAINMENT NEWS ALERT: Level 6 perpetrator #CassieMcKinney spotted with fresh new haircut; issues apology. We’re live with crowd reactions at the top of the hour!
I just voted NO in #BLINQReaderPoll4390, join me: #LeaveCassieAlone? Vote: bl.inq/poll4390
While you’re all distracted by #CassieMcKinney’s apology, remember that POTUS just announced coalition for new drilling in protected Indigenous land in Canada. Sign the petition here: li.nk/pet.itionly754
It’s kinda weird that first we all wanted Cassie alive and then we all wanted her dead and now I have no idea what I want. Someone tell me what I want! #LeaveCassieAlone #KeepCassieAt6
I just voted YES in #BLINQReaderPoll4390, join me: #LeaveCassieAlone? Vote: bl.inq/poll4390
Just catching up on the #CassieMcKinney apology now. Damn, I forgot she’s just a kid. #LeaveCassieAlone
I just voted YES in #BLINQReaderPoll4390, join me: #LeaveCassieAlone? Vote: bl.inq/poll4390
I just voted YES in #BLINQReaderPoll4390, join me: #LeaveCassieAlone? Vote: bl.inq/poll4390
#HiveAlert: Level 1 Justice happening rn over in Capital Park, join me for the fun!
I just voted NO in #BLINQReaderPoll4390, join me: #LeaveCassieAlone? Vote: bl.inq/poll4390
I just voted YES in #BLINQReaderPoll4390, join me: #LeaveCassieAlone? Vote: bl.inq/poll4390
I just voted YES in #BLINQReaderPoll4390, join me: #LeaveCassieAlone? Vote: bl.inq/poll4390
I just voted YES in #BLINQReaderPoll4390, join me: #LeaveCassieAlone? Vote: bl.inq/poll4390
This whole thing is really showing me how weird Hive Justice can be. Anyone else? #IsThisTheWorldWeWantToLiveIn?
*
Livestream from the White House Press Briefing Room (In Progress)
Dean Hythe, President of the United States:
“I’m not going to answer that question. No. It’s a bad question, very bad. Look back at the beginning. I never said I wanted this girl to die. And now she won’t. I don’t … There’s nothing to talk about. She’s fine. And the baby is doing great, by the way. You notice how no one is asking about my daughter and my grandson? Very suspicious.
“I’m going to bring — get her in here — I’m going to bring Alexandra Pastor up here. And let her explain all of this to you. Because clearly you all need some explaining.”
“Mr. President, as always, it’s such a pleasure to be here, to speak to your great policies and plans for this great nation of ours. Thank you so much.
“Isn’t this an exciting day? We’re witnessing a first: a Hive Justice reversal. We always thought that this might happen, but we never anticipated it would happen in such dramatic fashion.
“Approximately thirty-eight hours ago, Cassie McKinney livestreamed an apology for the actions that led to her assignment of Level 6. We obser
ved a shift in online discourse roughly ten minutes after the apology, which immediately went viral and soon had penetration into most social media streams, including Facebook, Guessom, YouTube and, of course, BLINQ.
“The livestream itself was propagated across multiple platforms, but BLINQ did as it was designed to do and aggregated responses. What was most interesting, we found, was that people who had not originally voted on the initial Cassie McKinney post went back and voted on it after the fact, Liking it as a way of showing acceptance of her apology. Currently, the new Likes have offset enough Condemns that Ms. McKinney is at Level 3, and we project she will bottom out at Level 2 or even Level 1 within the next forty-eight hours.
“Of course, I’m sure you’re wondering, did we anticipate something like this? Is this how Hive Justice is supposed to work? Does this mitigate the effectiveness of Hive Justice? Won’t people simply apologize publicly and beat the rap?
“Well, we believe that the Hive will now take such an idea into account during the initial judgment period. Individuals will Condemn based not just on what was done but also based on their willingness to accept an apology.
“As to whether or not this is how the system was designed: of course it was. Ms. McKinney’s apology went viral fast enough that it triggered an exoneration protocol. Most Hive matters are local and action is swift — there isn’t enough time for a change of heart on the part of the Hive, and so the exoneration protocol never kicks in. This case was different.
“Think of it this way: the initial ramp-up of Condemns was the trial and verdict. Then came the sentencing … and the court was lenient. It’s an imperfect metaphor but one that I’ve found helpful as I think over these events. Or, if you want, think of Cassie McKinney’s new status as probation. Certainly the country will be watching her from now on, and she may not be so lucky next time.
“The motto of BLINQ is Trend Positive! We encourage all of our citizen-users to take that motto to heart. And thirty-eight hours ago, Cassie McKinney gave them the opportunity to do just that.
“We’re witnessing the birth of something unique — not merely an artificial intelligence, but a mass intelligence, one that can do more than simply process information and respond intelligently but that is also developing its own morality.
“Isn’t it amazing?”
100103100101
Something broke inside Cassie, some vital thing that had kept her adrenaline pumping for all these days. She felt it — snap! — and then, in its absence, a release. A warmth. Carson’s bedroom looked brighter, like the sun had somehow angled its way around the blackout curtains, coating his gray walls with twinkling lights.
She could see it now: a future. A life. Her life, returning. Her body tingled.
“Am I hallucinating this?” she whispered. The president’s face, spackled with a sour expression as he stood behind Alexandra; Alexandra herself, looking taller than she did in person; her name flashing across the chyron: “Breaking News: Cassie McKinney, first Level 6 perpetrator in history, currently at Level 3.”
Carson spun his chair around. “Some damn fine drugs if you are, because I’m seeing the same thing.”
The tingling in Cassie’s body changed, converting into a weakness so sudden and overwhelming that she collapsed onto the nearest soft landing — Carson’s bed, the blankets still rumpled from her sleep.
“Hey,” he went on, “have you noticed that Gorfinkle guy is nowhere to be seen? It’s the Pastor Show, and he’s not —”
“Oh, my God,” she breathed, not caring about Gorfinkle or much of anything else, really. The walls began to wobble, and she pressed her eyelids, trying to get them to stay still, to make the room stop spinning. “Is it really hot in here or is it me?”
“Put your head between your knees,” Carson instructed, jumping over to a kneeling position next to her, placing one hand on Cassie’s shoulder. “You’re going to faint, and you do not want me responsible for administering first aid. I don’t even know how to put on a bandage.”
Cassie bent over, resting her forehead against her thighs, counting her breaths. In, out. Life, death. In, out. Life, death.
Carson’s hand was still on her shoulder. “You OK, McKinney?”
She nodded.
“Good. Woulda sucked if you’d kicked it right when they announced you’re a free woman.”
She snorted through her knees, which unleashed a guffaw that set the room on fire. Carson joined her and together they crouched next to each other, half on the bed, half on the floor, laughing so hard that Cassie’s throat started to hurt.
“From Level 6 to Level 2. Or even 1.” Carson heaved, his shoulders shaking from the laughter, his words barely decipherable. “That’s so fucking ridiculous, I can’t even.”
“Five minutes ago, I was a dead woman!” Cassie could barely get the words out.
“Now you’ll just have to wear some kind of stupid sign for a day, or some shit like that.” Carson rolled back on his heels. Cassie liked his laugh — almost maniacal, incongruous with his easygoing vibe. It opened up his whole face.
“I’ll take it!” Cassie cried gleefully. “I’ll take it,” she repeated, this time to herself.
And then her laugh got twisted up on its way out of her throat, and she choked. She was suddenly, unexpectedly, crying. Sobbing. The tears flowed fast and loose, like they had been waiting for permission to escape, and now they couldn’t stop.
“Oh, Cass,” Carson said, his voice now serious. He rubbed her shoulder. “Let it out. Let it out.”
Like she had a say in the matter. Every molecule in her body was crying. Even her fingernails had tears. Carson’s hand, warm and steady, ran circles over her shoulders, her back. On Carson’s computer, the livestream had switched over to a group of newsheads talking about the groundbreaking change to Cassie McKinney’s Hive status.
“Unprecedented, from the first second to the last,” one of them was saying, and the words reverberated in Cassie’s head. “We’ll be studying this in history books.”
A fresh wail broke from Cassie. History. Rachel. Someone had to have told her mom, right?
She gripped Carson’s wrists. “We have to find my mom.”
“Already on it.” Carson’s voice was quiet, serious. He looked intently into Cassie’s eyes. “I pinged the local news. Your mom will be released any second now, if she hasn’t been already — the DA is dropping the charges. We should probably wait a couple of hours, maybe even a day. Let things settle down. Who knows, there might be some groups protesting the reversal.”
Cassie nodded, her convulsions subsiding. Soon she’d be home. Home, with her mom. The thought was … dizzying.
Carson was studying her again. She hiccuped, catching her breath. “What?”
“Nada. Just … goddamn, you’re a really ugly crier.”
“Carson!” She grabbed his shoulders, intending to push him away, but his hands found hers and he held her steady, their eyes locked.
“Seriously. You’re gonna be OK, McKinney. Do you believe me?”
She nodded once, afraid to move too much, to burst the moment into pieces when all she wanted was to stay in it, keep it shiny and whole and revel in its possibilities.
“Good.” He nodded once, too.
She held on to his hands, even though there was no real need to. But he was, Cassie noticed, holding on to hers, too.
Well, good. Because she didn’t plan on letting go anytime soon.
100103200101
The sun was setting reluctantly, sending wavy plumes of tropical colors over the sky, as if to remind everyone who was in charge. Cassie tried to commit them to memory, pinks and oranges and faint purples, before they disappeared. She was learning how fragile things could be.
Carson escorted her, his arm tightly locked around her shoulders, as if he could protect her from any Hiver who might notice her, not like tha
t she’d reverted to Level 1. He’d even insisted she wear a hat, but Cassie didn’t think anyone was going to try anything. Not now. Everyone had moved on. Rowan, in her way, was right.
She didn’t have her phone, of course, so the apartment’s smart lock couldn’t see her. Cassie had to knock. She stood at her own front door, waiting for it to open, and marveled at the anxiety boiling away at her insides. A horrible thought occurred to her: Would Rachel be pissed? Angry that she’d risked so much, that Cassie had started all of this? Would she glare at Cassie and say, “I told you so?” Would she —
The door opened.
Cassie’s eyes widened in surprise. It was Bryce. In her house. With her mother.
He quickly looked around Cassie and Carson, up and down the hallway. “Just checking,” he said before ushering them in.
The apartment was a wreck. Furniture was smashed. The sofa had been cut open. There were holes cut in the walls. The whole place had been tossed — thoroughly — and yet Cassie thought their cramped, cheap apartment had never looked so homey or so welcoming. Carson smartly stepped aside just in time, and when Rachel leaped toward her, arms outstretched, nearly knocking her over, she let herself get caught up in the riptide.
“Cassie!” Rachel cried.
“Mom,” Cassie whispered, melting into the embrace, her knees buckling. Her mom held her up until she found the strength to stand again.
“Oh, my God, my girl.” Rachel’s voice, muffled against Cassie’s cheek, was hoarse from crying. “You’re OK. You’re OK. You’re OK, right?”
She pulled back, holding Cassie’s cheeks, turning her head this way and that, examining every angle of her face. She touched one of Cassie’s bruises, the purple one in full bloom on her chin.
“I’m OK,” Cassie said, smiling through her tears. She sniffled, suddenly embarrassed. Carson and Bryce had tried to give them some space, but the small living room didn’t offer much in the way of it, and they stood awkwardly to the side, Carson pretending to check the scene out the window, and Bryce discovering a sudden interest in the couch pillows, which he was inexplicably picking up, fluffing, putting down and then repeating.