Here's a story I just started writing. I haven't finished chapter 2 yet, but I'll post it when it's done.

Chapter One: The Letter
Had you looked in the Casey home at any other time, you would have seen a fine family: Husband and wife, child on the way, a cat. The house was well-furnished, nice furniture; all the computer systems were top of the line. The house was pleasant enough to look at, though it was rather plain and faceless, like all the other houses on the block. But today, things were different.
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Laura Casey sat at the table in the kitchen, sipping at a cup of tea. Machinery clicked and hummed quietly in the back round like always. The family cat mewed and coiled itself around her legs a couple of times, hoping for a handout. The day had been benign. George had got up and gone to work like always. The baby hadn’t squirmed that much today, but that wasn’t unusual. It had been quiet so far during the 7 months she had been pregnant. She had kissed George goodbye, acting as though there was nothing wrong. Part of her told her that nothing was wrong, and she needn’t be worried. But the other part (the slightly larger part) told her that something was wrong. She felt like something was going to happen to George today. But she had kept quiet. He had been gone for about two hours, and he would get off in another four. Laura had made herself a cup of tea, hoping that it would soothe her nerves (she had added mint leaves today. She had wanted everything with mint in it lately, for some reason.). Off in the living room, the cool robotic voice of the computer system, sounding somehow distant and faraway (why is it so far away?) said: Incoming mail. Laura went into the living room, suddenly dreading something she could not explain. The part of her mind that had dreading for George since that morning spoke up. It’s bad news about George, I just know it! it told her. With a shaking hand, she pressed the playback button.

To the Family of George Casey
I am afraid that George Casey has been summoned to the Montgomery Institution. As you may or may not know, people are being summoned to work for MI. George Casey has recently been laid off at his place of business, and as such, he is free to do work with us. He will be taken to the MI station in your city, and will work there for the next 6 months.
Hoping you are well,
Amanda Williams, Senior Manager

A wave of cold washed over Laura, then hot, then cold again. She felt sick, and she was falling, falling, falling. She actually did fall to the ground, and she sat there for some time, the shock settling in, bags in hand. Hey all! We’re here for a nice long stay. We’ve brought anxiety with us; maybe it’ll induce early labor! She sat there, the words of the notice ringing in her ears. I am afraid…summoned… Montgomery Institution…recently laid off….free to work….will be taken…MI station….work there… 6 months…. The tears came. It seemed that they would never stop. She cried until her eyes were dry, and she kept sobbing. The weight of this news that had just reached her ears was almost too much to bear. He would be gone for 6 months…. He would miss the birth of their child, and would be gone for 4 months of its life. But even worse, people who went to the Montgomery Institution rarely returned.

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