BlueUnon Vol. 1

Mona stared out the window, with vacancy, at the Florida sun softly kissing the orange tree in the yard with its warm rays. A sign of health and freedom that would soon come to pass as her boyfriend walked into the kitchen in blue coveralls.

He kissed Mona on the forehead as he asked, “Do you think you’re ready?”

“As ready as I’ll ever be, Arturo,” Mona answered with nonchalance.

Arturo laughed, “Once you hear what Blue has to say, trust me, you’ll be a believer!”

Arturo then proceeded to make himself a cup of coffee as Mona finished her cereal. She walked into their bedroom, only to gulp as she looked upon the blue coveralls laid out for her on the bed.

Having turned to the mirror, she stripped down to her underwear as she said, “I didn’t know the price for love was freedom.”

Having put on the blue coveralls, she smiled as best she could as she showed it to Arturo, who complimented, “You look great.”

The two of them left their apartment and began their stroll to the Hall of Awakening, as it was called. On their street, various others emerged from their homes, all dressed in the same regalia of blue coveralls. Mona felt a sweat trickle down her brow as she looked upon Arturo’s fellow followers. As her heart pounded out of her chest, she couldn’t help but to be taken aback at how calm the rest of them appeared. Beyond calm even; they looked towards the Hall with cheerful, optimistic elation.

“Mona?”

Mona looked back to Arturo and replied, “Yes?”

“You’re walking in front of me,” he complained.

“Is…is that some sort of issue?” Mona asked hesitantly.

“Yes, it is. You are to either be by my side or behind me, never before me. Slow your pace,” Arturo ordered.

Mona nodded meekly as she obliged, “Yes, Arturo. Anything for you.”

“We’re almost there!” A child shouted as they neared the Hall of Awakening. An imposing rectangle of a building, painted in hues of blue and white, gave way to a hollowed entry. Through perspective, the awnings surrounding the door came down progressively. With each step, it were as if they all were being slowly swallowed by an unfathomable beast. A lump formed in Mona’s throat as she looked up at the arches, going on to take a look around at the crowd.

All of them walked into their cathedral of choice, joyously, as if it were a Sunday mass. They were all happy, almost hypnotically so, until Mona locked eyes with someone who appeared to be frightened by the whole ordeal. Her fearful eyes looked around frantically, as if she were seeking a way out.

“Here we are, babe,” Arturo enthused as they entered the Hall, “Isn’t it wonderful?”

Mona looked around, bemusedly, at the interior of the hall. Plain white walls and a large video screen, with several windows high above the ground, complemented fifty rows of blue benches before them. To call the space ascetic was only scratching the surface.

“I’m sorry but…..what’s wonderful?” Mona wondered aloud.

“Don’t you dare question Blue!” Arturo scolded, only to laugh and calmly say, “I have some fellow followers to catch up with. You’d do well to mingle before the sermon begins.”

“I’ll do that,” Mona said as she meekly looked around for someone to talk to. She passively strolled by each of the followers, put off by the cheerful enthusiasm with which she simply couldn’t relate. It was then she came across the frightened girl from earlier and breathed a sigh of relief; as she was the only one in the room who she felt she could relate with.

“You must be new,” she introduced.

The girl looked her up and down as she said, “This is my first day in the Hall, yes, but I am not new to this. My whole family are already victims……..I protested for so long, but in the end it was no good. They won’t leave me alone……until I’m a follower.”

“I…..I see,” Mona said shakily, “My boyfriend’s a follower and I’m just keeping an open mind, I guess.”

“You shouldn’t,” the girl insisted.

“I mean, it does seem a little weird, but I figured it really can’t be that bad-“

“It IS that bad,” the girl interrupted, “Absolutely nothing about any of this is worth the benefit of the doubt.”

Mona shook her head nervously as the girl went on, “You may be going along with it, just because you want to be a good girlfriend, but I can tell you want nothing to do with this. I tried to save my family; I still try, no matter how far gone they are. Tell me your name.”

“It’s Mona,” Mona replied.

“I’m Camila,” she introduced, “We’ll find a way out of this, together.”

“Attention! Attention my beloved followers!” A nasal, plummy, yet distorted voice announced from the loudspeaker, “The sermon is soon to begin. Promptly find a seat and prepare to listen.”

“That’s our cue to go I guess,” Camila said, before she looked to Mona to say, “Remember, do NOT believe a word Blue says.”

“Okay,” Mona replied as she went to find Arturo, who was standing in front of the rows eagerly awaiting her.

“I can’t wait to hear what Blue has to say today,” Arturo enthused as he and Mona found seats.

“Remember, women are not to come before men. And yes, I’m aware this is Florida, but English is the supreme language. Spanish is to be kept in the home. Oh, and be sure to watch your children, there could be spies of the other side within our walls,” the announcer rambled as everyone took their seats. Once everyone was situated, all was silent and everyone in the Hall looked to the screen with anticipation. A few moments passed, before the screen turned on, only to give way to a pair of large blue dots with round lines over them. Mona presumed that these were supposed to be eyes.

With the same plummy, distorted voice used on the loudspeaker, whomever was speaking behind the screen began, “Salutations, my dear followers! What a lovely, blue morning it is, to listen to the word of BlueUnon!”

In near unison, everyone in the Hall said, “Yes, Blue.”

The eyes on the screen squinted as they appeared to look down at the audience, before they said, “Hmm, it appears a few of you here didn’t speak, but upon further inspection, each of you individuals appear to be new. Ah, it must be time for an initiation! It’s always good to know that there’s more people who seek to be awakened! Now, each of you, come forward to the stage before you!”

Mona’s heart leaped out her chest as Arturo violently yanked her out of her seat to bring her to the stage. At the same time, five others had also came forward, each of them walking to the stage calmly as someone accompanied them, aside from Camila who just looked around with even more fear than before.

“No, no, NO! Let me go!” A girl called out. Mona turned around, only to see a woman literally being dragged to the stage, using all of her might to fight back. Soon, the girl relented, although her face remained in a scornful frown as she took her place on stage aside Mona, Camila and four others.

“Now, I want each of you to introduce yourselves! Give us your name, age, a few details of your background, and what led to your awakening!” Blue enthusiastically ordered, as a spotlight pointed at the man to Mona’s left.

He collectedly stood forward as he calmly began, “My name is Matthew. I am twenty-eight years old, an all-American descendant of the Mayflower and a recent graduate from Princeton University. I have joined the following of BlueUnon in the hopes of combatting the destruction of the noble, traditional American values which pervade in our modern society. I wish to do my ancestors proud.”

“Oh my! Now THIS is exactly the sort of follower I’m looking for! Not only does he believe in the stability of this nation and its values, but he is a descendant of the ones who created them! Give him a round of applause!” Blue praised as the audience began to holler and cheer.

“Matthew, you may be seated, and I will see to it your mentor is well taken care of! Now, who’s next?” Blue announced as the spotlight fell on Mona.

Arturo softly pushed Mona forward as she twiddled her fingers nervously, taking a deep breath before she began, “My name is Mona. I’m twenty-three years old. My background, um, well I’m black. My mom’s from Louisiana so I got a little bit of Creole and Native American in me too. I went to community college, didn’t really work out. Used to work at a cannabis dispensary over in Nevada. And, I’m just here because of my boyfriend.”

“Why, it’s very nice to meet you Mona! I can sense your conviction is a bit lacking, but it will all come in due time! I will have an advisor speak to you shortly!” Blue enthused as the audience softly applauded, “Now, who’s next?”

The spotlight fell on a girl who stood to Mona’s right, wearing a hijab, who stepped forward a bit nervously as she began, “Um, hello everyone, my name is Rana. I’m a bit troubled by what’s currently going on in this country and wanted to fight against it, but I’m starting to get the vibe that isn’t what this is about.”

There were grumbles and jeers in the audience, including one person who yelled out “terrorist!” as Rana gulped and went on, “Well, I’m thirty-one years old, and I originally hail from Egypt, although I’ve been in the United States since I was eight years old. I’m also very devoted to my Islamic faith, an advocate for immigrant rights, LGBTQ rights, bodily auton-“

“Well then, you must be a spy!” Blue called out with a laugh, “And you didn’t even try to blend in!”

“Ummm……and what if I am?,” Rana questioned.

“Only a SPY would ask that! Please, escort this person out immediately! Be sure to remember bomb protocol and to watch your children everyone!” Blue ordered as two men emerged from behind the stage pulled her away as the crowd boo-d and jeered.

Once she was gone, Blue sighed as they said, “My sincerest apologies for that confusing display everyone. Let’s carry on to the next initiate!”

The spotlight then fell on Camila, who closed her eyes as she stepped forward to say, “My name is Camila. Twenty-five years old. I’m a proud Latina of mixed Mexican and Puerto-Rican descent. My family insisted on bringing me here, but frankly, I don’t care, what’s going on here is wrong, and you’re all being mind-contro-“

“Silence!” Blue shouted, “Advisors! Take this girl to the back hall immediately! We need to teach her a thing about how a woman is supposed to act!”

Camila was then pulled away, much to her protest, as Mona looked on in horror. As the next person introduced themselves with no difficulty, all Mona could think about was what was happening to Camila, or even Rana for that matter, as the spotlight fell on the last girl.

“Well, you seem like a feisty one! I would love to hear your story! Begin!”

“Gladly!” The girl said before she turned to the audience and began, “My name is Paula. Twenty-two years old. African-American mom, Cuban immigrant dad. Bisexual. Polyamrous. Black Lives Matter protestor. Feminist. Got an OnlyFans. Practice Santeria. Yeah, I’m just about everything you guys hate.”

“No, no, NO!” Blue shouted as the crowd began to boo.

“I don’t agree with a damn thing about BlueUnon! Everything about this is just evil. The only reason why I’m here is cuz I was kidn-“

“STOPPPPPPPPPPP!” Blue shouted, “Take this girl to the back hall IMMEDIATELY! She has said enough!”

“Let me go, let me go!” Paula protested as she was being dragged away.

“Well then! That initiation didn’t go quite as expected, but fret not, loyal followers! That will be fixed in no time at all!” Blue assured as the audience all cheered. Meanwhile, someone had come to yank Mona away from the stage and to the back.

“This is for your own good, sweetheart,” Arturo assured as he looked on at Mona being pulled away with disaffection. Mona’s heart sank as she was being pulled away, only to be taken to a smaller hall in the back where she was strapped in a chair next to Camila and Paula. Camila calmly scowled at the screen above, while Paula on the other hand did whatever she could to break herself free, but all of her attempts were of no use as one of the advisors held her mouth open and forced down some sort of pill.

Mona immediately turned to Camila and whispered, “Camila, you were right. We need to get out of-“

“There is to be no talking!” One of the advisors shouted, “None of you are to say a word until the sermon is finished!”

Mona’s heart sank even further as a hard lump formed in her throat. Her eyes welled up as they rapidly paced around; several men walked back and forth to supervise her, Camila and Paula, their eyes brewing with contempt. Tears rolled down her cheeks as her face broke out in sweats. She winced once more in her seat, desperately wishing she could just wipe down her face. Alas, it was not to be. She wanted to scream, but couldn’t make a sound, even if she wanted to. It was like Get Out, only this time, the sunken place was very real.

While it was clear the advisors didn’t want any of them to speak, there was no clear rule in place about looking around, so Mona looked to her right to observe Camila and Paula. She couldn’t help but to envy Camila’s stone-faced resilience in the ordeal, but her eyes couldn’t lie. Her poker face was in full-effect with the advisors, but her bronze eyes had a soft glaze over them, a single tear slipping out of her heavy eyelids. Looking over to Paula, a determined rebellion remained. Even in a sedated state, Mona could tell Paula was still trying to shake her way out of her seat, albeit in a much more subdued fashion than before.

“What’s that?”

Mona looked up to see one of the advisors listening to his smart watch as he said, “Noted.”

It was then he turned to the three girls and announced, “Now that his sermon is finished, Blue will be with the three of you shortly. Remember, there is to be no talking until then!”

All Mona could do was weakly nod, as Camila remained stone-faced. Paula wiggled for a few more seconds before she sighed and gave up. Pits of anxiety grew within their stomachs as they awaited for Blue to appear on the screen above, only for a man in an all-blue robe to walk into the room and smile at them. His kind demeanor and silk robe provided a jarring contrast to the cruelty and coveralls of the advisors.

“Why hello there, initiates,” the man greeted in a calm voice with a mild southern twang, “I am the leader of compassion, second only to Blue themselves. You may call me Cobalt, and I am here to assist Blue with the initiation today!”

“And what a pleasure it is to have you here, Cobalt!”

Mona gulped as Blue’s digital eyes appeared on the screen. Blinking happily as they looked at Mona, they proceeded to scowl contemptuously at Camila, before audibly scoffing at Paula.

“Three VERY distinct cases here today!” Blue began, “One not fully invested, one who thinks she knows what she speaks of and one who immediately sought to incite a riot! Of course, it does not surprise me in the slightest that each of these individuals are women.”

“Ah, yes,” Cobalt agreed, “It is always troublesome when a woman’s mind is allowed to wander too freely, much less her mouth.”

Camila, having sat in perfectly still silence for nearly an hour, immediately burst out, “You fucking chauvinist pigs!”

Cobalt, his smile not once being erased from his face, promptly walked over to Camila and slapped her. The advisors all burst out laughing as Camila looked to Cobalt in disbelief.

“That’s what you get for speaking out of turn, bitch!” One of the advisors gloated.

“That’s right,” Cobalt added, his voice ever so calm, “There is a saying, you know. Women are always better seen, never heard.”

Blue eyes blinked as they laughed, before they lectured, “My, my, my. This is a tough crowd. Where do we even begin…..I suppose we’ll start with the easiest, Mona!”

Mona, trying to ignore Blue’s gaze, could no longer resist as she looked towards the screen and said, “Please, show me some mercy. I had no idea what I was getting myself into with this.”

“But you love Arturo, do you not?” Blue interjected.

“Well, yes, at least, I want to, but to be honest I always thought his beliefs were a bit weir-“

“He’s passionate!” Blue interrupted, “Passionate, dedicated and loyal to our cause. Why, he’s practically an advisor himself! It’s only fitting he has a bride whom obeys his every word.”

“Why don’t you go back to where you belong!? In the 1950s!” Camila shouted, only for Cobalt to slap her again.

“Why, you’re a mouthy one, aren’t you?” Cobalt scolded condescendingly, the contradictory nature of his smile and soft gazing eyes only serving to make his words even colder.

“That she is!” Blue agreed, “But as I was saying, Mona, I think you’d be a great addition to the ranks of BlueUnon! You just need a few tweaks in your line of thought…..which brings me to your two fellow initiates here. Oh, Camila?”

“I have no interest in anything you-“ Camila began, only to be hushed once she saw Cobalt raise his hand once more.

“Did you even bother to listen, Camila? Why, your whole family has joined our ranks! They have all been awakened to the truth! Or do you desire to be deported to one of the two filthy cesspools from which your kin hail?”

“I-“ Camila started, but it was as if she had immediately been stripped of air. Cobalt just shook his head while the advisors all glared at her. She was truly powerless.

“Ah, now you’ve realized a woman should never speak out of turn,” Blue taunted, “Now that you’ve finally learned some respect, I have a question for you: do you like George Lopez?”

Camila was taken aback at first, before nervously answering, “I can’t say he’s my favorite, but I don’t take any personal issue with him.”

“So you support anarchy? Savage rapists and thieves pouring freely into this already crumbling nation? Pedophilia? The destruction of morals?” Blue pried.

“What!? No, no, I don’t support any of that!” Camila replied.

“That is EXACTLY what you support when you don’t wish to condemn a criminal such as he!”

“I….I don’t understand,” Camila said in confusion.

“It’s a conspiracy! All those against our presiding lord seek to wreak havoc on our nation and our world! They’ve turned their backs on God! Gave women power! Abduct, rape, maim and eat children! Defile the sacred covenant of masculinity! Disrupt the natural order! All the things our lord fights against!” Blue elaborated passionately.

“All of that is a steaming load of bullshit and you know it!” Paula called out, only for Cobalt to immediately rush over and slap her.

“Why, of course you would say that! A loud, mouthy woman whom simply does not know her place! An insult to femininity, who practices the devils work! But, alas, God does love all. I’m sure you were brought to the Hall for a reason, and we’ll be here to help bring you to the light,” Blue said.

“I wasn’t just brought here, I was kidn-“ Paula claimed as an advisor rushed over to cover her mouth, much to her protest.

“Oh, like any of my followers would kidnap people! Everyone knows that’s what talk show hosts do!” Blue taunted as they continued, “So, so much trouble in the world. The truth is never an easy pill to swallow, and awakening is definitely a process.”

Paula continued to protest as tears began to stream from Camila’s eyes, but Mona had found herself allured to his words. Whether it was the way it was said or just the tone of voice, Mona was beginning to believe it.

“We have been led astray for far too long. There is an order we have failed to uphold that must be reinstated. Controversial a figure he may be, our nation’s lord was granted to us by God. He is the only one who will stop this evil.” Blue lectured.

“I….I think I believe you,” Mona stated, as Camila and Paula both looked over to her, their eyes widened and mouths agape in horror.

“Why, do we have a believer!? Good, good! Advisors, untie her ropes immediately!” Blue ordered. They did just that as Mona continued to listen eagerly.

“We may move and speak anonymously, but we here at BlueUnon only speak the truth. We speak the truth because we want the truth. The true tradition; a homestead of strong men, armed well, with loyal, quiet women and obedient children by their side. Not a single interference from any outside force. No disruption or needless questioning of the of the way things are supposed to be. A staunch adherence to tradition and morals. We are America, not Babylon.”

Paula continued to fight out of her ropes, as Camila began to audibly sob while Mona began to smile excitedly as Blue finished, “A new dawn has come, followers of BlueUnon. Think critically, don’t ask questions and always remember, the truth will set you free.”