Glimpse Into The Future
The cavernous convention center buzzed with the latest advancements in predictive technology. Lara Holt made her way through the throngs of eager attendees, studying the dizzying array of exhibits. She checked each corner, each casual glance from passing strangers.
“Excuse me,” a voice called out. Lara turned to see a man in a crisp suit, his smile stretched too wide. “Are you interested in a demonstration of our new predictive analytics software?”
“Perhaps later, thank you,” she said, moving quickly away, wondering if his lingering gaze meant something more.
Near the main stage, the crowd fell silent as a young, charismatic man took to the podium, cast in the spotlight’s glow.
‘Welcome, everyone, to the future!’ he proclaimed, his voice resonating through the hall. ‘I’m Devon Reeves, and I’m thrilled to introduce you to FutureSight – the revolutionary app that can predict the course of your life with uncanny accuracy.’
Lara stepped closer as the audience’s murmurs grew louder.
‘FutureSight analyzes your data – your social media, your search history, your location – to map out the trajectory of your life,’ Reeves continued, his hands moving with practiced eloquence. ‘It can tell you when you’ll meet your soulmate, when you’ll land your dream job, even when you’ll take your last breath.’
A woman next to Lara gasped. “Did you hear that? It can predict when we’ll die!”
“Um, isn’t that… unsettling?” Lara whispered back.
The woman turned, her eyes bright with fervor. “Unsettling? It’s revolutionary! Imagine the possibilities!”
Lara stepped back from the woman’s intensity, listening as the speaker continued.
‘But don’t just take my word for it,’ Reeves said, a slight smile playing on his lips. ‘Let’s have a real-time demonstration.’ He pointed to a woman in the front row. ‘You, ma’am. FutureSight predicts you’ll receive a call from your sister in the next 30 seconds.’
The woman’s phone rang immediately. Her face went pale as she answered. ‘Lisa? How did you… yes, I’m at the tech convention…’
The crowd erupted in excited chatter. The statistical improbability of such an accurate prediction made Lara pause.
‘Download the app now and see for yourself,’ Reeves urged. ‘The future is ours to control.’
As applause filled the hall, Lara watched the man at the podium. His unwavering confidence and intense zeal set her on edge. His gaze swept the crowd, seeming to find her for a moment.
She gripped her tablet tighter and pushed through the crowd. If this Futuresight app could truly predict – and perhaps manipulate – people’s lives…
She bumped into someone and muttered an apology. The man turned, eyes hard. “Watch where you’re going,” he growled, his hand brushing his jacket in a way that suggested a concealed weapon.
“I’m sorry, I-” Lara began, but he’d already disappeared into the crowd. The packed convention center suddenly felt very empty.
She needed to investigate Futuresight further. Outside in the crisp evening air, Lara was grateful she’d chosen a hotel within walking distance. The less she traveled across the city, the less chance of being followed to her apartment. The future, it seemed, was closer than anyone imagined – and far more dangerous.
The wind stirred the trees along the street. Lara thought about her meeting with Dr. Rachel Kim that morning at the quiet corner cafe. Dr. Kim, known publicly as the brilliant mind behind Futuresight, had shown a different face in private – fear and regret. Her warnings about the system being ‘out of control’ had seemed outlandish then. But after witnessing Devon Reeves’s demonstration, that impossible prediction… Lara kept thinking about Dr. Kim’s last words. The hotel was only three blocks away, but each step confirmed what she’d been trying to deny – this wasn’t just corporate fraud anymore. Someone was going to get hurt.
The walk to the Grand Metropolitan Hotel took fifteen minutes. The evening crowds thinned as she turned onto Highland Avenue, her steps echoing off the glass and steel towers. She needed to process everything – the demonstration, Dr. Kim’s warnings, that impossible prediction. Most of all, she needed somewhere safe to think.