The Painting on the Wall

Brian watched as Avery squeezed several large grubs and rubbed their pulp vigorously between the palms of his hands, shucking off their crusty hulls. No one in the chamber seemed to notice; they just danced wildly to the rhythmic pulsing of the music.

“Open your hands!” Avery shouted, nodding towards Brian.

“I’m going to be sick, Avery. I am not touching that.”

“Don’t be such a fucking baby, Brian. Open your hands!”

Brian’s face was pinched with sickness as Avery slapped the thick mess into his palms. It was strangely cool and calming.

“Rub them together, “Avery said.

Brian began to massage the grubs in his hands, feeling their bodies break down, and releasing the delicious smell of burned marshmallows. Brian’s eyes widened as his hands began to glow an electric blue.

“What is this?” he asked.

Brian had heard rumors of Avery’s shady dealings, and though he had never experienced it first hand, he was still skeptical.

“Wait for it,” Avery smiled, “You’ve never experienced anything like it.” The hairs on Brian’s arms were standing on end, and he was aware of every square inch of his flesh. It danced in time with the music.

“I found these… things, in a crack in the wall behind that big Eden Corporation poster. I accidentally smashed one.”

“Incredible.” Brian couldn’t take his eyes of the brilliant blue paste that was running down his arms and dripping from his elbows.

“You’re an artist… paint me something,” Avery said grabbing Brian by the shoulders and pushed him toward the corner of the room. Brian pressed the paint to the wall and began feeling the surface out with his hands.

“My clientele awaits.” Avery started toward his other guests but stopped, “Oh hey, I almost forgot.” He pulled a brown piece of paper from his pocket, “Open your mouth.”

“What is it?” Brian scratched his chin, smearing grub across his face and neck.

“Does it really matter?”

Brian hesitated for a moment then shook his head and opened his mouth in acceptance.

***

“Hey,” Pete stared at his brother through the railing of the top bunk. “Hey asshole, wake up.” He poked him in the face.

Brian swatted his brother’s hand. “Leave me alone… sleeping.”

“You need to get your lazy ass up and clean this mess. You’re fifteen for crying out loud. You’re supposed to be the responsible one!”

“Ugh… what mess?” Brian rolled to his side and opened his eyes. His room was covered in blue paint. Lewd drawings and profanity were on every wall; all in the same electric blue. “I didn’t do that!”

“You sure as hell did! You’re just as blue as these walls. And this,” Pete pointed to a picture by his desk, “dick sucking stuff… better come off, or so help me, I will kill you.”

Brian tried not to laugh at the photo of Pete with a large penis painted behind his head, “OK, OK! I will clean it up.” He rolled onto his back and looked at his hands. They were caked with blue grub guts. He vaguely remembered being at Low End with Avery.

While Pete continued to curse him for his art, Brian looked closely at the painting above his bed. It was an ongoing project, but now the image on the ceiling had a fresh coat of blue paint. He was amazed by the detail on the portrait of Jen. He hadn’t seen her since she disappeared before this year’s matching ceremony.

“Who’s Jen?” Pete shouted from their bathroom.

“What?” Brian blinked as he stared into the eyes of the painting above his head.

“Jen? Does Rachel know about her?”

“Can we not talk about Rachel?” Brian shuttered. The mention of her name caused his stomach to turn. They were to be married in the coming months, and Brian still despised her. He closed his eyes and imagined squeezing her in his hands and painting her on the walls.

“Jen is the lucky one… miles above basking in the sun.”

“What?”

“That is what it says in here. Jen is the lucky one… miles above basking in the sun. It doesn’t make sense, does it?” Pete walked back into the room.

“No, it doesn’t.”

“What’s that on your neck?” Pete pointed.

Brian reached his hand to his neck and felt a grub attached to his skin. He could feel his pulse in its fat belly and pulled it off.

Pete’s face contorted in disgust as Brian began to rub his hands together. “This is how I made this paint,” he said. “Look.” Brian opened the palms of his hands, but this time red coated his skin and dripped from his fingers.

Brian managed a weak “Oh… “ before hitting the floor.

“Grow up, Brian,” Pete rolled his eyes and left his brother lying in the mess he’d created.



I cannot thank Kemari Howell (literaryseamstress@gmail.com) enough for her editing expertise and patience with me and my brainworms. You're awesome, Kemari!

Baby Collector

Repossessing children was not originally on Leo Barnes’s list of job responsibilities, nor was disposing of them. Thanks to a rogue doctor, twelve children had been genetically altered before their incubation, and now these defects had to be recalled and destroyed.

With the help of fellow chairman Reginald Foster, all but one child had been collected and returned to the Eden Corporation. This remaining child was Leo’s to acquire.

“Barnes, if this is going to be a problem, I can collect the child for you,” Foster said sliding the microscope toward Leo.

“There is no problem,” Leo glanced thru the lens to view the specimen; nothing looked out of place, but then he didn’t know what he was looking for. “I will pick up the child first thing in the morning.”

“Let me know if you would like me to accompany you.”

He did not reply, he simply continued to look at the slide until Foster left the Genetics Lab. He waited until he heard the swish of the doors then let out the breath he had been holding.

Leo slumped into a chair and rested his head in his hands. He closed his eyes, grit his teeth, and let the tremors consume him.

He had hoped the twenty-seven flights of stairs down to his living quarters would clear his head, but all he could think about were tiny fingers and toes as he ran down the last three flights.

When Leo finally pushed open the doors to his home, a small child lay on a blanket in the living room floor, sucking on her hands and kicking her tiny feet. He walked toward her, but heard the clink of glass in the kitchen and headed that way.

“Rebecca,” Leo called for his wife. She was pouring a glass of wine with another baby on her hip.

“Hello, dear,” She smiled; her face already warm from a previous glass. She leaned over and kissed him on the cheek. He stared at the child.

Rebecca took the baby’s hand and waved at her husband, “Hello, Uncle Leo,” she said in a sweet little voice. This made the child smile, exposing a single tooth. Leo melted, grabbed the baby from his wife, and covered her with kisses. “Oh, Natty,” Leo grinned, “I got your sugars.” She giggled as he hugged her close.

The baby in the other room began to cry. “Oh, I almost forgot,” Rebecca said as she grabbed the bottle of wine and walked into the living room. She sat down on the floor close to the baby, tickled the bottom of its feet, and ran her fingers through the child’s dark hair.

Leo sat Natty beside the baby on the floor. They instantly grabbed hands and began to babble incoherently.

“Rebecca, you really think this is going to work?

“It has to. It will be too late for Emily to notice tonight, and Eden will take her early in the morning,” Rebecca said. She stared blankly at the children in front of her.

“Well. Let’s just hope nothing goes wrong.”

Tears began to trickle down Rebecca’s face. “Eden will make sure Walt and Emily forget, right?”

“I hope so,” Leo uttered.

After dinner and baths for both children, Leo and Rebecca changed them into their pajamas and laid them down to rest. Natty slept quietly in their bedroom, while the other child lay in a bassinet in the living room.

It was getting late, when Emily finally arrived. “Hello, dear,” Rebecca said as she wrapped her arms around her guest.

“How was Natalie?” Emily asked.

“An absolute joy,” Rebecca smiled.

“Thank you for watching her, Aunt Rebecca. We never seem to get a break these days.”

“Anytime, sweetheart,” Rebecca steadied herself as she reached for the child in the bassinet, “I went ahead and changed her into her pajamas, so you wouldn’t have to worry about it when you got home.”

“Thank you so much.” Emily took the wrapped child into her arms. “She gets heavier each day.”

“Well, she did eat some pasta,” Rebecca winked. Emily laughed.

“It’s been a long day.”

“Well get some rest. I will see you soon.” Rebecca kissed both Emily and child on the cheek and walked them out the door. She waved until Emily stepped into the elevator, closed the door, and sank to the floor.

After helping Rebecca to bed, Leo decided to take a walk. Three flights of stairs later, he was standing in front of his colleague Reginald Foster’s living quarters. He rang the bell.

Leo was surprised to see Foster answer the door in striped boxer shorts. “Uh,” Leo muttered.

“It’s late. What is it Barnes? “ Foster furrowed his brow.

“I have uh… a conflict of interest. The last child belongs to my wife’s niece.”

A big smile spread over Foster’s face, “You want me to pick her up?”

“Please.”

“Consider it done,” Foster said as he closed the door.



***
“How was Bethany, Mrs. Barnes?” Gretchen Townsend asked.

“Bethany? Oh, she was great… a sweetheart.” Rebecca smiled. “Thank you for letting her stay with us for the night. Leo and I have discussed fostering for a while.”

“It’s a big decision. I know.”

Rebecca held the baby’s hands in hers and tried to swallow the knot in her throat. “I will work on Leo, but with his schedule, I don’t think he will want the added burden of having a small child in our home.” Tears began to well up in her eyes.

“Oh, Mrs. Barnes, I am sorry you’re upset. I will find a good home for Bethany. Please don’t worry about her,” Gretchen said as she handed Rebecca a tissue.

“She is a lovely child, and I wish her the best.” Rebecca kissed the baby on the cheek and handed her carefully to Gretchen. “Thanks again, “she said as she left the office.



***

If you're new to my blog, read my very first Eden Corp story, "Forbidden Fruit". My other Eden Corporation stories are all tagged so, and located under the "Categories" section on my side bar... if you're interested.

Thanks so much for reading and commenting. You're awesome!
~2

Chemically Induced Optimism

Lying on his bunk, Brian ran his fingers across the ceiling of his bedroom. Blue paint dripped from his hands, down his forearms, and onto his bare chest. The paint mingled with red and green stains on his skin.

“You are so lucky, Pete,” Brian groaned. He rubbed his sticky hands across his face, slid off his bed, and sat heavily on his brother’s bottom bunk.

“Sorry, Bro,” Peter replied from his desk.

“I can’t stand her…”

“Well, at least she’s pretty.”

“Pretty dreadful, “Brian said. The brothers shared a look and burst into laughter, but it was short lived for Brian. He ran his hands across his face again, blue pooled in the dimple on his right cheek and smeared across his forehead, “I really don’t know if I can do this. It’s the rest of my life, and every time I hear her voice,” his eyelids fluttered, “I want to explode.”

“Have you talked to Counselor Reed?”

“She made an appointment for me with Dr. Williams. That was a lot of help…”

“Did he give you something? Marco said they have some sort of bonding drug.”

“Yeah, he did.”

“Well?”

“It’s shit… Didn’t work. I was so excited about it when I first got it. I had made plans to take Rachel to a nice dinner and then spend some time in the gardens. I followed the instruction, and nothing changed.”

“Maybe you didn’t do it right.”

“No, Pete. I did it right. She must have some sort of super powers that make her exceptionally revolting. You’re so freaking lucky you’re thirteen…”

“Two more years…”

“Two more years. What I wouldn’t give for two more years,” Brian said as he sulked into the bathroom to wash the mess from his face and hands.

…

The elevator outside of Brian’s living quarters was under maintenance, so with a heavy sigh, he pushed open the door to the stairwell. He had already spent his required hour and half between the pool and fitness arena, so he wasn’t too eager to climb up the twenty-two flights to Level 12.

Brian sat down to catch his breath. Regret was eating at him, but he wasn’t going to climb back down only to change his mind and make the trek back up again.

Café Max seeped through the door and begged him out of hiding. As much as he wanted to stop and enjoy his favorite cup, Brian pushed on past the shops toward Low End, the slightly sunken and mostly condemned area furthest from the elevators.

He crossed the rope that marked off the area, stepped over a large crack in the foundation, and followed the “no entry” signs down toward the heart of Low End.

As Brian approached a group of people, he noticed an older classmate, Avery Miller, talking to a boy next to a large Eden Corporation poster. Avery noticed him and waved him over, but continued his conversation with the wild-eyed youth.

The boy’s gaze followed Avery’s hand toward a girl dressed in tattered clothing leaned up again the wall near a trash bin. Her eyes were rolled back in her head and her breathing was strange. She ran her hands up and down her body lingering on her exposed flesh. Two boys sat down in front of her, and gave her their full attention. She didn’t seem to notice. “What’s wrong with her?” the boy asked.

Avery laughed, “Nothing is wrong with her.” The boy looked again and the girl was on her hands and knees kissing one of the boys in her audience while the other played with her hair.

“What else do you have?” The boy glanced over at the girl again. This time she was kissing the other boy.

“Well...” Avery laughed again as the boy stared at the scene open mouthed, “Does that bother you?”

“She looks young…“

“She’s married.” The boy’s jaw dropped. “That’s her husband right there.” Avery pointed to another boy sitting on a bench watching the girl move from one boy to the next, smiling. “Think on it a few. I am going to talk to my friend here.” Avery said as he grabbed Brian’s arm and pulled him aside.

“Hey,” Brian said.

“Hey, Oldham,” Avery smiled, “I have something for you.”

“What is it?”

“Does it really matter…”

…

“Brian… Brian,” Rachel nudged him with her foot. He was lying on his back in the basking room waiting for her, enjoying the warmth of the lamps.

“Hey… you,” he smiled, opened his eyes, and propped up on his elbows.

“Oh my gosh! Where have you been all day? We have an appointment tomorrow to go over…”

“You look… pretty.” He sat up.

“and wedding schedules. My mother thinks it would be a good idea if we planned our wedding in a little over a month so…”

“Your hair is… nice.”Brian watched as Rachel’s mouth continued to move. “I really can’t stand you,” he sighed.

“The adoption process takes a few weeks to finalize our blood work. I have a copy of the catalog, so we can determine which traits we would like our child to have...”

“Well...I am glad I got that out in the open,” Brian said as he watched her continue on.

“I know we are supposed to have one child, but I really would like three. I really love having a sister, and…”

“I really wish you would shut up.”

“Really it’s whatever you think,” Rachel said as she sat down next to Brian on the grassy floor.

“Wow,” Brian mouthed.

“What?” she leaned toward him as Brian leaned in, brushed the blonde hair out of her face, and kissed her softly on the mouth. Rachel’s face turned a bright shade of red, and she tried to make herself look busy shuffling pamphlets.

Brian leaned back onto the warm grass and smiled.

Telling Stories

Betty wore the mark of the storyteller. The delicately woven bracelet cradled a single black pearl and rested high on her forearm under her white lab coat. While she hated having to keep secrets, it was something she had grown used to.

She felt the tickle of the cold pearl on her skin as Chairmen Leo Barns and Reginald Foster entered her office and closed the door. “Chairmen,” she said, but did not rise to meet them.

“Dr. Dalton,” Barnes asked, ”Have you had enough time…er… have you cleared your head?”

“Yes,” Betty said as she scribbled notes on her tablet behind her desk.

“I think I speak for the rest of Eden Corporation, when I say that we are truly sorry for your loss.”

Betty dropped her pen. She knew that this visit had nothing to do with the recent death of her grandson. Nerves from the depths of her stomach pushed a knot up into her throat “Can I help you, Gentlemen?"

Foster slid a white box onto Dr. Dalton’s desk but left a heavy hand on top. “The board has asked before that you mask you age, Dr. Dalton. What means are you taking now to conceal it?” he asked.

“I have been doing the regular peels as suggested and henna in my hair.” She tried to smile, but the curls of her lips waivered.

“The board would like you to take it one step further,“ he said as he pushed the box toward her on the desk.

Betty opened the box curiously, and softly touched the dark locks of curly hair within it, “What is this?”

“It’s called a wig,” he stated.

“What am I supposed to do with it?”

“Wear it.”

---

Level 12 had its share of nasties, but they were usually confined to Low End. Most of 12 were shops and cafés, but it had many areas for general congregation. Betty frequented 12, more now since the death of her grandson, Jared. It helped to clear her head in the evenings before retiring.

While she traveled mostly concealed, the children were drawn to her. The light would reflect off her treasured bracelet like a beacon for the young, and soon she would be surrounded by many smiling, giggling faces.

Betty would lose herself in hours of storytelling, and when she would think it was almost time to go, she would always hear, “please, just one more story.”

“When I was a child, I used to visit a storyteller in the gardens on level 10. She was always smiling... Even when her lips were tired and released their smile, her face smiled on.

“She had been telling stories to children in those gardens for many years before I met her. She told stories to my mother, and my mother’s mother… well you get the picture, “she winked at the children sitting in front of her. “She was getting older, so old, that even Eden began to take notice.”

“You see,” Betty leaned into the small group of children, “Her hair was turning silver.”

“There’s no such thing.” Sally Neil snorted.

“Counselor Meacham’s hair is so white it glows,” Bobby Marks giggled.

“Her hair is yellow. Like mine,” Sally corrected, “It’s not white Bobby… stupid.” Sally turned her gaze to Betty and said, “And you’re lying. There are no storytellers in the gardens.”

“Sweetheart, this was long before you were born.” Betty said as Sally rolled her eyes and looked away. “Have you ever seen silver hair?”

There was a silence.

From behind several parents cleared their throats, and Betty stood to greet them.

“Must you fill our children’s heads with lies?” Bobby’s mother didn’t wait for the answer, she grabbed Bobby’s arm firmly, and stomped away.

Betty watched the children clear out, and made her way home. Her living quarters were very quiet and sadness lingered there.

In her room, Betty removed the majority of her clothing and headed into the bathroom. She pulled her scissors from the cabinet and sighed. She would cut her hair to wear the wig the chairs had given her. She hated that she had to hide, but being on the board she understood the consequences of noncompliance.

Strands of hair fell into the sink. Thoughts of the sacrifices she has had to make for her job, the exceptions that have been made on her behalf, and the family she had lost, were free falling in the form of tears off her chin and into the pile of lies in the sink.

After showering off her mangled cut, Betty settled into her favorite arm chair. She sat quietly in her robe and played with the pearl on the bracelet that never left her arm. She couldn’t help but wonder what had become of the storyteller of her youth. Would she meet the same end?

Is there such a thing as a happy ending?


Want to catch up on the other Eden Corporation tales? I reposted them all week to catch up to this particular story (starting Satuday March 20). I hope you like(d) them. ~2

Looking for a Savior

Lisa sat slumped on the toilet, elbows on her knees, picking nervously at her fingernails. Through the doorway she could see the lifeless body of her husband lying on their bed. . “What am I going to do? Think… think,” she trembled.

When no answer came, she rose to her feet, pushed back the curtain, and turned on the shower. Time escaped her. Steam had filled the small bathroom and began to ooze out into the rest of the living quarters before she realized she was just standing there, staring at her reflection.

The woman in the mirror was unrecognizable. Her eyes had grown dark and her face was splotchy red; eyes swollen from tears. Her lips were moving uncontrollably; mouthing words that her brain could not register. She covered the mouth of her reflection with her hands, and stole a glance again at her husband.

Greg’s bulging stare bore holes in the ceiling, and the prints on his face and neck were darkening by the minute. Nausea overcame her, and Lisa folded over with sickness. She had loved Greg like the Eden Corporation had told her to. He was her ideal match, or so she thought.

Lisa stood up pulling the shirt off over her head. She wiped her mouth with it, and dropped it onto the floor. A heavy fog engulfed her as she opened the shower curtain and stepped into the running water. She closed her eyes for what felt like hours, as the water painted her face and chest red. It pooled in the pockets of her jeans and in her shoes, soaking her socks.

“I killed him, I killed him… ” Lisa whimpered, “He was going to turn me in. His loyalty to Eden was stronger than his loyalty to me.” This comment stopped the tears. “I am right.” She shut off the water, pulled back the curtain and stepped out of the tub.

Sloshing water across the room, Lisa confronted her dead husband, “I am saving our civilization,” she said through gritted teeth. “I found a genetic error, and I corrected it. There is no reason for us not to conceive our own children; we have been relying on surrogate clones for far too long… I was not wrong! How could you say that?”

Lisa began to pace and wring her hands, “Not wrong… Not wrong! There is no reason to turn myself in. I have saved our colony…” She shook her head and sat down at the foot of the bed.

…

After the last trip to the incinerator, Lisa thoroughly cleaned her apartment and took a proper shower. She packed a small bag and loaded her pockets with Greg’s personal items for trade. There would be plenty of takers at Low End, and she needed an escort.

…

“A recall, are you serious?” Leo Barnes was sweating, and his face was bright red.

”We have no option, Barnes. Elias Eden himself would destroy each and every one of those children. You and I know this to be fact,” Reginald whispered, and looked around. He wanted to be sure they were alone on the basking room floor before continuing, “We are lucky that the codes reset shortly after Dr. Baker altered them, and that we have genetic documentation for each child born at Eden. We will simply explain that the children have a deadly medical defect, and we need to take them in for testing.”

“How many, Foster?” he asked.

“Twelve.”

Goodbye

Dear John,

I hope you won't hate me, but I have to leave the colony. Please know I have always loved you. I knew it that first day in primary when you pulled my hair, and I am STILL sorry I spat in your face. I loved you when you held my hand at our matching ceremony, and you were not sure what to think about me. Even today, I love you now more than ever.

This is so hard, and I hate that I am writing you this note. If I had to tell you face to face, I know I would change my mind. I have to leave. There really isn’t a choice.

I am pregnant.

This colony has been birthed from the same 108 clones since the beginning. Why now, am I able to have a child, when thousands of women before me have not?

Last month, I came across some old documents in Filing. About fifty years ago a woman came to the Eden Corporation claiming she was incubating and that she was the key to a surrogate-free colony.

They killed her. They extracted her unborn child and dissected them both. I don’t want to be cut open and sampled.

There is a light burning inside of me, John. I feel it flicker. It’s like no warmth I have ever experienced before. It is truly amazing.

I’ve known for several months now, and it’s getting harder to hide. I know you don’t like the idea of me visiting Low End on 12, but I had to seek out some answers. I couldn’t tell anyone why I was there, but I overheard some Myrrh talking. They were going on and on about corruption, greed, and the desire to choose their own paths in life; “Free will” they called it. They were planning to leave the colony, and I am going with them.

I am so sorry, but I feel it’s my only option. I hope you can understand. This is so much bigger than us, John. It’s not something Eden should be able to control…

You will find a note under my pillow. It is full of untruths; how miserable I was and how I chose to end my life. It says that I plan to throw myself into the incinerator. Today, I will be seen in that vicinity, and I will be sure to leave some personal item behind. Please take THAT note to security and destroy THIS one.

I love you always,

Bethany



John stared at the paper until the words disappeared. Mucus and saline pooled in the crevices of his face, as the letter delicately slid from his fingers and floated to the floor.

She was gone, and John was sure he would never see her again. “Goodbye,” he whispered, “I love you, always.”

Broken hearted, John closed his eyes just in time to see Bethany walking away. Even his dreams denied him; she never looked back.

Poker Face

“God, I love this job,” Martin Ebb said as he laid his cards down and reached for his winnings piled in the center of the table. “Taking your money is just icing on the cake, Pete.”

“I should just give you my money and my lunch everyday instead of wasting time playing cards.”

“Then what would you do on your shift? Work?”

“Maybe I will.”

“Watching monitors through the night… such a challenging job.”

“Better than cleaning toilets,” Pete smiled.

“Shut it. I don’t just clean the toilets,” Martin said as he kicked his feet up on the table and leaned back in his chair “I am the foremost authority of the goings on here.” He took a bite of Pete’s chicken salad sandwich and smiled.

“Oh. An authority, are you?”

“Yep,” Martin said with a mouth full of food.

“So… you know what happened last week in Incubation?”

“Yep.”

“What?” Pete quizzed with a raised brow and wry smile on his face.

“They put down a clone. All of maintenance knows. I am sure you saw the footage.”

“I did.”

“You did?” Martin dropped his feet from the table and sat straight in his chair, eyes wide.

“Yeah, I did,” Pete said, “If you must know, that Dalton kid woke her up.”

“Dr. Dalton’s grandson?”

“Yeah, and get this,” Pete leaned in toward Martin and whispered, “he was kissing her.”

“You’re kidding me?”

“Nope.”

“Freaking disgusting. Did they tell his wife he was making out with a meat puppet?”

“Oh no, he’s only fifteen. No wife. Matter of fact, he was supposed to be matched last night at the ceremony.”

Martin’s eyes grew even wider. “Supposed to be?”

“Yeah, listen. Nancy works on the 22 in the basking room. She usually just monitors UVBs but she happened to overhear a meeting between Chairs. I think it was Foster and Barnes. Anyway, that Dalton kid killed himself the night before.”

“No shit? That’s crazy.”

“Yeah and even crazier, they were discussing what they were going to do with his match.”

“Do with his match?”

“They mentioned ‘the surface’, but I am not really sure where that is or what level it is. They are going to monitor her and then bring her back in for testing.”

“Testing? What kind of testing.”

“You got me. Nancy said radiation and contaminates. Makes me wonder what they are doing at the surface.”

“Hmn… I’ve never heard anyone mention that before. Sounds kind of strange; are you sure Nancy was overhearing the Chairs?”

“She swears by it, but you know how women are; always gossiping.”

“That’s the truth. Oh well, I guess I better make my round.” Martin said finishing off the last bit of sandwich. “Same time tomorrow night?”

“I guess. I still don’t know why I bother to play cards with you.”

“If it makes you feel better you can just give me your money and your lunch.”

“Nah, I’ll take my chances. See you.” Pete said as he took off down the hall.

Martin left the break room with heavier pockets, and made his way down the corridor and into his small broom closet. He grabbed his mop and bucket of soapy water, and began tracing wet patterns on the floor.

Time flew by as Martin busied himself mopping, but he eventually found himself standing in front of the sliding glass doors etched heavily with the word “Incubation”. With a look of disgust, Martin stepped slowly onto the pad and the doors slid quietly open.

It was hard to ignore row after row of sleeping girls at various stages of pregnancy, but Martin tried his best to keep his eyes on the floor. His thoughts kept returning to the boy kissing the clone, and his stomach turned.

Increasing his pace, Martin began to drag the mop along the floor as he moved backwards through the room. He was making better time, but lost his footing and stumbled backward into one of the beds. As he raised himself up, a petite arm slid off the bed and dangled.

Martin froze. He watched as the clone’s tiny fingers danced to a stop, and then he slowly dropped to the floor. Sickness was inching up on him; he closed his eyes and took a couple of deep breaths before getting to his feet.

He grabbed the young girl’s wrist and delicately placed her arm back at her side. Her arm was not cold like he had imagined, it was warm and soft; much like his own. He looked into her face and a wave of nausea washed over him.

Slapping both hands over his mouth, Martin sprinted out of Incubation, down the hall, and through the heavy wooden doors of the Eden Corporation. He barely made it a step away from the bin when he began to be sick; splattering his lunch down his arms, the side of the bin, and the front of his shirt.

“Hey, I’ll clock you out, bro. Go on home.” Pete shouted from Eden’s doors.

Martin grunted, and Pete watched him stumble down the corridor toward the elevator.

A smile spread over Pete’s face. “Serves you right; maybe next time, you let me win… asshole.”

Exile of Innocence

News of the hanged boy traveled fast among the crowd waiting outside of the grand auditorium. Inside, children were wrapped up in thought and preparation for the evening’s ceremony; unaware of the loss of one of their peers.

Backstage, ties were straightened, blouses smoothed, and fingernails bitten. “Since birth, you have been equally matched,” Wilena Reed, counselor and ceremony organizer, said. “The Eden Corporation has perfected this system many years ago, and it has successfully provided our colony with generations of perfectly matched life partners. Today is YOUR day. The day you find out who you have been matched with.”

Jennifer Watts played with a tiny piece of paper in her sweater pocket. She had written Brian Oldham’s name on it weeks before the ceremony, and made a habit of slipping the piece of paper under her pillow at night when she slept. Brian was oblivious to her as he was any other girl waiting patiently backstage. He looked green, and unlike most of the boys, he had lost his cool in a trash bin outside the auditorium while they waited. This did not phase Jennifer’s desire to be his match.

“Jenn, can you believe it?” Emily whispered, “It’s finally our turn.” Jennifer just smiled and wove the piece of paper in her pocket between her delicate fingers.

“I hope I get a good one,” Rachel said as she eyed the boys in their suits, “Where’s Jared?”

“Probably out back getting sick like Brian,” Emily laughed and Jennifer shot her a nasty look. “What?”

“May I have your attention?” Counselor Reed asked. “We have learned from past experiences, that it is better you learn who your match is BEFORE you get on stage. When I call your names, please line up together against the wall: Stephen Anders and Emily Briggs…”

Rachel laughed and elbowed Emily in her side before she hurried off to take her place next to her future spouse. Jennifer stared at her feet and pressed “Brian Oldham” flat against the palm of her hand.

“Excuse me, Counselor Reed, may I have a word?”

“Absolutely, Doctor. Children, will you please excuse me?” Counselor Reed said as she followed the short, balding man out of the waiting area.

“Emily and Stephen… that cracks me up,” Rachel waved at Emily standing silently next to Stephen, “What about you Jenn, who do you think you’ll be matched with?”

“I dunno…”

“I think you and Andrew Davies would make a cute couple.” Jennifer rolled her eyes and stopped listening as Rachel continued to talk to herself about her ideal matches.

Moments later Counselor Reed returned and reviewed her clipboard. “Jennifer Watts,” she said, “May I have a word, dear?” Jennifer nodded and followed the counselor out into the hall where the doctor was waiting.

“Jennifer, this is Dr. Markum, he needs you to go with him…”

“But the ceremony?”

“I am sorry, but you will not be attending today’s ceremony,” said Dr. Markum, “please accompany me back to my office and I shall explain.”

Jennifer’s heart sank as she followed the doctor down the hall. She would not be attending today’s ceremony; Brian would be matched with someone else. Tears began to well up in her eyes, as she began to place him with each of her classmates. “Please not Rachel,” she muttered under her breath.

“What was that?”

“I’m sorry… how much further?”

“This is it, on your left here. Please have a seat.”

The walk had winded Dr. Markum, so after resting heavily in his chair, he took a moment to gather his breath. “Miss Watts, you were to be matched with Jared Dalton today. Yesterday morning he was found dead in his living quarters.”

“Oh,” Jennifer breathed. She wasn’t sure what to say. She had classes with Jared, knew him fairly well, but never once thought she would be paired with him. Brian was the only boy in her thoughts, and to her the most suitable life mate.

“Eden has requested your services to be effective immediately…”

“Excuse me?”

“You have been selected for a special job.”

“Job? I don’t understand... “

“Miss Watts, since your intended match is no longer alive…”

“Can’t you match me with someone else?”

“Your match has been planned since your birth, no exceptions. You are property of the Eden Corporation and your service is requested. It is your responsibility to the colony… your civic duty.” Dr. Markum stood up from his chair and pushed his meaty hands into his jacket pockets.

Jennifer closed her eyes and gripped the arms of the chair. After a couple of deep breaths she opened her eyes and said, “When? When do I start?”

“Now,” Dr. Markum said as he pushed the syringe into the side of Jennifer’s neck. She barely raised a hand up to her chest before she slumped forward and was out.

…

Jennifer opened her eyes to the twinkling of distant lights. Millions of them, tiny and sparkling, further away than anything she had ever imagined. Quickly she sat up and glanced all around her. There were no corridors, no hallways, no living quarters, no… people.

Panic rose in her chest. The desire to run was overpowering, but Jennifer did not stand. Tears began to flow down her face as she lay back down on the dusty ground. Slowly, Jennifer slipped her hand into her sweater pocket, pulled out the fragment of paper, and released it into the night. Through watery eyes, Jennifer watched as “Brian Oldham” vanished into the darkness.

Expecting

“Emily, we need to go,” Walt said as he paced from the living room to the bathroom door.

“I know!” she shouted between sobs.

“It will be fine, you look fine… let’s just go.”

“Give me a second…”

“We’re going to be late”

“I change my mind… I don’t want a baby,” Emily sniffled.

Walt suppressed a laugh. “It’s a little too late for that.”

“Walt…” Emily whispered through the door “Walt, I am so scared. I don’t know how to be a mom. ”

Walt eased the door open, “You’re being ridiculous. You’ve read all those books…”

“Books? I don’t think a book is going to help me here. What if…” Emily looked away.

“What?” Walt asked.

“What if I don’t love her?” Emily’s lip began to quiver and tears began to trickle down her swollen face.

“Oh, Em.” Walt embraced her. ”How can you say that? She’s going to be the littlest, tiniest thing. How can you not love all those little toes? You’ll be a brilliant mom, stop worrying.” He kissed the tears on her cheeks and breathed reassurance into her mouth as he brushed her soft lips.

“Let’s just go,” Emily said. Walt grabbed her hand, her bag, and led the way out the door of their living quarters.

Slowly, they made their way to the elevator. The trip up twenty-three floors lasted an eternity, and Emily buried her head into Walt’s shoulder. Trying to be patient, he just rubbed small circles on her back and shoulders.

The corridors were long, and they stopped several times to rest, while Emily continued to try to pull it together.

They were a few minutes late when Walt pushed open the heavy wooden doors. The woman at reception was all smiles as she pointed the two through the waiting room and down the hall to the right.

“Please have a seat,” The voice played into the room. Once they were comfortably settled into plush armchairs, the voice continued “Congratulations, new parents! The Eden Corporation is happy to welcome your new bundle of joy into the world. Relax and enjoy the soothing music while you wait; your doctor will be in momentarily.”

They sat quietly and waited a few short minutes before Dr. Williams bounced in with chart in hand. “Mr. and Mrs. Salk, Congratulations… Congratulations! Today is the big day.” He glanced at his clipboard and continued, ”You pre-registered in the office weeks ago, so there is no need for additional paperwork. We are about ready to take you down; we are just waiting for the nurse’s OK.”

The doctor looked the couple over, “Nervous?” he asked. “Of course you are. You wouldn’t be human if you weren’t. I assure you everything is going to be fine. Now do you have any questions for me?”

The couple shared a look, and Emily shook her head no.

“Very well; very well! Oh, that is Nurse Melrose now. Ready to do this thing?” He smiled.

Emily stood up a bit wobbly even with Walt by her side. “Yes” they said in unison.

“Let’s go, shall we,” and he led the way out of the room and down the corridor. “You two look a bit old for new parents, what are you Walt, nineteen?”

“Eighteen actually,” Walt said.

“Any reason for the wait?”

“We weren’t sure we wanted children…”

Doctor Williams stopped abruptly and turned to Walt, “No children? No children?” he stumbled.

“We thought it cruel to raise a child in today’s society,” Walt said.

“My boy, it is your civic duty to raise a child!” Dr. Williams fumed.

“Doctor Williams,” Emily interrupted softly, “we are… doing… it.” His anger fizzled and he turned and proceeded down the hall, “right, right,” he whispered.

Walt squeezed Emily’s hand as they rounded the corner and entered another room. A nurse was waiting for the couple’s arrival and smiled as she gestured toward a pink basinet to her left.

Walt pinched Emily; she wasn’t breathing. She gasped, elbowed her husband, and stared at the pink basinet. The tears she had attempted to hold back began to stream down her face once more.

“Before you view the child, I am going to ask that both of you use this.” Doctor Williams pushed a small bottle into Walt’s hand, “It’s EU46; it’s specially formulated to aid in parental bonding. Just two squirts under the tongue before the first handling and before feedings, and you can eliminate those new parent jitters.”

Emily breathed out a sign of relief, and all the tension drained from her body. Walt turned to Emily with bottle in hand; he sprayed two quick squirts under her tongue, and he nudged her toward the nurse.

Emily looked down into the small basinet at the tiny girl wrapped in soft fabrics. Her little eyelashes fluttered as she slept. She softly ran her fingers across the baby’s brow, down her nose, and over her pink cheeks. Walt had moved in beside Emily as she leaned in to kiss the child on the crown; she lingered for a moment to breathe her in feeling her tiny pulse against her lips.

Walt rolled tiny toes between his fingers and tickled the bottoms of little feet as he watched his wife stare dreamily at the newborn.

“Well,” Dr. Williams said, “What are you waiting for? Go ahead and take her; she’s yours.”

Emily slowly reached down, gracefully lifted the child into her arms, and smiled at her husband. “Mine,“ she mouthed.

“Ours,” Walt corrected.

Forbidden Fruit

Uniformed children lined the halls of the upper level Genetics Ward. It was field day, a nice break away from regular class, but the kids in the hall wore looks of great unease.

“As you are aware, the matching ceremony will take place next week in the grand auditorium on level nine. This is a very important colony tradition, and I expect you all to be on your best behavior.”

“Yes, Counselor Reed,” the class replied.

“I know this is a very difficult time for you all, with the matching and starting your professions. I promise you, we will do everything in our power to make the transition as smooth as possible. The Eden Corporation has had you matched since birth, but this information is not released until you are of age. While the Matching Ceremony is next week, you can have several month of engagement before you schedule your marriage. I do recommend you schedule as soon as possible, because the dates do fill rather quickly. See HR if you have questions.”

Instead of heading to the elevators and down to living quarters like the rest of the class, Jared pushed open the heavy wooden doors of Eden. He smiled shyly at the receptionist, walked thru a door on the other side of the waiting area, and made his way down a long corridor to his grandmother’s office.

“Nan,” Jared said as he rounded the corner into Dr. Betty Dalton’s office.

“Hello there,” her face lit up, “Finish the tour?”

“Yes… thankfully.” Jared replied as he flopped himself into a chair in front of Nan’s desk. She laughed, while her auburn curls bounced. “You look awful. Have you been sick?”

Jared didn’t have to say anything, and Nan let it go. She asked him if he would like to accompany her on duty to which he quickly agreed.

“How many are there?” Jared asked.

“There are one hundred and eight different surrogates.” She stated. Jared liked that his grandmother referred to them as surrogates instead of clones. Her old bedtime stories were of “clone wars” in far away places, and he didn’t like to think of these “surrogates” as vicious killers.

Jared had spent a lot of time with his grandmother on duty. He was mesmerized by the surrogates. They were all so young and flawless, wrapped in soft fabrics, and marked only by small numbers on their earlobes. They slept while classical music played softly in their chambers.

“Nan, how old are they?” Jared asked walking thru the maze of beds.

“Well, these girls do not age like you and me. Comparatively, they are between the ages of 15 and 35. Each incubates one or two children a year until their expiration date.” Nan said.

“Expiration date?”

“At the age of 36 they are retired.”

“Then what happens?”

“They are replaced by their younger clone,” Nan said.

“Are all of these surrogates incubating?” Jared asked.

“Yes. There is another room for recovering surrogates, and the new implants are on another floor being monitored closely.”

They continued to walk around the beds as Nan checked the numbers on flashing machines and wires attached to their delicate bodies. Jared stared into each of their faces and wondered what they had been like when they were “real.”

“Nan,” Jared asked, “Which one is my surrogate?”

“Your surrogate has expired since your birth…”

“I mean which number?” Jared had a gut feeling before the number even left Nan’s lips. He had been drawn to 23 since he first entered the chamber a few weeks ago. He always knew exactly where she was located in the ocean of surrogates.

“Dr. Dalton,” a voice boomed over the intercom, ”You are needed in reception.”

“Be right there,” Nan replied. “I will be right back; wait here,” She said as she hurried out the door.

Jared stole a look at 23 out the corner of his eye and casually headed her way. She was a couple of rows over, so he weaved around numbers 42 and 36 until he was standing beside her bed; staring at her.

She couldn’t have been more than sixteen years old. Her long dark lashes fluttered slightly as he touched the top of her hand. Without thinking, Jared leaned over and softly brushed her lips with his own. Time seemed to stand still as he lingered and breathed in the air she discarded.

Eyes closed, he hovered inches above her face. One little kiss, and he would go and wait for his grandmother. One kiss, and he would go back to his living quarters and ready himself for next week’s ceremony. One more kiss, and he would put all this daydreaming behind him.

Jared sighed heavily, opened his eyes, and met a pair of ice blue’s staring back at him. He stumbled backwards as 23 began to scream.

Immediately, a number of white coats entered the room and surrounded the screaming girl. They began looking over charts while Jared stood there shocked.

Nan came running through the doors and gave the order. Jared watched as 23 took her last breath. His eyes followed her out of the room and down the hall before he was able to meet his grandmother’s stare.

“Why?” he muttered.

“Protocol,” she whispered and cleared her throat, “You should head home. I will be late.” Nan
turned and walked back out the doors.

A tall man in a white coat led Jared out the double doors of the Eden Corporation. He slowly made his way to the elevator and down to their living quarters.

Jared prepared dinner and tidied their tiny space, so Nan wouldn’t have to when she got home late. His memory of the day was already clouded, but he made an effort to pick out a nice suit to wear to the Matching Ceremony next week. He wanted to get Nan’s opinion before making the decision final.