| The Garden of Choiceby Shelby DollarWhat is wrong and right? Is doing what’s expected for the society as a whole? The Adam and Eve project creators like to believe that what they’re doing is just and righteous. Their quest is to save humanity and rectify the sorry state we’re in, to rescue us all from the tightening grip of mankind’s end. I’m one of the few with the ability to make this happen. Sitting where I’m at I no longer care what is considered just of unjust all I want is the forbidden fruit of choice.
The future starts where you begin. Decades ago people were dying in all over the globe because of AIDS. It spread like fire across a dry unknowing plain and people all over still chose to ignore it. So they continued to reproduce even if that wasn’t the original plan and problems arose like STD’s, and cervical cancer. These cases were small or so I learned and so the human race like always kept going about their ways. Then the Human Papillomavirus more commonly recognized as HPV came along. People took precautions and yet they still continued to have sex unaware of what actually laid in bed with them. Women left and right were becoming infertile and to make matters worse a group of radical thinkers decided to take humanity to the next level.
They were called the Darwinists and they ran about infected with AIDS and HPV getting anyone they could. This group had millions of members from all over the globe, their sole purpose to infect others and the Darwinists promised them the actual cure for free. Yes, there was a supposed cure already that slowed HIV from transforming into AIDS but still it was no miracle. Although, the Darwinists had believed and tested this new formulaic cure and it worked. So the Darwinists came up with a brilliant plan. Why care for the unfortunates who have nothing? Why not infect those that can afford the cure? Sure enough that’s what they did. Sending out the infected, like rats carrying the Black Plague onto the un-expecting mass of people, and all for the benefit of themselves.
Unfortunately the Darwinist had pushed us a step back from evolution, and had instead through rapid and wide spread of the disease made HIV and later AIDS become more extreme and unable to be treated by the Darwinist’s cure. We had been left with an ill and failing race. People were either dying or unable to reproduce and of course the Darwinists had disappeared upon the brutal recognition of their failure. Rumors had floated about the news about widespread murders and attacks on few powerful figures. We can only assume that they were the one’s heading the Operation.
Time passed, and things only got worse. So the major world powers started the Adam and Eve project. The cooperating countries were searching for people that were completely clean in order to preserve the human race. This project had no intention to wait for volunteers, they were going to take and do whatever was necessary and make it look noble to the fretting public. This is where I fall into your path and it happened so quickly.
“Ella,” Her voice was kind and worried as my mother swiftly shut the windows snapping the shutters to lock. I was fifteen and knew by now what was going on.
“Mom, hurry…” I snatched my backpack and a box of canned food. Rushing carefully outside into the blaring sunlight, I kept an eye out while I shoved the food in the back of our truck.
Gravel grounded beneath my beaten black converse as I sprinted inside feeling my heart pound relentlessly against my chest. As I threw open the door I observed with horror as a line of black vans and jeeps blared up the road spewing it behind them.
“MOM!! THEY’RE HERE!” I shouted as she ran out of the house carrying bags. Throwing them in the back she hopped into the front jabbing the keys in and revved the engine.
“COME ON!” She yelled as I shut the door and clicked my seatbelt on, taking a deep breath. Immediately she sped off the truck jostling and tossing us around as she floored the gas. We were carving through the field that had surrounded our past hideout, trying to put as much distance behind us. Glancing at my mom I watched her caramel eyes scan every mirror, her gold hair was stuck to her face as she turned to look at me flashing me a shaky smile before having to turn the steering wheel intensely.
We sped into thick woods dodging trees with ease, knowing the route well. She flicked the headlights on as the sunlight dimmed beneath a canopy of green. Everything here was peaceful and quiet and I relaxed slightly feeling that we had gotten lucky once again. My heart was slowing as I took another deep breath and looked into the rearview window to see no one trailing us.
“The woods get them every time,” She smiled sweetly while wiping her brow with the back of her hand. I tried to mirror her joy but found myself still feeling nervous and frightened. I leaned my head back and tied up my auburn hair sighing gently.
“Mom?”
“Hm?” She directed her gaze between me and the road.
“Is what we’re doing…wrong? I mean—” I searched for the right wording feeling my throat close.
“Ella, there is nothing wrong with us running.” My mother turned the truck out on a dirt road the woods clearing to an open field of long grass. Everything on this planet seemed to be getting along just fine without human interference. The sun was high overhead and birds were flying over long green crops, the weather had never been better.
“But mom I’m one of the few who aren’t infected and—”
“It is not your duty to serve the Adam and Eve project.” She replied defiantly. “Ella, if the human race is meant to die out then nothing we do is going to stop it.” She gazed at me with a hidden sorrow. “And the last thing I’d want to see you doing in this life is serving as some test subject or breeder.” She glanced briefly at the road before looking back at me to touch my shoulder. “So please Ella, don’t feel guilty about living just live, okay? You have a choice, no matter what they say.” She smiled reassuringly giving my shoulder a squeeze and I smiled weakly feeling better.
“Okay mom.” I went to lean on her shoulder, doubt fading. There was a calm and slightly unnerving feeling in me then swiftly like the wind, it hit breaking glass. The windshield cracked like pressured ice over a frozen pond and something warm yet unfamiliar landed on my face. Terrified as my mom went limp and the truck swerved off the road I tried my best to snatch the steering wheel and duck for cover. I dared not look at the corpse beside me too afraid of what I’d see. I had to toss her body; she wouldn’t have wanted me to stop living without her.
Shaking I leaned over and un-clicked her seatbelt feeling the guilt she had warned me so passionately about. With one hand on the wet steering wheel I reached with the other to open her door but couldn’t reach it. Quickly I undid my seatbelt and crawled over a warm damp surface to open her door. Grasping the door handle I swung it open letting the wind dry my tearing eyes. Trying to steady myself I reluctantly began to give her a push avoiding the grisly scene surrounding me. Then the truck hit something throwing my mom and me out of the truck and onto the long grass, the blades slicing my tender skin.
Thinking on instinct I scrambled to my feet and sprinting away limping as cracking pain spread all over my tossed body. I had to get away, get out of sight. Shouts echoed in the distance and I ran harder ignoring the throbbing agony my joints and lungs. Suddenly the sound of air being sliced quietly taunted my ears swiftly before I felt the impact. Small yet powerful a dart bit into my back. Cursing I felt my backside go numb as lights skimmed along the edges of my vision. I wrenched it out throwing it aside as I continued to try to escape, my knees buckling under invisible weight. Then without notice my whole body went rigid and I collapsed into the tall green grass, blacking out before my head grazed the ground.
I awoke in a cool dim space; benches lined each side of the area along with two poles, one at waist length the other ankle length. Each had little individual sections, separated by railing for every prisoner. Shaking my bindings I realized I had been attached in my own little prison and I squirmed more hoping the handcuffs would somehow snap. I knew where I was, the transport vehicles and by the constant swerving and movement I’d say they were in pursuit of a future Eve or Adam.
I continued to struggle feeling desperation take over, I had been caught….at this moment it was the end if I couldn’t escape. I began to cry softly as the cool metal refused to budge. I had nothing, no mother to protect me, no freedom to fight towards. Once I got to the facility I would never see another innocent blue sky. I would be infiltrated, explored, examined, and made into a rebirthing of humanity. Little do the Adam and Eve project realize that their very process kills free will and choice. More tears streamed down cutting through the filth and blood on my cheeks. The vehicle was bumping and jostling, accelerating before halting harshly to an abrupt stop wheels locking.
Shouts and screams of pain surrounded the cars and were unable to ignore as shots rang issuing an eerie and upsetting silence. Moments later the side of the van was thrown open bright light flooding in. There was brutal shoving and struggling bodies banging to and fro against the metal prison. Finally the men had tossed and shoved the captive in and by now I knew it was a guy.
“LET— GO— OF ME!”He thrashed as the bulky strangers cuffed him in, one slammed their fist in his face. I heard the sound of something hard hitting soft flesh and I cringed as more punching and bashing ensued. Finally they got his ankles locked and one man gave heavy blows to his ribs. I could hear the air escape his lungs forcefully; his ribs bending from the brutal force. My stomach felt like a wet towel rung dry having to watch and listen to this happen right beside me.
“Stop please!” I shouted at the attacker as his fist collided with the prisoner once again. I couldn’t stand the hollow crunch of a nose shattering or the echo of something firm becoming soft from force, think cleaver to frozen meat. “ Just STOP IT!” Tears were running down my throbbing face, my emotions gone amuck. One of the captor’s finger jabbed towards me.
“Shut it!” The man’s feature’s were twisted with boiling frustration as he angrily breathed in my face.
“T-there’s no need to beat him like th—”
“Oh no please,” the man beside me sarcastically breathed. “Hit me one more time, it’s starting to feel good.” I could sense a smile in his hollow and weak voice and it made me feel more stable.
“Little piece of—” The captor was about to rain another fist on him but one of the others called to get a move on. Angry and red faced I could see the muscles in his neck flex even in the dim light as he started to move out of the mobile prison. Suddenly the bulking man turned around, an afterthought bugging him and cracked me across the face. I winced as a breath of surprise escaped me and my head snapped to the other side. “That’s what you get for speaking out.” He justified before briefly wiping a fallen strand of hair behind my ear grazing my cheek.
“Get, your hands— off me” I threatened lowly, but not moving to avoid his touch.
“Just imagine the hands that will be all over you, anxious to make you a future mother of our generation.” He recalled suddenly mystified yet still cold as winter. “It’s a beautiful thing, and one day we’ll all be cured.” This man was like a creepy yet angry gospel channel that comes on at three in the morning, eerie and entranced. “You are our way to salvation.” He grasped my face in his hands, dangerous eyes curtained by hope.
“The choices we make define us.” I breathed my eyes locking into his. “And based on the way we’re heading…there will never be peace or rest.” His grip tightened and I cringed slightly from the pain as his hands began to tremble. I was sure he was going to beat me but the man released me. He stepped out of the van, eyes open and fearful truly a deer in headlights, one that saw the bright and blinding death hurling to them, but just couldn’t believe that something so large and blatant was to be his end.
“You’re wrong,” He whispered through paling lips trying to shake himself from the shock as he fumbled for the door. It slammed shut choking us with pitch black and I blinked several times trying to see the stranger nest to me. For a few moments nothing but silence followed along with the sound of the car rolling along the rough road, then he spoke calmly and gently.
“Are you okay?”
“Yeah, I guess.” My voice sounded frail and broken and I felt my throat tighten as I fought back the urge to cry.
“No,” He replied blatantly. “you’re not, but…” I felt the faint graze of one of his rough fingers on mine. “Neither am I.” I smiled weakly locking my finger with his.
“I’m Ella” I replied still hearing my voice shake.
“Thanks for sticking up for me Ella,” He answered practically casual. “I’m Vince and don’t worry we’re going to escape.” Dumbfounded I gawked at his confidence.
“N-not that that doesn’t sound great or anything but the Eden base is really tight on security, no one’s ever escaped s—”
“I have,” his response was subtle and straightforward “quite a few times actually, but from different countries.” Vince sensed my curiosity and continued. “I’m part of the Resistance.”
“You mean you have the—
“Apple tattoo? And yes we have a sense of humor.” I could hear that smile again and it made me feel lighter. “Look, we know your mom had been hiding you and we had been trying to contact you, but I’m not going to deny your mom was good at protecting you.”
“Yes, she was…” I felt that weight crash down on me once again tightening my throat and stinging my eyes. His finger gently squeezed mine the only comfort in the pitch black and shaking prison.
“I’m, sorry.” He muttered feeling empty. I shifted myself ashamed of my emotions as tears flowed.
“She was the last of my family,” I solemnly declared drying my eyes the best I could.
“Ella?” I could sense his gaze on me and I looked towards his voice. “We’re getting out of here…I promise.” I nodded and he continued. “They know I’m part of the Resistance,” His voice was cautious with a tinge of superstition, “and knowing them they’re going to transport us to a special base, one that’s smaller, more hidden.” Vince’s tone was serious and careful. “There’s…rumors going around about what happens in this ‘Eden’ base—conditioning—to control and convince the subjects of their cause.”
“You mean that this base is brainwashing, using torture?” I felt my muscles melting my nerves burning.
“I imagine they’ll use torture on the men since we don’t carry children—
“This is so…wrong.” My mouth was dry, as my heart punched blood painfully all over. “How could we have come to this…so—quickly?” I thought out loud.
“We’re so determined to control what can’t be tamed, that we end up controlling each other.” He replied bitterly. “Even if humans do endure this challenge, we won’t be able to make our own decisions…know how to survive.” The van was jostling us about like kid clutching an easily won goldfish.
“Great,” Vince declared bitterly, bracing himself. “We’re getting close now.” Our wimpy hook of fingers tightened. “Remember, be strong and we’ll be out before you know it.” He was practically shouting over the roar of the engine as our bodies shook and thrashed. I shut my eyes feeling sick trying to ignore the violent ride.
Moments later the car slammed on the brakes and my whole body snapped forward, sloshing my insides like a vicious tide. My body throbbed with confusion and pain as I blinked slowly clearing my head. The engine was killed, the car becoming calm like the silence before a violent storm.
“Alright Ella, I want you to kiss me.” Like someone who fast forwarded too much and rewound the tape my senses sprain up, a slap in the face.
“W-what?” I demanded, still trying to regain my reasoning.
“Come on Ella,” Vince whispered seriously, trying to yank me to him using the two fingers he could reach. “They’re coming…come on just—” I placed my lips against his mouth shut like a kid refusing to talk. He murmured to my bloodied and cracked lips, teasing. “You’re just about as convincing as a kindergarten romance.” I could hear the stomp of boots outside the car door, my heart was racing along my ribcage drumming each one.
“Shut it Vince.” I hushed a smile playing on my mouth as I brought my lips to his. This time I shut my eyes and let my mouth embrace his relaxed and natural. He moved his lips with mine and I was no longer listening as the door was thrown open, displaying what I hoped was persuasive…love.
“Great,” We both broke away from each other, at the sound of this deep and pleased voice. Squinting our eyes at the new silhouette before us I saw glimpses of a white lab coat. The man peered in at us and he became more visible. He possessed black hair neatly combed back and shiny, glasses and a stern and prominent bone structure. It was a strange combination to see in a scientist.
He pointed at Vince evidently remembering him, for I noticed a challenging glint in his dark eyes as he laid eyes on him. Suddenly as the bulky stranger leaned over to Vince, taking a syringe out I was struggling against my restraints taking in his new features. Blonde hair, matted and dirty hung at times in his sharp caramel eyes bruised and swollen from the earlier struggle. His light lips were split and bleeding as he struggled against his attacker. I caught his eye and for a moment I thought I glimpsed dread but it wasn’t for himself.
I directed my attention to the man who had slapped me earlier. He too was advancing on me, syringe in hand. My eyes locked on the thick slightly blue substance rocking in the glass.
“Just stay still Eve and—”
“Don’t call me that!” I thrashed trying to break free, the man backed off a bit trying to determine the way to approach me. The strange scientist hesitated at my outrage, moving away from Vince and shooing my previous engagement. The built man grasped the back of my neck, shoving my face to him. With his other hand he brought the needle to my neck, the point caressing my skin like an anxious lover. The point punctured my neck as I tried to inch away from him.
“Stop it Nate! Let her—
“Shut up!” The bulky man fired back. “And don’t you dare say my name.” Nate growled shoving the needle further in my neck. I winced, and noticed Vince out of the corner of my eye his expression hurting.
“Don’t tou—” Vince breathed calmly but furious. Nate directed his attention back to me, dark pit less eyes boring into my confused and frightened ones.
“I said to be quiet!” He hollered, veins screaming along his neck still entranced with me. I felt him push the liquid, thick and hot into my trembling system. “I get what I want,” He added suddenly reserved, stroking my face as my muscles relaxed, eye lids closing like heavy blinds. His deep voice was sounding far off and fuzzy as my vision began to cloud over. “you would too if you decided to be Adam.”
Coming to I sat up immediately, a delayed reaction much too late to do any good. The room I was in looked like my old room. There was a window to the right, bright sunshine crawling across the carpet. Taking the covers gently off me I felt the soft t-shirt and boxers I had always favored. Suspicious I walked over to the window and threw it open, expecting to look down and see scientist…but there was our grassy lawn a cool breeze swaying in lazily. I breathed it in smelling something else mixed with it…breakfast? Shutting the window I glanced at myself in the mirror. My sharp green eyes gazed back at me and my auburn hair had fallen barely touching my shoulders. In disbelief I poked my face and neck,searching for pain…nothing, not even a scratch.
Feeling weird I cautiously opened the door and walked down the hallway following the racket in the kitchen. Peering around the corner I saw my mom bustling around the stove, turning over some eggs and pancakes.
“Mom?” I wondered out loud approaching her carefully. She whipped around jumping at the sight of me, a beautiful smile on her face.
“Oh-Ella you scared me.” I shook my head tears brimming.
“Mom? Is it really you?” I felt her face with my hand, her soft skin running along my palms. Her face was confused and she gently grabbed my wandering hands.
“Of course it’s me,” She put a hand on my forehead eyes worried. “Do you feel okay Ella?”
“Y-yeah” I gazed up at her before grasping my arms around her waist tightly. “Mom,” I breathed, “I had a terrible nightmare… they took me to this base—and there was no choices—I’m so glad you’re here.”
“Ella,” She smiled sweetly, smoothing my hair. “We are in Eden, we’ve been here all along.” My mother announced in a sing song tone. “Everything here is so nice and peaceful.” I took a step back from her my heart thrashing wildly.
“N-no,” I whispered horrified. “I don’t believe you!” I continued to retreat watching with pained eyes as the mother I had always known began to cry.
“Honey?” She asked, eyes watering among her dreaded expression. “What’s wrong with you?” She opened her arms to me, trembling but I backed away into a corner.
“Get away from me,” I breathed feeling my chest shake with every word. “You’re not my mothe—”
“Ella” She sobbed advancing to me, and breaking my heart. “you’re scaring me…I’m alive….and I’ll never die with you here…”She went to embrace me carefully like I was a feral child. “I’m right here…and I’m nev—”
“YOU’RE NOT MY MOTHER!” I screamed shoving her roughly, she stumbled to the ground as I began to sob, my whole body tightening and releasing with each cry. I slid down the wall watching with overwhelming sorrow and anger as my old kitchen twitched in and out, fading like an unfocused image into blaring white. My mother faded along with the smells and the familiar warmth associated. In moments time I found myself in a white room that seemed to have no beginning or end, no day and no night.
I looked into the white lights over me feeling like all feeling was crashing to the floor, leaving my bag of skin piled on the ground above.
“She didn’t respond like I’d hoped…but we’ll just have to see with some time.”
“Why bother though, when Na—
“Yes, I know that but it’s important to keep them psychologically peaceful otherwise there could easily be miscarriages.”
“This is getting to be a real challenge…besides with Vince here, you know Nate is going to push for his Garden time….especially since the two of them were together.”
“Well just because he chose to be an Adam even after joining the Resistance doesn’t make him ultimately in charge.”
“No…but he’s pretty damn close.”
I woke up in a room lined with mirrors, the floor was a completely different decoration. Tons of magazines like Playboy and Hustler lay scattered like a sexual tornado. Everywhere I stepped a foot, nudity or sex. Sometimes there would just be pictures of a willing woman or man with a sultry gaze. I walked to my small cot of a bed, and took a seat. Vince said he would get me out…but when? How long had I even been in here? Like I said before I don’t want to help…I want to leave.
I was wearing some skimpy little white dress, courtesy of the Eden base. I slowly walked to the mirror wall, looking at my paling complexion. I looked clean, my hair healthy, complexion no different. But my eyes had lost their gleam, the mischievous and playful spirit that used to dance behind my eyes. I ran my fingers through my hair trying to imagine myself before Eden when one of the mirrored walls swung open.
In sulked the strange scientist, his coarse hands clenching and relaxing as the door shut behind him. He was contemplating, brewing something over in his head that made me inch into a corner aching for an escape. Nate took off his glasses and rubbed his eyes, stressed. My heart was jumping, blood punching in my tired veins. There was a long silence except for the thud of air flowing occasionally in the stuffy room. Nate walked, determined to the sink pushed against the reflective wall. Twisting the knob several degrees cloudy water finally spurted out, he ran his fingers under it, disgusted, before shutting off the valve and wiping the water off. He stalked over to me, trying to casually suggest his desires, but he failed to woo me.
“I want you to be my Eve 13” He stated looking me straight in the eyes, his gaze not faltering. Horrified of what I should have seen coming the day in the van, I attempted to regain my composure knowing how carefully I needed to phrase my answer.
“What do you exactly mean?” I asked, trying to remain calm and clear. “Eve 13?” He advanced closer to me, his height considerably taller than I making me feel like a bug with a foot hovering over its head.
“It means that I’ve chosen you to be my 13th Eve,” His dark voice was tainted with infatuation and I began to clutch the wall feeling fretful and utterly trapped. “You will bear me at least five children and those children will go on to reproduce with other Adam and Eve children and their children’s children will do the same…that’s what it means.” His deep eyes were challenging my frightened ones and I felt unstable, my position a tight rope, but this was a very unstable and dangerous rope I was walking it could break—any— moment. Nate’s eyes were scanning me like a nice fresh steak.
“And…” I breathed, nervously looking around for any sign of that door as he approached me now within touching range, I cringed wanting to melt into the wall and disappear. “if I decide to—not be your Eve then—
“You have no choice!” I jumped at his sudden outburst and attempted to get distance between us but he grabbed my wrist, holding on like a leech, the more I squirmed the more it hurt. He looked pained yet rage flared in his face.
“Let—go of me!” I shouted in his face, glaring him down. Nate seemed to find this slightly amusing even through his fury and pulled me closer to him. “I don’t want anything to do with you!” He sneered and I noticed on his neck he had a faded image of an apple, the ink as vivid as a freckle. I hesitated from my struggling for a brief moment and he knew why.
“Yes,” He answered eyes tearing into mine with strength and no regret. “I was a part of the Resistance but,” his breathing was ragged with excitement, “let’s face it how can one resist, when there are actual options presented.” Nate smiled tugging me over the bed, my stomach retched and I felt like I could get sick right there, all over the magazines and lust…I was disgusted, terrified and he was not going to rape me.
Worming one hand free, Nate turned sharply to face me. Swiftly and without hesitation I drove my palm directly in an upward motion along his along. A crunch similar to wood splintering ensued as his sophisticated glasses went askew and blood flowed like a never ending river. His grip loosened and I delivered a sharp elbow to the stomach, he clutched it staring at me with a hurt and furious glare. I sprinted away from him and immediately began to feel the mirrors for any sign of a crease or split reflection. Glancing over my shoulder I noticed Nate wave a distressed hand, still recovering as he hastily wiped his nose, the blood running fiercely.
Then a door opened out of the mirrors and numerous masked guards rushed in, looking alien and intimidating like a modern SWAT team. Hands immediately snatched me, picking me up despite my thrashing and flailing limbs. Nate was still bleeding but he had returned to his upright and powerful stance as I was pinned to bed, a butterfly nailed in an exhibit.
“Give me the serum,” He demanded snapping his fingers angrily at the one guard not detaining me. He quickly handed it to him like an assistant to a surgeon and Nate smiled grimly. “Don’t worry Ella, this—“he tapped it gently as my head was forced to tilt, “will relax you so everything goes pleasantly.” Nate said ‘pleasantly’ with a certain admiration that made me fight harder against the frightening masked guards. “I didn’t want to resort to this but I dislike seeing my Eves in pain.” He touched my face lovingly before leaning over to inject the sleepy medicine. My heart was bursting with anxiety, organs jumbling like nothing was keeping them in place. I felt the teasing irritation of the needle and I resisted even harder, screaming.
The point was about to plunge into my neck, locking me forever in hell when all chaos broke loose. The guard that had handed Nate the syringe whacked him over the head, snatched the serum and stabbed him. For a brief second Nate acted like he might overcome the medicine but crumpled to the floor, a puppet with no strings. The hands released me and helped me to my feet, speechless I just stared at them all. Finally, the guard that had attacked Nate took off his mask breathing ragged.
“Vince!” I couldn’t think of anything coherent or intelligent to say because of my sudden waves of relief and shock. He smiled gently at me his beaten face not looking much better than it had before. I noticed his eyebrow was split, one cheek completely swollen. I sprang myself out of my previous shock knowing he had received different “treatment” than me.
“I said I was coming back for you didn’t I?”
“Well, yes—but could you have cut it any closer? I was almost Eve reincarnated back there?” He chuckled lightly allowing his handsome features to peak through the battered skin.
We were passing other cells along like mine, each covered with the collage of sex magazines. Some had two or three girls, others guys. I noticed the lanyard with a card on Vince’s coat and I yanked it off him an idea brewing.
“Ella!” He was coming after me as I sprinted to a cell and swiped the card, watching with pleasure as the door swung open. I motioned to the stunned Adams and Eves inside ushering them to freedom.
“The cards work on all the doors!” I shouted, running quickly over to the next cell and swiping it with ease. More people flowed out and joined our escape group. “Come on!” I demanded at the other Resistance members. “We can’t just leave them!” There was a brief shared surprise at me barking orders but then Vince gave his silent approval and everyone immediately set to releasing other prisoners.
Minutes later we had all the cells open and at least thirty other subjects freed. I met up with Vince, breathing fast as he took out a computerized map. Everyone around us was silent, there were no alarms no guards…nothing. Vince glanced at the map for a few moments then directed where for us to go. We ran along empty hallways, lit bright with cold fluorescent lamps and it felt like a stone maze as we made sharp turns and exits. Finally we reached large steel doors and three Resistance members had to swipe their cards in unison. The forbearing doors creaked open blinding us with blaring flood lights. Vince lead me into the refreshing fall air as a large dilapidated military plane could be faintly seen in the distance. I could hear wailing alarms now, crying out and demanding vengeance.
We were sprinted hard, legs pumping as Eden guards pursued us. Upon reaching the plane we rushed in allowing the doors to shut just in time. I felt the plane coax roughly off the ground and our grip tightened. In little time we were in the air and away from the Garden of Eden. Below the pentagon prison surrounded with desperate floodlights and razor wire fences began to shrink. I sighed in relief as a smile developed on my face. Leaning over to me he kissed me on the forehead and I shut my eyes enjoying the uplifting feeling. I looked at his hands finding the tiny apple tattoo on his index finger, caressing it with appreciation.
One of the young ladies from the Resistance smiled at us, handing Vince what looked like a tiny gun. He thanked her with his brilliant eyes, taking the apparatus in his hand.
“You’re certain you want to resist the Adam and Eve project no matter the cost, or sacrifice it creates for humanity?” He said the words to me clearly and with honor.
“Yes,” I answered eyes unwavering and determined.
“Then welcome to the Resistance,” He tried to keep his formal face but I saw a pleased smile turning the corners of his lips. I touched the top of my middle finger, directing him to where I’d like the tattoo. He placed the gun, braced my hand and pulled the tiny trigger, a pop and pain followed but I didn’t care. Removing the gun he wiped it with alcohol the girl gave him before putting the stuff aside. I looked at the petite bitten apple right above the knuckle on my third finger and smiled.
“I like it.” I grinned as he leaned over to kiss me, eyes locked with mine.
“Good,” He murmured smiling truly before his lips met mine. I brought my tattooed hand to his shoulder resting it lightly. Sitting there my lips meshing with his I knew we were committing a crime against this new world …. so cast me out, make me feel like a sinner—I don’t care.
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