Moirai (12 page)

Joshua grinned. “Oh we can do better than that since
you've been gone.” He patted Mason's shoulder. “I'm happy to have their
assistance.”

From the far end of the street, Elsa approached.

“You guys are back!” She smiled, throwing her arms around
Mason. “You look good. I see you got a little sun, even in the middle of winter.”
She must have been joking. They both looked pale and her face whitened when she
saw the urn in the backseat. “Oh no.” The cheerful grin quickly faded. “Who—”
She paused, unable to find the words as they caught in her throat.

Mason's brow furrowed as he tried to keep his emotions in
check. “Jaxon's back in Torv. Margo—” He let out a heavy sigh as he reached for
the urn from the backseat. “Didn't make it.” Mason didn't have to say anything
more. Carrying the urn, he walked across the caked dirt towards Chancellor
Collins’ office.

Elsa sighed, shifting on her feet. I could see the pain
behind her eyes as she tried to focus. “We haven't properly met.” Elsa held out
her hand as she introduced herself. “I'm Elsa.”

“Chloe.” She smiled weakly, shaking her hand. “I'm here
to help go over your research with you,” Chloe admitted. “The boys told me back
in Torv that a woman named Olivia is here. She's the last woman we've found
capable of bearing a child.”

“That we know of,” I acknowledged. It was possible there
were others out there like me, right? I was surprised they'd confided in these
strangers about who I was, but I had to trust them. They wouldn't betray me,
would they?

Chloe smiled weakly. “In Torv we've managed to help
impregnate women without the government's knowledge. We've been at it for
decades but there have been some complications…” Her words trailed off and she
sighed. “The process does something to the mothers, causing hemorrhaging in
seventy percent of cases and is almost always fatal for those mothers.”

“That's terrible,” I gasped. I couldn't imagine a woman
signing up and knowingly risking her life in order to have a child.

Chloe frowned. “We've tried every inoculation and therapy
we could think of to increase the chance of a successful pregnancy. The reality
is we can't figure out where we're going wrong and we have no idea how the
government has zero percent mortality.”

Elsa nodded. “We haven't even begun to look at DNA. Most
of the tests and comparisons we've made in the lab are between reproductive
scans that show no physical differences between Olivia and the women who can't
conceive.”

“Well I'm here to help in any way I can,” Chloe offered.
“I'm sure you have a lot of data that needs analyzing. I was hoping,” she
glanced from Elsa to me, “that in return you might join me back in Torv to help
with the pregnant women.”

Elsa paused, considering Chloe's request. “We'd be happy
to try. Olivia would be a lifesaver if she came along.”

Chloe raised an eyebrow. “You're Olivia?” she asked,
astonished. I hadn't properly introduced myself, and I shifted uncomfortably on
my feet. I felt as though I was being scrutinized for not saying so sooner.

“I am,” I finally admitted, not entirely comfortable with
this woman knowing who I was. I also didn't know how I could be of any help in
Torv. Did they want me to join them as a human specimen that could offer a
blood sample or a lab test at any time? I was more than just my genetics.
Besides, there was no possible way I could help a dying woman in labor. The thought
alone was terrifying and saddening that a mother would purposely give a child
life knowing she wouldn't be there for her baby.

Elsa glanced at Joshua and then at me. She made sure
Chloe couldn't hear the exchange. It was the first time she'd ever said anything
to me without so much as moving her lips.
Mindonsiphan?
It was a single
word, simple, and conveying so much it sent a shudder down my spine. I had no
idea what she meant. Of course I knew what the procedure was and what Joshua
and I had gone through, but in no way did I understand, or could even fathom,
how my coming along would help. Mindonsiphan was administered to teenagers
during rapid growth. I doubted the pregnant women were in their teens.
Obviously, there were lots of changes going on with the pregnant women, but it
seemed unlikely it would be safe for the baby. What did she think I could do to
help? My training was in combat, not aiding in a labor.

Chloe glanced around oblivious to the silent
conversation. “Do you mind showing me to my quarters? I could use a shower.”

Elsa led her towards the recruits’ building where Joshua
and I had stayed when we'd first come into town. “I'll see you both later.” I
waved goodbye and grabbed Joshua's hand, walking with him towards our home.

“That was interesting,” he whispered to me, keeping his
voice down as we walked further from the city center towards home. Everyone
from Torv had disappeared. I knew Mason had gone to see Chancellor Collins, but
I hadn't paid much attention to the two strangers. I wondered where they had
gone off to.

“I suppose it was.”

Joshua stopped walking and turned to stare at me. Feeling
his hand jolted me back slightly when he stopped. I turned around. “What?” I
was confused as to why he stopped moving.

“You don't find it odd that they're expecting us to help
cure women who are dying?”

“I find everything here odd,” I remarked. “Shadow is
nothing like I expected heading west would be.”

Joshua smiled. “What'd you think? It'd be like heading
into the sunset together, living happily ever after?”

I raised a curious eyebrow. “I thought you'd never read
any romance novels.”

He grinned, pulling me with him towards our home. “I
never said that.” We'd lived in our new home for a few weeks with books lining
the shelves. I shouldn't have been surprised he would have picked up one or two
by now.

“Of course not.” I rolled my eyes, smiling as we headed
inside our warm home. I curled up on the sofa, grabbing a book, and felt Joshua
sliding in beside me, grabbing a blanket for us to share together.

Just before sunset the town of Shadow gathered to pay
respects to Margo. The last funeral I'd witnessed had been my father’s. Many
had died in Haven but none had been properly buried after the devastation. Same
for Thena.

The sun had yet to set. It was perched in the sky,
hanging in a delicate balance just above the water. I'd never walked this far
south of Shadow. The journey on foot took over an hour and I knew we'd be
walking back in the dark tonight. I didn't care. It was for Margo. She deserved
a proper goodbye.

Standing before the beautiful lake, the sun falling over
the horizon lit up the sky with shades of gold and red. The warm light spread
across my cheeks as I felt the first tear. I listened as Chancellor Collins
spoke first. He offered more than just condolences but a speech of respect and
honor. “She was one of us,” Collins spoke. “A soldier who fell on the
battlefield in a time of war we had not waged upon ourselves. We must remember
that even those who fight against our enemy may not be our friend.” I was glad
Chloe, Beckett, and Asher hadn't been invited to the funeral. I wasn't sure how
they'd take to Collins’ speech. He continued, “We pay our respects to Margo. We
hail her as one of the great warriors. One of the first to accept Shadow as her
home, and one of the last we ever wanted to say goodbye to. Margo was a good
friend to many of us here, and an even better companion for most. Her
infectious smile lit up a room. Her eagerness drove us all to succeed, to want
to be better and do better. Not once did she ever give up. Not once did she
ever doubt what we could do together, as a community. For her we lay down our
lives. For her we seek justice and retribution towards a common enemy. Her
death will not be in vain.”

He opened the urn as I reached for Joshua's hand. The
wind whispered as the sun further set slowly below the horizon. “Goodbye,” I
breathed, swallowing the pain as her ashes danced in the wind, offering her
freedom.

Lying in bed that night, with my back to Joshua and his
arm wrapped around me, I slid my hand into his. “Do you ever miss Genesis?” I
asked quietly, unsure if he heard me. Today had been a trying day. With the
funeral and the new members of Torv, I missed the familiar. It was nice to have
Joshua's arms around me.

A moment passed before I could feel him shift against me.
“I miss my parents,” he admitted. “You miss your mom, don't you?” I felt his
breath tickle the back of my neck. He knew me too well.

“A lot,” I sighed. “Sometimes I wonder how she's doing
without me there.” I knew from Rebecca that she was okay. I didn't know how
much of that was truth, and how much had been to ease my mind while in Haven.

A quiet moment passed and I was certain Joshua didn't
know what to say. “It's okay to miss her.”

“I know.” I wiped the corner of my eye before it had time
to slip down my cheek. “I just wish she could have come with us.” I sighed,
giving a soft laugh. “Maybe that's a terrible idea. She would have slowed us
down or, worse, died in Haven. I should be relieved I know she's still alive.”
As soon as I said it, I grimaced. “I'm sorry.”

“Don't be.” Joshua squeezed my hand. I knew he had to
wonder if his mother had made it out alive before the attack on Haven. He'd
never voiced his concerns but the fear had to be there. Watching his sister,
Jacqueline, vanish in the smoke must not have been a happy memory for him
either. Though he'd hardly known her, she was still his flesh and blood, his
sister.

“I love you,” I breathed, rolling around to face him as I
stayed curled in his embrace. His eyes were closed and I could feel the agony
and pain radiating off him. Though he said nothing, I knew he hurt inside. I
wanted desperately to take that pain away, make him feel better, but I didn't
know how. Slowly I leaned in, dropping soft kisses to his cheek and his eyes.
“It's okay,” I breathed, feeling his tears, pulling him tighter to me as my
hands traveled along his back, holding him against me.

I knew nothing I could say or do would erase the pain he
felt and the concern that had edged itself into him when we'd left Haven. All I
could do was be there for him as we held on to hope that perhaps his mother was
still alive.

Early the next morning, I joined Elsa and Chloe in the
science center. It wasn't my favorite place to go, considering they'd
administered the Mindonsiphan to us there as recruits. But I wasn't afraid.
After all that we'd been through, somehow, I felt stronger.

Joshua spent the morning with Mason, training out in the
hanger. I had no idea what they were up to but figured if I needed to know,
they'd invite me out there.

Sitting across from the girls, Chloe unboxed several
instruments she'd brought with her. “What are those?” I asked curiously.

Chloe smiled, glancing at me. “They're hormone testing
kits. We want to verify that you are something special.”

Her words made me uneasy. Did I want to know? Was it
better not knowing? Although everyone assumed I was different, if I wasn't this
would put an end to it. “How will this help?” I didn't understand the
relevance.

“It may not.” Chloe was honest, brutally so. “It might
not make any difference at all, but our doctors and scientists have been
studying the human body and reproduction for generations. I have to believe
you're different.”

“And if I'm not?” I muttered beneath my breath.

“Then I guess we're no worse off than before I got here.”
Chloe smiled weakly. “I was like you once, young, curious; I lived in Genesis.”

That took me by surprise. “You did?”

Chloe's face was hard, the smile faded. “About fifteen
years ago I was an assistant on a genetics team in Genesis. I suspect there was
genetic engineering going on along with implantation. I didn't stay around long
enough to be fully entrusted with information.”

“Why did you leave?” I couldn't fathom a reason she would
want to leave and go through the hell Joshua and I had endured.

Chloe sighed, “I was from a different Genesis town,
Genesis Beta. The rules were much the same where you grew up,” Chloe explained.
“I had just turned twenty-one and already had a daughter. When my name was
called at ‘The Day of the Chosen’ for the lottery, I was devastated that I
would have to conceive a second child who would be given to the government.
That night, before going to the medical center to begin the process, I fled
with my daughter.”

“What about your husband?” I asked.

“He died protecting us,” she answered solemnly.

“I'm sorry,” I whispered, knowing it wasn't my fault but
still feeling terrible for Chloe.

“Don't be.” She shook her head. “It was awful,” she
admitted. “But my daughter, Zarrah, knows freedom. Something I could never have
given her without his help.” She turned her attention to the kit, pulling the
tubes out. “I'm going to need a blood sample from you, if that's okay.”

“Yeah, sure.” I nodded, watching as Elsa grabbed a vial
and needle along with a rubber band to draw blood. I turned away. Elsa was good
though: I barely felt the needle as she pricked me. I couldn't say the same
about Sydney when she'd taken my blood. A moment later she filled the vial and
gave me a small cloth to hold against my broken skin.

“Do you need my help with anything?” I offered, wanting
to be of assistance. I still didn't fully understand what they were doing with
my blood but if it could help save lives, I was willing to try anything.

Chloe glanced at me. “We'll run the tests. It may be a
few hours before we have any results. You're free to go.”

“I'll be outside if you need me.” I gestured, heading out
of the building and into the cool winter air. The weather here was much more
bearable considering I'd lived in Genesis most of my life. The winters in
Genesis were brutal and matched in intensity by its scorching summers. My
mother used to tell me the intense weather was a result of our destruction on
the planet hundreds of years ago, and that we were paying the price for it.
Shadow hardly seemed affected in the same way and I wondered how that could be
possible.