of insanity.
“Fantastic.” I lift my chin up defiantly
“I hired those men to snatch your boyfriend, you know. Back when I had money. Used your damn bugs against you. Then I lost it all, and I couldn’t carry on my fun. I was going to bring you in and force you to watch while he was split open, his organs, limbs, skin and blood all sold to different countries for a bit of money. Of course, the vessel has to be alive and fresh so they don’t use sedatives while operating. You would have been able to hear his screams and watch his pain. The government’s vessel snatchers are weak; they follow the rules too closely. They snatch poor people, they weaken them and take their memories away and then they sell the people on as oblivious maids, guards, cleaners, slaves, prostitutes, drug mules, GoTo makers, cooks or anything they like. The black market vessel snatchers are so much more fun. They know how to have a good time. They sell organs, body parts needed for transplants, extra skin for youth enhancement surgery, wombs, feet, hair, skin, blood, eyeballs or anything that has a good price. The guards are sick of the same dullness every day so when I suggested capturing you as well as your pathetic boyfriend, and only giving you half doses of the memory loss drug so that you could remember how great life used to be and what a terrible situation you’re in now, they agreed it would be good entertainment.” He snickers and continues.
“When they put you in a cell next to Thomas it was a stroke of genius. We bugged you and listened to your conversations. So cute how you two fell in love all over again. It was much too fun for either of you to be killed, we were all intrigued whether you two would ever realise your true identities and if it would rip you apart to be unable to see each other. You would have probably been kept alive for years as long as you didn’t get too boring. It was my idea to start broadcasting your best bits of the day for a fee to the public and it’s become surprisingly popular. Not that they know about the vessel part of the story. You lost me billions but I’ve made so much more than that from your pain. It was just unfortunate that a breakout happened on the day you were planning to escape. I dressed up and came in for the occasion specially. This is going to get some great ratings. The big-” A twang from my left rings out. Lawrence sucks in his last gasp of air, fingers automatically twitching onto the trigger as he falls. I try to jump away. The super heated laser gun catches my stomach. I cry out and collapse to the floor. In an instant, Thomas is beside me.
“No! You can’t die when we’re so close to escaping. Come on, Lydia! We can do this and have an amazing new life together.” His tears spill onto my cheek. I feel numb.
“No, Thomas.” I try to explain it won’t be a new life for me. After a few weeks I’ll get caught up with being rich. I’ll hire maids out of a habit of a lifetime of idleness, even though I know they’re poor, innocent people that have been brainwashed to be my slaves. If we have children they’ll grow up as selfish and greedy as me. This is my punishment for a lifetime of greed. I deserve this, but Thomas deserves so much more. He deserves a chance at life in the rich sector. He’ll know what to do to spread the word about the vessel snatchers. It won’t happen forever.
“You’re going to survive if I have to give you my organs.” He vows, picking me up and carrying me out.
I do survive.
To keep me quiet the government gave me a choice. Keep your mouth shut or we’ll take you back to the vessel snatchers to finish the job off. I keep my mouth shut.
13
I’m with Thomas in the house after a long day of working in the factory.
“I can’t wait until our baby is born. It feels like a sign that things are going to get better.” I snuggle closer into him as we sit beside the roaring fire.
“It is a sign. We both deserve this. We’ll name her... Ruby. A precious stone among this junk-filled sector.” He smiles and stares into the fire, dreaming of his future son or daughter.
“She’s bound to end up rich some day, isn’t she?” I hope she is. There’s got to be more to life than working in a factory.
“You only end up rich if you’re born rich, Lydia. Or if you can find some way to beat the system.” He laughs. “I just want her to be happy, that’s what really counts.”
THE END
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Thank you for reading!
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Vessels of Existence Page 5