Greenhaus:Storm

by Reckelhoff, Bryan

  Samantha watched from the Outside, a great distance away. The memory felt fresh and real. The open air enveloped her as she put even more space between herself and the city of glass. The memory is blurry except for what is seen with her tunnel vision. It begins to fade, and while she does her best to keep it going, it’s all for naught. Her mind goes blank and the images vanish.

  In the middle of a trance, Samantha paid no attention to her surroundings, lost in a world of her own conjuring. Perry snapped his fingers and waved his hand in front of her face, bringing her back to the present. “There is someone here to see you,” he explains. “You remember your big sis, Lorelei, right?”

  Samantha stayed quiet and temporarily squelched the internal inferno before responding. “I sure do, how could I forget my big sis?” Strangely enough, she wasn’t lying. She had other memories of Lorelei, many of them, but they felt different.

  In the clearest memory of Lorelei, she remembers seeing her from afar, through the glass with Stranger Friend, but then her hair was a blondish color and now it was a dark brown. In these new memories of Lorelei with brown hair, the images are less vivid and lack emotion.

  Again she sees the scene where Lorelei and Stranger Friend are hugging each other. Each time it replays, her pulse quickens. She knows to keep calm, because the threat of the reset is already on the table. Although she wasn’t quite sure what a reset was, Samantha knew they were plotting to kill someone. She knew they were capable of evil deeds and assumed the worst.

  Samantha calmly stood up and cheerfully stated, “It’s so good to see you again sis.” Then she walked over to Lorelei and gave her a big hug. As Samantha moved in to wrap her arms around Lorelei’s body, she wished it was her hands going around her neck instead.

  After reuniting the sisters, Perry exited. Lorelei tried to trigger other memories, but Samantha’s mind was not receptive to the hints.

  “So how are you feeling?” asked Lorelei.

  “I’ve felt better, but I’d bet I’ve also felt worse,” Samantha responded.

  “Do you remember anything about the accident?” Lorelei asked

  Samantha had to be careful about responding. Saying the wrong thing could land her in a world of trouble. She rubbed her head and said, “Not really, I don’t really remember much of anything. I’m having a hard time even remembering my name, is that weird?”

  “They say that’s normal,” Lorelei informed her. “The brain will block certain traumas.”

  Looking into Lorelei’s eyes, Samantha knew she was lying, just as Perry had, but she didn’t understand why they chose her to be their puppet.

  “Well sis, I’m glad you’re feeling better and starting to return to normal. I can’t wait to catch up some more and hang like we used to,” Lorelei said. “But for now I must go. I have my duties and so do you. We’ll see ya soon.” Then she bent forward and kissed Samantha’s forehead before disappearing behind the cloth-covered wall.

  After she exited, Samantha wiped the kiss away, wanting no part of the gesture from the vile Lady in Red. She may be calling Lorelei a sister to keep the peace, but they shared no sibling bond. Samantha was caught in a predicament, trapped not just by the walls made of glass and steel, but by the people that surrounded her as well.

  She had no choice but to continue to play the role set for her while she schemed for a way out. Memories continued to return in the coming days as she was given her ‘reeducation’.

  These were not implanted memories, but real experiences, triggered by stimuli her captors were unaware still existed within her.

  Learning about the Rangers program and the defense system of the ‘Haus triggered a flashback to the end of the futile attack she had led against those inside the glass. The memories always returned with no sequence or contextual details to them. It caused much confusion, an uncertainty regarding what was real, or a dream, or a programmed memory. She often wondered if she was going crazy, but had no one to turn to, another thing she hated on the Inside.

  She put the clips together as well as she could. She pictured a vast wasteland, full of angry and war-driven people whose agendas were rarely hidden, a stark contrast to the place where she was currently living. Here in the ‘Haus, everyone’s intentions were covert. As she sorted out her issues, she had to contend with teachers and tutors and other pupils, making sure she hid her true feelings about the ‘Haus, Perry, and her flashbacks of the Outside.

  Her schooling flew by as she absorbed information like a sponge, learning everything she could about her new setting. Upon completion, she was placed in the Department of Medicine by her false father. Employed as an entry level Med-Tech, she did her job and made no waves, biding her time.

  For five weeks, she traveled around from Greenhaus to Greenhaus and from one Decon site to the next, doing her best to blend in. Like any other Tech, she never worked in the same place for a long period of time, never got to know her surroundings or the people she met. Her work was fast paced, the travel grueling. Often she would visit multiple colonies in a single day, and it was causing her to become weary. As soon as one job was complete, she had another scheduled.

  Her long days never contained downtime. In addition to her job, she had to study the Department of Medicine manuals and brush up on other subjects as Perry deemed her ready. Daily tests kept her on schedule as she learned about the different departments and the history of the Greenhaus Colonies.

  Samantha’s rotation landed her back in Newer Orleans. Whoosh. Another door opened as she took the walking tread to her next stop, Decon chamber number three. Today was a slow day, compared to most. She only had a single stop, her first reset, before she was to report to the headquarters of Medicine for a checkup on her own medical disposition.

  These checkups caused much discomfort. Most places throughout the ‘Haus she felt safe, but not HQ. The walls were not clear as most in the ‘Haus were, the main cause of her consternation. Whatever happened within those walls would stay there, with no eyes to tell the tale. She often thought back to the conversation overheard between Perry and Lorelei. Knowing the evil they were capable of kept her in check.

  Samantha entered the Decontamination chamber. The man lay in the chair, his arms dangling down at his side, completely unaware his future would soon change and his past would be erased. She could only see his sandy brown hair poking over the back of his chair, messy from being stuffed inside his mask during his work day. She stopped and looked at her tablet, just to be sure she had the right person. She glanced over most of the information, including his name, to check his hair color. It matched the profile, and she proceeded to the next step.

  Samantha looked at her instructions again. Reset. Her responsibility was simple; give this man a single shot, a shot that would put him to sleep, at which time the other Med Techs would carry him off to be reset. She had never done this before, and was a bit apprehensive about contributing to someone else’s demise without knowing why.

  After her initial trepidation, she moved forward, clearing his bio off her screen and walking toward the man, if only for fear of being reset herself if she caused a ripple. She walked lightly, making the least amount of noise she could to avoid startling him.

  She placed her shiny case on the table next to his chair, avoiding eye contact. She went about prepping her equipment, until time came to do the dastardly deed. When she finally looked up, he was staring at her with a look of disbelief on his face.

  When their eyes finally locked, it hit her hard. One brown eye, one blue. Her stomach fluttered, just as it did so long ago when they first met through the glass. Her palms started sweating and her pulse raced, but other Med Techs in the chamber caused her to hide her emotions.

  Uncertain whether he recognized her, it did not stop her from calmly leaning over the table, extending her right hand as per tradition on the Inside, and saying, “Well, hello, Stranger. It’s good to finally meet you without the glass between us.”

  Seeing him brought back something from
the past, a name. Then all her joy evaporated. The brief moment of internal happiness vanished when she remembered the shot she was supposed to deliver.

  Chapter 41(Jacob Niles)

  Jacob sat in silence. The shock from realizing who stood before him took hold.

  Only seconds before, she had entered the chamber and gone about her business, like any other Med Tech. The metallic case was placed on the table. The latch clicked, the cover raised, and the contents were unpacked. No attention was paid to Jacob, and she avoided eye contact, keeping her head lowered and eyes down.

  At first, he did not recognize her face; back then, when they met through the glass, it was hidden behind a mask. Her braids were gone and her hair shorter, but after seeing her at work for a half a minute, Jacob was almost certain it was her. It made no sense that she would now be Inside, working for Medical, but he felt an unexplainable bond, like they were old mates. As soon as they locked eyes Jacob knew for sure.

  The last time they stared into each other’s eyes, two panes of glass had separated them. Each lived in a world that couldn’t have been more unlike the other. Now, she stood before him, part of his world, just like in so many of his dreams.

  She looked different, cleaner. Her face and body were filled out, and her scars were gone. The pain in her eyes had been replaced by something else. He saw that as soon as she finally made eye contact. Lost in a magical place Jacob didn’t want to leave, seven seconds passed before either broke the stare.

  Her face lit up, confirming his belief. Her skin, a beautiful shade of olive, and her wide-set, eyes attracted Jacob. He looked for her name tag, but it was under her coat. He had called her so many names when he thought of her, and still wondered if she had anything to do with the attacks on New St. Louis.

  After placing her gear on the small table between then, she extended a hand, and started the conversation. “Well, hello, Stranger. It’s good to finally meet you without the glass between us.”

  “I’m Jacob Niles. It’s a pleasure to meet you too, Miss Hazel Eyes.”

  The conversation paused. She stared off into nothingness for an awkwardly long time. Like she had found what she was looking for, Hazel snapped back into the now, her expression now changed, her smile gone. Jacob’s old friend corrected him after clearing her throat. “Call me Hazel Storm. And trust me, the pleasure is all mine.”

  Jacob had many questions he wanted to ask Hazel, but it was not the time or place. Instead of the normal small talk exchanged by Med Techs and their patients, Hazel started by quietly saying, “Jacob, I’ve only been here a short time and…”

  Jacob’s eyes opened wide. “You know?” he interrupted. He knew she was from the Outside, but what he didn’t know was how she made it Inside, as there had not been any recruits since the failed attack in New St. Louis. Somehow she knew where she came from. He knew better to broach the subject with others around, so he continued the conversation in a whisper. “Go ahead, finish.”

  “It seems everyone here is so put together. There is very little range of emotion, and no one is fighting to get out,” she said, stating her observations of those on the Inside. “If they only knew what is really going on.”

  “It’s an illusion. Or maybe they are just blind to the things that should be driving them to fight back. Or too busy to notice, I dunno. I was one of ‘the blind that can see’ most of my life. Most will die that way.”

  “Unless somebody changes things,” offered Hazel.

  As the conversation grew deeper, they were interrupted by Sylvia. She was in her usual red Nu-Skin, and the very sight of her made Hazel become visibly agitated.

  “I see you have met my baby sister,” Sylvia gleefully announced.

  “I didn’t know you had a sister,” Jacob replied, doing his best not to appear too confused by the situation.

  “I never told you about her because we almost lost her in an accident,” she said as she gave a slight elbow to Hazel’s midsection. “But she’s a fighter and pulled through. Gave us all quite a scare though, huh sis?”

  “How come you never told me about any of that? Couples aren’t supposed to have any secrets,” Jacob reminded her, still playing the chess match he was thrust into, a match he hoped was inching toward a checkmate with each move. “A sister near death is quite the tragedy, and not something I would hide.”

  “It was too difficult to talk about. You don’t know what it’s like to almost lose someone so close unless you go through it,” explained Sylvia as she got choked up, an act Jacob wasn’t buying.

  You’re right. I have actually lost someone. Jacob was caught in a web of deceit and lies not of his spinning. Slowly, one strand at a time, he started to untangle himself.

  “I guess I can understand that,” he replied. Though in truth, he didn’t. He knew Sylvia was lying and was determined to find out why. The storyline was about to run out, yet they both decided to continue to be together. His heart was not in it the relationship, he was just playing the game, but he thought a tight bond formed from her end. Then why lie about having a sister, someone I know to be from the Outside? “Is there anything else you need to share with me?” he asked.

  Sylvia playfully shook her head no before kissing him on his cheek, saying her goodbyes, and exiting Decon.

  She knows she’s busted.

  Jacob knew he couldn’t trust Sylvia. This wasn’t the first lie she had told. He wanted to ask Hazel about Sylvia, whose departure from the chamber couldn’t have come at a better time. He thought of all the other things he wanted to ask her about, like the attacks in New St. Louis, how she got Inside, and the Medical programs he was sent to investigate. Nearby Techs caused Jacob to speak with his hand over his mouth, asking in a subdued tone, “Hazel, wanna go for a ride, get out of this place for a bit? Just nod, don’t say a word,” he instructed her before she could reply.

  She nodded, keeping quiet as he ordered.

  “Pretend to follow your normal cleansing procedure, but instead, wait for the room to clear and we can leave,” he whispered.

  “I can’t do that,” Hazel whispered back. “Jacob, the order has come down to reset you. I’m here to give you the shot that knocks you out. They are here to carry you off.”

  Stunned, Jacob sat silently for a moment, and then gave Hazel her instructions. “Pretend to give me the shot, and then call them over. I will take care of the rest.”

  Hazel loaded the shot under the watchful eye of the other two Medics. She pretended to give him the injection of the pink milky substance and his body went limp. Hazel gave a quick whistle and ushered them over. Each grabbed a different set of limbs and started to carry him toward the awaiting gurney. When the timing was right, Jacob tightly wrapped his legs around the body of one Medic, while using his arms to clutch the other. He worked his legs up around the neck of the Medic, while they both struggled to hold him down.

  “Did you give him the shot?” yelled the Medic fighting with the Jacob’s arms, while the other’s face turned bright red from strangulation.

  “Of course I did, it must have been a bad batch,” replied Hazel as she fumbled around with her injection device, pretending to get another shot ready.

  “Give him another, quickly,” he yelled back at her as both Medics struggled to contain Jacob.

  Hazel delivered another shot, sinking the needle into the neck of the Medic being grabbed by Jacob’s arms, dropping him to the floor immediately, leaving Jacob dangling upside down, legs squeezing the life from the other Medic. The red-faced Medic now supported all of Jacob’s weight, and was struggling to get oxygen. He lifted Jacob’s body and slammed him hard on his back once, twice, and a third time in an attempt to break the scissor hold around his neck. As he raised Jacob up for a fourth attempt, his legs wobbled before they gave out completely and he collapsed, bringing both men crashing to the ground. Jacob stood up in a daze, rubbing his neck while he hunched his sore back.

  “We have to get out of here, before they wake up or she returns,” Hazel
said. “She is up to no good.”

  “Let’s drag them to the showers first,” Jacob suggested.

  After placing the bodies in the spray rooms, Jacob returned to the final cleansing chamber, specifically to the false chair that led to the underground tunnel. Hazel followed. He began pulling, but the chair wouldn’t budge. “Quick, over here, and help me, before someone comes.”

  Hazel was first down the hatch. Jacob followed, tossing his bag past Hazel. He closed the cover, bringing the chair above back down into place.

  “Where are we going? This wasn’t on the map of Newer Orleans I studied,” Hazel informed him.

  “And it will stay that way. You mustn’t tell anyone of this,” Jacob said. “Promise me when you return to the ‘Haus, you won’t tell a soul.” While he waited for his answer, he knew he was at the point of no return. He had broken laws. He had taken up arms against another citizen, but only in his defense, a fact no one else would know once the incident was reported. After returning to Newer Orleans, he would have to answer questions about the scuffle and suffer the consequences of his actions. He couldn’t imagine things being any worse.

  Chapter 42 (Hazel Storm)

  I won’t tell a soul. That’s an easy enough promise to make. If I leave…I don’t plan on ever coming back. “You got it. Just get me out of here. This place makes me anxious,” Hazel carefully stepped off the bottom rung into the dimly lit tunnel.

  Jacob jumped down, grabbed her hand, and led her toward the lit end of the concrete tunnel before he issued a few warnings. “Stay calm when we get to the next room,” he started as he removed her white cloak and tossed it aside. “You won’t need that. It will only be in the way, and without it you don’t stand out so much. Here, put this on.” He handed her the flannel shirt from his bag, both relics from Old Earth. She started to speak, but was hushed as he hurried them along. “Don’t ask any questions till we leave the ‘Haus. Try your best to blend in. Oh and one last thing…let me do the talking.”