The B Gene

by Carlos Hardy

  In an instant, their bodies lift into the air, and viciously collide with the far wall. They slide down to the floor, resulting in a wicked crack in Caleb’s arm as all of his body weight lands on it. Jaylen is laying on his back, staring up at the ceiling as he shifts and groans in pain. Bree begins to rise, lifting her face off the cold metal floor and pushing the hair from her face.

  “Is this their sick sense of humor?” She asks to no one in particular.

  Caleb helps them both to their feet. “I don’t think that’s it.” He says, immediately followed by an abrupt severing of the wall. Blinding white light floods the space.

  The light sends a rippling vibration through their already wilting bodies, forcing them to buckle. They begin to scream, attempting to huddle together as best they can: the storm noise is back, light and steady, but present. The light quickly ceases, and Caleb cautiously moves through the doors. Three pathways lay out in front of him, each dimly lit with a glowing green light at the end, dressed in elaborate symbols on every wall. Bree and Caleb emerge and creep close behind.

  “Which way do we go?” Bree asks, but Caleb simply ignores her. Instead, he confidently walks towards the path on the right. Jaylen and Bree follow closely behind, looking at one another in confusion.

  “I feel them.” Caleb says in a calm tone. They reach a point in the corridor where several circular doors appear on the right side. Caleb stops, placing his hand over one of the doors in an attempt to find a way in. His hand traces over it, and while he doesn’t know what he’s looking for, he feels that this will yield results.

  He looks up to sketches on the walls ahead, noting a symbol of three lines that are written on oval-shaped images. The continents on one are clear.

  “That’s got to be Earth,” Jaylen says under his breath.

  Bree points to other spots on the ship, featuring other similar shapes. Her hands traces over the symbols on the wall’s surface. She takes her time as she admires the formation and order of each symbol. “Those look like planets, beautiful. Whoever they are, looks like their mission extends far beyond our galaxy.”

  They both turn to see Caleb racing down the hallway. “Where is he going? Slow down!”

  Bree meets his pace, grabbing onto his shoulder. “Caleb, can you hear me?” She asks.

  Jaylen juts himself in front of Caleb. “Bro, what’s with you?” He asks. “You’re flying off the deep end. Go easy.”

  Caleb’s eyes erratically move left to right, as if he’s coming back into it. “Sorry guys. I… don’t know what happened.” He says.

  “Bro, you’re running your own program. We got to stick together if we plan to survive.”

  “They had a hold of me. The more I resist, the worse I feel. Bree… it was you who wanted this. I didn’t want to be here.”

  “I was just looking for the truth. Answers.” She says in defense, a bit shocked at Caleb’s accusatory tone. Behind her, the wall begins to shift. A square-shaped door takes shifts, revealing a small opening in the center. Bree and Jaylen takes a cautioned step back.

  “In here.” A mysterious voice says. Bree begins to look around frantically. Jaylen steps forward, looking at the opening and listening to the voice, noticing a mouth forming in the opening.

  “That’s freaky.”

  “Shh, they’ll hear you. They’re relentless.” The voice says.

  “Who’s there?” Caleb asks.

  “I am Tynell. Quickly, come closer.”

  Caleb, Jaylen and Bree bridge the gap between them and the door, peering inside the opening where the mouth was just a second ago. They can only see a set of teeth in the darkness.

  “How did you get in there?” Caleb asks.

  “I’ve been here months I would assume.”

  “You don’t seem… scared, I suppose.” Caleb says.

  “Something happens once you’re in here,” Tynell says. “Your mind is unrestricted and seems free. We’ve been set in darkness for months now, and hunger hasn’t been the bane of our existence. We wait patiently for someone to find us, but as each hour passes, we realize this might be the end. The sad part is, we are beginning to accept it.”

  “But how did you get here?” Caleb asks again.

  “I played high school ball back in Tennessee. One day after a bad practice. I was furious at how I played, my thoughts were out of control. I was walking home alone, and out of nowhere, I see this object hovering high above the little river on the path. I had no idea where it came from, it was just suddenly there. It paralyzed me. I couldn’t turn back, I couldn’t move, couldn’t run… it had me. That’s the last thing I remember.”

  “That’s how it was for most of us, too.” A few others say.

  “Wait, how many of you are in there?” Bree asks, getting closer to the opening.

  “We don’t know.” One of the voices returns.

  “Me too.” Caleb says, tracing back his thoughts. “What do you think they want with us?” He asks, turning to Bree and Jaylen.

  “I don’t know,” Tynell says. “The thought of seeing my family again has because a blur… It’s just nice to hear voices that are different than our own.” Tynell juts his arm through the opening, showing the completely whitewashed pigment in his arm. There are similar ripples and symbols on the surface as Caleb’s back. Caleb notices the bulging muscles on his forearm prompting a closer look.

  “Whoa.”

  “This is what they do to us. No explanation and no grand speech. They’ve conducted experiments on several of us.”

  “Is it painful?” Bree asks.

  “No, it’s a feeling I can’t explain. … it feels like our emotions have been torn away, discarded completely.”

  Caleb’s ready for a harsh dose of the truth. He gets closer to the door. “What do they look like?” He asks hesitantly.

  Another voice comes from the darkness, though this one is gruff, hardened. “You’ll never see them. They’re too fast; they’re standing behind you right now.”

  The three of them spin on their heels rapidly, trying to catch a glimpse of whatever the unknown voice is talking about. There’s nothing.

  “As I said, they’re too fast. You can only sense them, not see them. We’re constantly thrown into combat on the other side of the convoy. We’ve battled for what seemed like days at a times. You can feel them watching and approving as we fought.”

  “They’re forcing you to fight?” Caleb asks.

  “I assume to strengthen in some way. Readying us for what’s ahead.”

  “Competition?” Bree asks, but the voice doesn’t reply. It’s quiet inside the dark room. They can’t hear a single soul. “Where did he go? Hello?”

  “Not exactly,” he finally replies. “Follow the markings in the corridor, and you’ll see that they’ve dominated the galaxy for centuries.”

  “Okay, I’m trying my best to piece this all together.” Caleb says. “They’re using you to help take over the galaxy? Why? They already seem powerful enough.”

  “The only thing that powerful forces desire is more power.”

  The voice dissipates as the opening in the door disappears. “Where did they go?” Jaylen asks, banging on the wall. “Hello!”

  “Keep it down.” Bree says.

  “They’re coming,” Caleb whispers. A moment passes by as they remain motionless. “Run!” He finally shouts, and they begin rushing down the corridor. The floor beneath their feet begins to crumble away, bringing them down into a dark room. They collide with a harsh metal floor, quickly coming to the realization that they’re in a trap. Jaylen feels around in the dark, accidentally grabbing onto Bree’s shoulders and quickly pulling his hands away.

  The floor begins to vibrate as the enclosure is pulled forward at a fast pace. They attempt to stand and stabilize themselves. Within seconds, the room settles, and two doors on the far wall slide upward. Foggy mist leaks into the small space, circling the three of them as they stare in wonder. Quick
ly, they step back up against the wall opposite the doors, doing their best to stay next to one another.

  Bree is suddenly yanked forward with immense force. She disappears into the fog. Caleb rushes over towards the doors as they shut. “Where are you taking her? Don’t do this!” He begins to scream hysterically.

  For the first time since this day began, Caleb and Jaylen feel truly defeated. They escaped Lanier, they’ve evaded disaster, at least, up until this moment. Caleb falls back, sitting on the floor as Jaylen approaches and sits beside him.

  “We’re not going home, are we Cal?”

  “We’re going to die in here, Jay. This is it.”

  Chapter Eighteen:

  Caleb’s Assault

  Caleb isn’t giving up that easily. He stands beside Jaylen by the door, trying with all his might to lift the door, but it won’t budge. He bangs on it repeatedly, his emotions taking over as he hammers his fists into the door to the point of reddening.

  “Cal, chill man.” Jaylen says. He’s yet to see this destructive side of his lifelong friend.

  “No! They’re going to kill her!” Caleb yells. His repeated hammering begins to draw blood from his knuckles. Jaylen tries his best to grab onto Caleb to stop him, but nothing’s getting through to him. Caleb forcefully shoves him halfway across the room with a single hand, returning to his banging on the door. At this point, his fists are hitting small pools of blood, spattering outward with every bang.

  “Caleb! Stop it!” Jaylen shouts. With one final strike, Caleb sends the door hurling into the corridor ahead as the sound of shredded metal echoes down the hall. He immediately begins moving, frantically searching for Bree. Jaylen follows closely behind him, beckoning for Caleb to stop.

  Caleb stops in his tracks, extending his hand to a nearby wall. “I can sense them…” he says out loud. “There she is. I can sense her, Jay.”

  Bree’s screams echo throughout the ship. Caleb rushes off, banking a left at the next turn. He’s met with an enormous door ahead, and steels his nerves.

  Caleb places his hand on the surface, then slowly backs away. For the last year, he has sensed a big moment like this on the horizon. His existing thoughts have carried him to the brink of exhaustion, but a renewed strength now consumes him. Caleb drops to his knees, resting as solid as a statue, as Jaylen unblinkingly gazes at his friend.

  In an instant, he rises again, rushing towards the door as the walls on either side of him bow outward, reshaping the metal. His rapid movement creates a fury of wind, forcing Jaylen violently into a wall at the rear of the corridor. As his back crashes against the corridor wall, he opens his eyes to see Caleb leaping into a cannonball, propelling his body straight through the door ahead. It does more than pierce it; the door bursts into shrapnel, coating the next room. Jaylen gazes at Caleb standing tall in the center of the debris filled room, looking forward.

  “Holy crap that hurt.” Caleb says, watching the dust settle as he massages his lower back.

  Jaylen cautiously walks towards the destruction left behind by his childhood friend. He can’t quite believe what he’s just seen. For once, there’s no sarcastic remark or witty comeback coming from him. Before he can pass through, the door’s bits and pieces return and reassemble, as if magnetic. Jaylen begins banging on the reconstructed door.

  “Caleb! Cal!” He shouts, but his voice is muffled.

  Inside, Caleb’s body lays seemingly lifeless on the floor. Whatever he just did had taken a lot out of him. His eyes gently flutter open as he peers around the darkness of the room, attempting to make sense of where he is and what just happened. He rises to his knees and begins shouting for her.

  “Bree! Bree!” He says over and over. “I can’t see anything… I’m sorry, Bree.” Caleb lets his hands fall into his lap as his body feels heavy with defeat.

  A whine escapes from somewhere in the darkness. “Caleb, is that you?” Bree asks in a terrified, faint cry.

  “Bree! It’s me, I’m here. Where are you?”

  “I’m here Caleb, I’m right here.”

  “I can’t see you.” His voice lacks the confidence he held only a moment ago, when he charged through the door. “I can’t-”

  “Leave us alone!” Bree screeches at the top of her lungs. “Just leave us alone!”

  “Bree? Who’s there?” Caleb begs to the darkness, but only silence is returned.

  Measured footsteps begin pitter pattering in the distance of the room. Caleb quickly lifts to his feet, extending his arms in front of him, hoping to find a wall or something to grab onto in the darkness. Something caresses his arm, forcing him to quickly recoil.

  “Who’s there?” He asks. “Show yourself!” Footsteps echo all around him.

  Caleb’s body is brutally thrust backwards into the wall. He slides down, landing flat on his face, and slowly opens his eyes. After spitting a glob of blood, he notices small pockets of light around him.

  “I know what you’re doing.” Caleb insists. His body slowly raises from the floor. His legs dangle in the air as he looks around for his attacker, but can’t see a thing. “Let me go!” He demands. “Let me go!”

  Caleb’s anger, frustration and fear for Bree take hold of him. He shouts again, and as he does, the shirt on his back shreds into thin strips of cloth.

  “Leave me alone! I’m not afraid of you!” He shouts, noticing a green glow outlining his swaying body. He feels a burning sensation near his lower back. He reaches behind, feeling ripples on his skin shift delicately back and forth. The dark pigment in his back rapidly regenerates, flushing out the pale patches of flesh from that fateful night. Caleb collapses to the floor, his breath mimicking the feeling of defeat deep within his chest. He’s had enough; he’s done asking questions.

  “You’re going to tell me who you are.” He insists.

  As Caleb slowly opens his eyes, he notices beams of blue light in distant areas of what he assumes is the same room. They’re being projected from the highest points in the room, shedding shards of light on the walls, each hosting embedded, odd-looking spheres.

  Caleb’s eyes shift to a spot next to him. These invaders are dressed in gray cloaks with blue trim, simply standing beside him, holding bluish spears. They’re standing still as statues, calm and calculated. Their faces are covered slightly only revealing a hint of their brownish pigment.

  Caleb leers around the room for a way out, but instead spots a platform in its center, adorning a grand chair, and an occupant with a stark red robe. Around him, more spheres hover throughout the expansive room. There is a large platform several feet out front.

  As the silence carries on, Caleb attempts to inch closer to the platform, only to be met by the tip of a spear inches from his head. They’re not necessarily there to hurt him, simply contain him.

  “Cay au situ.” One of them says, something that Caleb can’t quite make out.

  “Where are my friends?” Caleb says in a mild mannered voice. As he does, a stream of smoke spills into the room. The blue lights dim. Figures in similar cloaks march into the room, continuing to speak in what Caleb initially thought was gibberish. They march towards Caleb, parting the way as another cloaked figure drags a fifty-something African-American man along the floor, dropping him a few feet in front of Caleb.

  “Let me go, you monster!” He shouts in a raspy voice. As his eyes flash in front of Caleb, he notices that the man is blind. The man in the red cloak steps carefully to the edge of the platform.

  Caleb’s keeps a watchful gaze at the figure in the red cloak. His strategic movements indicate that he’s the leader of the men of cloaks.

  The figure in the red cloak approaches the man, lifting his spear up as high as possible. “Cano Lu Cantu,” he says as the blind man is propelled into a trance.

  The man’s body rises a few inches off the floor as his legs dangle beneath him, flopping in the open air.

  “What did you do to him?” Caleb asks.

  The figure
wraps his extended brownish fingers around the blind man’s throat. Caleb can see some shift in the man, like an electrical current has just run through his body.

  “Akache and Karnitu hails to Kaleo.” The blind man says in a menacing voice unlike his own.

  “Akache Kaleo!” Each of the cloaked figures shout, stomping the hilt of their spear on the floor in unison. The sudden shouting startles Caleb.

  “Me?” Caleb says as the figure in red looks at him. “I’m no Kaleo… who are you?” The blind man speaks in a husky tone.

  “Your question matters not. Your quest for truth has led you to the Akache.”

  “With all due respect, I just want to go home with my friends.”

  The figure’s fingers grasp tighter around the blind man’s neck as his eyes roll back in his head. “Fate has no boundaries. Only eternity. It is of great importance that cooperation be at the forefront of your mind.”

  “You’ve got the wrong guy.” Caleb says, cautiously moving closer towards the figure as the guards stand still. “I’m just a kid, not some Kaleo, or whatever that is.”

  “Come to terms with your destiny. It’s the only hope for Akache’s survival.”

  “I don’t know who you are, and I don’t know who the Akache are. Where are my friends?” “I am Karnitu, commander and gatekeeper of Akache.”

  Karnitu sits and leans back in his chair on the platform. His long fingers sprawl out along the chair’s armrests. He glances into one of the surrounding spheres on the platform, as two figures drag Bree into the room.

  “Let go of me! Caleb, help me!” She cries out. Caleb attempts to rush towards her, only to be stopped by a wall of spears in his path.

  “Bree, are you hurt?”

  “No, I’m okay.”

  One sphere on the wall lifts out of its spot as Karnitu looks at it, drifting close to Bree, a mere few inches from her face. A mesmerizing light slowly releases from the sphere as Bree struggles to move away while the cloaked figures hold her in place.

  “Don’t do this, please!” Caleb shouts out. “What are they doing Caleb?” Bree cries out.