by Chris Ramos
The porch monitor chimed once again, an indication the visitor had not scanned the palm plate. Hester placed the glass on the counter quickly and rushed to the door. She had assumed it was Cole because she wasn’t expecting any visitors, but if it were Cole, he would have scanned the plate and let himself in. Now there was someone here to visit and Hester had rudely made him or her wait. She was always thinking of someone other than herself.
She opened the door and greeted a sturdy-looking man in a long white trench coat. At first Hester thought he was a Collector, possibly informing her of a neighborhood meeting. Her identification was half wrong, for this man wore a long trench coat much like the Collectors, except his was embroidered along the bottom edge with dark, rolling clouds.
“Hello, ma’am, I am the Praetor of Sector 655. I am looking for your nephew, Cole. Has he been in today?” the Praetor asked.
“Actually, I thought you were Cole. I haven’t seen him in some time. He left this morning with a friend of his.”
“Has he contacted you lately to check in? Or possibly told you when he would be back?”
“Well, to tell you the truth, it is really up to him whether he comes back tonight or not. He is smart enough to take care of himself.” Aunt Hester thought he was rather pushy.
“Yes, he is quite smart, and very gifted. What is the name of his friend?”
“I have to go now. I’ll tell him you were here when he comes back home.” She moved back into the foyer and motioned to close the door, hoping he would take the hint and go on with his day.
“Well, that won’t be necessary. How about I wait here for Cole, just a short while?”
“No, I don’t think that would be necessary, thank you. Mr. . . . ?”
He stepped into the house. His brilliant white trench coat came swirling in behind him.
Aunt Hester couldn’t argue with him; he was obviously a high-ranking official with LifeSpan, but she knew this was wrong. There was no reason for a Collector or any LifeSpan official to enter a home without a resident expiring. Still, she did not resist his entry and showed him to the kitchen, where he could sit at the round table.
“Would you care for some wine?”
“No, thank you. I will not intrude,” the Praetor ironically replied.
“I’ll just be upstairs, straightening up a few things. The wine is on the counter here. I’ll leave an empty glass out in case you change your mind.”
Aunt Hester went upstairs and glanced one final time to check that he was still sitting at the table. She had to get ahold of Cole and tell him to stay away tonight. This visitor wasn’t sitting too easy with her.
When she reached her room, the door swished open and she ran to grab her digiscreen and call Cole. Hiding behind her bed, she scrolled through the address cards on her screen and tapped Cole’s picture with her forefinger. The connection was initiated.
Thump thump. Pause. Thump thump. Pause.
Finally he picked up.
“Cole, this is Aunt Hester. Just stay out tonight. I hope you are having a good time. There’s no rush to come home, nothing going on here. Emma is a nice girl. You two seem to be doing great together. That’s all I had to call for. Just don’t come home tonight. OK?”
She waited for his response after blurting out her frantic ramblings.
“Cole? Hello?” Aunt Hester looked down at her screen. The connection was still active, but there was no response. Then a familiar voice came across the transmission.
“I think you should come back down to the kitchen. We have a few things to discuss,” the Praetor said.
THE FALLEN
Cole was speechless. He had never heard of anyone living without nanos. It was the core of their entire civilization. It was their identity. Here he was, standing across from the girl who had shown him how to be so free-willed, and yet, she was the one who was free. More free than anyone alive. Really living, except for one crucial point. Cole became frantic, his mind whirling.
“What if you are injured? Is that why you are hiding from LifeSpan? What now? Who did this to you?” Cole stepped toward her, reaching to cover her, needing to hide her from the world. He could be her protector now.
“It was my choice, Cole. The girl I was is dead. Jennifer Jackson expired for LifeSpan, and when she did, I took a new name. I am Emma Goldstein now. Everything you know about me, everything you love about me, is Emma. You wouldn’t have liked me when I was Jennifer. I was blinded by LifeSpan, as is everyone else. I was lost.”
“So we move away from anything to do with LifeSpan scans, we live and . . .”
“You don’t get it. I can’t just run off and abandon the Movement. We’ve all worked too hard to quit now.” Emma swept her hand across the air, gesturing at the complex. She knew this would be his reaction. To run. To hide. She would have to toughen him up if he were going to finish the planned road before him. The Movement had a destiny for Cole, and it was already in motion. She couldn’t let him run. How could she keep him here and . . .
“I’ll join. Obviously, I don’t have a future at LifeSpan, and even though they haven’t done anything to me personally, I’ll stand by you,” Cole pledged.
“You don’t know what you’re asking. You may still have a chance to live a normal life.” Emma tried to hide her excitement. He was hooked. The Movement would continue.
“I can’t live a normal life without you. We can still move away, and stay in contact with everyone else. I’ll tell my aunt I have to leave, to move out. Then we drop off of the grid, we . . . what’s wrong?”
Emma’s face had dropped; she was pale.
“Cole, your aunt’s house is empty by now. They would know. She has probably already been taken.” Emma always knew this wasn’t a game. Real consequences were the result of her actions. Emma had to be callous; she had to distance herself from the “others,” those who were still under the influence of LifeSpan, including Cole’s aunt, a casualty who would be sorely missed, but a necessary casualty for the betterment of the whole. She looked at Cole, and a wash of emotions fell over her again. She was trained to distance her mind from any emotional contact with the “others.” However, she couldn’t finish her mental disconnect, not when she looked at Cole. She couldn’t ignore his reaction to his aunt’s house, the only home he knew.
Cole had never thought of that. Like a fool, he was worried about his employment at LifeSpan. If they were criminals, they would surely trace him back to his family. The only family he had was his aunt.
“We have to go get her. Maybe they haven’t arrived yet. We could call her!”
“No, Cole, it’s too risky. We have to wait here, let things calm down.”
“Emma, I can’t lose her.” Cole stood, reaching a hand for her. “I sat by when LifeSpan stole my own mother. I even helped them!”
“This time is different. You are an enemy of LifeSpan. There is not a promotion at the end of this day.” Emma tried to reason with him, but there was a new resolve in him. He found it, that elusive backbone of his.
“My aunt needs the two of us. With your sneaky hiding in the shadows, whatever spinning kick things you do,” Cole teased. “And my amazing ability to point at people waiting to be kicked, we are unstoppable!”
“Great. Let’s go find someone to chop,” Emma agreed.
She had a real bad feeling about this.
Later that night, Cole was hiding behind the largest tree in Aunt Hester’s backyard. Emma crouched along the blackberry bushes lining the property, about twenty yards from Cole. They had taken a non-linear route to her home, watching for any signs of Collectors. Emma moved along houses, through bushes and across garden beds without a sound or any sign of her passing.
His path looked like he was dragging an angry tiger by the tail.
Cole crouched, pivoting his body, and peeked around the trunk. The house was quiet. Dark. He ducked back again. It was possible Aunt Hester was not home. She could have broken her routine and gone for a walk, or was at a neighbor’s
house. He knew that was a stretch.
Emma was motioning to him. She pointed at the second floor.
Cole peeked again and clearly saw his aunt walk in front of the window, the lights dimming as she left the room.
She is home. I will go get her. You stay here, Cole mouthed the instructions slowly, patting the air and walking his two fingers on his palm.
Emma rolled her eyes. She could read lips. Ridiculous.
Cole reached the door, placed his hand on the plate and with a swish, he stepped inside. The lights turned on when he entered. He raced upstairs, trying to catch his aunt on her way down. She was sitting on the top step, arms folded across her knees. She looked like she had been crying for many hours.
“Cole. What have you done?” Aunt Hester whispered.
“I have come back for you.” Cole grabbed her shoulders. “We can leave now. I brought friends. Come with me. It isn’t safe here.”
“Well,” a husky voice broke in. “You have that much correct.” The Praetor stepped out from Aunt Hester’s room and into the hallway. Cole leaped back. “Now here, lets talk about these friends of yours.”
Cole immediately retreated down the stairs. His exit was blocked by a Collector at the base, looking up at him. The Praetor at the top, Collector at the bottom.
Great, a Cole sandwich with a side of bad luck, he lamented.
“Cole.” Hester’s voice was calm. “Your mother warned me this might happen. You are so much like her.”
“What would she do in this spot?” Cole asked.
“Don’t waste this moment now. It’s all I can give you. She would RUN!”
Hester pulled her digiscreen from the folds of her shirt, spun around, and smashed the screen into the side of the Praetor’s face. He stumbled back, leaving a small opening for Cole to dive through. Cole did not waste a second. He ran down the hallway to the rear window facing the back yard.
“Window thirteen, open maximum!” Cole screamed as he plummeted through. The window popped open, and he rolled onto the first-floor rooftop.
Cole slid across the inclined surface, kicking and grabbing to slow his descent.
I can angle to the tree, grab a branch and lower myself to the ground, Cole thought.
He fell off the roof, smashing into the young tree. He twisted through the branches, still trying to desperately grab at anything. He missed every branch and hit the ground hard.
Emma was watching the windows for any sign of movement. She looked around the yard, surveyed the neighbors. She listened to the birds and commotion of animals around her. Emma knew signs of unrest. She also knew when it was too quiet, and right now, this was not right. Cole was not prepared for this. She knew if he was given the choice to fight or run, he would try to run.
Probably trip and fall in the process, she thought.
On cue, Cole smashed onto the roof, slid across the house, and dived face-first into a tree.
Just great! Emma broke from her cover and ran to the house. Was he blind? Were his hands bound? There really was no other explanation for his lack of control in that escape.
Emma reached him as he fell from the tree canopy, rolled him over and shook him violently. She knew they didn’t have much time if he was already fleeing the home. They must be here. His eyes fluttered and he recognized Emma.
“Collectors. Here,” Cole stammered, still too hurt to get up.
Emma reached into her bag and pulled forth a small silver ball. She ran her fingers along the sides, found the impression, pushed hard and shook the ball. At first, a faint glow was visible between her fingers, and it grew more intense with each shake.
With her other arm, she pulled Cole up as the door broke open.
The Collector stepped out, billy club in hand.
“Close your eyes!” Emma yelled to Cole and threw the ball at the Collector’s white coat.
Unfortunately, Cole never took direction well, and his reflexes were even worse. The ball burst into pure light, blinding the Collector and burning into Cole’s vision. The world oversaturated. He stumbled back, blinking wildly.
“What was that?! I can’t see anything,” Cole yelled at Emma.
“I told you to close your eyes!” Emma pushed him through the yard.
“Well, I thought you were talking to the Collector!” Cole knew she was running. Her voice was trailing away and he could not keep up.
“Why would I warn him?!” Her voice was farther away. He continued running even as his nanos healed his eyes. His surroundings were clearer now, and he never slowed.
Cole ran as fast as he could through yards, across streets, and jumped over bushes and around pools. On he ran.
Emma knows where we are going, Cole thought as he ran. Emma. My new life on the run with Emma, leaving a trail of destruction.
His heart was beating so loudly, he was afraid it was a homing beacon for the Collectors to track him through the city. He jeopardized his entire future at LifeSpan. He was one of the most respected employees, easily climbing in his field. He had promise. He turned in his own mother for LifeSpan. He abandoned his Aunt Hester for the Movement. What a mess.
How did it all come down to this frantic run through the city, Collectors on him like a cat on the trail of a foolish mouse?
Yes, Cole thought, that is what I am, a foolish mouse. Led to a trap by a chunk of cheese named Emma.
Cole rounded the corner and slammed into a solid wall. For a moment, his surroundings blinked out, and he knew he was falling. Not knowing which way was up, his mouth smashed into the pavement, his teeth cutting into the back of his lips. His hands fumbled around for leverage as he tried to pull his knees under his body.
Cole heard screaming, but it seemed so distant. His mind told him it was a woman’s voice, possibly his mother’s. How could she be here? Filled with false hope, Cole opened his eyes, expecting to see her warm smile beaming down at him. Through blurry vision, with the salty taste of blood in his mouth, Cole looked up at the wall that impeded his escape. Funny, he thought, I never saw a wall with white boots.
From her hiding spot, Emma saw Cole fall and knew he wouldn’t be getting back up anytime soon. Two Collectors were looking down at him, talking to each other. She hunched down lower, as the ugly one waved his white billy club in wide sweeping motions. He’s trying to find me, but that won’t work on me. Emma thought. What can I possibly do now? There’s no way I can drag Cole away with those watchdogs standing over him.
She needed a distraction, which was her only recourse. Slowly, she inched backward down the sloping hill and ran in a large circumventing route to arrive behind Cole and his two towering captors. Looking around, she spied a ladder leading to the rooftop. A perfect place to throw something far.
She began the climb, quiet as a mouse, keeping Cole in her peripheral vision. This is crazy. Why don’t I just leave him? I can return to the Movement, safe. What do I need to risk my life for a compromised assignment?
Emma reached the rooftop and scuttled over to the edge, looking down at her targets from three stories higher. There has to be something up here that I can throw. Hopefully, they’ll run after it like a dog chasing a toy. Then I’ll . . . then what? Climb back down and drag Cole away before they return?
Well, it’ll have to be a far throw.
Emma quietly stalked around the roof and found a loose brick she could pry from its spot. Feeling the weight in her hand, testing its mass, she took a few steps and threw the brick as far as she could into the brush she was hiding in moments before.
Both of the Collectors immediately looked in that direction, but failed to give chase. They stood for what seemed like hours, staring in the direction of the decoy brick.
C’mon, take the bait. It’s me out there. Go get me, Emma’s thoughts were screaming in her head.
Silently willing the Collectors to take the bait, her elbows were aching with the stress of holding her head above the stout wall that lined the roof. Incredulously, the two Collectors turned their heads slowly
, and looked right at her. Sucking in her breath, she ducked quickly.
Did they see me? Should I run? she thought.
“Hello, girly.” A grating voice was unexpectedly behind her.
Emma felt a cold chill run along her spine. She rolled onto her stomach, and her eyes widened as a Collector stepped over her and grabbed her by the neck. Easily lifting her, she kicked and screamed to no avail. He made his way to the edge of the roof, and began the descent from the building’s ladder, dragging her along as she choked and struggled. Emma grabbed at his wrist, clawed at his face, and pumped her legs like she was out-swimming a shark. The Collector did not alter his course, and he regrouped with his cohorts.
“Here is the little one giving us the run around. That must be her boyfriend,” he said. “She was trying to help him. How cute,” Ugly Collector was telling his companions.
I knew there were three. Emma’s head was throbbing as he dropped her to the ground next to Cole. Desperately trying to fill her lungs with air, she had nearly passed out when the Collector was clamped down on her neck. She looked over and saw Cole open his eyes to meet her.
“Didn’t leave me, huh?” he smiled weakly.
“I thought about it. But something held me back.”
“Oh yeah, and what was that?” He started to cough.
“I love you too, Cole,” she replied softly.
He stared back at her, dumbfounded.
“Did you just—”
“Yes, I said it, now shut your mouth.”
That was an easy thing to do. He didn’t know how to respond anyway. This wasn’t exactly how this moment was supposed to play out.
He felt the end of a billy club press into his temple. Incredible pain overtook his body, unconsciously curling him into the fetal position. Emma screamed. His entire body was convulsing, jaws clenched, muscles tightened. The pain subsided when the club was pulled away.