by Jess Petosa
Luke hadn’t noticed before, but Dr. Chal did show signs of old age. Exceptional bodies didn’t break down and wrinkle like Ordinarys, but their hair diminished to a silver color, and their abilities started to weaken.
He continued, “When your father came to see me, his abilities were far less than they are now. Even he was unsure of his use to the City at that time, considering himself the weakest of the trainees.”
“Why?” Luke asked.
“Because when Aden first came into the training center, he could only perform one ability. The ability to cancel gravity.”
Luke leaned back against the wall, gritting his teeth together and clenching his hands into fists. No wonder his father had been so excited back in the Institute. He had seen a younger version of himself in Luke, and he saw the potential for Luke’s abilities. And no matter how hard he tried to move in the opposite direction, it appeared that Luke was destined to become just like his father. Because despite what his father was putting him through, despite what he was doing to Ally, Luke couldn’t help but feel excited at all of the possibilities.
Chapter Nine
“She’s pretty,” a female voice said. It sliced through the silence that Ally had found herself trapped in for an undetermined period of time.
“She belongs to Aden’s son,” a different female voice spoke this time.
Ally tried to open her eyes, finding that her eyelids felt heavy and somehow sealed together.
“I think she is waking up,” the first female said.
Ally felt a small hand touch her arm. “Ally? Can you hear me?”
She attempted to open her eyes again and this time she succeeded. She blinked several times as her eyes adjusted to bright light overhead. Two female Ordinarys were leaning over her, assessing her condition.
“I don’t believe for one second that that Guard didn’t realize he was using an Exceptional tranquilizer on her and not an Ordinary one. He is lucky she didn’t die,” the female on the right, whom Ally identified as the second female voice she heard, said.
The first female just nodded her head. “I’m sure Aden will make him pay dearly.”
Ally wanted to tell them that Aden probably would have been thrilled had she died. He didn’t seem to have much interest in her other than using her to gain power over his son, and from what she could remember from after her fall at the Institute, he had gotten his way.
“How long was I out?” Ally’s throat was dry so her voice came out extremely hoarse.
“Here, drink some water.” The second female held a cup of water up to her mouth. “You’ve been asleep for four days.”
“Four days?” Ally attempted to sit up but the motion made her nauseous. She leaned back onto what appeared to be a small, white bed, and rubbed her head. “Where am I?”
The first female put on a friendly smile. “You’re in the infirmary. Now that you’re awake, Dr. Hudson will want to see you and make sure you are well enough to receive your own room assignment.”
She had hoped for a broader answer, one that explained what building she was in, but it didn’t seem like she was going to get it. She had heard Aden mentioned the ORC, but she still didn’t what exactly this place was used for. Was she in a hospital of some sort? Maybe an Ordinary processing building, a place for new Ordinarys entering the City?
“We’ll get the doctor”, the second female said before they both disappeared from the room. Ally closed her eyes again.
A few minutes later a male Exceptional entered the room. He was tall and thin, having to duck down when he stepped through the doorway.
“Glad to see you awake Ordinary J102.” He looked down at a small screen in his hand. It looked just like the one a Guard had used to check her into the city, and Ally had heard Sabine call it a porta-comp.
“J102?” she repeated slowly.
Dr. Hudson nodded. “Your identification number. Your permanent paper work came in yesterday morning.”
She raised her wrist and sure enough, the paper bracelet she received when she arrived in the City was gone. Dr. Hudson pulled some metal instruments from the pocket of his white coat and began to check Ally over. Back in the settlement they had a doctor, and he had many of the same instruments, except they were rusted and had been taped together in many places. Dr. Hudson helped her to sit up slowly and this time Ally didn’t feel dizzy. He checked her breathing, looked in her ears and mouth, and tested her reflexes.
“Thankfully the tranquilizer did no damage other than putting you to sleep for a few extra days. You seemed to have recovered from the effects well, and the blood panel we did when you first arrived came back normal.” Dr. Hudson picked up the porta-comp and pressed a few buttons. “I’ll have them come and take you to your assigned room now.”
It wasn’t long after he left that the two female Ordinarys from earlier returned to the room. They helped Ally off the table and led her out into the hallway. It was long, white, and well lit by large lights hanging from the tiled ceiling. She was led to the left and through a door at the end of the hall. They stepped into another hall just like the other one, except this one had a wide desk at the end. A female Exceptional sat at the desk, watching their approach.
“Wrist please,” she said in a malevolent voice.
The two females each held out their wrist and the Exceptional scanned their arms. Ally followed suit, surprised when the Exceptional held the scanner over her arm and something beneath her skin lit up blue.
“They implanted your micro-chip yesterday after your paperwork arrived.” The first female said as they walked past the desk.
Ally lifted her sleeve and gasped. “My mark. Where is my mark?”
The place where her Oak tree once appeared was now completely bare. Her skin smooth and shiny, as if nothing had ever been there. She ran her finger along the area and felt a small bump under the skin.
“All Ordinarys from the settlements having their marking removed when the micro-chip is implanted. It is a symbol of where you once lived, not where you currently reside. The micro-chip is your new marking”, the second female responded.
Ally fought back the tears that were threatening to spill from her eyes. She had never suspected that her mark would be taken away. It was the one thing she had left from home, and now even that was gone.
The next area they entered was best described as a large foyer. Another Exceptional sat behind a desk that was blocked off by a wall of glass. Two hallways ran in opposite directions, and benches filled the open space. Ally followed the females up to the window.
“We have a new Ordinary for processing”, the first female said through small holes in the window.
The Exceptional nodded and pressed a button on her desk. Moments later another female Exceptional appeared from the hallway to their right.
“I’ll take it from here.” She dismissed the two female Ordinarys and Ally watched them disappear back the way they had just come.
“This way, J102.” The Exceptional started back down the hallway and Ally jogged to catch up. “My name is Mrs. Hughes. We’ll have to stop in processing before I can take you to your assigned room.”
They entered a door on the right and entered a large room filled with instruments and beds like the room she had just seen the other doctor in. Mrs. Hughes led her to a shower in the back corner of the room.
“Undress and leave your clothes on the floor. You may then enter the shower.”
Ally waited for Mrs. Hughes to lead her to a changing area, or at least turn her back, but she did neither. Ally stripped down to nothing, trying not to feel embarrassed as her body was scrutinized.
“In you go.” Mrs. Hughes motioned to the shower and Ally stepped in. There were no levers or bottles of soap like at Luke’s. She faced the Exceptional and raised her hands in confusion.
Mrs. Hughes pressed a button on the wall and Ally found herself coated in a foamy, yellow substance. It tingled her skin and she instinctively closed her eyes, using her fingers to pinch
her nose. A stream of hot water followed the foam, followed by another coat of foam, a stream of cold water, and finally a large dryer that blew the water droplets from her body. Even her hair felt almost dry once the dryer finally turned off.
When she stepped from the shower another Exceptional had arrived in the room. This one braided Ally’s hair down her back and helped her dress into clean clothes. These particular clothes were a light yellow color rather than the muted grey she had become accustomed to. Ally was then led to one of the beds in the room and asked to sit on the end. The second Exceptional tied a piece of cloth above Ally’s elbow while Mrs. Hughes carried a tray over, lifting a needle into the air.
“I’m going to take some blood. Try not to move.”
Ally felt queasy by the time they filled six vials with her blood, and she was given a small cup of something sweet to drink. Whatever it was, Ally felt better almost immediately. Mrs. Hughes asked Ally to follow her, once again, and they stepped back into the hallway.
“You’ll be rooming with Ordinary M320,” Mrs. Hughes said as they walked.
The identification number didn’t mean anything to Ally, but she nodded her head anyway.
“She is from the same settlement as you.”
This information peaked Ally’s interest.
“Does it say her name? When did she arrive?” Ally’s settlement was large, but she knew there was a good chance she might recognize her roommate from home.
Mrs. Hughes shot her an annoyed look. “As I said, M320. When she arrived makes no difference to me, or to you for that matter. You will have time to discuss these details with her yourself once you are settled.”
This time when they exited the hallway, they entered a large round room. It was at least fifty yards across. The walls were lined with identical metal doors, and the center of the room held a few tables and some sofas. There was a stairwell to their right that led to up to another metal door, but Mrs. Hughes walked past it and to a door on the far right.
“Room 108.” She scanned her wrist on a screen to the right of the door and Ally heard it click open.
Mrs. Hughes pushed the door open and motioned for Ally to enter. She didn’t follow her inside, but stood in the doorway.
“Someone will be by to explain the rules and regulations, most likely before dinner time.” Mrs. Hughes took one last look at Ally and shut the door. Ally heard a beep and then the sound of the lock turning in the door.
“Hello?” a voice called out from behind her.
She turned slowly, taking in the room that was now to be hers. It was long and thin; holding two beds, a sofa, a TV, and minimal decorations. They didn’t even have a window. Everything in the room was white, which made the area bright, but Ally found it empty of emotion.
She found the source of the voice. A female Ordinary sat on her bed, brushing her flowing blonde hair out of its braid. Ally gasped, leaning against the wall for support.
“Willow?” her voice squeaked.
The girl stood and dropped the brush to the ground. She moved toward Ally and stopped just a few feet from her.
“Ally?” she whispered.
At that moment, whatever had been building up in Ally over the past several days let itself go. She fell to her knees and watched as the tears rolled off her cheeks and splashed to the tile floor below. It took her several minutes to stop crying. Willow kneeled on the floor next to her and rubbed her back, waiting for her to pull herself together. Ally had never been an overly emotional person, but right now she couldn’t seem to control her tears.
“Oh Ally,” Willow said from beside her. “How did you end up here?”
Ally looked up at Willow. Willow had been her best friend up until six months ago, when she had volunteered to come to the City. Ally was supposed to have volunteered as well, and should have arrived on the caravan with Willow.
“I wasn’t sure if I would ever see you again.” Ally used the sleeve of her shirt to wipe the tears from underneath her eyes.
Willow smiled. “Come on, let’s go to the to the sofa and talk.”
When they were settled in to the soft, white couch, Willow reached over and took Ally’s hand in her own.
“Will, I’m so sorry,” she said.
Willow held up her hand. “Don’t apologize. I never held you to your promise to volunteer. I would have no matter what. We each had to make our own choice, and your family relied on you more than mine did.”
Ally swallowed at the lump in her throat, holding back a second round of tears that threatened to spill down her cheeks. “Your family is doing well. Your brother is working closely with Po, just like Stosh. Your mother is still doing laundry, and your father is still a handyman. He fixed our roof this spring when we spouted a leak. He came over and just got up there in the pouring rain.”
Willow and Ally shared a laugh.
“That sounds just like him,” Willow said, taking a deep breath before she continued.
“So, how did you get here, Ally? Did you find a way to track down a Guard and volunteer?”
“Not exactly.” Ally looked at her lap. “I was jumping the boundary line.”
Willow gasped. “You finally did it?”
They had always talked about someday jumping the boundary line together, with Stosh in tow as well, but that dream had ended when Willow left the settlement. Now Willow would never get the opportunity to experience it, and Ally doubted Stosh would try after what happened to her.
Ally just nodded. “It had seemed so simple at the time. Then the Guards caught me. If I had known they would take me into custody and bring me to the City, I never would have done it.”
She filled Willow in on how Luke had come to her rescue in the woods, and the short time she spent in his house, getting to know the other Ordinarys that lived there. She briefly talked about Luke, explaining what she knew about him from their two short talks. She finished with the events at the Institute from a few days ago.
“I just woke up an hour or so ago, and now I’m here.” Ally picked at a broken nail on her finger.
“Whoa. I can’t believe that you are with Aden’s son.”
“I wouldn’t say with, he is kind to me and all, and part of me even believed he might like me, but we never got a chance to explore that possibility.” Ally laughed.
Willow giggled. “To think, my Allona, talking about starting a relationship with a boy. I always thought for sure that you would find a way to avoid getting married. You were such a free spirit, and an Ordinary unwilling to open your heart to love.”
Ally felt her cheeks redden, embarrassed to be described that way. Willow knew her so well.
Willow took her hand again. “By the way you are acting, I’m assuming you didn’t fulfill the ORC contract.”
Ally raised an eyebrow. “The ORC what?”
Willow patted Ally’s knee. “Your head must still be foggy from that tranquilizer. The contract, Ally. The one we are held to when an Exceptional chooses us for their service. Since Luke chose you, you must have both signed the contract.”
Ally shook her head. “I never signed a contract, but everything happened so fast. I only ever received one assignment and it is the one that put me here.”
“No one’s told you.” Willow’s skin grew paler and her words came out softly. “You have no idea where you are, do you?”
“No one’s told me what, Will?” Ally leaned closer to her best friend.
“ORC,” she stated the name of the center they were in. “Ordinary Reproduction Center. We’re here to be prepared for breeding with Exceptionals.”
Before Ally had a chance to respond, a female Exceptional pushed open the door and strolled into the room. She looked Ally and Willow over, a porta-comp held tightly against her chest.
“J102, come with me please.” Ally hesitated before getting up, still growing used to her new identification.
Willow gave her a reassuring nod and mouthed, We’ll talk later.
Ally followed the Exceptional o
ut in the circular room and was led to a room across the courtyard. They entered a room that was half the size of the one that Ally and Willow would be sharing. It held only a desk and two chairs. When the Exceptional took a seat behind the desk, Ally took that as a signal to sit down in one of the chairs.
A computer sat to the side and the Exceptional studied it. They had one computer back in the settlement, but it was slightly older and no one was allowed to touch it except for Po. The City had given it to him so that he could enter the wood production numbers, and send messages if he needed to. Sometimes he received messages from Aden, which he then relayed to everyone in the gathering hall.
“I see you are already under contract, which makes this somewhat easier. We have a signature from Mr. Lukin Mathias, so we’ll just need one from you.” The Exceptional clicked a button on the computer and a piece of paper printed from a device that sat on the floor. “I doubt you even know how to write.”
Ally tried to overlook how offensive that comment was. “You are correct.”
“Do you, Ordinary J102, give me the authority to sign this document for you.” The Exceptional sounded bored.
“Do I have a choice?”
“Not really.”
“Then go ahead,” Ally sighed. “Will you at least tell me what it says?”
The Exceptional looked annoyed that she had to answer a question. “Basically, your specific contract says that at a time of his choosing, Mr. Lukin Mathias will come collect you from ORC. You will then live with him, fulfilling your breeding duties, and hopefully produce one or more healthy children. Some Ordinarys are required to return to ORC after, but your contract specifically says that you will live out the remainder of your time in the City with Mr. Lukin Mathias.”
“Sounds fun,” Ally mumbled.
“Until then,” the Exceptional’s voice rose exceedingly, “you will be required to follow the rules put in place by the leaders and staff here at ORC. Each morning the schedule will be read out loud over the loudspeaker, and you will be required to follow it. You will also need to be on time. Always. Ordinarys here at ORC are kept on a strict diet, and are required to exercise to keep their bodies in the best health possible for reproduction. You will receive weekly tests to check your vitamin levels, and to assess your health at the time. If you follow these rules and stay out of trouble, things will be very nice for you here. Mr. Lukin Mathias is an outstanding Exceptional prospect, you are lucky to have him choose you.”