Anomalies

by Sadie Turner

  I’m spinning around and around, suspended from a vaulted ceiling, watching the world turn around me. I close my eyes because I’m so dizzy, and I call out for help, but no one is listening. There are grown-ups nearby, tall people in crisp black uniforms, who are laughing and ignoring my cries. I try to move my hands to stop myself from spinning, but they’re stuck; they’re pressed to my sides and swathed in silk, as if I am in a cocoon. Terrified, I finally open my eyes, which immediately rest on him. His name is Dorian. He told it to me earlier when we met at snack time. He gave me an extra cookie. Dorian is smart and he can already read from his older brother’s tablet. He is tall, like I am, but he is very, very skinny. I find strength as I look into his bright blue eyes. Silently, Dorian’s look encourages me. He will be there for me. He will protect me. And, although I can’t stop spinning, I know that I am safe.

  But Dorian starts crying. Suddenly, the pain is too much for him. I see hands choking him, large hands. I look at the face of the person who is hurting him. It is Claudia Durant. And she is smiling, as she feasts on his terror. I see her breathe in his life force as it leaves his body. I feel hands choking me. It is torturous, but I know if I can just focus on Dorian that I will be OK. But Dorian’s little body is now lifeless. Something has gone wrong. The hands that are clenched around my neck let go and rush over to Dorian. They pound on his chest, trying to revive him, but he is dead. I feel my own tears dry up as I try to be still, wishing I were invisible so that no one will kill me.

  I am lowered to the ground, and a large hand envelops my small hand, leading me back to the bunk. They think I am sleepwalking, Yet I am fully conscious. In fact, I feel stronger … stronger than I did before Dorian died.

  The large hands tuck me into a lower bunk bed in Bunk 4. I open my eyes and see Rane sleeping on the bed next to me. I don’t have to see Annika to hear her snoring in the bunk above Rane. We are all five years old and we are all being systematically tortured. I see the large hands pull Rane out of bed. It is her turn to be wrapped up with her intended partner, Edward, who is also from our community. They will be tied together and hung upside down, their energies siphoned from them like gasoline, giving energy to Sobek’s people while their own souls are fragmented.

  I want to warn Rane, but somehow I realize I am dreaming. After Rane, Annika will be tortured and then every girl and boy at the Summer Solstice session of Monarch Camp. During the day, we run and swim and play. During the night, we are systematically tortured in the stone building. We are part of operation MC-5. Everyone will survive the ordeal except seven people. Along with me, others have lost their intended partners. Kai Loren and Genesis Kraft have also been marked, unknown to anyone, as Anomalies.

  Ten years later, our names, along with four others, will be announced by Claudia Durant, the monster responsible for killing our intended partners a decade earlier.

  My eyes open suddenly, shocked by this new information. I see Lachlan and the Ilex sisters peering at me. I want to speak, but I can’t articulate anything.

  “Shhhh. Just relax, Keeva,” Lachlan says. “Ivy, give her another shot.”

  Ivy. That is the name of the Ilex sister. Ivy. Ivy and Holly.

  And I’m out.

  I’m now in the ocean. My ocean. Swimming. Today, I’m visiting my father at the Desalination Plant. He is busy in meetings, so I decide to go for a swim. Just beyond the heavily protected plant is a series of labyrinthine pipes that run several miles under the water. I am aware that this matches the drawing in my father’s notebooks and I see the pipes from a new perspective. Rather than seeing them up close, I am like a bird surveying the entire operation from above. I now know where the heart of the operation is. It is the red-capped carbon chamber in my father’s drawing.

  Ever since I was a little girl, I would swim in and out of the pipes, challenging myself to stay underwater as long as I could. Usually, I swim alone, but today there are several men working on the pipes. At first, I think they are my father’s colleagues. As I swim closer I see they are not wearing the requisite blue uniform. Instead, they are wearing Protectors colors. What are the Protectors doing here? As I swim closer, I see their black webbed fins and the snorkels, which allow them to breathe.

  The workers are busily swimming back and forth, putting some sort of liquid in the mainframe’s carbon chamber: The pipe with the red cap. What are they doing? I swim closer, and suddenly I can see how they are swimming so quickly. There is a black aura around them, a shimmering energy which allows them to move faster underwater. It encapsulates them and propels them. I look behind their masks, and instead of faces looking back at me, there are metallic orbs with light lavender eyes. These things are not human. One spies me and I race to get away. He chases me through the pipes.

  There is one section of the pipeline that is tighter to get through than the others. If I can only swim there, I may escape. I reach the compact area and swim through, my skinny torso and head just making it through. The Lien man is behind me. He swims toward me. His head makes it through the pipe; his body does not. He is stuck. I watch him screaming, but I do not help. He lasts for a minute, maybe more, until all the oxygen in his lungs has been replaced by carbon dioxide and water. He finally stops struggling. His enormous eyes bug out. He is dead.

  I blink my eyes. I have to wake up. This alternate reality trip down memory lane is both enlightening and terrifying. I had suppressed the dream of watching the man drown. I hadn’t been back to the pipeline since it happened. It was too traumatizing. I have to tell Taj what I have seen; just then I feel another injection in my arm, dragging me further under to the time in my life I most want to forget … and I most want to remember.

  Screams pierce through the early morning ocean air. My mother isn’t due to deliver her baby for several hours, but I sense the baby is coming right now.

  Voices inside my head tell me to hurry because I will only get to briefly meet my infant sister before she is taken away from me, and it will be over a decade until we are reunited. The wails become deafening as I race up the shore. When I push open the wooden door, the first thing I see is my mother lying on the bed in a pool of blood. Her eyes are being closed by a man in white clothes and a large turban whom I do not recognize.

  My mother is dead. A tiny blond baby lies quietly on the bed next to her, unaware of what is happening around her. My father, my rock, kneels on the floor next to my mother’s corpse. He is sobbing.

  “Mother,” my voice cracks. My life is over.

  “You must listen to your heart, Keeva,” the turbaned stranger warns, lowering his accented voice and forcing me to come closer to hear him. I instinctively know that he is a good person. A wise man.

  “Why?”

  “Understand, Keeva, that there will come a time when you are called upon to save this world. And it will not be an easy choice because sometimes you have to make great personal sacrifices for the greater good.”

  “You mean like hiding my sister?”

  “Yes, if we prevent her from being implanted with a Third chip, she could be a great help to us in the future.”

  “But I won’t see her?”

  “Not for a long time. However, she will be safe. I promise that I will keep her safe. When you are ready, when you are enlightened, you will know where to go.”

  “How will I know?”

  “Because that which we travel the world to seek is always in our own backyard. And when you are ready, the beacon of light will guide you toward your Sun.”

  I am now fully awake. And I think I know where my sister is.

  LIFE AS CALIX KNEW IT would never be the same

  Now that he was privy to the information about his heritage, now that he knew his father was responsible for secretly manipulating and exploiting humanity for ten thousand years, he needed to decide what to do with that information.

  His father refused to discuss his sister Taj. Perhaps if Calix could find his aunt, he might get a different perspective. Yet, Sobek had no intenti
on of introducing him to her, who he said was dangerous. Dangerous? Calix wondered what the world leader could possibly fear.

  Sobek knew his son was wavering. That his loyalties were conflicted. And as the consummate puppeteer, Sobek knew how to ultimately manipulate his son to the right side. To his side.

  To the side of power.

  I am awakened.

  The first thing I want to do with my newfound knowledge is to get out.

  I need to get to the elevator. I need to get above ground. I think I know where to start searching for my sister, so I can no longer commit my time to the Underground. I have to find Sun. But Taj made it very clear that once I am deprogrammed, I am supposed to stay in the Labyrinth and train before I can return above ground. I am not supposed to leave. I need to be indoctrinated to the revolutionary mindset before my reentry, and what Taj says is law down here.

  It makes me wonder if I’m just trading in one dictator for another.

  Still, I try to make a run for it. Once I wake up after the deprogramming, I pretend to sleep as the Ilex sisters chatter endlessly, discussing minutiae with their singsong rhymes before they finally decide to go to dinner. Once I am alone, I creep out of the tent and head toward the elevator. The main thoroughfare through the Labyrinth is empty: the revolutionaries are all at the dining tent. I make a beeline to the elevator, determined to leave. I wish I could say goodbye to Kai, but I need to find my sister. I arrive at the base of the elevator and realize that one needs a code to enter.

  To get in. To go up. To get out.

  There are number and letters on the holo keypad. I have no idea what to push. Frustrated, I tap several buttons, but nothing happens.

  “You need a code,” a small voice informs me.

  I spin around. Zilli is standing just beside me.

  “How did you … what are you doing here?” I sputter.

  “I followed you,” she says simply, “from the tent.”

  “Why?”

  “Because you are going to save humanity.”

  “Listen, Zilli. I really wish you’d stop saying that. I have to go somewhere.”

  “Where?”

  “Somewhere.”

  “You can’t go.” Zilli starts to pout.

  “I have to.”

  “That’s not the plan.”

  “The plan’s changed.” I am losing my patience. “What’s the code?”

  “I’m not telling you.” Zilli crosses her arms in front of her.

  “Zilli, please. I have to find my sister. She’s like you. She needs to find her family.”

  “This is my family,” Zilli says stubbornly, “and you are supposed to help us.”

  “I can’t, I have to go.”

  “But I don’t want you to go.”

  I’ve never argued with a child before. There’s no logic behind their reasoning. I crouch down to her level, “Listen, Zilli. It’s very important that I go. I promise that I’ll come back and I’ll bring you someone to play with. Someone close to your age.”

  “How do I know you’ll come back?” Zilli pouts.

  She has a point. I don’t know myself that I’ll want to come back. I can’t enter the elevator without her help and she is too young to reason with. I remember Rane’s constant fights with her baby brother. The only way she could get what she wanted was to bribe him. I have nothing to give, except …

  “Zilli, what if I give you something very special. Something that is so important to me that I will want to come back for it.” I look at my wrist. The bandanna my father gave me is still wrapped around it. It gives me both strength and a tangible memory of him. I untie it and wrap it around her tiny wrist.

  “This is a present from my father. It is the most precious thing I own. Will you hold onto it until I get back?”

  Zilli nods. She is thrilled with her new present, although still reluctant to let me leave.

  “Do you know the code to get into the elevator?” She nods.

  “Can you please tell it to me?” I am trying very hard to be patient.

  “OK,” she finally says. “The code is PROTECTORS333.” Zilli turns to leave.

  “Thank you,” I call behind her and punch in the letters and numbers. As I tap the last number three, I expect the door to hiss open. Instead, a loud wail emits from the elevator. An alarm. I’ve been fooled by an eight-year-old. I stand, hands in the air, as the first people on the scene approach, weapons raised.

  And deliver me back to Taj’s tent.

  “I must say, Keeva, I’ve never had someone try to escape from the Labyrinth. You are the first.”

  “I want to go up,” I say. Even though Taj has offered me a seat, I stand.

  “I appreciate your spirit,” Taj chuckles. “Sometimes what we think we are looking for, isn’t what we are looking for at all.”

  “What does that mean? Why do you talk in so many riddles?”

  “Because humans have gotten intellectually lazy. You expect the answers given to you instead of working for them.” She sighs, “It’s why it was so easy for my brother to take over. He specializes in instant gratification.”

  “I just want to go.” Now I feel like a petulant child.

  Taj walks over to the large bookshelf and pulls out an ancient leather bound book. “Have you ever read this?”

  I can’t help myself as I grab the book from her. I’ve wanted to touch a real book my entire life. I inhale the musky scent and greedily touch every inch of the leather binding. I turn the pages, touching the smooth paper, thrilled to see the printed words neatly typed across the pages. It is The Art of War by Sun Tzu.

  “No.”

  “I have no idea what you just said.”

  “It’s the ancient language of the Asias,” Taj says. “It is said that if you know your enemies and know yourself, you can win a hundred battles without a single loss. If you only know yourself, but not your opponent, you may win or may lose. If you know neither yourself nor your enemy, you will always endanger yourself.”

  “So, you’re saying I don’t know myself.”

  “Not yet. You will.”

  “How?” I demand. I am so frustrated. I feel like I’ve spent my entire lifetime trying to figure out who I am and I’m not anywhere closer than when I started.

  “Trust yourself. Trust your instincts,” Taj says as she unhinges her octopus bracelet and puts it on my newly bare wrist. Suddenly, tiny eight legs shoot out of the octopus’s body. The legs seem to have a life of their own as they mechanically wind up my arm before locking shut. It is as if I am wearing a piece of medieval armor.

  “Whoa. How did they do that?” I say, looking at the eight legs, which now cover my forearm. “When you wore the bracelet, the octopus’s legs were curled around the metal cuff. Now they’re extended onto my arm.”

  Taj grabs a stick and calligraphies a word into the sand.

  “C-E-L-P-H?” I say, spelling the word slowly. “What does that mean?”

  “This Celph is an ancient artifact from Babylonia. It is a talisman with unique powers which only its wearer can unlock.”

  “Is it magic?” I wonder, trying to manipulate the bracelet; yet it stays fast.

  ‘Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic. Arthur C. Clarke said that, and he’s right. From my multimillennium of lifetimes, I can testify to that.”

  “You said it’s an ancient artifact. So, how can it be advanced technology?”

  “Indeed.” Taj smiles but elucidates no further. Another riddle.

  I touch the cool metal, entranced by its beauty. “Why are you giving it to me?”

  “Why did you give your father’s bandanna to Zilli?”

  “So she would trust me.”

  “Exactly.” Taj smiles, “Your instincts are strong, they just need to be honed. You think you’re a guppy, but you are really an octopus … one of the smartest warriors on this planet and a defender of the sea. Like their arms, they are not limited to a couple of strategies; they have eight ways to d
efend themselves against their predators. Octopi can do everything to defeat their enemies, from offensively squirting ink to defensively camouflaging themselves to hide. Like you, they are fast swimmers. Take the artifact, Keeva. It will help you when things look most bleak.”

  “How will it help me?” I am entranced by this stunning piece of jewelry.

  “It has powers which can only be unlocked when you truly know yourself.”

  “Then I’ll never unlock it,” I mutter.

  “You need to start believing in yourself, Keeva. You have two options … you can be a great leader, or you can disappear. If you choose to embrace your greatness, this bracelet will help. It allows the wearer to access bits of unused DNA … giving access to extra memory, unrivaled speed, ultra-strength. You name it.”

  “How will I know when it starts to work?” I ask.

  “You’ll know. The Celph will show you.” She walks to the tent entrance and opens the flap, suggesting that our conversation is over. “Spend a couple of weeks down here, Keeva. Watch. Listen. Learn.”

  “Do I have a choice?”

  “No.” Taj smiles as she ushers me out.

  I have to give her credit. At least she didn’t sugarcoat it.

  CALIX SULKED IN HIS ROOM. It was another Saturday night and he was stuck in his father’s penthouse.

  Calix’s misery was interrupted by a buzzing at the door. He entered the main room just in time to his father opening the door for his four best friends.

  “This is so awesome,” Calix’s best friend Rao said, looking around as he entered.

  “Wait. What are you doing here?” Calix asked, as Rao was followed by Byron, August, and Emmet.

  “What are they doing here?” Calix demanded as Sobek graciously ushered the boys in.

  “I know I’ve been hard on you, Son. So, I thought I’d organize a little surprise sleepover. Something spontaneous and fun for you.”

  “A surprise sleepover?” Calix felt himself parroting the words back to his father. Something was wrong. Something was very wrong. Sobek didn’t have a spontaneous bone in his body. Everything he did was calculated.