daynight

by Megan Thomason

  “What happened to my memories?”

  “Where did I live before and what was it like?”

  “If I got blown to bits how’d my body get put back together?”

  Vienna Darcton turns to me and says, “You’re lucky we made that deal about Blake before this.” I nod. There’s no use trying to convince her that this isn’t Blake’s handiwork.

  “How can I help?” I ask.

  “We have a strict protocol on how to deal with these situations,” she says. “Watch and learn. And never contradict.”

  Vienna steps forward and signals the security commander to blow a loud whistle, which stifles the masses. Although her demeanor had been stiff and businesslike with me, she softens as she addresses the crowd. Smiles and disarms them with her warmth. I’m surprised to see that she’s capable of showing emotion.

  “Greetings, Garden City residents. Thank you for bringing us your concerns tonight, although I assure you they are unfounded. Regardless, we invite each couple to meet with Council members and staff to have your worries addressed personally,” she says. As she says this a large group of what appears to be remaining Council members and doctor staff pair off and approach each couple, walking them off towards the psychiatric clinic where Ethan, Jared and I had been imprisoned. All the couples cooperate, except Bri and Tristan, who refuse to leave without talking to me.

  Bri looks like she’s been crying, her face a mess of mascara and eyeliner. She grabs my arm and says, “Kira, we need to talk to you. You need to tell us whether what Blake told us is true. Did we go to high school with you on a place called Earth? Did we die in an explosion?” I can sense the doubt in her voice as she says it out loud. The story, albeit true, sounds preposterous. It’s obvious who Blake targeted to incite the crowd. I’m sure he’d been more than happy to dump a whole load of guilt on them.

  Vienna pats Bri on the shoulder in an effort to comfort her and says, “Kira and I will personally answer your questions. Just follow us.” Then, she whispers in my ear. “Lie. They’ll have the hardest time letting go of the truth since they were given details.”

  Vienna leads us to a small room in the clinic with a table and chairs. She directs us to sit. A mirrored wall leads me to believe we’re being watched. Despite a member of the Ten being there Tristan and Bri unload everything Blake told them. My friendship with Bri and relationship with Tristan. Tristan and Bri’s affair. The Goodington party. The explosion. A sordid tale of betrayal and just desserts.

  “Wow,” I say when they’re done. “That’s quite the story. But it’s not true. I’m sorry. Blake was just messing with you. It’s clearly revenge for you drugging me at that party, Tristan. He unleashed his rather overactive imagination on you.” I’ve had plenty of practice masking my emotions, so it’s unlikely my face will reveal it’s a lie.

  “Are you sure?” Bri asks. “I really felt like it was true and, as much as I try, I can’t remember anything that happened before I came here. No one can.”

  “We’ve brought in a doctor who may be able to help,” Vienna says. “She specializes in helping people with their memories. She uses a combination of medications and mental exercises. Would you like to give it a try? The process takes a couple nights, but it is well worth it.”

  “Will the medicine hurt the baby?” Bri asks, rubbing the not-yet-existent bump on her belly. Tristan squeezes her in tightly as if that will protect her from whatever Vienna Darcton has planned.

  “Not at all,” she says, taking Bri’s hand in hers. “We’d never do anything to harm your baby. That life you are carrying inside you is precious.” Bri and Tristan both relax.

  “Well then, yes,” Bri says. “We’d like to meet with the doctor.”

  “We will send her right in,” Vienna says, getting up to leave.

  “Could we have a moment with Kira?” Bri asks. Vienna nods and then leaves. She’ll be watching. “I just wanted to ask you again without her in the room. Are you positive there’s no truth to what Blake said? If so, what we did would be unforgivable.”

  “Positive,” I say. “And, even if it were true, which it isn’t, it would be forgivable. I’d forgive you.” A little risky, but I needed to say it. I needed them to know in some small way that I’m over it and forgive them.

  “I didn’t sleep a wink thinking I’d betrayed you like that,” Bri says. “Is everything okay with you and Blake?”

  “I’m sorry you lost sleep over it and am really sorry Blake did that to you,” I say, avoiding a discussion about my failed relationship with Blake.

  “He took us into some creepy tunnel behind our house. Why would there be a hidden passageway into our pantry?” she asks.

  “They are probably delivery tunnels. I wouldn’t worry about it,” I say.

  “Do you trust that woman?” Tristan asks of Vienna Darcton. “Will the doctor really help with our memories?”

  “Yes to both,” I say. I put my hand on Bri’s arm for effect. Vienna Darcton will absolutely send in a memories expert to help them. Erase their memories of Blake’s indiscretion, that is. “I’m going to go and see if I can find Blake. He’s got some answering to do for this.” We say our farewells and a kind-faced lady in a white coat passes me as I leave.

  A security guard opens an adjacent door for me to enter and join Vienna. I watch as she gives them some medication and then hypnotizes them. It only takes about an hour, but apparently she’ll repeat the process every six hours for two nights. Vienna explained that most people only need two to three treatments, but given the specific details Blake unleashed on them, they’ll need more extensive therapy.

  “You should understand that the alternative isn’t possible,” Vienna says to me. “Second Chancers come here happy and stay happy. Introducing a troubled past creates guilt, worry, comparisons, and trauma that they can’t handle. They can never go back to Earth. And in most cases they wouldn’t want to. But they might think they do and that can only cause pain.”

  “Indeed,” I say, agreeing with her. My recent memories of Earth are all about pain.

  For some strange reason, Vienna Darcton invites Ethan and me to sit through the last hour of the city head’s meeting to hear a portion of the overall recommendations they’ll be giving to Earth’s delegates tomorrow night.

  A rotund man with a bad comb over proceeds to read the minutes from the meeting and within moments I’m nodding off.

  “I know that voice,” I say to Ethan. “That’s the dude from the training videos. If they want anyone here to retain any information they should really let someone else read. He gives new meaning to the word monotone.” Ethan nods his agreement.

  “I guess I’ll have to entertain you then,” he says. “Or you can use me as a pillow. Up to you.” I snuggle up next to him and put my head on his shoulder, taking care to avoid his bandaged arm.

  “I’m exhausted. Your mom kept me up half the day watching the experts extract the unpleasant memories Blake provided to the Second Chancers,” I say. “They were all pretty messed up over it.”

  “Have you heard from Blake?” he says.

  “Nope. Who knows if he’s even still in the city. He has to know he painted a giant target on his head by inciting the Second Chancers to riot,” I say.

  “He wouldn’t leave without saying goodbye to you,” Ethan says. “Or taking you with him.” His voice trails off and I can tell he thinks it’s a distinct possibility that I’ll be heading off into the desert with Blake ‘any time now.’

  “I’m not going anywhere,” I say, looking directly into his eyes to show how serious I am. “Leaving would be counterproductive to the health and happiness of my friends and family.” Plus I doubt Blake really will try to come rescue me and whisk me off with him. I’d have to decline, for the safety of my family, and that would make the break from him harder.

  “What about your happiness?” he says. What about it? I once thought I was happy with Tristan, but that was a joke. My best friend wasn’t a true friend to me. Blake chose h
is father’s fight over the hope of a happy life with me. And the fun I’d had vacationing with Ethan at home ended with my parents’ deaths. Since back, I’ve been angry, confused and torn between Blake and Ethan… anything but happy.

  “I’m good,” I lie. I bargained away my happiness to save Blake’s life and keep my family safe here on Thera. That’s good, right? “How are you, though? With your dad and everything?”

  “I could be better,” he says. He takes my hand, squeezing it tight, and then intertwining his fingers with mine. We sit silently for a couple minutes, each of us needing the other’s company but not knowing what it should or can mean under the circumstances.

  “You know how much I care about you, right?” he finally says, shifting his body weight to look at me with an expression that could melt the hardest of hearts. We still haven’t had ‘the discussion’ about his feelings for me and whether I return them. It didn’t seem appropriate after the scene at Headquarters and I don’t think I’m ready for it.

  “Yeah. I care about you, too,” I say. Even though he loves me, I’m glad he didn’t put me in the awkward position of having to return the sentiment, given my feelings for Blake and generally being unsure about the whole love thing after two strikeouts in a row.

  We’re both shocked to attention when we hear a recommendation from one of the remaining Ten to locate and execute Blake for his role in the Exiler’s attack, and for creating unrest with the Second Chancers. Blake’s father had executed the man’s Cleave. She was a member of the Grand Council.

  “That is not possible,” Vienna Darcton says. “The boy will not be harmed.”

  “You are hardly unbiased in the matter,” the man accuses. “Blake Sundry’s father shot my Cleave.”

  “And his men shot mine,” Vienna says. “But we’re not going to punish the boy for his father’s actions.”

  “We can punish him for what he told the Second Chancers. The Canon is clear that discussing the past is cause for immediate Exile,” the man says.

  “Mr. Stockly, I’m the senior member of the Ten here and must ask you to stand down. You’re well aware of the circumstances of Mr. Sundry’s pardon. In fact, if you haven’t noticed, we have two guests in attendance tonight—my son, Ethan and Ms. Kira Donovan,” she says.

  “Ah, the well-behaved and obedient son,” Mr. Stockly says. “Welcome to both of you,” he says, motioning towards us. While we’d been able to disappear into the room’s corner prior to the introduction, every eye is on us now and I feel incredibly awkward. I straighten up, but keep hold of Ethan’s hand. Who cares what they think. Mr. Stockly scoffs at us and says, “I guess their display is meant to cement Ethan as the choice for Kira’s Cleave?”

  “Kira and Ethan are close friends who, as you know, were present at the unfortunate circumstances that transpired in this building with the Exilers. They and I are not trying to imply anything,” Vienna says. Did she just defend us in front of the remaining Ten and Council?

  “Ms. Donovan,” Mr. Stockly says. “You are aware of your role as the new mother of Thera? And that the role of father is still up for grabs?” I stand to address him.

  “Yes. Though let’s be clear. There are two ‘fathers of Thera’ regardless of whether you choose to acknowledge them both. Ethan and Blake must be equally qualified or I assume you wouldn’t have used them to fertilize my eggs before implanting our babies in my friends,” I say. I can see Vienna hide a smile at my bluntness.

  “Yes, all your offspring will be important to the future of Thera, assuming they are healthy,” Mr. Stockly says. “However, you will be required to Cleave one of Ms. Darcton’s sons and together be the face of our future. Do you have an opinion?” I see Vienna shoot Mr. Stockly a deathly glare. What does he mean by one of her sons? I thought the only candidates were Blake and Ethan? I know Ethan has no sisters, but for some reason I never asked him about brothers. Of course, I do have an opinion, but I’ll hardly share it in an open forum. My only option for staying alive is to pretend to go along with their plans for me and bide my time until I can figure out a way out.

  “As I have told Ms. Darcton, I will submit to the will of the Ten and the Council on this matter,” I say. “I wasn’t aware of any other sons, though. Are there more fathers of my children running around Garden City? On Earth that kind of thing would really be frowned upon.” I look to Ethan who appears as confused as I am.

  “She hasn’t told you?” Mr. Stockly says. Told me what? I shake my head. Vienna stands up and starts to cross the room, shaking her head and wagging her finger. She looks like she wants to hurt him. “Both Blake and Ethan are Ms. Darcton’s biological children. After Ethan was born with difficulties, more children were created to ensure a healthy line of Original offspring. Why do you think Ms. Darcton agreed to spare Blake’s life without consulting with the rest of the Ten and the Council?”

  A full-scale argument breaks out in the Council room. I’m too floored to contribute anything more. Ethan looks extremely pale. Blake is his brother. I will be forced to Cleave one brother over the other, and there’s no way that can end with warm and happy feelings in the family.

  “I didn’t know,” Ethan says, his voice hoarse. “I swear it.”

  “I should have seen it. He has your mother’s eyes,” I mumble. How could I have missed it? It makes sense. They even have similar facial expressions. “Family reunions could be fun, especially if we invite all forty kids.”

  Ethan doesn’t look amused at my twisted sense of humor. “How can you joke about it?”

  “And my options are?” I say, smiling and jabbing him in the ribs. “It’s actually kind of funny in a dark comedy kind of way. You and Blake—brothers. Collectively fathering forty of my children.”

  “I wonder how many other unknown siblings I have,” Ethan says. “What if I’d stayed here on Thera and Cleaved one of my sisters by accident? That’s some seriously sick stuff.” We both chuckle and then return our attention to the escalating fight in the center of the room. It’s gotten so intense that security personnel have their guns raised, safeties off, and ready to use if needed.

  “At a minimum, I demand you bring Blake Sundry here to address the Council and Ten. He needs to be thoroughly vetted, regardless of your unilateral pardon,” shouts Mr. Stockly.

  “You are in no position to make demands, Paul,” Vienna says.

  “Really,” he says. “Should we take a vote? I wonder which side would get the most support.”

  “What on Thera do you think you could accomplish by such an interrogation?” Vienna says. “The Exilers are dead, so understanding their motives and methods will hardly be useful. The situation with the Second Chancers was unfortunate, but we quickly addressed it, and soon Blake will have no access to any of them to repeat the offense.”

  “You think we won’t have threats in the future?” Mr. Stockly says. “If you’ve convinced yourself of that, then you’re clearly not worthy of the position of Senior Ten. I say the boy gets brought forth to answer for his sins. Who’s with me?” The crowd applauds, though quiets as Vienna starts typing names into her tablet of those questioning her authority.

  “We’ve had thousands of security detail searching and they can’t find the boy, much less produce him to answer to any of you,” Vienna says. “As best we know, he’s left the city. And if he hasn’t, our only hope of finding him is through Kira Donovan, and if she suspects an ounce of harm will befall him, she won’t help any of us.” I love being talked about as if I’m not in the room. She’s right of course. If the deal dies, so does my cooperation.

  “I don’t care if I have to personally search every cave within twenty miles of Thera. I will find the boy! If Ms. Donovan is the key, I’ll be happy to make it clear throughout Thera that Ms. Donovan will suffer if the boy doesn’t turn himself in,” Mr. Stockly says, sweat pouring from his head and spit ejecting from his mouth.

  Ethan grabs me, pushes me behind him, and yells, “Over my dead body.”

  “And mine
,” Vienna says.

  “That can be arranged if you keep me from finding the boy,” Mr. Stockly says.

  “How about you stop referring to me as ‘the boy’?” a familiar voice says from the entrance to the room. “You want to talk to me? Well, here I am. Have at me. Just leave Kira out of it.”

  I peek around Ethan to confirm that Blake has indeed entered the room. My heart skips a beat as I realize every gun in the room is now trained on him.

  Oh crap.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

  Blake

  I’ve been watching the late evening proceedings of the City Heads meeting from the taping room, fulfilling the duties of my stolen identity, Walter Hunt, Grand Council member. I plan to collect data on the cities and leaders to use in Exile or once back on Earth, but I get distracted when I notice Kira cuddled up in Ethan’s arms in the corner of the room.

  Amidst the snugglefest, a butt-ugly man with a large ego challenges Vienna about me. From what I can gather Vienna Darcton agreed to pardon me. And Kira was somehow involved in this? Seriously? I can’t imagine the things she’d have to agree to in order for her to grant me a blanket pardon. But the ugly dude’s having no part of it and is accusing Vienna of bias.

  Then I hear several things that blow my mind. First, there’s some whole deal about a whole lot of Kira’s babies being implanted in our Second Chancer friends and both Ethan and me being fathers of them. One of us will be the so-called ‘Father of Thera.’ Second, Kira has agreed to be Cleaved to one of Vienna Darcton’s sons and to let The Ten choose for her. And third, I’m one of the sons. Vienna Darcton’s supposedly my mother and Ethan’s my half-brother. Gads almighty, help me. Fourth, a good chunk of the people in that room want me dead and are willing to use Kira as bait to trap me into answering for my part in the rebellions—of both the Exilers and the Second Chancers.

  I start pacing the small room. Why didn’t Kira tell me about the babies and her deal with the devil? She and Ethan look as shocked as the rest of them about Vienna Darcton being my DNA donor. My brother’s shielding Kira from Mr. Stockly, the Ten bully. But I know that if the tide turns and Mr. Stockly gains momentum with the Council and other City Heads, that Kira, Ethan and Vienna are not safe.