Remainder

by Stacy H. Pan

  “I don’t know why I keep getting sick. Every morning, it’s the same thing. I wake up and feel so nauseous and start heaving,” she complains.

  “I brought you some soup. Hopefully you will be able to keep it down. You need to eat.”

  “I know. I just feel so nauseated and my chest hurts so bad.” Bailey wipes her mouth with some toilet paper and closes the lid. She stands up and stumbles a little.

  “Bailey, are you okay?” I ask coming towards her.

  “I just feel so dizzy and…” She gasps for air. “I feel like I can’t breathe,” she says in between pants. All of a sudden, Bailey’s eyes roll in the back of her head and she collapses. I barely catch her; her dead weight makes us both sink to the floor. I gently lay her head down on the bathroom mat and lean over her. She is still breathing so I start shaking her and calling her name. Her body lies on the floor in one lifeless heap. I jump to my feet and fly out the door of her room. I race down hallway after hallway until I reach Killian’s office door. I throw it open, causing Killian to jump and Alec to draw his gun. Killian pushes his chair out from behind the desk and stands tall.

  “656, what is the meaning…”

  “It’s Bailey,” I cut in. “She collapsed and she won’t wake up,” I get out between efforts to catch my breath. Killian says nothing and runs to Bailey’s room, Alec and I trailing behind him. He falls to the floor beside her and scoops her up in his arms, her head hanging back heavily. Just like me, he shakes her and calls her name to no avail. Alec and I exchange glances at one another. If he is angry with me, I can’t tell. Killian scoops Bailey up in his arms and proclaims that we are going to the hospital. Killian tells Alec that he is in charge of me while he tends to Bailey. The ride to the hospital is long, or maybe it just feels that way. We all sit on edge, wondering what is going to happen to Bailey. A brief, nauseating thought occurs to me. If Bailey dies, I will be bled. Panic begins to rise and buries itself back into the depths of my mind. I can’t think like that right now. I am jumping to conclusions. Bailey is not dead. She will be okay. She will live and so will I.

  The shiny glass of the ARC sparkles in the sunshine as I realize we have reached the Researcher sector. A team of doctors come rushing out as the MR2 gently lands. The doctors come aboard and take Bailey out of Killian’s arms and quickly push her inside on a stretcher. For a moment, Killian just stands there watching the doctors wheel Bailey away from him. I can tell that grief has hit him hard as the realization that something is seriously wrong with his baby girl sinks in. He recomposes himself and struts into the ARC with Alec and I trailing behind him.

  Killian is permitted to go back with the doctors and Bailey. There’s nothing for me and Alec to do but wait. We take a seat in the empty waiting room. The silence is thick between us, but neither of us makes an attempt to speak. We both stare ahead, not looking at anything in particular, just waiting. I decide to get comfortable in my seat since we are probably going to be here for quite some time. I lay my head back against the back of the chair and close my eyes. This day is not even over yet and I am already exhausted.

  I wake to Alec standing over me, his hand on my shoulder, gently shaking me.

  “Wake up, Remy,” he says in a low voice. “They need you to give blood for Bailey.” I yawn, stretch, and rub the sleep from my eyes. Alec holds out his hand to help me up. Eagerly I take it, craving his touch, even if it’s just for a second. He gently squeezes my hand before he releases it. With that small gesture, I’d like to think that he is saying that everything is going to be alright. What’s more, I hope he is saying that he is not mad at me and longs for me the way I long for him.

  Alec leads me to an orderly I don’t recognize. I follow the orderly down the bright white hallway. I turn back and see Alec watching me walk away. I am led to a room where everything is set up to take my blood. I try to relax as the blood flows out of my body. I am not sure of the time and how long I was out. I wonder how long it has been since we got here and how Bailey is doing. Has her condition gotten better or worse? Is she awake? After my blood has been collected, I am led to another room, one to which I have never been. Inside the room are two beds and two dressers. Bailey lies lifeless in the bed closest to the door. Killian sits by her holding her hand, his eyes glazed over as he stares at the wall lost in his thoughts. It takes him a minute to realize that I have entered the room.

  “656, you will stay here with Bailey. You will sleep in the other bed. I want you close so you can give her blood whenever she needs it,” he speaks without looking at me.

  “What’s wrong with her?” I ask.

  He looks at me and I can see that his eyes are puffy from crying. For the first time, I feel sorry for Killian for the pain he is obviously experiencing. Then again, he has caused so much pain to so many others.

  “It’s her heart. She had a heart attack. Her heart is failing her.”

  “Can it be fixed? Can they help her?” I ask hopeful.

  “The doctors don’t know.” The panic I felt earlier that I pushed back down begins to rise again. All of a sudden I feel a painful prick in the side of my neck. The room becomes hazy and I find it difficult to stand. I grab on to Bailey’s bed in front of me to help with stability. My eyes feel heavy and I fight to keep them open. Through my haze I see Killian and Dr. Kendall standing over me. He lifts my chin so I can look at him.

  “You are going to save her. Salvation is truly within.” Everything goes black.

  I wake to find Alec lying in the bed beside me. He tucks a strand of hair behind my ear and smiles at me.

  “Good morning,” he says happily. “You slept a really long time. How are you feeling?”

  “I’m better now that you are here,” I say and put my hand on his cheek. He grabs my hand and places a gentle kiss on my palm.

  “I like waking up next you,” I confess and snuggle up to him. I look up at him and he places a kiss on my lips and then smiles down at me. Slowly his smile fads and fear fills his eyes.

  “Alec, what’s wrong?” I ask, getting worried. He does not respond. He just stares at me, but he is not looking at me. It’s like he is looking through me. I sit up and shake him, trying to get him to snap out of the funk he has fallen into. He grabs onto my shoulders and looks into my eyes.

  “Remy, it hurts. It hurts so much.”

  “What hurts, Alec?” He doesn’t respond, but the terror I see in him speak volumes. I notice that his hands that were just on my shoulders are no longer there. In fact, his hands have disappeared. His arms and legs start to fade away into nothing. He is evaporating before my eyes.

  “NO,” I scream. “Alec! No.”

  “This is all your fault.” Those are his last words to me until nothing is left. I pick up his shirt, bury my face in it and sob.

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  My eyes flutter as they try to open. They feel as if they are made of steel and I don’t possess the strength to lift them. I hear deep muffled voices that sound so far away. I try to speak, to call out to someone, but I can’t articulate any words. Visions of the dream I had about Alec haunt my mind. I am so fatigued and long for sleep, but I can’t. I must not sleep. I need to wake up, to open my eyes, to speak. The cloud of exhaustion comes over me again and I can fight no more. I go in and out of sleep state until I finally wake again more lucid. Although I still can’t open my eyes or speak, I hear the voices again, this time more clearly.

  “You are going to take her heart and put it in Bailey,” I hear Killian say.

  “I am a scientist, not a surgeon,” a familiar female voice says. “You need to move her to a hospital.”

  “No. She is not stable enough to be moved. Find me a surgeon and get him here at once.”

  “I am not your errand girl, Killian. Get one of your minions to find one. I have job to do, in case you have forgotten.”

  “I have not forgotten, Dr. Kendall.”

  As my consciousness fails me, the voices fade and I go back to the blackness where visions
of the terrible things I have witnessed torture me. The next time I wake, I find that the steel from my eyes has melted and they can finally open. I see Enforcer-150 sitting beside my bed and he jumps when he sees that I am awake. I feel him grab hold of my hand. If I was feeling more like myself, I would be taken aback by this gesture. I try to speak, but nothing comes out. Enforcer-150 leaves and comes back with a glass of water. He lifts my head and holds the glass so I can drink. He slowly lowers my head back down to the pillow and places the glass of water on the table beside the bed.

  “Where am I? What has happened?” I ask.

  “You are at the ARC. You have been drugged.”

  “How long have I been out?”

  “Almost two days.” That means that the Resistance is going to attack tonight. I need to get out of here. I start to sit up, but my strength fails me as I am so weak.

  “You need to rest. Help is coming. Rest so you can be strong.” He leans down and kisses my forehead. I close my eyes as the effects of the drugs take toll again.

  I float through clouds of unconsciousness. I am not plagued by nightmares, but surrounded by happiness. I am with my friends and we are safe. I take pleasure in everything I see and do. I have not smiled so much since I first awoke in Avalon. I feel warm, safe, and content. I want these feelings to linger forever.

  I hear someone calling my name and my eyes start to flutter open. As my surroundings come into focus, I see Alec standing above me. Is he really here or is this another dream?

  “Where am I?” I ask confused.

  “You’re at the ARC,” Alec says as he strokes my hair. Why does this conversation give me a sense of déjà vu?

  “Am I sick? Did I fall and bump my head?” My hand gravitates to where his hand rests on my head.

  “No. You’re not sick and you didn’t bump your head. We are going to get you out of here.” All of a sudden, I feel a strong surge of absolute bliss take over me. I am so happy, I can’t stop smiling.

  “We?” Alec helps me sit up and I see Alden and Milo standing behind him. “Hi there!” I say cheerily and beam a smile at them. They wear Enforcer uniforms, causing them to look out of place to me. Milo’s discomfort is obvious as he tugs at the collar of his black uniform jacket. Alden, on the other hand, stands tall with his head held high trying to look tough. However, his youthful face has morphed into more of a look of constipation than toughness. I find the scene before me hilarious and laugh aloud.

  “You two look absolutely ridiculous in those outfits,” I giggle. Alec looks behind him at Milo and Alden and then back at me.

  “Are you feeling okay, Remy?” Alec inquires.

  “I feel wonderful! I feel like ice cream and butterflies on a sun shiny day!” Alec turns back to Alden.

  “What the hell is wrong with her?”

  “Oh no,” responds Alden. “I think they have tampered with her amygdala.”

  “And that is?” asks Alec.

  “It’s the part of the brain located in the limbic system that deals specifically with emotional responses. It can be activated through her microchip. It looks like they have chosen to put her in a euphoric state.”

  “Wait, they can do that?” asks Milo, which Alden ignores.

  “So she’s happy,” Alec states.

  “That’s one way to look at it. In a sense, yes she’s happy, but she is also going to be confused. Everything is going to be new and exciting to her.”

  “That’s why she laughed at our appearance?” Milo asks and waves his hand over his uniform. “I didn’t think we looked that bad.”

  “Exactly,” continues Alden. “Think about a small child experiencing the world for the first time. That is her mentality right now.”

  “You’ve got to be joking,” Alec spits out angrily and runs his hand through his hair. “How long is she going to be like this?”

  “It is just temporary. The brain usually corrects itself, but it takes time,” Alden states.

  “We can’t get her out while she’s like this,” says Milo. “It’s too risky.” Alec holds his hand up to Milo.

  “Just let me think for a minute.” My eyes go back and forth between the three of them. I don’t understand why they all look worried. Everything is alright, great, actually.

  “What’s taking so long?” I hear a familiar voice behind me and turn around. Confusion sets in as I see Alec behind me. This person looks just like Alec, only with longer hair. I look at him, then back at Alec.

  “I must have hit my head harder than I thought. There are two of you!”

  “What’s going on?” asks the second Alec. I look back at him amazed while Alden provides an explanation.

  “So she’s a blubbering idiot?” asks second Alec.

  “Watch it!” snaps first Alec as he glares at second Alec.

  “Is he your brother?” I ask first Alec.

  “Don’t tell me to watch it. You’re the one willing to risk everyone’s life to save your clone girlfriend,” second Alec retorts. In one swift movement, first Alec is in front of second Alec.

  “What are you talking about?”

  “You know exactly what I’m talking about. We all see the way you look at her. We’re not stupid, well maybe they are…” Second Alec points toward Milo and Alden. “….but I’m certainly not. You forget, Alec, I know you.” His lips frame into a small smile.

  “We will go when I say it’s time to go. Remember who’s in charge,” states first Alec pointedly.

  “Ooooooo are you two twins?” I ask excitedly. I’ve never met twins before.

  “Of course, boss. I’ll remember,” second Alec responded in a tone that sounded more of a threat than a promise.

  “See that you do.”

  “Alec, he’s right. It’s too risky to take her out there. We don’t know what she’s going to do or say. She’s too unpredictable right now,” Alden states.

  “We can’t stay here. We’re sitting ducks here,” Milo interjects.

  First Alec strides back and stands in front of me. He places his hands on my face and bends down so we are eye to eye.

  “Remy, we have to leave. We have to get you out of here.”

  “So serious,” I mock in a deep voice. Something silver catches my eye. “Oh that’s shiny! What a pretty bracelet!” I exclaim and stroke his aleuron.

  “Remy! Look at me!” I shift my eyes to meet his. They are brown, dark, and remind me of chocolate. Mmmmmm, chocolate sounds so good right now. There is a softness in them that seems to say that he cares for me. I could get lost in those eyes. In a moment of clarity, a realization occurs to me. I move my hand from his aleuron to his face and stroke his cheek.

  “I really like you,” I whisper. A sigh of relief, accompanied by a small smile tells me that he feels the same.

  “Remy, would you like to play a game?” I nod my head. “It’s simple and fun. It’s called the Quiet Game. We are all going to play. Whoever can be the quietest the longest wins. That means no talking and make as little noise as possible. Would you like to play?”

  “Yes. When does it start?”

  “Now.” Alec turns back to Milo and Alden. “Follow my lead. Alden, if anything goes wrong, stick to the plan and get her out. Do you understand?” Alden shifts his weight and his hesitation is obvious. “Alden, I need to know that I can count on you to get her to safety. No matter what,” Alec persists.

  “You got it! You can count on me.”

  “Okay. Everyone, stick to the plan. Let’s go!” Alec grabs my hand as I happily hop off the bed and sink to the floor. I am weak and did not realize it until now. Alec helps me up and holds onto me so I do not fall. With first Alec on one side of me, Alden on the other, and Milo trailing behind, we all follow second Alec to the door of my hospital room. I pause at the bed closest to the door and peer at the girl lying in it. Bailey. She has tubes coming out of her nose and is surrounded by machines that beep while they keep track of her vitals. She looks so small and helpless. I can’t help but feel an overpowering s
ense of sadness.

  Second Alec slowly and cautiously opens the door. He peers his head out and looks both ways and with a wave of his hand, beckons us to follow. Second Alec disappears out the door. Alec approaches with the same cautiousness and peers out. He looks at me and places one finger over his lips, signaling for me to stay quiet. I nod my head. We jet out the door and Milo quickly follows our lead. We walk down the long white hallway. Second Alec strides in front. I follow behind him, sandwiched between first Alec and Alden, and Milo walks behind us. I notice that second Alec has the same gait as first Alec. They must be twins! I notice something adorning second Alec’s waist that I have never seen before and a wave of panic runs through me, sobering me for a few minutes. A gun. Second Alec has a gun, but why? I look at first Alec, Alden, and Milo. Sure enough, they all have guns as well. I have seen first Alec with a gun, so it is not a shock to see him with one. However, why would two Laborers have guns? As we walk, I hope I will not find out.

  “Great,” I hear first Alec mumble under his breath. I look up and see an Enforcer walking towards us with a cup of coffee in his hand.

  “Where are you taking the prisoner?” he asks, addressing first Alec.

  “She has to have her blood drawn,” Alec responds.

  “Under whose orders?” the Enforcer inquires.

  “Killian’s orders.”

  “It takes four of you to transport a little girl for a blood draw?” the Enforcer speculates.