Tammy
Where are you taking him?' Her desperate cries are growing louder and louder as the door closes shut behind Nathan's body.
She's on the verge of losing her self-control. The adrenaline has made her muscles weak and soon her legs turn to jelly. This is not happening!', she keeps telling herself, yet the pool of blood at her feet is more than a cruel reminder her best friend just got shot. What's worse, is the crowd's noise only intensifies her meltdown and the lack of response drives her insane.
Where is Nathan?' Tammy asks again, this time shouting to cover their cackles. Her hands are shaking and it feels like thousands of pinpricks are crawling up to her shoulders.
The room turns into an uproar. Her pain entertains them and they are having a blast. Suddenly, Lucas's words fill her mind stopping her train of thought and bringing her to reality. They are not to mess with, Tammy. They are not stable.', he had told her
TammyDon't do anything stupid!' Luther jumps off of his throne, shaking and visibly awestricken. You heard her! Bring them in!' He adds through gritted teeth, his eyes fixed on the gun pointed to her head.Soon the door slams open revealing two rebels carrying a barely conscious Nathan. His foot is still bleeding and the wound has doubled its size. He slowly raises his head towards the centre of the room, choking with blood when he sees her bargaining for their lives. Tammy gasps in horror at the sight of him, once a beautiful face now painted in bruises. A swollen black eye covers half of one side, while the other is bleeding, leaving out only the light blue in a sea of red. She tightens the hold around the grip as a burning wish of punishing everyone present flames her entire body. They lock their gaze for a second while she watches him being dumped at Grace's feet, his cracked lips begging her not to die. Tammy moves her to stare away, battling the tears that are gat
Nathan Come, Nathan, a few more steps. You can do it. Talk to me!' Grace's raspy voice keeps bringing me to reality. I am not sure how many times I've dozed off. Every move feels like the skin is tearing off from the bone. The pain is unbearable and I don't know for how long I'll manage to stay awake. Grace's weak body struggles to hold mine, still, she doesn't show any sign of giving up any time soon. The truck, a foggy illusion in the distance, roars abandoned for us to get in. Those monsters have kept their part of the bargain and left us alone. Tears start to pile up thinking about the price she had to pay for our lives. Tammy, our saviour. We leave a trail of salty droplets behind, feeding the scorched land with our sadness. She helps me with my mask, silent and mournful. Any words would be useless right now. I lay hopeless in the back as she steps on it, propelling us closer to safety and to a pointless life. I would have rather died t
Tammy It was the Memorial Day. A sorrowful dent in the lives of everyone in the city. They'd all gathered round the fire that shot towards the sky like a mangrove shrub, keeping warm while paying tribute to the fallen ones. A canopy of dark shadows them all, displaying a ghoulish dance in the dim light. The guards were already in place, behind the shadows, watching from above the rooftops and ready to keep the order by all means. Tammy thought it unnecessary.She couldn't recall the last time there was chaos or even the slightest bit of disorder in the city.But the guards were a constant in the society, like stars are in the night sky.The day was beginning to darken and night was fast approaching. There was no breeze but the air carried a familiar chill. Tammy had a shawl draped on her shoulder even though she had on the sweater her grandma made her.With arms folded, she adopted the same solemn disposition as the body of peo
Lucas I've been preparing for this for far too long. Hell, I've been waiting for it for half of my miserable existence. I can do it. It's a clean-and-clear job after all. How hard can it be? First, detect possible threats. Second, remove any obstructions that hinder a positive outcome two simple steps, no complications. It's my first time here, but it feels like home in a wicked way. The twisted home away from home. I chuckle at the thought, yet the familiarity of it all makes it more real than it sounds. It's been only yesterday when I walked on these streets and now I'm here, stuck at their tedious ceremony. I get it, today is a big deal for them, but I wish the captain would have sent us a day after. Requiems are what I hate the most and, man, this one beats them all. Seeing them staring blankly and stone-cold, at what should be the saddest day of their freaking lives, is driving me nuts. While we were still doi
TammyThe night seems endless, a never-ending waterfall of darkness and despair. How can she fall asleep when the guards could break down the front door at any moment? Tapping her foot nervously on the footboard, she kills the time by searching and counting all the black spots on the ceiling. By the time she reaches a few thousands, the sun has risen high enough to paint the plain walls of her bedroom in bright morning colours.This should do it. It's time to get up and face the day. Maybe they are waiting for me at the Institute. At least, Grace won't be there to make things worse.' Her voice comes out horse and tired, almost defeated.Avoiding her reflection as she passes the mirror on the dressing door, Tammy can almost feel the deep dark circles engraved under her eyes. She squints one of them trying to get rid of the sand-like feeling that is preventing her to keep it open. Then, she ungracefully t
LucasHer shocked face, when she saw me entering the class, was priceless. It's so funny that I get to be a senior again, but mission comes first, which means her safety is a priority. At least for a few months until the Selection finishes and, then, I can return home. But not before I have a little fun here, I grin at the thought.The girls here are something else, they like chasing the forbidden fruit prude by day and addicts by night. I mean playing with fire can be exciting if you know what you are doing. Apparently, the chemicals secreted during sex react with the nanoids in their bloodstream making them high, sometimes euphoric. At least, that's what Matt was intensively researching before the last-minute change in his mission. Too bad he was assigned to babysit a dude. I take my place at the back of the class. I can see she's still in awe. Breathe Tammy! The professor, a short man with an ugly moustache plastered
Tammy By the time the morning classes had ended, she'd finally calmed her nerves, returning back to her normal self. She almost forgot about those crystal eyes piercing right through her, unravelling her deepest secret. In Virology, Dr Shah even gave her extra credit for her paper on Viral Genomes, brightening up her mood. She could only hope that one day she will be chosen to be a part of his team. He is the head of the Biological Science Division, the research building where she has been spending countless hours. Ever since her parents had been taken away, she promised herself to do everything in her power to find a cure, to do whatever it takes to stop the banishments. So many families have been dismantled or completely erased from history because their beloved ones got infected and exiled. She has dedicated her young life to the cause and nothing will make her change her mind.
LucasI put my leather jacket on and rush after her. The others don't ask any questions and know better than to do so. I take my time while I pass Blondie's table eavesdropping on their conversation and picking up a segment of their sports tactics. Most of it is all jibber-jabber and worthless to me. I pull my hoodie over my head and continue my exit leaving their burning stares behind.Outside the weather couldn't be more perfect. The blue sky stretches as far as the eye can see. Its flawlessness is spotted by puffy cotton-ball clouds adding substance to its vastness. It looks like spring, with blossom trees and brighter green leaves, but it's hard to tell. Only the wind doesn't feel quite right, other than that the Nanites are doing a hell of a job. They erected the dome before building the city inside. At first, it was only a translucent shield meant to make the air breathable again and shelter the construction site. It was onl