Page 86 of Conform
Alice had been right too.I’d rather be in blue than be their vessel.Maybe I would end up just like her. Perhaps I was okay with it. Sleep swept in and carried my inner chaos away.
“TODAY IS THE EIGHTH DAY OF THE TENTH LUNAR CYCLE. Today will be rainy, with a high of thirty-nine degrees. You are currently in a Procreation Agreement with M17292834. In the Courting Phase.”
Frida’s voice filled the room. I shot up. I scanned my wrist before running to my wardrobe. I slipped on my usual gray attire, wishing I had something blue to blend in as Frida began her report.
Frida informed me I was still in the luteal phase and my cortisol levels were extremely elevated; thus my morning supplements were being adjusted to calm me—to alleviate my stress.
I froze on the last two buttons of my shirt. I was stressed because I had seen someone die violently, and it was my fault. What if I didn’t want the stress to be taken away?
One of the black boxes dinged, my morning meal ready, but I ignored it. I attempted to tune her out while I waited for curfew to end, pacing before my door.
“Now, a message from the Illum.”
I stopped. That was new. Why was I getting an HI message from the Illum? What did that mean?
“Good morning, loyal Elites.”
That voice. Projected onto my far wall was that woman again. Tabitha. Bile crawled its way up my throat at the sight of her.
“I am here to address all the rumors that have reached us. There have been concerns regarding a man who has been named the Reaper. As of yesterday, we were able to apprehend a sympathizer of this Reaper. We obtained vital information before terminating the traitor. We will continue to root out this diseased way of thinking that threatens to destroy our peace and upend our prosperity and sacred way of life. To spread discord among those with defects. We can assure you, the Defect community is now under close surveillance and new restrictions and measures will be put into place to maintain the balance. Furthermore, anyone with any information is encouraged to come forth. Together we can put an end to this mishap. Any and all sympathizers shall be eliminated immediately. The Illum looks to you, loyal Elite, in this crusade to rip out this infectious threat before it takes root. To preserve our progress. We are one.”
She carried on, each word anchoring me in disgust. Each word cleared my path forward. The mothers’ faces, their desperate pleas, the crying offspring, gray eyes turning red, Violet’s battered face, Gregory’s love for Nora, and Rose holding on to Violet’s dress.
There were many things I didn’t know. Some things I didn’t understand. Things I had not experienced. I had never felt an ounce of the pain those mothers felt. I had never felt the silent dedication Gregory carried alone in secret, or had someone cling to me, ready to strike down anyone who hurt me, the way Rose did.
I had never known love.
I had felt fear, though. The looks on those offsprings’ faces. I knew that helplessness. That was a disease of its own. That was the disease I would end, even if it ended me.
I had been asked to do nothing, but I had never been good at following rules.
I didn’t know what difference I could make or if I would even find what I wanted to find, but the Elite had bowed to me like I was one of them. It had snapped something in me. The Illum had used me. I took a steadying breath. I wouldn’t make another mistake.
I walked into the bathroom. My makeup and hair were still intact from last night, and I still wore the diamond earrings. I yanked them off. I didn’t look away for several minutes at my complete heterochromia. For the first time, I saw it. There was a beauty to it—in something different.
I grabbed my Comm Device. Five more minutes. I slipped my shoes on, turning my back to the video message.
Four minutes.
Your actions will bring peace.
Three minutes.
As long as there is life, we will fight to preserve our sacred ways.
Two minutes.
Eradicating this threat as one.
One minute.
We will continue our enlightened path forward.
Curfew ended.
We will eliminate anyone who threatens our progress.
I yanked my door open, dropping my Comm Device into my pocket. I saw no one on the elevators, and when I exited the building, there was no one on the street.
