Remainder (3 page)

The screams stop. Finally, silence. For a few moments, all I hear is the sound of my own heartbeat as the blood surges through my head. Then I hear the sobs, gasps, and groans of the others. I open my eyes and I see blood all over the table and the floor. The gray-haired man is slumped in his chair, his eyes closed. He must have passed out from the pain or blood loss. His hand, which a few moments ago was attached to his arm, is now laying on the table separated. The Enforcers scoop up the old man’s body and carry him away, leaving his hand on the blood stained table. Enforcer-658 and I look at one another. Her lovely face is pale and all of the hope that was in her eyes when we first sat down has been replaced with fear.

"These laws are for the protection of everyone in our city, clones and pure bloods alike. The pure bloods are here to teach you and to help you. You are important to us. You contribute to the salvation of our society. Remember, salvation is within. We have supplied you with the basic information you need. Your pure blood will provide you with as much or as little information as he or she sees fit," Dr. Kendall explains while glancing at her watch.

“Now you will be escorted to another room where you will take your oath, if you so choose. Then you will be taken to the common area where you wait for your pure blood to collect you. Remember, your salvation and that of your pure blood is within you.” When she turns and walks toward the door, her steps seem to echo with the icy hardness in her eyes.  I wonder how many “demonstrations” she has provided. I shudder when I think that someone who is so cold and inhuman could have been so close to me, and I did not even know.  

I am glad we are being moved to another room. I do not think I can stand the site of the hand and the bloody table any longer. On the way out, I notice a figure sitting at the very top of the auditorium. The figure stands and I see Alden’s familiar face.  Why would Alden be at Training Day? Does he enjoy watching the activities of Training Day? I turn and head out the door, wondering if Alden can truly be trusted.

We are told to line up against the wall outside a door. Roderick escorts the first of us, a thin dark-skinned girl, into the room and closes the door behind them. More Enforcers pace the hallway while keeping a close eye on us. The door swings open, the girl comes back out and is escorted away. The boy who was curled up on the floor in a heap of sweat and tears is next. Roderick gives him a mocking grin as he leads him into the room. The door closes again. I am next. We stand in the hallway, taking care to not to make a sound. So when the shouting starts, we can easily hear the words that are being spoken. The same boy who originally fought against the ideas Dr. Kendall was reciting is refusing to take his oath. The door flies open again and the thrashing boy is thrown into the hallway by Roderick. Two Enforcers quickly scoop him up and carry him away. I am overwhelmed with curiosity and I can’t stop the words from coming out.

“What’s going to happen to him?” I ask aloud. Roderick saunters over to me, glaring at me and my audacity for speaking out of turn. He leans down so that we are face to face.

“Refuse to take your oath and find out,” he says harshly. He stands up straight again and shoots me a grin that makes my skin crawl. “You’re next.” Roderick stands at the open door and extends his arm, signaling for me to go in first. Slowly I walk into the room. A rectangle-shaped table sits in the middle of the room. Three people sit at the table, Dr. Kendall being the only woman. One man wears the same black uniform as Roderick, so I peg him as an Enforcer. The other man looks a bit out of place in his obvious older clothes that have seen better days. He twists his hands on the table and I can see they are calloused. Worker’s hands. Maybe he is from the Laborer sector. All three sectors are represented at one table staring ahead at me, the subject. The door closes loudly behind me, causing me to jump.

“Enforcer-656,” the Enforcer begins. “I will ask you some questions and if you choose to accept them, you will respond with ‘I will’. Do you understand?” I nod my head. “Very well. Let’s begin. Will you swear to pledge your life to your pure blood?” I consider his question before responding. In this moment, I have to decide if I accept the future that is being placed before me. A cloud of uncertainty hangs above my head. If I choose to accept and pledge my life to my pure blood, I am choosing to go into the unknown. I am not sure what kind of life I will lead. If I decide to not accept the oath, I am still crossing into the unknown, but I do know one thing for certain: I will be punished. I think of the boy before me who has already lashed out twice. For a moment, I envy him. I wish I were brave enough to go against this entire system which speaks of oppression. As much as I fear the unknown, I fear pain more. I will choose to pledge myself to my pure blood. I can only hope that she will be kind and merciful.

“I will,” I say with uncertainty.

“Will you swear to follow all of the laws set to govern the pure bloods and the clones?” the man continues.

“I will.”

“Will you swear to only give blood to your pure blood and no one else, no matter the circumstances?”

“I will.”

“Very good, Enforcer-656, you are ready to go see your pure blood.” He nods to me and I turn around to walk out of the room. Disappointment is written all over Roderick’s face. I, for one, am glad he will not get the satisfaction of punishing me.

I take my exit and try to give Enforcer-658 an encouraging smile as she prepares to enter the room. I am escorted to another large empty room, save for several familiar looking people who I peg as pure bloods. The resemblances between some are remarkable. Other pure bloods appear to have gone to great lengths to be vastly different. One pure blood has short purple hair while her new counterpart has long black hair. I see pure bloods with piercings or marks on their bodies, both of which are not permitted for people like me. Some pure bloods are much more overweight. I scan the room for the person who looks like me and don’t see her. I am not sure whether to be relieved or disappointed. I wonder what she will be like. I wonder if she will really look like me or if she will wear her hair differently or have any noticeable marks on her body. I am curious to see if there will be any way of telling us a part. I hope so! I hope there is some way that I am different from her. Some way that I am an individual and more than just a copy.  

I see Enforcer-658 enter the room and start to look for her pure blood. I smile and give her a wave. I am glad to see that she decided to take the oath instead of the punishment that I am sure comes with noncompliance. Before I can make my way through the crowd to speak to her, I see that her pure blood has already found her. I hope with us being in the same sector that we will see each other again.

“Enforcer-656?” I turn around and see a young man, possibly early twenties, standing in front of me. He is tall, probably a little over six feet. He has short black hair and dark chocolate brown eyes. His olive complexion makes him look like he has a tan. His features are topped off with full lips and a defined jaw. It is undeniable that he is handsome. Unfortunately, he sports the same black uniform of an Enforcer.

“Yes,” I reply. “That’s me.....I guess.”

“Follow me,” he says and heads for the exit.

I quickly follow him, trying to keep up. I am not exactly sure if I am supposed to walk beside him or behind, so I decide to stay behind. I do not want to risk attracting the wrong kind of attention from an Enforcer. We exit the ARC, as Alden told me it was called, and I step outside for the first time. I pause for a minute to take it all in. The sun shines brightly, causing me to squint, however, I see dark clouds in the distance threatening to smother the light. I place my hand on my forehead over my eyes to create a shield. What stands before me is a bustling city. People line the busy sidewalks, walking quickly to their destinations. What looks like silver bubbles fly through the air back and forth. The city is lined with large snow-capped mountains with hints of green in the distance. The evidence of emerging plant life tells me that we are close to spring.

“Come on,” hollers the Enforcer. I snap out of my trance and quicken my pace to catch up. We walk up to a silver bubble that is hovering ever so slightly above the ground. Upon further inspection, I see the sphere is made up of thousands of triangles. One would not notice them unless they were up close. The Enforcer steps into the sphere and beckons me to follow. I step in and the door automatically closes behind me. The big silver ball is an epitome of luxury on the inside. Purple couches line the inside of the bubble creating a U shape. Upon further inspection, I feel that the couches are made of velvet. There are tables and chairs in the center and towards the back, and a mini-kitchen that I can see is stocked with food and drink. A control panel occupies the front and the Enforcer presses some buttons before turning to face me. Not sure what to do, I stand perfectly still.

“Have a seat,” he says, his arm outstretched, indicating I sit on a purple couch. I slowly take a seat on what is probably the most comfortable piece of furniture I have ever sat on. I most definitely prefer this to the metal slab. It would be easy to curl up and fall asleep, especially since I did not sleep well the night before. The Enforcer takes a seat beside me, causing me to stiffen in fear. Slowly our glass sphere starts to move.

“What have they told you?” the man in all black asks.

“Very little,” I say.

“Well you must know that you are going to the Enforcer sector,” he replies. He looks at me intently, as he waits for my response.

“Yes.” I pause for a minute, waiting to see if he is going to say anything else. “I thought...um...I thought my pure blood was going to pick me up?” I ask.

He chuckles a little. “She’s busy. My name is Alec. I work for the leader of the Enforcer sector, Killian. You are the clone of his daughter,” he says flatly. He takes his hand and runs it through his hair. That’s when I see it. The same silver band and mark that was on Roderick’s wrist is on his. I shudder.

“And you are an Enforcer?” I ask.

He looks down at the mark on his wrist and touches it with his other hand.

“Oh. Yes. I am an Enforcer,” he replies.

“So, how does this thing work?” I ask, waving my hand in the air, indicating our moving bubble.

“Well, the MR2 runs off magnetic repulsers. My aleuron,” he indicates the silver band on his wrist, “creates a magnetic field. Normally, a contraption like this can only go up and down. However, we have installed magnetic receivers throughout the city that allow the MR2 to go back and forth as well.”

“It all seems very…scientific,” I respond.

“Yeah, that’s about as scientific I get. Science was never my strong suit,” he utters.

“What is? Your strong suit, I mean.” I don’t know exactly why I asked the question. It is probably wiser for me to keep my mouth shut. He is an Enforcer and, according to Dr. Kendall, he can do whatever he wants to me. Maybe I asked because I want to talk about something, anything to take my mind of the events of Training Day. Or maybe I want to help diminish the apprehension I feel about being taken to meet my pure blood. Whatever the reason, it is too late to take the question back.

“Combat. I’ve always been good at combat.” The stern and serious look he gives causes my blood to run cold. I look away and decide to focus my attentions on the city that is now my home. The buildings are all nice and well kept. Most are made of stone or brick. The streets are surprisingly clean and I do not notice a piece of trash littering them anywhere. I can only hope the Enforcer district is as nice.  I hear a loud rumble from above and the dark sky threatens rain.

We pull up to a little building outside of a massive rod iron gate. A guard perched in the tiny structure gives a knowing wave to Alec and then hits a button that opens the gate, allowing our bubble to float through. The sphere comes to slow stop and then lowers as close to the ground as it can muster without actually touching it. The house, no, estate, is the nicest building I have seen so far. The mansion has two defined wings on each side. Several pointed tops make small towers. The details of the construction add to its grandeur. There are guards standing at the door and some walking along the property. This seems like a safe place. It would have to be if it holds the leader of the Enforcer sector and his family. This is to be my home and my prison. Before we get out of the hovering MR2, I turn back to Alec.

“Any advice?” I ask, searching for something to ease my trepidation. He looks at me with a blank stare and for a minute, I think he is not going to respond.

“Only speak when spoken to,” he replies with a sense of knowing in his voice. With that, we get out of the sphere as the first drops of rain begin to fall.

The grand foyer is the epitome of opulence. The white marble floor looks slick in the light that reflects off of it. Two staircases curve down from the second floor. Old paintings line the walls of the entrance, giving the house an antique feel. The biggest painting is that of a large ship. The dark sky gives the appearance of a storm and the high waves toss the ship to the side like it weighs as much as a piece of paper. I think about the aftereffects the storm will have on the ship. I wonder if the vessel will be damaged or lost at sea, forever searching for the place that was once its home.

“Wait here,” says Alec. He walks down the hallway and disappears around the corner. I hear muffled voices and within a few minutes Alec reappears. “Follow me.”

We enter, what appears to be, a very large office. I estimate about fifty people could fit in here comfortably. I look around the room and see ships everywhere. Paintings of ships, model ships, and even a ship made from metal that holds some type of bottle. A large wooden desk sits in the far left corner of the room and an older gray-haired man occupies the chair behind the desk. He types away at his computer and does not acknowledge our presence until Alec speaks.

“Enforcer-656, Sir,” says Alec.

“Ah yes,” the man says. He points to a chair in front of the desk.

“Have a seat.” Alec walks back to the door and positions himself against the wall beside it. Standing straight with his hands behind his back, legs spread apart, and shoulders back, he looks as though he is in military formation. I walk toward the desk and slowly sit in one of the two chairs.

“I’m Killian,” the man sitting behind the desk says. “I am the leader of the Enforcer sector.” I recognize his face and name as the man who was talking with Dr. Kendall when I woke. Since he is no longer a hologram, I am able to get a better look at him. His neat gray hair is cut short. Not a single hair is out of place.  The wrinkles on his face tell me he is probably in his fifties. I can tell he was a handsome man when he was younger. I look at him and I see myself. We have the same bright green eyes and the same nose. It is weird to me. It’s like he is my father and in a way, I guess he is.

“Do you understand why you are here and what you are?” he asks.

“Yes,” I say in a low tone that is almost inaudible.  

“Good,” he says. He opens his mouth to speak again, but is interrupted when the doors are thrown open.

I turn around and see a girl who looks just like me, save shorter and lighter hair, walk in the room. I stare at her looking for differences in us. Her hair is straight and stops at her shoulders, while mine is wavy and cascades down to the middle of my back. She wears way too much make up on her face and would probably be much more attractive if she toned it down a notch.

“Bailey, I would appreciate it if you would knock before coming in my office,” reprimands Killian. She glides over to the other chair and sits down in it.

“Is this her?” she asks, as she brings her face close to mine until it is just a few inches away. She stares at me intently. “Oh my gosh! The resemblance is amazing!” She laughs, looks at Killian, and then back at me. “I can’t wait to prank my friends. They are going to think it is me at their lame parties, but it won’t be.”

“That is not an option,” responds Killian. “She is a clone and must wear red at all times. If not, the punishment is severe.” With that statement, he looked at me. A lump forms in my throat. I do not want to be punished. I have seen how the pure bloods punish. Memories of the boy writhing on the floor in pain come flooding back.

Bailey crosses her arms, pouts her lips, and slumps in her chair. “You never let me have any fun, Dad.”

Killian hands her a silver band, an aleuron, like the ones the Enforcers wear. “Here is your aleuron. You must wear it at all times.”

Bailey frowns. "But it's so ugly! Aren’t there any pretty ones? It's not going to go with any of my clothes. Can't you get them to make me a pretty one?" Bailey whines.

"I'm sorry, sweetie. They all have to look the same. It's the rules. I can't change that. Why don't you put some stickers on it or something to make it pretty?" Killian asks, dismissing her annoyance with a wave of his hand.

"Stickers? What am I, five?" Bailey responds annoyed. "I have to go get ready for Percy’s party."

"But, Bailey...." starts Killian, but it's too late, she's already gone as quickly as she came. "Alec, go get Zareh."

Alec departs and comes back with a lady who looks to be in her forties. She is short and very petite. Her shoulder length brown hair has some gray streaks. She has small features, almond shaped green eyes, a petite nose and thin mouth. Everything about her is tiny, almost fragile. She looks as though if you touch her, she will break.

"656. That is what we will call you. No need to say Enforcer when you are here. We all know what sector we are in," says Killian.

“Zareh, this is 656. Will you please show her around the house and take her to her room?” asks Killian.

“Yes, Mr. Buchanan,” Zareh says quietly.

I get up and follow Zareh out of the office. As I follow her, I notice an interesting pin in the back of her hair. The simple adornment consists of a red bird with a long tale. Its wings are tucked in, a confining rope, I think, crosses over its body creating an “x.” The pin is outlined with silver and when it catches the light, the red shines, making the bird look like it’s on fire. My admiration is interrupted when Zareh addresses me. I contemplate my name. Enforcer-656. Or just 656, as Killian said I would be called. I am now a number. A number with a face and brand.  Just thinking about what it means makes my head spin and I try to focus on right now, the red bird, and putting one foot in front of another.

“Overwhelming, isn’t it?” inquires Zareh in a sweet voice.

“Yes it is,” I reply as I take in my surroundings.

“You’re going to be fine, dear. You will get acclimated in no time!” She smiles sweetly.

I am grateful, though a bit wary, to be shown some kindness from a pure blood, especially after all I have seen today. “What do you do here?” I inquire.

“I do the majority of the housework. I am in charge of keeping this house clean and doing the laundry.” She says it with such pride in her voice.

“That’s a lot of work,” I say. “It’s a huge house!”

“It is, but I don’t mind. I am grateful for the opportunity to work for Mr. Killian.”

“Do you have help?” I ask.

“You mean, do I have a clone?” she asks.

“Yes.”

“Oh heavens no! I don’t have a clone.” She chuckles like that thought is so silly. “I am from the Laborer sector. We don’t have clones.”

“Oh.” I want to ask why people from the Laborer sector do not have clones, however, I do not want to get in trouble for asking too many questions. Zareh stops abruptly in front of a closed door.

“Here we are!” she says excitedly. She opens the door and we step inside. “I hope you like it,” Zareh says. “I cleaned it for you this morning.”

“Thank you!” I respond.  The room is small, dark, and a little chilly. A shiver runs down my spine. I do not know if I am really cold or just overwhelmed by the events of today. There is a small twin bed against the wall with red bedding. Red clothes lay on the bed. There is a small bathroom with a shower, sink, toilet, and mirror. At least this bathroom has a door. A dresser sits on the wall opposite of the bed, a single clock resting on top. That is it. There are no windows and no decorations. I feel like I am in a prison cell in this room. I am not in a prison though. Inmates serve their time and then they are released. They regain their freedom. A stifling thought echoes off the walls and in my head...I will never have freedom. I am forever a prisoner.

“The kitchen is just down the hall,” she says and points to the right. That is when I see a small tattoo on her wrist of a yellow and black bee. Its body is curved, the stinger on the end a prominent point. The wings are spread, giving off the allusion that it will fly right off of her arm.

"What is that?" I ask curiously and point to the mark.

"Oh, this identifies me as a Laborer. We get the marks when we turn eighteen, just as the clones do. That way everyone knows where you belong."

"Oh. Do you live here too?”

“No. All of the Laborers live in the Laborer sector and the Enforcers live in The Towers.”

“What’s The Towers?” I ask.

“They are the tallest buildings in the whole city. There are two of them. You should change and let me take those clothes to the wash for you. I will be starting another load soon,” she says.

“I don’t do my own laundry?” I ask, shocked. “I just assumed…”

She cuts me off. “Oh no, dear. I will do it for you. I do everyone’s laundry, even for the clones.  I don’t like people messing with my washer and dryer,” she says with a smile. There is a gentleness in her eyes that comforts me.

“Oh, okay. Thank you!” I smile back at her. I think it is the first time I have smiled since I woke up yesterday.  I can’t help but be saddened by my situation and concerned about the uncertainty that my future holds. However, at least I have been shown kindness and there is something comforting in that.

“Now, get changed and I will show you around the rest of the house.”

Zareh leads me all through the house. Room after room, like a never-ending maze. By the time we finish the tour, I am so confused and turned around, there is no way I could make it back to my room without help from someone.

We end our tour at Bailey’s room, which would be fit for a princess in all its extravagance. A huge canopy bed sits against the wall and juts out into the center of the room. Its pink silk bedding stands out next to the dark wooden frame. A pink fur rug lies on the floor at the foot of the bed and matches the bedding. A vanity with scattered makeup cases and several bottles of liquid sit adjacent to the bed. Doors that lead to a balcony are open and a light breeze blows the curtains. Paintings of birds and flowers line the walls and a crystal chandelier that sparkles like diamonds hangs from the ceiling in the center of the room. Zareh hurriedly leaves as Bailey emerges from her closet, leaving me to fend for myself against my pure blood.

“Oh, there you are. Which one would you wear to a party?” she asks, looking at me. She holds up two dresses that consist of such little fabric that I wonder if they would really cover her whole body. One is a short black dress with spaghetti straps and the other is a strapless, hot pink dress. Both have sweetheart necklines that leave little to the imagination.

“The black one,” I say.

“Ugh! How morbid! I’m going to a party, not a funeral. I think I will wear the pink one,” she exclaims with satisfaction and I wonder why she even bothered to ask me. She throws the black dress on the floor and looks at the pink dress. A knock on the door startles us.

“Oh, Alec!” Bailey exclaims excitedly.

Alec stands in the doorway of Bailey’s bedroom, not daring to cross the threshold. His posture is not as stiff as I saw him earlier in Killian’s office, however he is far from relaxed.

Bailey holds the hot pink dress in front of her perfectly proportioned body. “What do you think, Alec? Is this dress sexy?” She flashes him a sultry smile that I interpret as an attempt at seduction. However, the failed attempt leaves her looking constipated rather than sexy. I stifle a laugh.

“Your father wants to see you,” Alec responds, ignoring her question. He has a dissatisfied look on his face, like he wishes he could be anywhere else but here.

Bailey lays the dress on the bed and walks toward Alec. She goes up to him and places a hand on his broad chest. “When are you going to ask me out?” she asks. She circles around him, letting her hand trace a half circle around his body as she walks. She looks at him as if she could devour him, like a vulture examining its prey. She stops on his other side, her hand touching his arm.

“I’m a little old for you,” he says and I can hear a sense of annoyance in his voice.

“Twenty-one is not old. It’s perfect!” She giggles and releases his arm. Bailey glides back to her bed and Alec releases a sigh of what I think is relief.

“Miss Bailey, your father,” Alec reminds.

“Ugh! What does he want? I have to get ready. Fine!” She looks at me. “Stay here!” She storms out of her room, leaving me with Alec.

“How are you?” Alec asks. I am a little taken aback by his question. It is almost like he is concerned or cares. Based on what I have seen so far, those are not characteristics I would attribute to an Enforcer.

“I am okay, considering the circumstances,” I respond. “Thanks for the advice earlier. I have found it to be most helpful,” I say sounding a little annoyed.

He walks closer to me. “Here’s another piece of advice for you. You will never be her friend, 656.” I assume he is referring to Bailey. “No one here will ever see you as more than a clone. The sooner you learn your place, the better off you’ll be.” His voice is harsh and cold. I feel anger rise in me and I look away. He turns around and walks out of the room before I can respond.

Like a whirlwind, Bailey comes back in the room.

“Are you ready to go?” asks Bailey.

“Go? Go where?”

She blows out a puff of air. “To the party. Haven’t you been listening?”