Moirai (15 page)

We rounded a corner—I could only presume we had been in
the other side of the building—as a huge window to my left overlooked the city
of Torv. “Wow,” I gasped. It was beautiful here. Past the city walls I couldn't
see another town in sight. I wondered how they kept the government from
interfering in their way of life.

“Quite the view?” Chloe smiled. “We're almost there.” She
pushed open a door on the right side of the hallway. “My lab is in here,” she
explained, leaving the door open. I hesitated for only a moment before stepping
inside the white, sterile room. One long metal table was situated in the
center. White cabinets covered the walls.

“What's all that?” I couldn't help but feel curious. The
only lab I'd been in was Elsa's back in Shadow. Machines and electronic devices
I didn't recognize littered the metal counter. Slowly I approached, my fingers
grazing over one such device with a slight hole at the top.

“That's a microscope.” Chloe laughed softly. “It helps
you examine incredibly small things by making it so you can see them.”

Elsa came up beside me, resting a hand on my shoulder.
“We have one of those, it just isn't in my lab.”

“We do?” I glanced from Elsa to Chloe, giving a faint
smile. “Of course we do.” I shouldn't expect any less of our town. Even though
it's not nearly as fancy, Shadow is technologically superior to most cities.
Was Torv more advanced than Shadow? I couldn't know for certain but the fact
they were becoming somewhat successful in impregnating women made me think it
was possible. “So what else do you do in here?” I smiled weakly at Chloe as I
decided it was best to keep my hands off the equipment. She hadn't scolded me
yet but I didn't like feeling talked down to either. It wasn't my fault I
didn't know what a microscope was!

Chloe offered a warm smile. “Well, in here I do the lab
tests and analyze samples but our scientists can determine the genetics that
make up a person.”

I nodded, pretending I knew what Chloe was talking about.

“The building blocks of humans,” Chloe elaborated,
glancing at Elsa. “Remember how I told you I used to work in Genesis Beta?”

Elsa's faint smile disappeared at the mention of Genesis.
“Yes, I remember.”

Chloe continued, “I'm not on the genetics team but our
research has indicated that scientists in Genesis are choosing genes for a
child. It's how they're eradicating diseases and keeping the majority healthy.”

“Is it safe?” I didn't fully understand what Chloe said.

Chloe sighed, thinking it over. “Messing with natural
selection probably isn't safe but what exactly is natural when children are
created in a lab?”

I didn't answer her. I had no idea what she was talking
about! Joshua stepped into the room and I glanced at him, hoping he'd offer
some insight or something to keep Chloe from asking me twenty questions. I
hated school, was glad to be done with it, and right now I felt like she was
the professor and I was supposed to know the right answer. Well, I didn't.

Joshua cleared his throat. “What about other genetic
factors? Things like hair color and eye color?” I turned towards Joshua,
wondering what he was thinking.

Chloe gestured for us to follow her as she closed and
locked the lab. “It's not unreasonable to think they could choose any genetic
traits they wanted. We have to agree that the government determines the sex of
newborns. It's the only way the marriage ceremonies work perfectly. To be quite
honest, I suspect the arrangement in the marriage ceremonies and the lottery
itself are rigged. It's the only explanation on how they can ensure one hundred
percent accuracy in impregnating women and having a zero percent mortality
rate.”

I just stared at Chloe, confused.

Elsa chimed in. “If you're right, Chloe, and you could
find proof, that type of knowledge could bring the entire system down. More
women would know the risks before they married and whether or not their partner
was a good match.”

I shuddered at the thought that matches would be
determined based on whether a child could be born. Although according to Chloe
that might have already been the case. I chewed my bottom lip. “Suppose you're
both right,” I countered. “Then why do scientists need to intervene at all?”

Chloe smiled weakly. “Because right now, as far as we can
tell, women can't conceive naturally and the human race would become extinct
without intervention. Our hope is that one day, scientists won't have to get
involved.”

I nodded faintly, turning towards the panel window and
examining the city below. The view was breathtaking. I'd never seen anything
quite so beautiful in my life.

“Impressive,” Joshua murmured and I turned seeing his
gaze on me.

“That's an understatement.” I nodded. In the short time
we'd stayed in Haven, I never ventured this high up in any of the buildings.
The view was spectacular.

“Will we have time to shower?” I didn't know where we
would be expected next but I knew from the open vehicle and the thirty-hour
drive I stunk.

Chloe nodded, shoving the key into her pocket as she led
us back around the way we came and to the elevator again. “Yes. Right now I'm
going to take you to your rooms on the twenty-eighth floor. You'll each be
provided a key for your sleeping quarters. You'll have your own bathroom and
shower.” As we approached the elevator I noticed not one but two buttons now
and pushed the bottom one, assuming it was to go down. A few moments later, the
elevator dinged and we stepped inside. This time I pressed the button for floor
twenty-eight and held on as the elevator descended. It felt less intense than
it had rushing up forty-seven floors. Stepping off the elevator, the floor
looked entirely different. Instead of a narrow hallway there was a giant room
with several sofas and tables. “What's this place?” I asked.

“The recreation room. It's where we have games and books
for everyone to gather in the evening and relax.” Chloe gestured for us to
follow, and we walked through the space and down to the left. Chloe was leading
us through a hallway once again. “Every bedroom here has a window,” she
explained. “The rooms on the left will be where your sleeping quarters are.
Across the hall are the bathrooms and showers. Your bedroom key will give you
access to your private bathroom and shower. Although they're not attached, they
are exclusively for you while you're in Torv.”

She handed Joshua a key first and then one to me before
giving Elsa the final key. She showed us to our rooms, one next to the other.
“Thank you.” I took the key from her and went for the door, sliding the key in
before turning the lock.

I hadn't gotten the door open before I heard his familiar
voice. “You guys are here!” Jaxon's voice echoed in the hall. I turned around,
throwing my arms around him in greeting.

“We are.” I smiled through tired eyes. Staring at him, I
could see the worn expression and knew why he hadn't returned home. “How are
you holding up?” I asked, taking a step back as Joshua came out of his room.

“Taking it all in.” Jaxon caught sight of Joshua and
chuckled. “Did the whole town decide to come for a visit?” He gave Josh a quick
hug and then Elsa when she popped out of her room last.

“Something like that,” Elsa chimed, squeezing Jaxon
tight. “We missed you back at home.”

Jaxon nodded, unable to voice anything for the moment.

Chloe smiled weakly at Jaxon, clearly recognizing him.
“We should probably let them shower and get cleaned up. I need to let the
council know we're here and then I have a little work to do in the lab.”

“I'll see you in a bit?” I asked Jaxon, hoping he
wouldn't be a stranger. I didn't know what he'd been up to in Torv. Elsa and I
were here to help the pregnant women and Joshua was along for moral support.
The fact Jaxon had stayed in Torv—I questioned whether he'd ever return home.

“Yeah, get showered, you guys stink,” he joked trying to
make light of the situation. “I'll catch up with you at dinner.”

“Okay.” I pushed open my door and stepped into my room. I
was astounded once again by the view. Situated a few levels lower, our rooms
faced a different side of the building but the sight was still just as
beautiful as before. I dropped my bag on the floor, slipped out of my shoes,
and stood mesmerized by the fact I could see for miles from a building. It was
surreal.

After a few minutes, I pulled my bag from the floor and
dug out a fresh change of clothes: black cotton pants and a dark blue shirt,
both handmade in Shadow. Tossing my open pack onto the floor, I made sure I
held the key before leaving my room behind. I locked the door, taking my
clothes with me across the hall to the bathroom.

Stepping into the bathroom, the light flipped on
automatically. I turned in a circle, wondering how it knew someone had entered.
I locked the door behind me, hung my clean pants and shirt on a hook, and
walked towards the shower. I started the spray, turned it on, and waited for
the water to heat up. I could hear the shower running on both sides of the
walls and knew Joshua and Elsa were getting cleaned up too.

I stripped down and jumped under the hot spray, washing the
grime from my skin. My muscles were tired and sore. A yawn escaped past my lips
as I lathered my hair with shampoo and scrubbed the grime and filth from my
skin. I smelled of sweat and the outdoors. It wasn't a pleasant aroma and
certainly not a great way to make a first impression on the people of Torv.

Finishing my shower, I found a soft, oversized towel and
dried off before slipping into the clothes I'd brought along. I brushed my hair
and opened the bathroom door to see Joshua's bedroom door open. “Josh?” I
called, knowing he must have been done.

He poked his head out of his bedroom, smiling when he saw
me. “Wow. You look…” he didn't finish his sentence.

“What?” I asked, shaking my head, a smile edging at the
corner of my lips. I raised an eyebrow and waited for him to continue.

His cheeks reddened slightly, and he stepped out from the
small bedroom. “You smell amazing,” he breathed, wrapping his arms around my
waist.

I laughed, burying my face in his neck. “So do you.” My
hands roamed the length of his back as I felt my body relaxing into his. “I'm
beat.” I didn't want to move, too tired and feeling as though if I did move I'd
fall on my face from exhaustion.

“Let's try and nap for a while. At least until someone
wakes us up.” He suggested. He led me towards his room and I didn't object. It
was exactly the same except that his bag was on his floor instead of my pack.
Joshua pulled back the covers of the twin-size mattress. “It'll be cozy,” he
teased as I slipped in and rested on my side. Joshua curled in behind me,
wrapping an arm around my waist. I was relieved the bed was pushed against a
wall so I knew I wouldn't fall out. If anyone fell out of bed, it'd be Joshua.
It was probably why he held me so tight. My eyes closed when my head hit the
pillow.

“Thanks,” I whispered, feeling the world swaying around
me behind closed lids.

He didn't answer me, not in words. I felt a soft warm
kiss to my neck and a moment later drifted to sleep in his arms.

I awoke with a start, hearing a loud banging against the
door. I groaned in protest and felt Joshua's hold loosen as he stood up from
the bed and went to the door.

“I can't find Olivia!” Chloe was in a panic. “She's not
answering her door.”

“I'm right here,” I yawned, as Joshua pulled the door
back further so she could see me.

“Oh,” Chloe's cheeks reddened from the implication of
what she thought we'd been doing.

I shook my head, rubbed my eyes, and smiled. “It's okay.
I was just getting some sleep. What do you need?”

Chloe nodded, trying to regain her thoughts and remember
why she had come looking for me in the first place. “Oh right. The high council
is waiting to meet you. After, we'll go down and have dinner.”

“Right.” I smiled weakly, trying to pretend that I was
excited and interested, but all I could think about was the comfortable
mattress with Joshua's warm arms around me as I slept. “Can you give us a few
minutes, and we'll be right there?”

“Great, I'll meet you in the lobby.” Chloe backed up from
the door and Joshua closed it as he turned to face me. I was still seated on
the bed, my legs curled beneath the blankets. The thought of leaving the warm
mattress unsettled me.

“It's time to get up.” He smiled, reaching for me as I
groaned in protest.

“I don't want to pretend to like these people. I just
want to sleep,” I mumbled, falling back onto the bed and pulling Joshua atop me
as his arms had been around my body.

He laughed and I could feel his hands buried under my
back. “Is this how you plan on spending the rest of the evening?” I felt his kisses
fall across my cheeks and forehead, doing his best to wake me.

I shifted restlessly, laughing as I tried to pull away,
but he kept his hands tight around me, not letting me escape. “Joshua!” I
squealed, feeling his breath tickling my skin.

He relaxed against me, and I finally let my eyes stay
open, feeling more awake than I had when Chloe first showed up. “Come on.” He
kissed my cheek. “Time to get up.”

I lifted my back from the mattress to let his hands free,
which did me no favors as he then moved his hands to mine, pulling me from the
bed. I groaned in protest but followed him out of bed. “I'm up,” I answered,
though I wasn't entirely awake. “So, it's almost dinner time?” I asked, trying
to make sense of day and night. I knew when we arrived it couldn't have been
more than eleven in the morning. I hadn't accounted for the time change or the
nap we'd taken. The sun had long since set and the stars lit up the night sky.
Glancing out the window, I saw the city lights as they stretched on in Torv. It
was amazing. I grabbed my room key. “I need to get my shoes.”