Numbers

Something happened. I’m not sure how to explain, but I went into the lab the next morning and Julianne was sitting at my station. I tried to keep calm; I strode slowly over to my station as if everything was perfectly normal. I ignored her glare as I set my things on my table and carefully organized my things so everything was just so. Only then did I pay her any attention. “May I help you,” I asked as innocently as possible.

Julianne stood from my stool as elegantly as if she were standing from her throne. She walked around my table and stood so our faces were just inches from each other. “I know what you’re doing,” she snarled, “And it’s not going to work. If you know what’s good for you, you will stop thinking of these experiments as human beings and start thinking of them as well preserved slices of meat.”

I met her glare for glare. “You don’t know the first thing about these experiments ma’am.”

Julianne smiled, it looked like a smile a wolf might have for its dinner, “That’s where your wrong, Doctor. I happen to know quite a bit about your good friend Paul, number 302 I believe he used to be called. His name used to be Paul Rockmire, a leading historian in European witchcraft and sorcery. He was highly acclaimed in many parts of the country,” I felt my face flush, “It would be a shame…if something were to happen to him, don’t you think?”

I was clinching my hands so hard they were breaking the skin on my palm. I wanted to believe that it was a lie; I want to tell her he meant nothing to me. But then the fear that they would do something anyway crept in. The thought crept in and stopped all other thought, “You wouldn’t dare destroy your precious work, the first break through for you. You wouldn’t dare harm him.”

“Him is it? And here I thought you were a scientific mind.”

“And here I thought you might have a heart.”

She paused, looking at me quizzically. At first I thought she was going to ask me what exactly I meant, but then she just stepped around me and left the lab. I hadn’t realized how silent it had gotten until everyone started moving at once. The staff looked everywhere but at me, going from shuffling papers to imputing data into the computers or anything to seem as if they were busy. I may as well have been invisible. I paused…I may as well have been invisible.

I turned on my heel and walked straight to the door to the hall way. I entered my code and realized the lab noise had lessened considerably. I smiled as the door buzzed my entry. I walked right to the door I had planned to visit tonight; number 20345 lay on his bed. His skin was clear and his eyes were a sparkling blue, all of this I could see from the small window in the door but then I entered my code. The door buzzed open, “My turn again Pete,” the body asked without moving.

I looked around, but it was only me standing in the hall, “My name’s not ‘Pete’,” I grinned in at him.

The body turned his head to peer over at me. When he saw I wasn’t who he thought I he sat up on his bed, “Need to talk blood,” he asked warily.

I shook my head, still smiling, “May I come in?”

“I’m not sure why you need to ask, it’s your institute.”

I quickly stepped in, “May I sit?”

“Uh…please, pull up a toilet.”

“I think I’ll take the floor,” I chuckled.

“Wise,” I sat down across from him, he shifted on his bed, “So what brings you to my- to uh…what brings you here?”

I laughed, “I came to ask you a few questions, if that’s alright with you?”

He shrugged, “I don’t think that could hurt.”

“Alright, so why don’t we start with an easy one, what’s your name?”

“Gabriel. My friends call me Gab.”

“May I call you Gab?”

“You may as well.”

“Alright,” I took a deep breath, “Can you remember anything? I mean from before this all happened.”

He looked at me quizzically, “Am I not supposed to?”

“That depends…what do you remember?”

“I remember going to the bank when suddenly men with masks came storming into the building with guns. I tried to stop them but the gun went off…well I guess I don’t really know if the gun went off or if he just shot me, but that’s what I like to tell myself.”

“Where was this?”

“D.C. that’s where I used to live…where am I know?”

“Atlanta,” I muttered, “Do you have any family?”

“Just a dog and a jealous girlfriend…I don’t think either are going to miss me much.”

I nodded, “right.”

A noise sounded from the end of the hall, and then there came a loud buzz admitting in someone. I held my breath and waited for whoever was going to come. Footsteps sounded off of the walls, the casual clicking of heel on tile became more and more daunting the longer they went on. Finally a guard came into view; he was dressed like the rest of them with a tan uniform and taser gun on his right hip. He wore a scowl which was only highlighted by his very thick eyebrows, he didn’t look happy to be doing what he was doing. He wouldn’t be the first one to think such a thing. Gab smiled at him as he was about to pass us by, “Hey Pete.”

The guard jumped and spun around to face Gab, hand on his taser. When ‘Pete’ saw me he obviously relaxed, sighed, and then nodded to Gab. Then he was on his way. I didn’t continue with my questioning until I heard another of the hallway doors open. I waited for the guard to escort Rose passed the open door. She looked in curiously, saw me then smiled. She was careful to not let the guard see but nevertheless Gab took it into account. I could tell he saw the same sparkle in her eye that I saw when she looked in. As soon as the door buzzed the guards exit I waited for the flood of questions I was sure was going to come.

I waited for a long while, staring out into the hall, but nothing happened. Gab asked no questions, just waited quietly for me to begin again. I turned back to Gab, he was eyeing me with curiosity, to the point where I sighed and answered his unasked questions, “I know her…not from before but…you’re not the first body I’ve met with.”

“I didn’t think I was,” he said slowly, measuring his words as he proceeded, “But I can’t think of a reason why a Doctor such as you would want to deal with the patients.”

Blood drained from my face, “That’s probably because you’re not patients,” I murmured, I took a deep breath and rushed on, “I wish there was something I could do to make this all go away, I wish there could be a way for you to forgive me…but there isn’t. So I’m trying to do the one thing that I know might make it up to you…all of you, if that’s even possible. It’s true that you’re not the first person I’ve talked to but you’re not the last either, at least we still have to talk to one other person-“

“Doctor!” Gab exclaimed, holding up a hand to stop me from pressing on, he had a peculiar smile on his face, “It’s alright, I don’t blame you. I was a researcher in D.C. I know all about it, trust me.”

I stared at him hand, I heard what he said but on his right hand, the one he held up to stop me from going on, his little finger was completely blue. I stared at it, it might have looked comical if anyone else had been there, “Your finger…is blue.”

Gab looked at his hand then back at me, “Yes…did you hear what I said?”

I nodded, “Why is your finger blue?”

“Doctor,” he laughed, “snap out of it!”

My eyes snapped back up to his face, “Sorry…got side tracked. Umm, you were a researcher? In D.C.?

“So you were listening?”

“I said I was. So why is your finger blue?”

Gab rolled his eyes, “Probably an injection gone wrong or something.”

“Interesting,” I mused, then another sudden thought struck me, “Everyone else, all the rest of the bodies were given an ability. Were you given one?”

Gab shrugged, but slowly his pillow began to rise off of his bed and float over to me, “That depends on what kind of ability,’ he eyes sparkled with unsung laughter.

“I’ll take that as a yes.”

“What about the others? I’ve seen them…can’t say that I’ve actually talked to the rest of them.”

I nodded, “Sounds like the rest of them too. Wait until tonight; you’ll meet them all tonight,” I promised, “Would you come with us to the last person’s room? We’ve been going to different rooms every night…tonight will be the last night, we only have one left.”

He smiled, “I would be honored. So you keep mentioning everything in plurals. Is there more than one scientist?”

“No, just me. The ‘we’ I’m referring to is Cynthia and Paul. They are the first two I spoke to before all of this. It was actually kind of Paul’s idea.”

“Paul?”

“302. His name is Paul.”

“And Cynthia is…”

“24601,” I answered simply.

He nodded, “Alright, I’ll come and meet the others. And you say they can do things too?”

I smiled, “I think it’s better to see then to explain when it comes to that, don’t you?”

“Probably,” he smiled his agreement.

I stood and walked to his door, “Then I’ll see you tonight,” I waved my good bye as I gently shut the door to his room. I could see his smile through the window of the door. I turned away and strode back down the hall towards the lab. I didn’t walk quickly but then again I didn’t exactly walk slowly either. I made my way to the lab and took special care to look at the camera before I left the hallway. If Julianne was going to threaten Paul and think she was going to get away with it then she had another thing coming. The wheels in my head started turning faster as I got to my station and pulled out the last bodies file. Number 476 had an unusual amount of information in his file and that was the reason I had saved him for last.

The night couldn’t come sooner but once all the other scientists had finally gone home for the night I leapt from my stool and threw myself at the dial pad. The door slid smoothly open, yet tonight it seemed to be moving slower than usual. I entered in my codes for Paul’s room, Cynthia’s room, Luke’s room, Rose’s room, and finally Gab’s room. I didn’t wait for the doors to fully open before I went to the next one, going down the line as quickly as I could. I could hear their footsteps as they hesitated in coming out of their rooms without my guidance, but by the time I stood waiting in from of 476’s room they all were gathered.

“Everyone,” I began briskly, “This is Gabriel. There has been a slight change of plans.”

Before anyone could say a word I entered my code into the last door and waited for it to slide open. “What’s gotten into her,” I heard Rose ask the others softly.

“Maybe she finally decided to watch America’s Next Top Model…that show would make anyone want to take charge,” suggested Luke.

“Something’s wrong,” I heard Paul agree, “But she’ll tell us when she wants to-“

I didn’t stay to hear the rest (if there was anything else after that), the door had opened and I quickly stepped into the room, “Hello Officer Smith,” I said as pleasantly as I could.

The body that was lying on the bed just about flew off, literally. His beautiful 10 foot wide wings unfurled at the speed of light as he turned around to peer at me. When our eyes met his startled gaze slowly morphed into a glare, his body tensed, and he posed ready to attack. “How do you know about that,” he snarled.

I shrugged, “Why don’t you tell me?”

Everyone behind me got very quiet, so quiet I could hear everyone’s individual breathing patterns. I bit back a sly remark about startling someone as I continued to gaze at the body before me. “I was told no one was going to know.”

“Know what exactly,” I continued innocently, “Know that you had a genetic disease of the heart which ultimately led to your death? Know that you knew something about the program before you signed to allow your body to be used in the event that you might die? Or am I not supposed to not know about your wife and children who are enjoying their life in California living on your life insurance? Which one was it?”

There was a squeak of amazement behind me but I refused to peer at the others. I crossed my arms over my chests and tapped my foot impatiently. The Officer’s mouth hung open for a moment before he finally snapped it shut. “Honey,” Luke spoke up into the silence, “I’m no fireman but I think you just got burned.”

The officer sputtered, I smiled, “Why don’t you have a seat?”

Officer Smith continued to glare at me as she slowly made his way to his bed; he folded his wings as he sat down. I nodded and motioned for everyone else to join my inside the room. They gathered in around the door but left plenty of space for me to confront the body, once they were all settled I turned my gaze back to him, “You are the only one that I am aware of that came to this program willingly. How did they know where to find you?”

“Why should I tell you,” the officer snapped.

“Because, Drew, maybe I’m not as forgiving as I look. Maybe something happens with one of the injections I inject you with. Maybe you fall deathly ill. Maybe something happens to you family all the way in California. It could happen.”

The officer’s features became stone, but my glare never wavered. The other’s shifted from foot to foot as the silence stretched on; I could feel their eyes boring into my back. I could feel their disapproval, I could feel their uncertainty. “You wouldn’t dare,” the officer snarled.

I nodded, “You’re right, I wouldn’t,” someone let out a sigh of relief, “But there are other’s here who would. They are other’s here who have. Do you know what you volunteered for? Well let me enlighten you. You volunteered to be a pig in which we can slaughter at any given time. The people outside these walls, my cohorts, wouldn’t even think twice to toss you into the incinerator. They’ve done it before.”

The officer’s jaw was set firm, I didn’t know if it was from the things I was telling him or if he didn’t really believe me in the first place. For the first time since I entered he acknowledged everyone behind me, “Do you believe this.”

“When I first woke up,” Paul said slowly, “I remember there were many others…you were not far behind me I think. Don’t you remember them at all?”

Drew shook his head, “I didn’t really remember a lot from the early days of waking up…I don’t really remember anything as of late actually,” he turned his glare back to me, “But why should I believe you?”

“Those numbers we gave you weren’t random, Drew,” I said simply.

He looked at me confused for many moments. Then slowly realization dawned on him. His blue eyes grew wide and his clear skin paled to the point I thought he was going to be sick, “476 bodies,” he exclaimed, “You people experimented on 476 people without their permission.”

“No, we experimented on 24600 people without their permission, we already had yours,” I answered matter of factly.

Drew sat there and stared at me. Eventually he shook his head as if he couldn’t believe what he was hearing. “That’s wasn’t supposed to happen!”

I shrugged, “But it did, and now you’re going to help.”

“Help? I’m not a scientist, never have and never will be one, what good could I possibly do here?”

“Where would the documents be, Drew? You said you knew things about the operation before they even started, they would have had to show you something for you to let them use your body after you died. Where would they put it?”

“You expect me to know-“

“Yes,” I broke in, “I do.”

I wasn’t sure if what the body did was much of a glare, he certainly stared at me for some time with a curious expression on his face. It got to the point where I wasn’t sure if I had made a horrible mistake or not, then he spoke, “The woman named, Julianne. She should have what you want.”

“Everything?”

Drew nodded, “Everything.”

I turned to go, but then stopped myself. I couldn’t leave this body, no matter how blind, to the workings of the scientists in this institute. I turned back to the officer, “Why did you agree?”

“She said that she was going to try to prefect mankind,” he shrugged, “I figured if anyone could do it she could. I didn’t know she would take it this far.”

“You claim to be the innocent party in all of this? You claim to be the misguided volunteer? Forgive me if I don’t believe you right away,” Cynthia snapped.

I motioned for her to be quite, amazingly she obeyed. “I don’t blame you for anything that has happened,” I sighed, “I don’t blame you for volunteering your body to what you thought was a scientific principal. And I definitely don’t blame you for falling for one of Julianne’s horrible tricks, how do you think she got me to apply for this job?”

With every word Drew seemed to sit up straighter and the sparkle came back to his eye, “What does that mean, exactly? I mean…now that you believe me-“

“I’m not sure,” I said simply, “I believe you’re going to have to decide that for yourself,” then I turned on my heel and strode out of the room with the others staring after me wide eyed.

I waited for the others to exit the room before closing it shut with the officer still on the other side. “I’m not entirely sure why you needed us in there tonight,” Gab said slowly, looking at me as if I would suddenly start snapped his head off, “You seemed to handle things pretty well by yourself.”

“Oh honey, if I swung that way I’d be all over her! She didn’t just take charge she owned it,” Luke said in an approving manner.

“I’m sorry to cut this short,” I told them quickly, my mind was still racing with the information the officer had given me, “But I really have to do something tonight. I’ll be back tomorrow night,” I looked them all in the eye so my last words would drive home, “Be ready.”

That seemed to take them all by surprise, even Cynthia blinked at me uneasily. Then I left the hall. I didn’t put them in their rooms, I didn’t say anything else. I just quickly walked out of the hall. Once again in the lab I knew I only had so long before a guard came running in to collect the bodies to put them back in their rooms. I grabbed my messenger bag from my station and practically ran from the lab, through the twisting hallways all the way to Julianne’s office.

It was dark in there; I wasn’t really expecting it to be otherwise. No one was around, the doors were locked, and somewhere in the depths of the halls were the echoing of running feet. I whipped out my ID card and slid it into the door-jam. I slowly working the card down the length of the door, maneuvering it so the lock would slowly slid open. There was a positive click and the door opened. I slipped into the darkened offices.

I held out a steady hand so as not to run into things and then I came to Julianne’s actual office door. I still had my ID card clutched into my hand. I repeated the process. Forcing my card slowly along the inside of the door-jam, waiting for the click and easing the door wide open. I stepped into the office that always made people uncomfortable.

In the darkness the office looked even colder then in the light. The furniture was neatly placed, the desk was neat and clean, and everything had its place. It was eerily calm in the darkness that filled it then. I took a deep breath and forced one foot in front of the other, I forced myself to walk up to the desk. I forced myself to open the drawers and search for documents I wasn’t even sure actually existed. I forced my froze hands to move, I forced my buzzing mind to silence and focus on the task at hand. Then I found it.

Under the center drawer was a stack of folders containing only about a few papers each. At first glance they didn’t appear to be anything, second glance proved me very wrong. The folders contained all six of the body’s names and identities, occupations, and past lives. These folders contained it all…and so much more. With each profile was another paper one in which I didn’t understand, scientific terms that made no sense used together. I flipped through the documents one by one and came to the last folder. There were six bodies and seven folders, tentatively opened the last folder then all of the terms made sense.

Meteors, they were about meteors that had crashed to Earth with strange core never before seen. The folder explained it all; it explained the discovery of DNA strands in the meteors. It explained different theories on how the DNA got there, what it could mean, and what they could do with the information they had obtained. I thought I was going to be sick.

I heard someone coming. I froze for only a second before I shoved the folders back under the center drawer right where I had found them. I closed the door and stood at the ready. I knew who was going to walk through that door, and I didn’t want her to catch me unaware. Julianne turned on the light as she walked into her office; her eyes quickly found and held me. A slowly, evil smile slid onto her face, “Well, isn’t this a surprise,” she didn’t sound surprised at all, “What can I do for you, Doctor?”

“I know what you’re doing,” I figured there was no way around it.

“And what is that,” Julianne laughed.

I glared, “Injecting foreign, untested DNA into human bodies. It’s the rankest scientific experimentation and against humanity to even think of practicing it.”

“I don’t know what you mean,” Julianne entered the room with a slight smirk on her face and crossed to her desk, “If I didn’t know any better I would say you’re talking about aliens. You’re not talking about aliens are you?”

I stayed silent; did I really know what I was talking about? What could I do about it without those papers under the center drawer? My silence was all Julianne needed, “I didn’t think so. Maybe you should go home for the night, Doctor; you’re looking a bit pale.”

I bit back a cold remark and held her gaze for many minutes. She said nothing else; she just stared back with that horrible sly smirk on her face. Abruptly I turned on my heel and stormed out of the office, down the various halls and out of the institute. On my way home I went over everything in my head over and over again. Everything was set in place; everything was going to go according to plan. I got to my home, jumped into my shower to relieve the tension that finally seemed to work its way out of my back. I remember sitting on my couch thinking over everything that had to happen the next day when I heard a knock at my door. I made my way to it and peered through the peep hole, and a woman was outside looking around curiously.

I opened the door, “Yes?”

“Olivia Van Doran?”

I hesitated, “Yeah, that’s me.”

She nodded, and then pepper sprayed me. I called out in alarm, but not before my eyes were burning beyond belief. I couldn’t see but I could hear, “She’s down,” the woman called to someone outside.

I wasn’t aware that I had collapsed, but I was on the floor like the woman said. I heard running feet and felt myself being grabbed about the shoulders to be dragged out into the hall. The next thing I knew something was being placed over my head and something hard was being smashed into my skull.