The Proposed Prophecies

“Honey?” Liv heard her mother’s voice. “Mom?” She felt a gentle touch on her cheek. She opened her eyes and saw her mother Helena, dressed in a black dress with her hair brushed into a bun. She didn’t look like an Alter anymore but like a regular woman – like the woman she had been in Stockholm, a single mother to her and Becky, who had tried her best to put her life back together after her divorce with Christopher. If any of these past few months had even been real, Liv thought.

“What happened?” Even that one question made her belly hurt all over again and she tried to sit up. She felt her mother’s hands pushing her back. “You need to rest honey.”

“What happened? Where is the baby?” Liv repeated again and raised her voice but the pain stopped her again.

“I am sorry, honey, but the baby died.” Helena’s voice was soft.

Liv remembered the rolling rocks and the screams of people all around her. She thought of Carmen pulling her and yelling her name and Jake with his plan to make Evan to step down and the pain that followed each thought of the past. She looked at Helena, who took a seat next to her and looked serious.

“No. That can’t be true!” Liv clearly remembered the cry of the baby. Helena lowered her head. “I am sorry.” She paused. “They said it was a girl. They were unable to get her into an incubator in time.” A tear rolled down Helena’s face. “No!” Liv whispered and looked down. “No!” she repeated.

“I know it’s hard to take in and I wish I could make it better for you.” Helena pulled her chair closer and Liv felt her warm hand on hers and the other on her forehead. Helena’s hand brushed through Liv’s hair. “You are still so young. You can still have children and start a new, normal life.” Liv didn’t say a word. She tried to push away the memory of the crying baby. It was so real, she thought. “They said you had been pregnant for about a year, just like I was with you and Becky.”

“A year?” This meant that the baby had been Evan’s, which made her feel even worse.

“Liv!” It was the voice of Tommy. She looked towards the door and saw him, Ashley and Becky. They all looked healthy and alive. Tommy jumped on her bed and laid next to her, hugging her tightly with his little hands and she wrapped hers around him, even though her belly hurt with each move. Liv was speechless and looked at Helena, who smiled at her.

“Easy Tommy,” Helena ordered and he released the pressure of his hug a little. “You have slept for, like, the whole week,” Ashley said and sat on her bed and dropped to her legs as Tommy was taking most of the space. Liv placed one of her hands on Ashley’s head. Even her voice sounded so much like Amy’s, deeper but still feminine.

Becky stepped forward and stood next to Helena. Her tears rolled one after another. “I am glad you are alive. I was worried when I heard the bunker had collapsed.” She stepped closer to the bed, holding on to Liv’s arm. “You were not there when it started collapsing?” Liv wondered if this was some kind of dream. A dream she didn’t want to wake up from.

“We were taken out of the bunker by an Alter when the whole fight started. We were taken to Miami by plane and we heard on the way that the bunker had started to collapse,” said Becky. Liv managed to sit up and looked around. She wasn’t in a hospital room after all, but a regular room with white walls that smelled like they had been freshly painted, with a desk, closet and toys scattered around.

“Where are we?” She closed her eyes for a bit as her belly felt like it contained rocks that were rolling around.

“We are in Miami,” Ashley said.

“Miami?”

“We couldn’t have our old house back because it had burned down. Right?” Tommy looked at Ashley, who rolled her eyes. “Right. And stop pushing your foot in my face.” She raised her voice.

“It has been cleaned out from the infected and there is a wall all around the city. Most of cities and countries around the world have not been cleaned up yet and some of them still even have infected people living there, but Evan said that in a few more years it should be safe and we might be able to travel again.”

Liv looked at Becky. She suddenly appeared so grown up with her short hair. For some reasons she was dressed like an Alter guard. She was the only one dressed that way, everyone else had regular clothes on. “Evan?” Liv asked quietly. Becky suddenly leaned closer. “He is leaving Earth today with some of the Alters. I think you should talk to him. I told you that it didn’t matter whose son he was, you should consider listening to me sometimes.” She smiled and winked. And she was right, Liv thought. It really didn’t matter and it never will. “Where is he? And how come they are leaving?” She remembered that Jake was the new commander and he wanted to stay on Earth.

“There is a military base built close by. I’ll take you,” said Helena, interrupting before Becky answered. Helena got up from the chair. “Alright everyone. I need you all to brush your teeth and start thinking about getting ready for school.” Liv felt a quick kiss on her cheek from Tommy. “Bye, Liv.” He said. She smiled and saw Ashley hesitating. “Am I going to get a kiss from you too?” Ashley rolled her eyes. “Alright,” she said and kissed Liv on her cheek too. Tommy grabbed Ashley’s hand and they both walked out.

“I have to say goodbye for now. I have joined the military and I have my first training day today. Dad is there too. He runs the military base. But I will visit later,” said Becky. Liv remembered Becky had always secretly wished for Christopher to be the father he should have been. She remembered when she had seen him at Amy’s house. He had seemed like a different man. Perhaps he had changed for good. Though a part of her would never be able to just let him be a part of her life again but if this situation made Becky happy then that was all that mattered. Becky’s eyes were full of determination and dreams as she talked about joining the military. “Carmen joined the military too and she is there already. She said she will catch up with you soon. I think you should join the military too, we can be all in the same group.” Liv smiled as she watched her walking out. All grown up. She wasn’t the little girl who needed Liv to cover her ears each time her parents fought, Liv thought.

“Evan let me stay here along with other Alters that turned out to have children here, too. I can stay here with the kids and raise them and help them to adjust to their new life and the new rules,” Helena said shortly after Becky had left. “New rules?”

Helena exhaled and smiled but her smile was awkward. “Yes. The reestablishment is happening but it is a good thing. The last chapter of the Proposal has been fulfilled. Most of the Alters are leaving today after the election. Only the ones helping with the cleanup will stay” Liv exhaled and remembered Evan would be leaving too. “Election?”

“Yes. The new commander is going to appoint the person in charge. There are twenty big cities in total that have been cleaned up and each city will have a leader who would be in charge of following the reestablishment.” There was a moment of quietness but then Helena lost her smile completely.

“I told you to never become involved with Jake and Eve. Why couldn’t you listen?” Helena started crying.

“Mom?” Liv tried to get up, despite the continuous pain. She couldn’t figure out why Helena had changed the subject all of a sudden. What did that mean?

“It doesn’t matter anymore.” Helena wiped away her tears and gave another awkward smile. “We are all together again. And that is the most important thing.” She kissed Liv on her forehead. “Get some rest, honey. I’ll come a little later.” She walked out of the room.

The house become quiet after everyone had left. Liv tried to get up despite the pain. She wondered what Miami looked like now.

Slowly she walked to the window and opened the blinds. She realized there were in an apartment building and judging by the height of it, they must at least be on the sixth floor. Miami looked full with people walking in the streets. It was full of trash and graffiti on nearly every building she could see from up top. Suddenly she had an urge to walk around the city, despite the pain in her belly. She lifted up her shirt and spotted a cut on her belly. She remembered the doctor and the knife in her hands. She must have given birth via cesarean rather than vaginal birth, she assumed. She exhaled and a sadness about the death of the baby wash over her. Everything had happened much too fast. She hadn’t had any time to get excited about the pregnancy before it had all been over.

She walked outside her room and noticed that she was situated in a three bedroom apartment, covered with a wall to wall grey carpet that felt soft underneath her bare feet. She was used to the hard concrete floor of the bunker. Two of the rooms looked like they were for children, as toys were all over the floor, and the third must have been Helena’s room as she spotted some dresses on the bed. The kitchen and living room was outdated with some old appliances and she wondered who had lived there before them. Perhaps it had been a family that had become infected and died or perhaps they had been killed. The apartment smelled like bleach and fresh paint, just like Amy’s after she had shot herself and they had been released from quarantine.

Slowly, she walked around the apartment and wondered what this new life would mean and if she would ever be able to live a normal life again. She touched her belly and rested her back against the kitchen counter looking at the fridge that had a picture attached on one of the doors. It was a family and it looked like a child had drawn it. It showed a mom, a dad and a little boy and a girl. It must have been Tommy’s drawing, she thought. She wondered if the dad was Jake in that picture. It was hard to believe that he had played her the way he had. She wondered what had happened during the past week and what had changed now that the Alters were leaving. Helena had said that Evan had allowed her to stay. She wondered if that meant he was still the commander.

“I hope you are enjoying your new house and life, my dear.” The voice of Eve was hardly pleasant in Liv’s ears. She jumped. It was the last voice she had expected. She turned to the living area where she spotted Eve sitting on the sofa. But for the first time Liv didn’t feel anger towards her, or fear. Eve was now just a regular Alter. She wasn’t the fearful commander anymore, but just another fool that did exactly what Jake wanted. Liv walked closer and spotted a white dress hanging off the back of the black sofa. “That’s for you. I want you to change from your pajamas into the dress and take a drive with me. We need to chat before I leave,” she said and pointed at the dress. Liv realized that Eve was leaving too, just like the other Alters.

“I am not going anywhere with you.” Liv raised her voice.

“That’s not really an option. I have something you might be interested in,” she added.

Liv shook her head. “Like what?” There was nothing she could imagine Eve would have that would interest her. “Your grandfather’s last diary.” She paused. “It is addressed to you.” Eve said and pointed at the dress to go and get change.

Liv hesitated at first but went to change. She had nothing left after the virus and all her belongings were gone. The diary was the only thing that could at least somehow remind her of the past.

She grabbed the white dress. It was softer than a kitten. No wonder Eve wore the same types of dresses all the time, Liv thought, as she swiped her hands through the dress once she was wearing it. “That looks a lot better than your blue pajamas. Shall we my dear?” Eve walked to the front door. Liv walked right behind her. Eve was quiet all the way to the elevator and down. “Where are we going?” Liv asked but Eve just walked through the hall out of the building. Her walk was always so confident and elegant, her hand holding the car keys. A black car waited in front of the building and she opened the passenger’s seat for Liv. Liv hesitated, as she wasn’t sure what Eve’s intentions were, but she sat down anyway. Eve sat in the driver’s seat and started the car. Everyone was looking at them as they drive around. It was the only personal car on the road. There were only big trucks that passed by. Liv eyes watered as she saw the sun peeking through the buildings just like it had done on the first day she had arrived in Miami. She pulled down her window and stuck her hand out, embracing the fresh air and the blue sky. The palm trees swung with the light wind. She saw people moving boxes around from the trucks. It looked like food packages. “It is important to keep up with the reestablishment, my dear. People need rules and discipline to keep the peace. And as you probably understand by now, it is important to let the virus play out everywhere as per the proposal.” Liv looked at Eve who drove calmly, looking out of the window. She looked like any regular woman. Liv wondered if losing the command post is what made her to look so regular, so different than before. “I never meant to hurt Evan.” Liv felt the urge to say it out loud. Eve suddenly turned to her. “Everything happens for a reason,” she said and paused. She didn’t look mad or disappointed. Then she looked back at the road. “Do you think that I didn’t know about Jake’s plan? I didn’t think he would be capable of faking his own death but I knew you were going to make a mistake and trust the wrong person. You are so predictable, even without me reading your mind.”

Liv thought at least there was something they had in common. They both didn’t think Jake was capable of faking his own death.

“I made an agreement with Jason once upon a time. He helped me to change Axel’s will to choose me instead of Jake as the next-in-command and in return I would save you and your family. You can imagine how furious Jake was. Shortly afterwards, he poisoned Axel in revenge and made it look like I had done this. Alters never believed me when I said that I hadn’t killed him. I knew he would try to pull as many people and Alters as he could to his side.”

Liv looked down to her wrist. The circle crossed in half was still there. She realized that it didn’t matter if you were a human or an Alter, you could still be manipulated. “He killed Axel?” she asked, but Eve didn’t respond, only stared at the road.

“Axel made an addendum to the proposal. The Alters now know the truth and I am enjoying every second of Jake’s house of cards falling down.” Liv noticed the wall that Becky had talked about and the gate. As Eve approached the gate, she stopped and showed her ID card and the security guy opened the door onto a long tunnel with lights. “An addendum?” Liv asked and looked at the lights above the tunnel ceiling. They reminded her of the ones from the bunker.

“Yes, and this addendum was to make sure that the Proposal was fulfilled until the end. This is the whole reason I had to follow it even if I think that a complete restoration should have been proposed instead.” She glanced at Liv. “I am turning five hundred next year,” she added. Liv realized that meant that Eve was dying. “So that’s why you rushed the start of the proposal.” Liv looked at her. “I couldn’t take the chance, as my son didn’t want to step up. He had always been so dreamy. I thought he would come to his senses once I sent him to Earth and he would see how people treated each other and how there was nothing more important than establishing a new way of living so that Earth could survive and one day we might return again. There are not many livable planets in the universe and it is important to keep as many in peace as we can.” She paused. “I need him to step up since I won’t be here next year. The Alters need him.” Eve entered the base after the tunnel. There were fences all around and abandoned buildings inside. A lot of people and Alters in uniform walked around. She wondered if she would see Becky or her father Christopher. “But Evan fell in love with you. This was not part of my plan but I was sure it would benefit Jake.”

“Why did you let him do all this?” Liv asked and Eve parked the car in front of the highest building in the base. “Because he doesn’t yet know the truth behind the addendum written by Axel. The reestablishment wasn’t only for humans but also for the Alters. This is a new era, even for the Alters, in which they chose their own commander by voting. Each commander used to have the right to select the next in line but with the reestablishment we will have to all vote. I guess we have learned something from people after all.” Eve smiled.

“They would never have voted for me and frankly I don’t even care. I will be dead by this time next year. But I know they would vote for Evan and they did once they found out the truth about Jake poisoning Axel. All Evan needs to do is to accept the post. It is all your fault he let Jake take over and now my dear you have to make it right again.”

“How?” Liv asked.

“Let him move on. He can only move on if you stop holding on to him. Let him leave with his family. He belongs to us, to the Alters. And he is meant to be a leader, just like Axel. I know you feel that too.” She unlocked the door. Eve was right, Liv thought. All she wanted was for Evan to be happy and he had no reason to stay on Earth. There was no baby and he must hate her.

“He is in this building and he is waiting for you.” Liv exhaled. Facing him would be harder to deal with than any virus or bunker.” If you truly love him, you will let him go,” Eve added. That was the last thing she wanted. But somehow Eve might be right. The Alters needed someone like Evan. A good person and leader. Someone who they can depend on. She walked out of the car and her knees trembled. She was scared of seeing him again, of his deep brown eyes and his kind smile. She walked into the building. It was dusty and dirty and there were only few voices coming from the end of the hall. She followed them. The building inside was dark. The Windows were covered with desks. Her high heels knocked on the floor as she followed the voices. The door at the end of the room was closed but the light from underneath was bright. She exhaled and placed her hand on the door knob and slowly opened the door. She spotted three Alter guards around a circular table and Evan standing.

He glanced at her but shortly looked at the other Alters. “Give us some privacy.” The Alters got up and left. Liv’s heartbeat quickened and all she was able to do was to stare at him, speechless. “The Alters voted and they vote for me,” he said but his voice didn’t sound happy or thrilled. “I know,” she said. “Evan, I didn’t know exactly what Jake had been hoping would happen, or what he had planned. Please understand that I looked on you as Eve’s son and I had a certain image of you in my mind…”

“That’s alright, Liv,” he interrupted. He said it was alright but he still looked disappointed. “I never trusted Jake and when I stepped down I already knew about Axel’s addendum from my mother. I just wanted the Alters to have the freedom to choose. And if they would have chosen Jake, I would have accepted their decision. But they didn’t. As a matter of fact they want him to pay for Axel’s death.” He offered her a seat and she took it. Then he sat across her. The table wasn’t very wide but somehow it seemed wider as he sat so far away. “I guess all that is left is for me to accept.”

“Will you? I mean you should.” She remembered Eve’s words but felt selfish for wanting him to say no and stay on Earth. “Not yet. But I guess you are right, I should. The Alters expect me to accept.” Liv nodded her head. “Of course,” she said, looking at him.

“I know about the baby and what happened,” Evan mumbled.

“It is hard to believe that she is dead.” A tear rolled down Liv’s cheek. “I am sorry, Liv. The doctor said that she couldn’t do anything else.” She looked down at her grey high heels and exhaled. Suddenly it was quiet but in her head there was a whole conversation going on. In her thoughts, she was begging him not to leave her and for the first time she wanted him to be able to read her mind. “I am not sure if I am cut out to be a commander,” he said after a while. It seemed as if he wanted to move away from all that was hard to talk about. He looked down at the table. On it, there was an open document laying in front of him. “You’ve got this,” said Liv. “You are going to be the best,” she whispered. She really meant it, despite not wanting him to leave. Evan looked back and smiled. “So do you,” he added and pushed the piece of paper on the table towards her. “What is this?” she asked. “It is the last part of the proposal, in which it is proposed that I, as a leader of the Alters, would like you to accept the leadership on Earth. Your main responsibility would be to make sure that life on Earth follows the reestablishment guidelines. You will communicate with the Alters through an artificial intelligence and report to them,” he said. “Could I report to you?” she asked. He smiled. “Maybe one day.” She smiled back. This might be the only way she could keep in touch with him. But to be responsible for the whole of Earth wasn’t a dream job. She doubted that she would even make a good job of it. “You have got this and you are going to be the best.” He repeated her exact words. It was funny but scary at the same time. She grabbed the document laying on the table. There were sets of rules they needed to follow; there would be no more families and the ability to procreate naturally would be taken away from them to prevent over population, just like the rules had been for the Alters. “I know these new rules don’t look good but for now it is best to avoid repeating the mistakes of the past.”

“What about this part here that mentions a chip to brainwash the people. Would I be supposed to implement this?” Liv asked after reading more of the paper in front of her. Evan crossed his hands. “Yes, unfortunately this how we will give everyone the same information and commands. And this way everyone will have the same chances for education and life. There will be no more differences between people.”

Now that he said it like that, it didn’t sounding as crazy, but she still didn’t like what was being proposed. She exhaled and the document shook in her hands.

One of the Alters entered the room. “It’s time,” he said.. “The Alters are waiting for you,” he added and Evan stood up and looked at Liv and took a diary out of a pocket in his uniform. “What is this?”

“Jason’s last diary, which will hopefully help you to make the right decision.” He walked towards the door. “Read it and come out once you have decided.” He walked out. “Evan” She said, he stopped and looked back at her. “Thank you for saving my family.” He smiled. “I would do anything to make you happy again.” He added and turned around, walking into the dark hallway.

Liv opened the diary and smiled as she saw her grandfather’s perfect handwriting. It was a little faded and old but just the touch of it made her burst into tears. She thought back on the past year and all the things that had happened; Amy, the virus, Tiffany, the bunker, Evan, Jake and Eve. She exhaled and wiped her tears.