Habitat, page 15
part #1 of The End Series
Had worn them really about the same,
And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.
I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood and I—
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.
—Robert Frost, 1916
Archives Control
Forbidden Literature Department
Document Destruction Date: September 2032
WAR
I WANTED TO spare Ellis the story of what happened to her world, and I had two choices. If I told her the truth, I’d destroy everything she knew to be real. The division this information would cause might destroy any future with her. She may associate me with those who keep her inside the Habitat, making me the enemy. I worried she’d tell others. Ellis was incapable of forgetting and living a lie. If she tried to expose the Habitat, she’d be a threat to the entire project. The government removed humans who created problems for the experiment, and no place existed for humans outside the Habitat. The worst possible outcome was endangering her life and causing her to hate me.
I could tell her a lie. I wanted to be the kind of man who was unselfish and would protect her from hurt. This choice involved me walking away and never seeing her again. She might be safe, and if she truly cared for me, broken hearts heal. Maybe she could forget looking for answers to the mysteries she’d uncovered.
Each choice ended with me losing her. If I walked away, I lost her. If I told her the truth, perhaps she could love me, but I still might lose her. I had learned one of my greatest faults was selfishness. I devoted my entire life to pleasing me. Even now, I wanted Ellis more than I wanted her happiness. The pain after learning the truth would be temporary, and I could convince her to be patient until we thought of a solution that allowed us to be together.
I realized I was trying to justify my actions. My conscience screamed what I didn’t want to hear—Ellis had found her cause to fight for and nothing would stop her.
I considered the possible scenarios and stories to tell; I knew what I must do. It was the decision I hoped kept her safest.
I began telling the history of The End.
I took a deep breath.
“Ellis, please listen to the entire story. This won’t be easy to tell, and it won’t be easy to hear.” I took another breath. Her face showed fear of the unknown words I would speak. I had to be strong.
“On February 20, 2032, the war began. Direct nuclear warfare and extreme levels of radiation killed most of the world’s population within twenty-four hours. Once it started, it couldn’t be stopped. At the twenty-four-hour point, the missiles stopped launching. However, a group watched from space as this occurred on Earth.”
“You mean from one of those space stations? How do you know this?” she asked.
“I’ll get to that, but yes, something similar to a space station. This group sent emergency teams to earth to rescue survivors.”
“I don’t understand. We’ve been told something completely different,” she said.
“You have, and that story wasn’t correct. But remember the situation with Mrs. Young? My story will involve telling you facts different from what you have learned.
This group in space had experience with nuclear capability and the equipment to enter the atmosphere without harm. After arriving, they rescued many people and took them to safety for medical treatment.”
“The Horizon 5000?” Ellis asked. “American military rescued us and put us into the government bunkers underground. I don’t understand. How do you know this?” she asked.
“I’m sorry, I know this is so much information, but I should finish the whole story first. After, I will answer questions, if I can.”
“Bram, how do you know this information?” she asked.
“I promise I’ll tell you.”
I took her hand and kissed it, knowing I might never have the opportunity again. What I had yet to tell her might drive us apart, but she deserved the truth. She didn’t appear to be worried any longer. Her face softened. I released her hand back into her lap. The affection I had for her reflected back toward me—she cared. For an instant, I considered not telling her or maneuvering the story, so I didn’t have to tell the entire truth. I didn’t want her to hate me. My decision could affect everything. To choose the wrong way might mean losing her forever, but true love couldn’t be based on lies.
“The people on the space station sent teams to Earth with the equipment to clean radiation from the planet. Earth began healing. A group of rescuers tended the people who needed medical care while other teams tried to stabilize disaster areas and begin reconstruction. They made the planet safe again.”
“Where are those people who came here to clean the radiation?”
“They are here,” I said.
“In Horizon?”
“No, not every person,” I stopped. “Other people live outside Horizon.”
Her eyes widened, and her mouth opened slightly. “But there are no other cities. The Horizon 5000 and their descendants are the only people on Earth to survive.”
“No, Ellis. Others live in cities outside Horizon.”
“That isn’t possible, we’d know. The military told us we were the only survivors on Earth. There are dangerous things out…”
I held up my hand. “You are the only survivors of the war.” I had until this point tried to tiptoe around the details, but I was at the place in the story where I needed to give difficult answers.
“Ellis, Horizon…Horizon contains the only surviving humans.”
She stared as if she was trying to replay my words in her head and make sense of them.
“I…I don’t understand. That’s right. We are the only survivors. So, why did you say others live outside Horizon?” She searched my face for clarity.
Now, the shock. I took her hand in mine and put my other on her shoulder.
“Ellis, Earth was rescued by a race of people humans call aliens.”
She sat frozen. If I had known what she was thinking, I could have said the right thing to ease her mind. Toward the last few moments of her silence, I worried she had slipped into a state of shock.
She slapped me on the arm. “Bram, please…are you really trying to convince me aliens saved the Horizon 5000? Aliens are those ridiculous creations in movies from before The End. You’re not funny.” She gave a nervous half-laugh followed with an uneasy smile.
I had hoped she could understand without disbelief and accept what I was saying to her.
“This isn’t a joke. It’s hard to comprehend, but remember when you told the story of Mrs. Young? You worried I might not believe you. You were not joking, and I’m not joking either.”
Her smile disappeared. “There is a huge difference between my story and yours. I was with Mrs. Young, and I saw her die before my eyes. This is crazy because you expect me to believe little green spacemen rescued us.” Her voice became stronger and louder.
“No, Ellis. The aliens saved you and the Horizon 5000.”
“Wait, what do you mean me and the Horizon 5000? Look, this isn’t funny anymore. You’re horrible with pranks. Your idea of funny is…”
“I…wasn’t saved because I was with the aliens.” I swallowed hard and said, “Ellis, I’m not human. I am Atum.”
She went pale and just when I thought I might be slapped or punched, she laughed. Not her normal laugh, but a hysterical laugh that caused her to seem emotionally unhinged for a moment. When she quieted, I sat and stared, and waited.
“Bram, don’t make jokes. I need you to help me find evidence of a cover-up within the security department.” I continued to sit and stare. Gradually, she lost signs of being amused.
When her smile disappeared, I began. “This is not a joke. I wish it were. I’ll prove it to you. Open your eyes, Ellis. How can the 5000 manage this town?”
“Bram, do you think I’m so naïve, I’d believe this story?”
I said nothing.
“So, you’re saying we live in a refugee camp run by aliens? And you…are one of them?”
“Ellis, the Atum placed you here to prevent your extinction. You were…you are an endangered species. Horizon is a project called the Habitat. Researchers designed a natural habitat so humans might flourish again.”
She jumped up and flailed her arms. “Endangered species,” she stopped and became still. “Wait…what did you call Horizon?” she asked.
“The Habitat,” I replied.
“Where did you hear the word Habitat? Did I tell you that word?” she asked.
“What do you mean? You didn’t say Habitat. You couldn’t know that word.” Now, I was confused.
“I must have told you because Mrs. Young said it at the Fountain. She said ‘Habitat.’ It was the last thing she said before she died.”
“Ellis, I don’t know how Mrs. Young could have known, but it’s true. You’re here to save your species, but also to be researched and studied by my people. Our planet was in danger of being destroyed. Our scientists decided Earth would be the most hospitable planet. When your planet became troubled, we helped you survive and, in the process, we survived. We needed a new home, and Earth was one of two planets similar to our own. Our leaders didn’t believe we could survive together, so we live separately.”
Ellis began pacing. “Let’s say…you’re telling the truth. You said your scientists watch us. Why? When?”
“You are protected for research and preservation, and you’re always watched.” She was not convinced. “Ellis, I will be a researcher, but I want to help humans and Atum come together and live together. I want to take the Horizon 5000 and let them live beyond these walls as free people. We study your social behavior, your likes and dislikes, and everything which defines being human. We aren’t supposed to interact with you.”
I stood and intercepted her mid-stride.
“You’re so smart and beautiful; I had to know you. Ellis, we can find a way to be happy. I want to keep you safe and telling you is dangerous.” I reached out to put my arms around her. She stepped back from me.
Great tears fell from her eyes. I hadn’t imprisoned her personally inside the Habitat, but I had been the one who told her she was imprisoned.
I reached again for her, “Ellis, please…”
“Stop,” she drew away from me. “This is too much. First, I don’t know if I should even believe you. You might be a lunatic. It’s…too much,” she yelled.
“Ellis please, whatever you do, keep your voice low. The neighbors might hear. People don’t know the information I’ve told you. You’re the only one—the only human who knows the truth. You can’t tell anyone.”
“This is crazy,” she said lower. “If this story is true, we’re being held prisoners.”
“Ellis, technically, your people don’t live the lives of prisoners,” I said.
“Don’t we? Are you allowed to leave this town? Because I’ve never been allowed to leave.” Her volume increased. “Officials have told us for twenty years dangers exist beyond our borders. They told us nightmarish mutations live out there. If you’re telling the truth, everything before has been a lie.” She stopped. Her hands covered her face. I pulled them away even though she tried to resist. Tears spilled from her angry eyes. “Have you ever told me the truth?”
“I said I love you, and that’s not a lie.”
“I can’t do this. Stop. I don’t even…I don’t even know if I can trust the story you’re telling me.” She realized where she was, looking around to find the exact place we had entered. After getting her bearings, she headed for the door. “This is insanity. I can’t handle any of this until I’m sure you’re telling the truth.”
I cut her path off. She couldn’t leave furious and distrusting.
“Stop. Put this on,” I said, handing my student identification to her. “Put this around your neck. Turn the picture backward so no one can see.” I now led her by the arm toward the door. I felt her momentary hesitation. She gave in but stopped again.
“What are we doing?” she asked, protesting being taken anywhere without explanation.
“I’m proving our people exist. We are going to the underground.” I opened the door leading to the hall and checked for others.
“What is the underground?” she asked. I was now pulling her to the entrance of the backstage.
“Wait.” She pulled her arm away from me. “What is the underground?” she asked again.
“Shh. We must be quiet. The underground is where the Atum…our people, move around to the areas of the Habitat for different purposes. You’ll see many people. They’ll look human, except for their eyes. Don’t speak to anyone, and if anyone speaks to us, I’ll do the talking.”
I lifted my hand to her face and brushed away the last of her tears while searching for a sign she still cared for me. I couldn’t interpret her expression, I saw no hatred, and that gave me relief. She didn’t push my hand away, and I counted that as another positive sign. I wanted to ease her anguish and let her know I’d protect her. I stepped closer, now with my thumb tracing the line of her lips while wondering if I should try to kiss her. She was still too upset, so I stopped myself and stepped back, letting my hand fall away.
“Come,” I said. We walked to the underground entrance door. I swiped my mother’s card again, and it opened. The gray steeliness of the stairwell was not inviting and was a dull welcome into my world. We walked down the steps to the next door that would reveal what no human had ever seen.
Her eyes looked wild as they darted to everything laid before her. Had people been studying us, they could surmise she was not familiar with these surroundings. She continued to stare at the newness of this secret place, and I wondered what thoughts might be racing in her mind. People moved about, and to her, it may have looked like a normal scene. A food vendor nearby sold sweets, so I walked to the counter and spoke in our language. The Atum who took my order spoke back. I swiped my mother’s card again and took our food. We walked to a group of tables where we might watch unnoticed.
“What…?” she began. She stopped. She was confused.
“I ordered abrosh, it’s a dessert we eat,” I said.
I slid the dish over to her as if this might make everything okay. She ignored it, instead choosing to watch my people moving around. A man and woman stood talking in my language near our table. I thought she was on the verge of believing the story I had told her. A muscular man dressed in a uniform pulled a large cart of refillable containers provided to humans in the Habitat. A woman dressed in a gray coverall suit stood on a ladder and looked to be repairing a light.
Ellis grasped at my arm. “I need to leave; I’m going to be sick.”
I hesitated; she repeated herself. She stood and raced to the door of the stairwell. By the time I caught up with her inside, she had bent over and vomited. I had hoped for a different reaction. When she stopped heaving, I slipped her the napkin I had gotten with our food. She grabbed it, wiped her mouth, and climbed the stairs without me. I followed. When she came to the locked Habitat entrance door, she yanked repeatedly with no success. She started crying, still wrestling the bolted door.
“Ellis, Ellis,” I repeated. “Stop. Enough. I have to unlock it.”
I came from behind her, and she stepped aside with her head hanging. As soon as I swiped my mother’s security card and looked inside the hallway of our building, she rushed around me and headed to the front entrance, which led outdoors into the town.
“Stop, Ellis.” She did. “Come back inside, and I’ll answer your questions,” I said.
“You have lied the whole time I’ve known you. Your people hold my people hostage.”
“No, it’s not like that. Please come back inside; we’ll talk. You must understand if you tell, your life may be in danger. Also, whoever you tell will be in danger. No one can learn this information.”
“So, you’re saying we aren’t prisoners, but if I tell the truth of Horizon…or Habitat or whatever it’s called, my life will be in danger. Yeah, that sounds nothing like being held captive,” she said. “And you may not think we’re prisoners, but you’re lying to yourself.”
“Ellis, if you aren’t concerned about your own safety, think of your family. I told you because I didn’t want you to be caught in the restricted section with Ana. I swear to you, I don’t agree with the way things are, but…it’s the way things are. One person can’t make a change—at least not alone. Acceptance and reform will take time.”
She stopped. Tears still streamed down her face. Her expression wasn’t confusion or hurt. She was enraged—something I was unsure I could fix.
I took her by the arms. “I love you.” She looked away from me. I shook her gently until she looked back into my eyes. “I love you, and that has never been a lie.”
“I and everyone I love are prisoners here. Never try to see me again.”
She jerked away from me and bolted through the doors back out into her world. I wanted to catch her and say whatever words could make this right, but I couldn’t risk drawing attention. I was devastated thinking I’d lost her. It couldn’t end like this. I went to the apartment and made a plan.
CHAPTER 16
Detective Burly Edwards: Today is November 2, 1952. Present are me, Detective Burly Edwards and Officer Roy Gordon, both representing the Fayette County Police Department, Frances Owens, presently being held for questioning, Jerry Bob Owens, husband to Mrs. Owens, Lieutenant William Epps from the Georgia Highway Patrol, and Simpson Ballard, the attorney for Mrs. Owens. Frances, tell us what happened on October 31, 1952.
Mrs. Frances Owens: Me and Little Jerry and Junie was heading down Highway 92 coming back from my momma’s house in Winston. She’d been sick, and I…I. (Inaudible)
