Habitat, page 18
part #1 of The End Series
“Talk to your therapist,” he said to Ana. “Do you have other concerns?”
“No,” she answered.
“Call me if anything changes. And you, Ellis,” he said, now stepping closer to me than I felt comfortable with. “Watch out; you risk your life when you’re careless.”
I could have thrown up right then. He was vile, and he suspected me, so I said nothing. I kept calm because had I spoken, I would have confirmed his suspicions. So, I forced a smile and thought he was the one who’d better watch out. He might not be the leader, but he was the closest I had, and I hated him.
When he drove away, I could tell Ana’s spirit lifted. From where I stood, she had half of the information I knew, and she thirsted for the truth. I had it within my power to hold everything else from her. She’d be safer if I did. As her friend, I couldn’t let her live in the dark, not knowing our lives were lies. I was willing to risk our happiness, our sanity, and even our lives to get the truth.
We walked back toward their yard, Mrs. Hamilton, with her arm around Ana and me behind, feeling a bit jealous. Ana felt safe and loved. The actual truth was, we weren’t safe—no matter how many arms held us, and no matter how often we were assured of being loved.
“Ana,” I said, “They are setting up the fireworks at the park. You want to ride over and watch?”
“That sounds fun,” she said. “Are we finished, Mamá?”
“Yes, you don’t want to be too tired to enjoy tomorrow,” her mom said. Ana grabbed her mother and gave her a quick squeeze.
She got her bike, and we headed toward the park. She immediately began talking, not allowing room for me even to respond. She covered every subject except for our crisis. She and her mother had made a pie for the contest, and they prepared a special picnic. Ana told me what she was wearing and discussed the prospects of our assignments. She didn’t mention Mrs. Young or any mystery that had once consumed us.
“You will get the release therapist assignment, Ellis. You’re perfect for the job. I hope I’ll be placed with the historian department. Please don’t let me get something like a clerk or waitress. I have to be involved with the Archives; it’s what I’ve always wanted to do. I wonder what assignment John will get.”
The more she talked, the faster she talked. This wasn’t the real Ana. She spoke in the same way with Inspector Ryder. Maybe I was paranoid, but I sensed she didn’t want me to say anything until we were at the park. In a few minutes, job assignments, picnics, and possible boyfriends wouldn’t be a priority.
“Where do you want to go? There?” She pointed to workers setting up fireworks by the far end of the lake. Her hand shook.
“Why don’t we go to the knoll?” I suggested. She didn’t answer. I lead the way, not speaking anymore.
When we arrived, she looked around us. “Okay, let’s start.” Her smile vanished. “You go first,” she said.
“Everything has changed,” I said.
From there, I began my story with Mom and Dad separating and arranging an apartment for us. Next, I moved on to Bram and our meeting at the Archives. I described his home and the underground. She never interrupted me, and her expression hardly changed. I gave her the details of the war and how the Habitat came to exist. I described my visit with Mr. Hap at the hospital. When I finished, she didn’t speak for a long time. It was as if she needed the time to calculate everything. This morning, I felt overwhelmed and couldn’t organize my thoughts. Today, we both learned Horizon was a lie. Now, I had someone to share this burden with, and I welcomed the relief.
“Okay, what do you want to do?” she asked.
I loved her. She trusted me and never questioned the truthfulness of the information I told her. “I don’t want to live a lie,” I said.
“Then, we need an alien-butt-kicking plan.”
“Are you sure? Once we get involved, I doubt we can turn back,” I said.
“Living like lions, sister.”
Ana and I parted ways at her street. Our plans were complete, and I biked to my appointment while she rode home to prepare for the following day. Ana accepted everything I told her. She reacted with a bizarre calm as if the news wasn’t a surprise.
I rode to the Orchard building for my scheduled release session. I wanted to hate this place, but I’d been conditioned for years to think of it as a source of healing. I entered the building and noticed, for the first time, a carving into a stone situated over the entrance. It was two suns. If it had meaning, which I’m sure it did, I doubted I’d learn it. I had a habit of trying to find hidden meaning in everything. I deciphered words, thoughts, and ideas into that which held a deeper meaning. So for me, this carving meant I was going into the sun. The sun gave light, so everything was visible. Perhaps here, nothing could be hidden in darkness, and everything was visible. I had to make sure this wasn’t the case with my release session. I couldn’t allow myself to be transparent.
I knocked, and Dr. Adler called for me to enter. I walked into the same office I’d known for over ten years. Nothing had changed. I supposed if she was on their team, she had to maintain a constant and steady environment. If, however, she was on our side, she may have her own doubts and be waiting for someone to become her ally.
“Hello, Dr. Adler,” I said.
“Hello, Ellis. How are you?” she asked.
“I’m well. Just waiting for tomorrow,” I said.
“Are you nervous?”
“No, there are more important issues I want to discuss.”
“Oh, certainly.”
“My mom and dad are separating.”
“Are you sure?” she asked, putting her port on the side table.
“Yes. They announced it this morning. They said they had arranged an apartment for me to share with Ana. I believe my dad is getting an apartment near the hospital.”
“And your mother?”
“I don’t know, but I believe she insisted on the separation. I’ve suspected for a while they weren’t happy together. I asked him not too long ago if divorce was a possibility.”
“How does separating cause you to feel?” she asked.
I sat for a while, thinking through the seriousness of the question. Parents were supposed to be a source of security that children needed in this post-apocalyptic world. We were supposed to find safety within the family unit. While devastating, my parents’ impending divorce was now at the bottom of my worry list. It was just another piece of the mounting insanity piling up in my life.
“Ellis? Can I get you a glass of water?” Dr. Adler’s voice drew me back into the present. She was now beside me, on the sofa, holding my hand.
“I’m sorry. I…”
“It will be fine. You’re shaken by this news. I understand. You love your father. I recognize what this must mean to you. Let me give you some medicine.” She stood and walked to her desk.
She believed I was cracking up because my parents were separating, when in actuality it ranked pretty low on the crap-o-meter. There were other issues far more pressing than my parents’ marital status.
Once again, I had appeared disconnected from my surroundings. Dr. Adler was back at my side.
“Ellis, I’m calling your father to come and take you home. I don’t want you going back alone. I believe you are suffering from too much stress. This family situation, coupled with the end of school, placement tests, and the incident at the Fountain—has caused what I believe to be an emotional overload.” She held her hand out. In her palm laid a small blue tablet. It didn’t look similar to the medicine given at the Fountain. But how could I be sure? She held a glass of water. “It will help relax your mind.”
“I want a break from stress,” I said, “but tomorrow is the day I’ve looked forward to my whole life. I want to savor it—good and bad. Maybe it’s normal to suffer through some parts of life, but that makes the good times even more wonderful. You’re right. The last two weeks have been the most difficult, wonderful, hurtful, confusing times I can remember. It’s overwhelming to think about, nevertheless, live it.”
She laid the tablet and water to the side on the small wooden sofa table.
We talked nonstop for the rest of the hour.
“The last time we spoke, Ellis, you had more positive than negative in your life. Why has so much has changed?”
“Because I’ve changed,” I said standing. She stood with me. I walked to the door. “I hope I’ll see you tomorrow at The Celebration.”
“Will I get to meet your young man?” she smiled.
“No. That’s also become a negative in my life. He wasn’t the person I thought he was,” I said.
“I’m sorry. You never told me his name.”
“It doesn’t matter anymore. Although, if anything in my life felt perfect, it was him. I can’t explain it because it doesn’t make any sense, but I think I love…loved him. Anyway, it’s over, and it’s for the best. We weren’t suited for one another.” I opened the door and walked into the hallway but stopped and turned back to her. “You would’ve liked him; his name was Bram.” I walked away, thinking that would probably be the last time I ever spoke his name.
CHAPTER 19
Today marks the one-year anniversary of our rebirth—a day when citizens of Nurahatum triumphed over nature. We met our impending extinction face to face and prevailed in a way no other civilization has since the beginning of recorded histories. Our descendants will look back on this event and celebrate us. History will not forget our achievements, sacrifices, and ingenuity. We are the saviors of our people. We are saviors of a future yet to be written.
We must memorialize those who gave their lives so we might have ours. Our future is full of promise. We have achieved so much, yet let us not stop striving to excel. We will create challenges anew for our people. The quest for true utopia must never stop. This planet, rescued from reckless caretakers, is now made perfect and has created a home for us all. With mercy, we took pity on a race of inferior creatures and fashioned for them a new chance of survival. We will nurture them. We will be gods for them, and they will enjoy a peaceful existence. The blessings we bestowed gave them a chance to live as superior races do—without fear, war, division, and other dangers.
We are mindful of our responsibility as their saviors. Without us, humankind would be extinct. Their inability to maintain civilized relations has provided us the opportunity to colonize and survive. In that way, they unwittingly have been our saviors.
As we celebrate today, let us remember for as long as we remain of one mind, we shall always be triumphant in our goals. We will continue our way of life and endeavor to increase felicity and success. Praises for The Beginning.
—Emperor Dalgrim Tilmun
New Earth
January 1, 2033
CELEBRATION
I WAS STARVING from the moment I woke. When I came in the night before from release therapy, the house was quiet except for the sound of running water coming from my parents’ bedroom. There was a note on the kitchen counter, in my father’s handwriting, saying dinner was in the fridge. I lumbered to the bedroom without even checking what had been cooked. All I thought about was sleep and meeting Ana at the Archives during the fireworks. We decided the best way to get concrete proof was in the records department of the restricted section. Everyone comes to see the fireworks display, so downtown would be deserted. Ana received security codes for the main entrance two days ago because Mrs. Croft was ill. Those codes and the stolen security badge would allow us total access to all areas of the Archives. With proof, we might convince the rest of Horizon we were a science project for an alien race. We would demand our freedom, and if necessary, we would fight.
Today, the town was preoccupied with happiness and laughter. Whoever watched us would see a carefree society. I got out of bed, dreading the meeting with my mother. I heard no sound from the rest of the house, which was unusual. By this time on Celebration Day, our lawn chairs, food, and other amusements were packed to take to the park. My father liked a particular spot within the area he thought provided the best views of the entertainment throughout the day. From the window, I saw excited families packing their carts.
No one was home. I was attending The Celebration with or without my family. I couldn’t explain why, but placement still mattered to me. I’d never have a job in Horizon because Horizon would soon cease to exist. Still, I needed to know my years of hard work had meant something. Inside the fridge, a plate meant for me from the night before held a sandwich and chips. We didn’t do sandwiches for dinner; this meal had been thrown together.
After eating, I placed my plate in the sink. House rules dictated everyone washed their dirty dishes. In rebellion, I spun around and walked toward my room. If Mom didn’t like it, she could wash it herself. I heard the cart drive into the garage. I took a deep breath and walked back to find out who had come home. It was Dad.
“Hey,” he said with a smile. “Happy Beginning.” He pulled bags from the storage bin.
“Happy Beginning,” I mumbled. “Need help?”
“Yes, please. These,” he said, handing me two bags.
“What is this?”
“This is your Celebration picnic. I thought today needed something extra special, but I didn’t get to cook as I had hoped yesterday.”
“I shouldn’t have run out on you.”
“It’s okay.” He walked past me into the kitchen. “Your mother thought providing you an apartment might soften the blow of our separation. I’m the one who should apologize because you thought you had no choice but to leave us.” He placed his bags on the counter. “Now, let me ask you a question. Did you find your book at the hospital?”
I stopped unpacking the bags. I turned, unsure of how upset he was. He looked grim.
“Dad, how did you hear so soon?”
“One of the emergency room physicians called and said Mrs. Lawrence had the hospital on a massive, widespread search for your book. She wanted to give me her copy. Will you tell me why you lied?”
I had to make quick decisions with my story.
“You won’t admit it, but I’m the reason Mr. Hap is there, and I had to see him. If I hadn’t said something to you, he might still live in his home and be tending his flower garden.”
Dad stopped everything. “Ellis, do you honestly believe you’re the cause for Mr. Parsons being in the hospital? He is there because he is ill. You saved him. He could have progressed to the same condition as Mrs. Young, and I’m certain you wouldn’t have chosen that tragic ending for him.”
“You should see him, Dad. I didn’t save him. I doomed him to a breathing non-existence. He’s not free to live his life. He is medicated into compliance.”
“Ellis, you’re wrong. Mr. Parsons has progressed in his illness. Keeping him medicated is keeping him safe until we can decide how best to treat him. Please understand, I could never harm Mr. Parsons, nor allow anyone to harm him. I’m not angry because I understand your motives were unselfish, but we both could have gotten into trouble for you being there without permission. I wished you had discussed your intention with me. Is this why you have been acting so sad lately?”
“Yes, partly, but you’d never have allowed me permission to see him. What is Final Release?”
“Where did you hear that?” he asked.
“The term was written on his chart.”
“Ellis, charts are private.”
“What does it mean?” I repeated.
“It means he may be beyond help and will be transferred to the ward for people who cannot get better. However, before you get upset, I promise I will not let that happen. I’m doing everything I can to help him recover. Please do not risk our getting into trouble by visiting him again. I will try to determine a time for you to have a supervised visit. Now, let’s not talk about Mr. Hap any further. It is done, so there’s no point in discussing it. Let’s focus on something positive. Tell me about your meeting with Dr. Adler.”
“The same as always. We talked about you and Mom, mostly. Where is she?”
“Your mother is moving her belongings to an apartment and slept there last night.”
“Great. I’m not surprised. She didn’t waste any time. Dad, it’s not my business, but is there a third person involved in this break-up?”
He stopped mid-air putting a jar of preserved peaches into the picnic bag. “Ellis, you are wearing me out. Where are you getting these ideas? I’m not comfortable discussing your mother and me when she is not present. When everything is less hectic, the three of us will get together and try to answer as many of your questions as we can. I’m not admitting to nor should you assume anything because I don’t give you a direct answer. We should discuss the separation when we are together. I hope you show me the same consideration when you and your mother are together. Please do not exclude me from those conversations.”
“Okay,” I said, “but I believe I deserve to know what caused the break-up.”
“Point taken. What should we pack for the park?”
“Dad.” He stopped and looked at me. “She’s not coming?”
“I don’t know, but I hope she will.”
On my day, she is decorating her new apartment, and Dad was left responsible. I was angry, and I hoped she didn’t come because I didn’t want today to turn into a catastrophe. I decided to talk with him later about us continuing to live here instead of me taking an apartment with Ana. He shouldn’t live alone, and I believed he’d agree with me.
“So,” he was saying, “gourmet sandwiches—grilled eggplant and goat cheese or chicken salad?”
“Surprise me,” I said, “I need to shower now so we won’t be rushed for the announcements.”
“Go, I’ll get everything together.” I turned to leave. “Ellis, have I ever let you down?”
“No.”
“Then stop worrying and enjoy this day. I promise there will be big changes in the future. I am determined you will be happy. Let me worry about your mother and the living arrangements. All you should do is focus on today. Okay?” I nodded and walked away, feeling no better about what the future would hold.
