Roger
Roger Pender entered the office where the willowy woman waited. She was no less than six-foot-three and built like an exotic runway model, tall and lanky beyond explanation with absurdly large blue eyes and a tiny mouth that barely moved when she spoke. To him her name was only Avaroush.
“Is he on board?” she asked in her slight British accent. Her voice was soft and direct at the same time and had a somewhat mechanical resonance.
Roger nodded. “It’s an offer he can’t refuse.”
“Very well. If he plays along, he lives today. If he refuses, he and his lovely girlfriend will die today.”
“Keep your enemies closer,” Roger added.
Avaroush turned to face the large window that overlooked the inlet. “We don’t have enemies, Roger.”
“I’m still not completely certain he can be trusted.”
“It doesn’t matter. We only need him for a few months, because once the baby comes, he and the girl will be disposed of.”
“We don’t want to underestimate those two. They’ve proven quite lucky.”
She moved with refined grace toward the window. “Luck is only a manifestation of ability and desire. There is no possible way to estimate the level of one’s desire until the immediate need to overcome adversity crosses into their path. People have the ability to rise to the occasion, constantly surprising their peers, adversaries, and themselves. It is the human station in life to trample upon the ground of mediocrity until greatness is required.”
Roger considered himself an intelligent man. He graduated medical school at the top of his class. But when Avaroush started spewing her philosophy, he often felt like he was mentally inadequate. He had no idea how old she was, but she didn’t look a day over thirty. Something, however, told him she was much older. It was not surprising she was so skinny; he’d never seen her eat anything except raw vegetables and fruits.
He stepped toward the door. “I trust in the plan.”
“As you should. The universe has a way of taking care of what needs to be.”
He turned and headed out the door.
* * *
Avaroush
Avaroush turned to face the wall where her twin sister appeared from a small door. Ayallta was identical in every way to her twin; there was not a single distinguishable difference. They often worked independently under the same single profile. No one knew the other existed, as they’d never appeared in the same place at the same time in public.
Ayallta lowered her large eyes. “I don’t believe Mr. Pender is of use to the operation any longer.”
“Agreed. I think things have become increasingly difficult to sustain on our current course. We may need to cleanse. It is no longer fluid. Far too much attention has come.”
“Mother and Father would approve this course of action if we feel it is the correct solution.”
Avaroush flexed a long finger and pointed to the window. “It is time, perhaps, to move on for now. This baby must be protected at all costs, she is the purity. We cannot risk a single thing. But for now we keep the operation on track. We will make the decision when the time is appropriate and not before then.”
Ayallta nodded. “We will know. And what is to become of the Pender man?”
Avaroush turned a tiny smile. “He will become…special.”
“It is too bad. He has served us well for a long time.”
“Too long. We have to remember next time to choose better. We were too clinical with this operation, it was too unfeeling.”
“I agree, we need a more caring approach next time.”
Avaroush smiled. “We have made our decision then?”
“Yes, my sister, I believe we have.”
* * *
Ariel
Ariel woke up, but would quickly fall back to sleep again. It was a weird sleep. It was not restful, but it was peaceful. It almost felt like she was in some sort of dream but could still wake up, but couldn’t. Each time she would wake, a woman in a white mask would come over and twist a dial on the tall green canister by her side.
When she would sleep, she would dream of kissing Jake. They were walking around. In the dream, she was human with legs, and it was wonderful. Also mixed in was a strange place she’d never been. It was a peaceful place with a pinkish sky and perfectly crystal blue waters. The dreams would come and go quickly.
She was familiar with medical procedures, over the years she’d had many. Sometimes Father would tell her it was minor, and other times he’d tell her not to worry but when she woke up something would be different.
Now that she knew the truth, she wondered just how much of it was real at all. A new dream started to rise in her. She was swimming in the ocean with her favorite pod of dolphins. Snaking in and out of their wakes, she loved to jump in behind them. She could speed so much faster when they were breaking the water ahead of her. It made her feel invincible, like nothing could catch her.
Although the dream seemed happy, sadness overwhelmed her as she wondered if she’d ever get to swim in the ocean again. She felt like there was a chance they’d never let her go. They were just going to take her baby and kill her. She no longer believed that she would die. She no longer believed anything Father had told her. If one thing was a lie, it was all a lie.
As she tried desperately to keep her mind sharp while pretending to be asleep, the woman in the mask eased over and twisted the knob. It sent Ariel into a deeper state of sleep.