genetic markers shared by all humans.” Agent Evans sat across from me, his face somber. “You, Cassia, have none of the standard ‘human’ DNA attributes. Our scientists are still researching the samples to learn more, but as it stands, you do not have human DNA.”
“I don’t understand.” I stated, my voice echoing within the walls of a small conference room. Keanu had arranged for Agent Evans to talk to me. He’d apparently explained how I needed to know what was going on and he obviously believed me when I said that I had no idea.
“Your DNA has very…pronounced differences.” He paused as though reluctant to tell me, then continued. “Instead of a double helix…you have a triple helix. Instead of forty-six chromosomes, you only have twenty-six. All of which…in human understanding…is impossible.”
I could feel his uneasy stare on me as I soaked in all the information.
“It’s even too pronounced to be considered a mutation. Do you have any idea as to why your genetic make- up is so…alien?” His question was innocent enough, but implied so much.
Staring at the table and shaking my head, my entire body went numb. Glancing at my hands, I wondered how I could look so human if my genetic code had betrayed me so dramatically.
If I wasn’t human, what was I?
Except for the birthmark, I had every likeness of a human being and throughout my whole life, there’d never been any indication whatsoever that I wasn’t.
No special powers, no psychic ability…nothing that would make me remotely think I wasn’t human.
“Can I…go home?” I sounded like a small child and strangely, that’s how I felt. My world had been reborn into a nightmare, a world in which I didn’t belong anymore.
Taking a big breath in and exhaling, it appeared for a moment that Agent Evans was considering it. “No Cassia, I’m afraid not.” An odd flicker of concealment danced behind his eyes as he repeated his last statement. “I’m afraid not.”
Adjusting his black suit jacket, he turned and moved to leave the conference room. As the door closed behind him, I could see through the vertical sliver where the wall met the door. There was at least one guard…machine gun in hand.
Laying my head on the cool, hard table, I sobbed as I cried harder than I’ve ever cried in my life.
It’s funny how the things that we think are basic rights in life like going to school, money and especially freedom can be taken away so quickly.
In one breath, I’d been stripped of my former identity, my life…my humanity.
With all deaths, there is at least that recognition of something fading away from existence. Like a candle in the wind, someone’s life can be snuffed out, but there is always that tiny ember of light left behind, a warmth or acknowledgement.
Something.
My life, my former existence…was gone, leaving no trace, no warmth inside me. Just the knowledge that I’d once lived amongst the human race, as one of them, naive to my true identity.
As I lay in a puddle of my own tears, wondering
My bloodshot amber eyes stared back at me in the mirror, dark circles pooled beneath them like ashen sediment. I was certain I looked at least five years older than I did only a few days before. Several strands of my black hair were matted with dried blood and hung like dreadlocks around my face.
I desperately needed a shower and fresh clothes. For a split second I compared this facility to a concentration camp, but then decided that I shouldn’t allow myself that much pity.
Knocking lightly on my cell door, I hoped to get the attention of the guards. After twenty minutes, however, I realized that either no one was out there or they were ignoring me.
Huddling in the center of my bloodstained white cot, I hugged my knees and tried to imagine myself somewhere else.
Anywhere but here.
Exhausted, even my imagination was too tired to cooperate.
Lying down on the pillow with the hum of the fluorescent lights above me, I succumbed to sleep.
The dream began instantly, only this time…I was being hunted.
The blistering sun was settling behind a sharp cliff to the west. With each step I took, hot sand pressed into the base of my bare feet and forced its way between my toes.
Licking my lips, I felt the grooves where the skin had split apart. Tiny grains of sand had nestled themselves behind my eyelids, every blink initiated a scraping sensation against my sensitive eyeballs.
The hot dry air filled my lungs with parched oxygen as I moved forward into the unfriendly desert. Ahead of me was a vast, bronze landscape sparsely littered with indestructible cacti and orphaned boulders.
With darkness settling over the land, the shadows began to own the night.
Mournful howls wailed in the distance as though announcing the end of the day and trumpeting the arrival of the evening. A light wind snaked over the contours of the land, quickly cooling the air around me. In a short time, I went from sweating profusely to shivering as the night air clung to my damp clothing.
Paranoid, my eyes scanned for movement behind every rock and brush. I knew
The cave.
I had to find the cave.
This time, it was for refuge as much as it was for unveiling its secrets. Wrapping my arms around myself, I forced my tired legs forward. Shuffling through the cooling sand, I winced as I wondered if this was the step that would settle on a wayward scorpion. The laughter of coyotes assaulted my ears as I sensed them closing in on me.
A soft, warm light in the distance sent a rush of relief throughout my body. I picked up the pace as I recognized the mouth of the cave.
The glow within the cave soothed my aching soul. Flickers of light danced upon the walls like a midnight waltz, tenderly coaxing me in to rest my weary head. Holding myself up with the jagged surface of the cavern wall, I walked carefully over the rocky floor.
The wind whistled a haunting tune that echoed throughout the labyrinth of the cave. A large fire had been made by unknown hands; I seated myself in front of it and warmed my chilled body. Searching the walls with weary eyes, I noted the familiar number painted upon the walls.
II.
Always the Roman numeral two.
As I sat before the blaze, a sensation of being watched suddenly pervaded me. Glancing slowly around, I saw nothing, but still, the paranoia persisted.
Shivering and hugging myself, I waited for the unknown. I somehow knew it was only a matter of time before
It was then that I saw the figure.
Large and distinctly male, it made its way from the shadows towards me. Nearing the illumination of the fire, I strained to see his face. My heart pounded as I wondered if he were the enemy, one of the dark men who wanted me caged.
His hands outstretched, he reached as though to grab me!
Leaning from his grasp, it was then that the attack came from behind! Hard and forceful arms embraced me in a death grip and pulled me away from the man.
Looking back at the dark figure and his gentle arms outstretched for me, I realized—he cared for me.
Who was he?
Struggling within my dream, my consciousness flooded back to reality. Confused, I continued to fend off strong arms holding me down. Prying my tired eyes open, I realized that the dream—the nightmare—wasn’t over.
Holding my wrists with a crushing force and sitting atop my torso was a new enemy.
