Elsa's faint smile disappeared at the mention of Genesis. “Yes, I remember.”
Chloe continued, “I'm not on the genetics team but our research has indicated that scientists in Genesis are choosing genes for a child. It's how they're eradicating diseases and keeping the majority healthy.”
“Is it safe?” I didn't fully understand what Chloe said.
Chloe sighed, thinking it over. “Messing with natural selection probably isn't safe but what exactly is natural when children are created in a lab?”
I didn't answer her. I had no idea what she was talking about! Joshua stepped into the room and I glanced at him, hoping he'd offer some insight or something to keep Chloe from asking me twenty questions. I hated school, was glad to be done with it, and right now I felt like she was the professor and I was supposed to know the right answer. Well, I didn't.
Joshua cleared his throat. “What about other genetic factors? Things like hair color and eye color?” I turned towards Joshua, wondering what he was thinking.
Chloe gestured for us to follow her as she closed and locked the lab. “It's not unreasonable to think they could choose any genetic traits they wanted. We have to agree that the government determines the sex of newborns. It's the only way the marriage ceremonies work perfectly. To be quite honest, I suspect the arrangement in the marriage ceremonies and the lottery itself are rigged. It's the only explanation on how they can ensure one hundred percent accuracy in impregnating women and having a zero percent mortality rate.”
I just stared at Chloe, confused.
Elsa chimed in. “If you're right, Chloe, and you could find proof, that type of knowledge could bring the entire system down. More women would know the risks before they married and whether or not their partner was a good match.”
I shuddered at the thought that matches would be determined based on whether a child could be born. Although according to Chloe that might have already been the case. I chewed my bottom lip. “Suppose you're both right,” I countered. “Then why do scientists need to intervene at all?”
Chloe smiled weakly. “Because right now, as far as we can tell, women can't conceive naturally and the human race would become extinct without intervention. Our hope is that one day, scientists won't have to get involved.”
I nodded faintly, turning towards the panel window and examining the city below. The view was breathtaking. I'd never seen anything quite so beautiful in my life.
“Impressive,” Joshua murmured and I turned seeing his gaze on me.
“That's an understatement.” I nodded. In the short time we'd stayed in Haven, I never ventured this high up in any of the buildings. The view was spectacular.
“Will we have time to shower?” I didn't know where we would be expected next but I knew from the open vehicle and the thirty-hour drive I stunk.
Chloe nodded, shoving the key into her pocket as she led us back around the way we came and to the elevator again. “Yes. Right now I'm going to take you to your rooms on the twenty-eighth floor. You'll each be provided a key for your sleeping quarters. You'll have your own bathroom and shower.” As we approached the elevator I noticed not one but two buttons now and pushed the bottom one, assuming it was to go down. A few moments later, the elevator dinged and we stepped inside. This time I pressed the button for floor twenty-eight and held on as the elevator descended. It felt less intense than it had rushing up forty-seven floors. Stepping off the elevator, the floor looked entirely different. Instead of a narrow hallway there was a giant room with several sofas and tables. “What's this place?” I asked.
“The recreation room. It's where we have games and books for everyone to gather in the evening and relax.” Chloe gestured for us to follow, and we walked through the space and down to the left. Chloe was leading us through a hallway once again. “Every bedroom here has a window,” she explained. “The rooms on the left will be where your sleeping quarters are. Across the hall are the bathrooms and showers. Your bedroom key will give you access to your private bathroom and shower. Although they're not attached, they are exclusively for you while you're in Torv.”
She handed Joshua a key first and then one to me before giving Elsa the final key. She showed us to our rooms, one next to the other. “Thank you.” I took the key from her and went for the door, sliding the key in before turning the lock.
I hadn't gotten the door open before I heard his familiar voice. “You guys are here!” Jaxon's voice echoed in the hall. I turned around, throwing my arms around him in greeting.
“We are.” I smiled through tired eyes. Staring at him, I could see the worn expression and knew why he hadn't returned home. “How are you holding up?” I asked, taking a step back as Joshua came out of his room.
“Taking it all in.” Jaxon caught sight of Joshua and chuckled. “Did the whole town decide to come for a visit?” He gave Josh a quick hug and then Elsa when she popped out of her room last.
“Something like that,” Elsa chimed, squeezing Jaxon tight. “We missed you back at home.”
Jaxon nodded, unable to voice anything for the moment.
Chloe smiled weakly at Jaxon, clearly recognizing him. “We should probably let them shower and get cleaned up. I need to let the council know we're here and then I have a little work to do in the lab.”
“I'll see you in a bit?” I asked Jaxon, hoping he wouldn't be a stranger. I didn't know what he'd been up to in Torv. Elsa and I were here to help the pregnant women and Joshua was along for moral support. The fact Jaxon had stayed in Torv—I questioned whether he'd ever return home.
“Yeah, get showered, you guys stink,” he joked trying to make light of the situation. “I'll catch up with you at dinner.”
“Okay.” I pushed open my door and stepped into my room. I was astounded once again by the view. Situated a few levels lower, our rooms faced a different side of the building but the sight was still just as beautiful as before. I dropped my bag on the floor, slipped out of my shoes, and stood mesmerized by the fact I could see for miles from a building. It was surreal.
After a few minutes, I pulled my bag from the floor and dug out a fresh change of clothes: black cotton pants and a dark blue shirt, both handmade in Shadow. Tossing my open pack onto the floor, I made sure I held the key before leaving my room behind. I locked the door, taking my clothes with me across the hall to the bathroom.
Stepping into the bathroom, the light flipped on automatically. I turned in a circle, wondering how it knew someone had entered. I locked the door behind me, hung my clean pants and shirt on a hook, and walked towards the shower. I started the spray, turned it on, and waited for the water to heat up. I could hear the shower running on both sides of the walls and knew Joshua and Elsa were getting cleaned up too.
I stripped down and jumped under the hot spray, washing the grime from my skin. My muscles were tired and sore. A yawn escaped past my lips as I lathered my hair with shampoo and scrubbed the grime and filth from my skin. I smelled of sweat and the outdoors. It wasn't a pleasant aroma and certainly not a great way to make a first impression on the people of Torv.
Finishing my shower, I found a soft, oversized towel and dried off before slipping into the clothes I'd brought along. I brushed my hair and opened the bathroom door to see Joshua's bedroom door open. “Josh?” I called, knowing he must have been done.
He poked his head out of his bedroom, smiling when he saw me. “Wow. You look…” he didn't finish his sentence.
“What?” I asked, shaking my head, a smile edging at the corner of my lips. I raised an eyebrow and waited for him to continue.
His cheeks reddened slightly, and he stepped out from the small bedroom. “You smell amazing,” he breathed, wrapping his arms around my waist.
I laughed, burying my face in his neck. “So do you.” My hands roamed the length of his back as I felt my body relaxing into his. “I'm beat.” I didn't want to move, too tired and feeling as though if I did move I'd fall on my face from exhaustion.
“Let's try and nap for a while. At least until someone wakes us up.” He suggested. He led me towards his room and I didn't object. It was exactly the same except that his bag was on his floor instead of my pack. Joshua pulled back the covers of the twin-size mattress. “It'll be cozy,” he teased as I slipped in and rested on my side. Joshua curled in behind me, wrapping an arm around my waist. I was relieved the bed was pushed against a wall
