Untitled
Through the blustery
streets of New York, two parents pulled their daughter to a hospital. The
teenage girl was screaming like she was dying, which would have caught anyone’s
eyes, if anyone was there. They dragged her through the doors, into the white, sterile
lobby. What was once a busy hospital was now vacant, giving the room a creepy
atmosphere. The parents went past the reception desk and to the elevator. As
they waited for the lift, they heard the loudspeaker crackle on.
“CHOLESTEROL TRANSFER
FROM HOUSE NUMBER TWO: BRIONY MAY WRIGHT TO IDENTIFIED PATIENT VIOLET ANNE
WRIGHT IN FIVE MINUTES,”
This induced another
outburst from the daughter, just as the elevator opened. Her parents shoved her
in and stared at the door; despite her pleas, they barely acknowledged her
existence.
At their designated
floor, two guards waited for them. “Is she Madeleine Walker?” one asked. Her
father nodded and handed his daughter off as easily as one would with a paper,
as if it were necessary to look good. The guards took her away, and Madeleine
took one last look at her parents before the elevator doors closed.
Madeleine Walker’s parents
were never particularly close to her, but she thought this was normal. Now she
knew why they acted like this.
The guards took the
struggling Madeleine to the operating room, where they strapped her onto a
table, and left. Outside, it started to snow, leaving small shadows across the
room. It was like a wonderland, but it only reminded Madeleine of where she
was; on the other side, waiting.
Dr. Allen looked at the
girl as he walked into the operating room. It was a wonder she even lasted this
long, what with the recent circumstances. It was a shame, but how else would
society survive without this?
“Hello Miss… Madeleine
Walker,” he said, glancing at his clip board. “I’m Doctor Allen, and I-“
“Please get me out of
here! It’s not fair!” Madeleine cried desperately.
“Now Miss Usher, all 13
Houses signed an agreement to this after the plague. How else can your family
survive?” the doctor explained.
“But why me?”
Dr. Allen sighed. He
loathed this part of the job. If they thought it could give them more time, it
won’t work.
“Each House agreed for
their firstborn child to be the identified patient. It’s what’s keeping the
last of humanity alive. Think of it as taking one for the team,”
Madeleine shook her
head violently. “No. NO!” but Dr. Allen had already went behind the curtain.
“Do we have all the
resources? Good,” she heard the doctor say to someone outside the room.
Madeleine thrashed about, but by then, it was too late.
The loudspeaker turned
on again, and this time, she recognized the voice as the doctor’s.
“STYX VIRUS VERSION
FIVE BEING RELEASED IN 5 MINUTES. ALL PERSONEL IN THE HOSPITAL MUST WEAR
BIOHAZARD SUITS,”
Dr. Allen and a small
group of assistants came back, wearing the biohazard suits. In his hand, kept
as far away from his body as possible, was a minute, corked vial of the virus.
“I’d tell you it won’t
hurt a bit, but…” Dr. Allen started, not bothering to state the obvious.
“STYX VIRUS VERSION
FIVE HAS BEEN RELEASED,” blared the loudspeaker as the doctor
transferred the virus to a hypodermic needle.
“VIRUS TRANSFER FROM
HOUSE NUMBER SEVEN: RODERICK WALKER TO IDENTIFIED PATIENT MADELEINE WALKER IN
FIVE MINUTES,”
Madeleine couldn’t help
but hate her twin brother. It wasn’t his fault that he was born after her, or
that he got infected; but if he hadn’t, she wouldn’t be here.
Dr. Allen felt bas for
Madeleine. With hair as black as a raven, and dark blue eyes, she was stunningly
beautiful. She could’ve married into one of the wealthier Houses, maybe even
the 1st House of Bryant’s, if she wanted to. But rules are rules.
“COMMENCE VIRUS TRANSFER,”
“No! Mom! Dad! Please
save me! Don’t do this to me!’ Madeleine cried, but only the doctor and his assistants
could hear her.
Dr. Allen swabbed the
area on her arm, then approached her cautiously with the needle. With one final
apologetic look to her, he gently poked the needle through her skin, pumping
the virus into her veins.
Madeleine’s screams
were heard throughout the hospital.
