Gene. Sys. by Aaron Denius (best ereader for comics txt) 📕

but there is only enough food and supplies to last two people two years. Your bodies were made to be able to withstand the fallout after a year. The rest of humanity would need to stay in the bunkers for at least thirty years before they would even have a chance to survive the radiation.”

“How long before you start the sequence?” I blurt out before anyone else can say anything.

“One hundred and fifty-four days.” Rene looks right at Ev and me. “We’ve had to move up the process. So you better get them ready.”

He walks out of the room, leaving us all in shock. That’s barely five months. I feel a hint of panic form in the back of my head. I know that it’s longer than I have been around, but it’s still right around the corner. My thoughts jump to Grant and 80. Will they be back before that happens? Will I—

Ev squeezes my hand, and I look up to see the rest of the Genesys staring at us. Brianna murmurs something, but I don’t register what she said. It isn’t until everyone has left the room and I feel Ev’s hand pull away from mine that I realize she has dismissed us.

I make my way back through the hallways to my room and notice a couple of the guys talking among themselves. My head hurts too much to talk to them, so I walk past without making eye contact. I head straight for the library, hoping that the roof’s solace can help organize my mind.

The last moments of the day slowly disappear beyond the walls and behind the pyramid as I sit. Flashes of seeing it up close pop into my head, reminding me of 80. I try to picture him working on one of the bunkers, but my mind is too clouded for imagination.

“Holy hell!” A voice startles me, and I jump to my feet, my heart racing as I turn. Just next to the hole in the roof with the ladder is Cal, taking in his surroundings.

“Sorry. I didn’t mean to scare you,” he adds.

“It’s okay.” I’m annoyed at the intrusion.

“We followed you over here. Do you mind if we join you?” Cal waves down into the hole, stopping any chance I have to object.

Al pokes his head through and joins us on the roof. “Hi, leader.”

I cringe at the words. “Please don’t call me that.”

“Yes, sir!” He smiles. “I’m teasing. I’m just glad it’s not me. I couldn’t handle the pressure.”

I manage a small smile and then sit back down. I shift to one side to allow enough room for them to sit.

“What’s that over there?” Cal asks, pointing to the top of the pyramid.

This produces a genuine smile. I would much rather talk about this than anything Rene brought up. “That’s the Great Pyramid of Giza. It was built over five thousand years ago.”

“Are you serious?” Cal leans forward.

“You’ve been out there?” Al adds.

“Yes to both.” The little bit of pride I feel brings a smile to my face.

“What was it like?” Al looks at me. Cal does the same.

“Very dirty and insanely dangerous. Nobody likes us out there. In fact, they want to kill us. I was shot at!” I say, a little too excited.

“For real?” Al pries.

“Why?” Cal asks.

“They want to stop what’s happening here. They want to survive.” A lump rises up in my throat as guilt rushes over me. I feel sorry for the outsiders. What gives the scientists the right to choose their fate? I can’t blame the outsiders for anything they do, because all they want is to survive. Though I won’t be the one pushing the button, I feel responsible for their inevitable deaths. It makes me sick.

“Are you okay?” Cal puts his hand on my shoulder with a concerned look on his face. My body must have been reacting to the thoughts I just had.

“I’m fine, yeah.” I’m not really, but I make a conscious effort to keep that hidden.

“So what did the chicken taste like?” Al changes the subject.

“Amazing!” My eyes light up. “It was juicy and, as you cut through it with your teeth, the sweet and tangy flavor melts on your tongue.”

“I want some,” Al says.

“Me too.” Cal licks his lips.

Both of them have a savage look in their eyes, and the ridiculousness forces me to laugh. They join in. It feels good to have some friends again. Neither is likely to match the bond I have with 80, but they will be great to have around.

I spend the rest of the night telling them about all that I’ve experienced since I was born: meeting Ev, the attack from the outsiders, 80, running beyond the walls, and being locked up. I’m not sure how long we spend talking, but when we all begin to shiver and yawn, I lead us back to our rooms for sleep.

That night I dream that the outsiders are attacking us again. I run from room to room to wake up the other Genesys, but none of them will rise. One by one, their bodies are torn apart. After they kill Ev, the outsiders turn their attention to me. I try to scream but I can’t. It isn’t until just before they get to me that I notice in my reflection that I don’t have a mouth. As they tear me apart, the screams only echo in my head.

CHAPTER VIII

My screams wake me from my sleep, and I sit up, drenched in my sweat. I look around, hoping that the walls of my room are soundproof. The last things I want to deal with today are the questions and looks I might get.

I look at the time to see that I still have nearly an hour before we are all supposed to meet in the simulation room. Grant left during the night, and I’m leading my first training today. I take my time in the shower and grab a protein pouch as I head