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

can’t help but smile. Dr. Kivuli smiles back, and I’m embarrassed at showing her my vulnerability.

“You care a lot about her, don’t you?” she prods.

“That’s none of your business!” Any hint of a smile on my face is gone.

Dr. Kivuli leans in, keeping her voice calm. “Don’t feel embarrassed. It’s natural to develop feelings…”

“I’m done.” I stand up. I don’t like her prodding into my private thoughts. When I notice that she isn’t going to stand up, I turn and walk to the elevator.

“Atom, wait. We can change the topic,” she shouts after me, but I’ve had it. I’ve been able to handle my problems fine on my own. I don’t need someone I don’t know playing games with my mind.

As the elevator doors close, I catch a quick glimpse of her disappointed face. Thankfully I don’t come across anyone on my way to my room, and I head straight for the shower.

After what feels like an hour under the hot water, I towel myself off and grab a protein pouch. My wrinkled fingers make it hard to open the pouch, so I tear it with my teeth. The second the grape flavor touches my tongue, I realize just how hungry I am. I eat four more pouches before I finally feel full.

I throw on a jumpsuit and head up to the roof with my blanket in my hand. It’s starting to get darker earlier, and the weather has gotten colder. With my body still feeling warm from the shower, I know the cold air will feel great.

Recently I’ve been giving Cal and Al a heads up that I would be heading to the roof, but tonight I would like some time to myself. I climb the ladder to the top and sit with the blanket wrapped around me. At first, everything feels normal, but then I realize that the bright flashes we ‘ve been seeing behind the walls aren’t happening.

I scan the compound and notice that more drones are patrolling than usual. They are scattered along the walls and throughout the grounds. My body shivers as I get an uneasy feeling. Something is wrong. I’m about to head back when I hear noise coming from the ladder.

“You don’t like us anymore?” Al’s distinct voice precedes his head as he steps through.

“Hey. I just wanted a little time to myself.” I shift over to give them room. Hydro and Fe follow Al onto the roof.

“Wow, it’s cold.” Hydro rubs her arms as she sits. Al sits next to her and puts his arm around her to keep her warm. Fe sits next to me.

“Where is Cal?” I look back to the hole in the roof.

“He wasn’t feeling well, so he decided to stay back and sleep,” Al says.

A rush of nerves runs over me. Cal is usually a good buffer for the group, but now I feel like I’m paired with Fe.

“Where are the flashes?” Fe looks at me.

“I don’t know.” I smile back and quickly look back beyond the walls, my heart climbing into my throat. For a few moments, we all stare off into the night sky.

“It’s eerily quiet out there.” Hydro breaks the uncomfortable silence.

“I kind of got used to those flashes. They were surprisingly beautiful,” Al adds. His teeth chatter, and we all look over at him and laugh. “Don’t laugh. It’s cold, and Atom is hogging his blanket!”

I had forgotten that I was wrapped in my blanket. I hold it out to the group. “I’m sorry. Here.”

“Actually, I think I’m going to head back down. I’m past cold, and I don’t think the blanket will help.” Hydro stands, and Al follows.

“Okay. I think I’m going to stay up here for a little while longer,” I say as I pull the blanket back around me.

“I think I will stay up here too if Atom doesn’t mind.” Fe looks at me.

If I thought I had experienced nerves before, I was wrong. Suddenly the blanket feels like an oven, and my skin turns red. “That’s fine.”

“Well, you two don’t get in any trouble now. Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do.” Al winks at me, and I let out a nervous laugh.

After Al and Hydro disappear, Fe shifts closer to me, wrapping the part of the blanket I offered her around her body. Her body presses next to mine, and I can feel my palms begin to sweat. She looks at me and smiles. Somehow the darkness of the sky has added depth to her piercing eyes. She is no longer the naïve girl I first met.

I speak to avoid the silence. “You did great today. I’m sorry I didn’t say it in the simulation room, but it didn’t seem appropriate at the time with what everyone had just gone through. What you did, hiding within the bodies, was both courageous and smart. I wish—”

My words are cut off by her lips as they press against mine, her soft hair caressing my neck, and I instinctively put my hand on her cheek. I didn’t realize how cold my face has gotten until I feel the warmth of her lips. If it weren’t for my breathing, I would believe I was dead, because my heart has stopped entirely.

She pulls away and lays her head on my shoulder. The smile she leaves on my face begins to hurt my jaw, so I don’t speak. Instead, I just put my arm around her and look at the compound walls with the drones.

As minutes pass, my breathing calms into a rhythm with hers. I feel in sync with Fe. Suddenly, a flash of light on the other side of the compound wall to our left draws our attention.

The drones who were scattered around the walls and the ground rush to that part of the compound. As we stand, I see streaks of orange light fly from the outsiders’ part of the wall and into the compound’s distant areas.

The streaks hit around some of the buildings and instantly explode. The flash of the explosion