Awakened

“Come closer and listen. Pay close attention because this bedtime story is meant to wake you up. Now it might seem crazy, but remember all stories come from truths. Ones that have trickled down through the ages.

And so we start on a day much like today. A slight chill to the air on an early Autumn morning. She woke up and opened her eyes slowly, moving her stiff muscles one by one. Her eyes glanced around and settled on a crumpled wrapper next to her prescription bottle and alarm clock.

It was an hour past her 7am dose, and the slightest hint of panic made her heart skip a beat.

“Feeling internal emotions is the first symptom. I should be okay if I take the pill now.” She grabbed the wrapper and opened the bottle on her way to the kitchen.

“This is why they warn you not to take emotions late at night. I could have been awake by now if I didn’t stay up feeling happy…. Oh no, I’m starting to feel guilt.” She set the opened bottle down and read through the wrapper.

“Limit 1 emotion per person per day. Consume the single dose lozenge after a full meal. Effects will last for up to 1 hour. Side effects may include rapid heart rate, uncontrollable laughter, loosened bladder, redness on the cheeks, ears, or chest, hyperactivity, mania, guilt, remorse, dread, blurred vision, dizziness, panic, or difficulties breathing. Avoid taking late at night to prevent missed dosage of your Thrive Pill. If any dosage is to be missed, go directly to a nearby buy station for an emergency dose. Any deliberate manipulation of either dose will result in immediate punishment. Consume at your own risk.” The words floated in her mind as her vision started to blur.

“Consume at your own risk.” She caught the side of the counter to steady herself from the dizziness but knocked the prescription bottle in the sink. She froze, watching her last 4 pills fall down the drain. She tried to fit her hand, but she couldn’t grab them.

“It’s going to be okay. I just have to get to the buy station. It will all be okay as long as I leave now. Soon I won’t have to feel anything and dad won’t be upset with me again. Yeah… Okay. I can do this.” She looked down at her hands and pulled them off the counter one by one.

Mindlessly she got dressed and went straight for the buy station across the street.

“Fifteen minutes to nine. I can make it.” She stared at the clock as a sigh of relief parted from her lips just as she felt herself get pushed down by a hooded figure.

Her eyes landed on a vial that rolled against her thigh and went to pick it up. She felt mesmerized staring at the vibrant blue liquid sloshing inside the glass. Suddenly she smelled fresh rain hitting a grassy hill on a spring day. The joy burst from within her as the cool raindrops fell onto her skin.

Her eyes finally registered the boy when he pulled her up and brought her to a cab off to the side. He looked back, yells from the cops echoing behind them, as he pulled down his hood.

“Take us home Maurice.” The boy sat back with a half laugh, hair falling into his eyes. “Oh! I’m sorry. Please don’t be scared. I can explain… everything… Are you okay?” His rich brown eyes stared back at her, but she felt paralized, still holding on to the vial.

“Wh…” Her lips started to form the letters.

“We’ll take you home, I promise. I just want to give you something first. Those cops have cracked down on us recently. You should really be more careful.” The boy went to take the vial from her hand, but she held it tight.

“I can’t breathe…” The young woman finally said, holding up the vial to her chest and pulling at the window with her free hand. The boy reached across and lowered the window, fresh cool air hitting her burning face.

“I feel anger.” The silence vibrated with her voice as she stared out of the window.

“I feel anger, and sadness, and fear, and excitement, and dread… I…. why did you take me? Why couldn’t you just let me be? I should have been numb by now.” She finally looked at the boy, but she could see the remorse right away.

“There is a buy-station on your right, Maurice. Let’s drop her off.”

“Who are you?” She turned the vial in her hand, handing it to him as the car came to a stop.

“Some call us….”

“Sir, I wouldn’t suggest….” The boy nodded before he spoke.

“I apologize for the confusion Miss. Please do go about your usual day. I believe you have a way to get home safe?” The young man asked with a smile. She nodded, but just as she got ready to leave, he pulled her hand back.

“Back there, when you looked at the vial, you felt something. An awakening. They have told us the evils of emotion, but they’re wrong. They numb us for control because they know that we won’t stand for any of this if we feel the slightest bit of repression. Here.” He pulled out a heart shaped locket from his pocket and set it around her neck.

“Take this. They will most likely numb you again, but it’s as simple as making a choice.”

“Why me?” She stared at the boy. A complete stranger, yet she felt warm sensations spread over her.

“Some of us are meant to be a bridge while others are meant to do the crossing. Take whatever is inside here tonight and watch the show. Look for the sign. There is no right or wrong. Simply a choice.” He smiled brightly as he sat back. She stepped out of the car and watched it drive off, but it wasn’t long before it was surrounded.

“What did he tell you?” She turned to see her father come up and grab her by the shoulders.

“Father, are you angry? ” She pulled away, afraid he’ll hear her heart pounding against her chest.

“I’m simply asking a question, daughter. One you are obligated to answer.” He stared at her as his two bodyguards stood beside him.

“Mayor, they have taken the boy into custody. He still had the vial.” The bodyguard to his left whispered, just audible enough for her to hear. Her father nodded before turning his attention back to her.

“Did you take your dose today?” He stared at her unblinking, but she nodded without hesitation.

“Good, we’re late for the taping of tonight’s show. Let’s go.” They wasted no time going straight to the broadcast network as her father set her up at the assistant director’s chair.

“We will be having a change of cast for today’s special show. Please make sure it still runs smoothly.” Her father left in a hurry as she sat down with a straight view of the room below. It was set up for their most famous show, The Crazies, showcasing the awful side effects that emotions can bring up when people overdose on them.

It’s part of the reason she felt so afraid this morning. But then she saw the boy, and it wasn’t so bad. She felt like she could handle it. She smiled thinking of him as she pulled up the new cast on the computer.

“No…” She gasped as she saw the boy’s picture on her screen.

“Two minutes till commercials.” The voice said over the speaker. She looked at the clock and saw it was 9:28am. The commercials will start before her father presents his big announcement for the centennial celebration. Once the taping starts, they will prep the cast before setting them off to fight for the Thrive Pill. They’ll do crazy stunts in an attempt to outlast each other while high off emotions. Once the challenge is over they are released, or so she thought.

“3….2….1… Play commercial.” The director beside her pushed the play button and her screen came to life.

“Simple. Logical. Clear. The fundamentals of a society where all emotions are removed via numbing serum. A society of law and order built to advance by removing that which makes us weak. We are here to progress and show our abilities. A testament of dedication, discipline, morality, and research. Hover technology improved for optimal sufficiency for a new dawn of living….” The commercial continued but she ran down to the casting room where they held the contestants.

“What are you doing here? Your father is about to start his speech. You should be up in the recording booth.” The lead producer walked toward her as she saw a glimpse of syringes on the desk.

“Change of plans. My father said this wasn’t special enough. The cast needs a set of costumes from the other room. Can you grab them?” She pushed him out of the room as she discreetly locked it behind her. She turned and saw the cast staring back at her- a young teenage girl, an older gentleman, a military man. They all seemed so ordinary as she looked on, but her eyes finally settled on the boy from earlier.

“I choose to cross the bridge.” She said nervously as he smiled back.

“A little ahead of schedule, but let’s go.” He reached inside his pocket as the 6 additional cast members all took out small boxes. They held a single capsule filled with blue liquid and one by one they swallowed it. The boy walked over to her and opened her locket. Inside it lay a small capsule filled with the same blue liquid.

“Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to our special centennial celebration. Today we will take a look back at how far we have come before we reveal a special surprise.” She heard her father’s booming voice over the speaker.

“It’s a reversal serum. Once you take it, you won’t be numb ever again.” His voice was drowned out behind her father’s words.

“A century ago the world was set aflame with wrath on the streets. There was greed in our hearts, pride in our minds, and excess in our hands. Those who desperately held on to the old ways fought for control and power as the water drowned the cities. Little was left of resources, and those in power had no choice but to fight. We chose our emotions and didn’t think about the effects until we had no other choice but to escape it all. The place we now call home was born out of the idea of an ancient utopia- The Isle of Libertalia- the hope of a new world. With that, I present you with a new solution. A serum injected into our water so we can all benefit.”

“Hey, the door is locked. Open up.” The producer pushed against the door violently.

“It’s now, or never.” The boy looked at her as she looked back at the door.

Years had passed since she thought back to that moment- standing between her father and a boy no less. At that moment she chose to feel all her emotions. She set off on a journey to find other awakened like her. A gift given to her by a stranger. She watched on as a man fed some ducks beside her. She dropped the vial by the young man and saw the same glimmer widen his eyes. And for him, it made all the difference. But that wasn’t the end for her.

The narrator looked down at her sleeping daughter in her arms.

“We are only given what we can handle, and it seems like you’ve been given David’s stone to kill Goliath. You are the miracle of Libertalia my love. Sleep well, for one day soon, you will know the truth.”