Synthesis

Jenna scrambles out of her chair and runs to the kitchen, “Mommy, mommy, mommy, come see!!!!” She tugs on her mother’s skirt, urging her to the Hologram dancing around their living room.

Matilda, her mother, follows suit, a sinking, gnawing pit settles into her stomach as she makes eye contact with their Grand Magistrate. His wide smile looks more like a snarl across his sunken, narrow face. His icy blue eyes look dull and somehow hungry at the same time. Not too long ago, yet somehow another lifetime ago, Matilda thought him to be benevolent - attractive, even.

And then Synthesis happened.

The Grand Magistrate’s dark hair wisps freely around his face as he talks, a force of unreckoned power bellowing about him. “...you were promised a new nation, a perfect nation. We have done away with poverty, disease in an attempt to establish true equity and lasting peace. But I am afraid that our system is in need of an update. When our portals start lagging, we check for bugs, no? My friends, a change must be made so that we can continue to thrive and grow…”

“Mommy, I’m scared.” Jenna whispers, climbing into her now seated mother’s lap. In school today, the little girl had picked up on the scrambled thoughts of her Instructor. She knew that it was a misuse of her power and that the tracker pulsing through her veins would alert the Order but she couldn’t resist.

“...First the trackers, now this?”

“....Enforcers, have to find a way around them.”

“....Stay positive for the children, we do it for the children.”

She felt a storm brewing and she knew it was going to be nasty.

Matilda exhales sharply through her nose and grips her child tightly as the Grand Magistrate continues to speak. “There is only one way to prevent the misuse of our greatest scientific achievement and accomplishment and to expand upon our natural powers freely and without fear: Magickal children should be raised by Magickal adults.”

A low, almost inhuman growl reverberates from Matilda’s chest, “No!”

Jenna turns away from the flickering image and buries her head deep into her mother’s skirt, fear sending chills down her little neck.

“This new Clause will take effect immediately, as of May the Third 2075….”

The Grand Magistrate gives an elaborate wave, calming the crowds around him who had begun to chatter loudly. “Families who surrender their children willingly, will be greatly rewarded for their service to Synthesis. Families who are too selfish to give their children the life they deserve, will be tried for child neglect and reckless endangerment. This is the only way to create true equity and lasting peace among our people.”

Splinters of wood explode everywhere in thousands of tiny pieces as their living room door busts open.

Jenna cries and Matilda lunges out of the chair, shielding her child behind her back.

The Enforcers pile in, one by one, surrounding the living room. A miniature hologram plays from the sleek, black portal on their chests, the Grand Magistrate has them surrounded.

“P-Please.” Matilda begs. They’ve already sterilized her for being Non-Magi, now they want to take her baby.

“Ma’am, are you resisting?” The Ring Leader asks, stepping forward in his shiny, metallic suit.

Jenna reaches a small hand out from behind Matilda to clutch her mother’s hand. “Mommy, it’s okay.” She gives it a reassuring squeeze.

Matilda’s heart feels as shattered as their door. It should be her comforting her daughter, not the other way around. Shame, white hot and wounding settles into the pits of her stomach.

She straightens up with dignity, “May I say goodbye?”

The Enforcer’s cold, black eyes soften ever so slightly. He clears his throat in discomfort, “Make it fast.”

From outside, the cries of neighbors sends Matilda’s anxiety into overdrive. But she knows, as everyone else who has defied the Order knows, the Law is the Law, and the only thing that fighting it brings is death.

As she turns to face her tear streaked daughter, she pulls the chain from around her neck and places it over her child’s perfect head.

“Whenever you need me, just open that locket and I’ll be right there.” Matilda says, gently tucking Jenna’s golden hair behind her ears.

Jenna nods her head in understanding, raising a hand to her chest to grasp at the heart shaped pendant.

“This may be the last time I see you, Mommy.” She cries out, reaching for her mother.

Matilda smiles sadly and wraps her little girl in her arms one last, devastating time planting kisses all over her face and crown. Then, before the Enforcers lose their patience, she steps back and smiles through her streaming tears.

“I love you!” Matilda cries out.

“I love you too, Mommy!”

The Enforcers drag her daughter away, and with it, her heart.