Remainder Read Free

trying to stop himself from saying something he shouldn’t. I can see him pondering how he should respond. He walks over to the door, closes it softly, and then faces me again.
    “You’re at the Avalon Research Center, or ARC as we like to call it,” he says with a sullen look on his face. I can tell he regretted telling me immediately.
    “What is this place?” I ask, somewhat scared of his answer.
    He averts his eyes before he answers. “Scientific research is conducted here.”
    “What kind of research?” I ask, not sure I want to know the answer.
    “Particularly identical human genetic reproduction.” He looks back at me with no trace of humor on his face.
    “Cloning?” I ask.
    “Yes,” he says and I see pain flash in his eyes.
    “Does this mean…am I...” I can’t finish the rest of my question. Suddenly, everything is clear. The cold treatment by Dr. Kendall. My nakedness on the table. The talk of a failsafe and tracking device. The fact that I can’t remember anything about my life. The illuminated dream that seemed so real. I don’t need to finish the question because I already know the answer.
    “You’re a clone,” Alden responds, confirming my suspicion. He raises his hands to emphasize his words.
    “So, let me make sure I am understanding this correctly, you’re telling me that I am a copy of someone else?”
    “Yes. I know this is shocking and you must have a lot of questions and I can’t answer them right now. I don’t have much time. I have to talk to you quickly before someone realizes how long I have been gone. Tomorrow, at Training Day, don’t ask any questions. Don’t show any resistance and you will be fine.”
    “What do you mean?” I ask.
    We hear a door open and shut down the hallway. Then footsteps and the rattling of keys.
    “Just do what they say,” he says worriedly.
    “How do I know you are telling the truth? Or that I can trust you?” I ask.
    The footsteps are getting closer.
    “I figured you would ask that. All clones are marked on the back of the neck. I left you something under your napkin on the tray. Tomorrow you will see.”
    With that, he opens the door and walks out. I hear him greeting someone in the hallway.
    “Hey Roderick! How are you tonight?” asks Alden.
    “What is taking you so long down here?” Roderick asks in an authoritative tone.
    “I am so clumsy; I dropped a tray of food all over the floor, so I had to clean it up,” replies Alden without missing a beat.
    "Why didn't you call a purifier to clean it up?" asks Roderick suspiciously.
    "There's no need for that. I am capable of cleaning up my own mess," responds Alden.
    “Take care not to make any more messes, that is unless you want to be reassigned,” I hear Roderick say, sounding annoyed. “Get back to work.”
    “Yes, sir. I will be more careful,” replies Alden.
    Their footsteps begin to fade and I know they have gone. I walk over to the tray of food and lift up the napkin. Underneath it is a small square mirror, about the size of the palm of my hand. I pick it up and walk over to the mirror above the sink. I stare at my reflection as I move my golden locks to one side. Turning around, I hold up the little square mirror in front of me. There on the back of my neck is a red, puffed mark. Like a piece of merchandise, I have been branded. This mark is my past, present, and future.
    That night, I barely sleep.  I toss and turn thinking about Alden’s warning and the brand on the back of my neck. I wonder why I am marked and where I fit into this society. I am flooded with many emotions. I cannot help but wonder what will happen to me.  Alden told me not to show any resistance...but resistance to what?  I am locked in this place.  Am I a prisoner? I feel a mix of fear and anticipation for Training Day, as Dr. Kendall and Alden called it.  That is where I will get some answers to the questions that are rushing through my head. That is where I will find out who I