Marigold

by Heather Mitchell Manheim

  A few seconds after she got into the exercise room, she heard the storage closet door open behind her and close again softly. Then the humming started anew, even louder. Undoubtedly, someone was behind her. The humming got louder. She couldn’t help but turn around, and now there was enough light to see who it was.

  ~

  Davis had a moment, one of those moments when her eyes knew what would happen before her brain knew. She saw Brookshire step toward her, and then in the glimmer of blue light; she saw the bee venom vial as it fell from Brookshire’s hands and drop to the ground, his boot crushing it into the hard floor. “You really didn’t think you could get away with it, did you?”

  Davis’s wheels started to turn as she realized: Brookshire had played her, played them all. The plan was falling apart quicker than an intricate embroidery having its strings pulled in the incorrect order. “Brookshire? I don’t understand. What is happening?”

  “Davis. Let’s not be foolish. Did you think you could assassinate the President? I’ve already alerted him to the fact I think there is a security breach. But I’ve protected you, for now. I didn’t divulge details, and I let you meet your mom. That was a charming reunion, by the way,” he added sarcastically. “I’ve also protected Ringo and Audrey and everybody at the bunker. Even Namaguchi, Duffy, and Hernandez are safe. I don’t have time for petty quarrels. But, if you don’t do as I wish, I’ll turn you all in. Even Josie was foolish enough to explain to me exactly how she snuck into the country and made her way down. All of it! The secret stops, Teeterville, everything!”

  “Well, what do you want?”

  “What does anyone want? Power, or to take power away. It’s the tale for both of us. You want to take power away from Everett. I simply want more power. I don’t need to be the top dog, so to speak, but I’m not content being a glorified Security Guard anymore either—”

  “How does that fit into anything?”

  “Uh uh…rude to interrupt. Weren’t you taught any manners?” It was as if a dam broke, and he was channeling all the power he had seen used around him, but he had yet to use it himself. It had been out of his grasp until this moment.

  Brookshire paused; he was enjoying this moment of power that he so clearly desired. Davis had no idea he was so capable of being so cruel. So deceitful. It seemed so unlike him. Davis felt this person was far away from who she knew as a child and got to know again as an adult. She wondered if Ringo or anybody else had any clue. She doubted they would. Otherwise, they wouldn’t have sent her on a fool’s errand. She didn’t have much time to think. Davis stammered, “I just don’t get it. You’re nice, and you were always so kind. What happened?”

  “Was I? Or did I just fit the perception of what a good mate would be? I am handsome, I must say.” Brookshire chuckled after this egocentric comment. “I was nice to you and found you attractive. I couldn’t help that you were ‘off-limits.’ That’s one reason I wanted to increase my power. I should have been able to make you mine, but I was unable to.”

  “Where did you even get your hands on the vial? You went into the room, got into my private things?”

  “You should be careful where you leave things, especially when there are ways to get to your things. You should know, I mean, how did you work your way to Ruby’s room? So, beware of leaving your things lying around in the future. Anyhow, when you went to the zoo and the other ladies were preparing to get ready for dinner, it was easy to get the venom out of your knapsack. Even if I got caught, well, I’m security, easily dismissed. I’m untouchable, darling.”

  Davis felt queasy. She found the whole thing unbelievable, but she had no time to think things through or respond before Brookshire continued with his tirade.

  “Have you ever heard the saying ‘absolute power corrupts absolutely’?” Davis nodded with hesitation and fear. “Well, what it leaves out is that for that power to corrupt correctly and thoroughly, it also needs absolute cooperation from the helpers of the person in power. Do you follow?” Brookshire did not wait for her to answer before continuing. “Yes, President Everett controls by keeping people in the Pods, having you all dress the same, and of course, the brain control drug in the Marigold Injection. Do you think he can do that all alone? There are plenty of people, like myself, who are immune to the brain control drug, yet, we crave power for ourselves, too. So, we cooperate. There are other people, like Duffy, who have chosen not to cooperate. But their voice is much smaller and quieter. That’s why I’d rather just leave them alone but use you to get what I want.”

  Davis stammered, “I thought you cared for me, the others too. I still don’t understand.”

  “Oh, Davis.” He held his hand to his head as if just talking to her was exasperating. “I have absolutely nothing against you or the others. It’s more about what is in it for me. So far, I have simply told President Everett I have uncovered some information you may not be as truthful as you seem. That there may be a plot implemented by the group that kidnapped you. If you agree to do as I say, then you, your mom, the bunker, it will all be safe. I’ll say you got coerced, that you didn’t want to participate in any of this, but they were trying to force you. You came to me for help, which is how I started to uncover the plot. They found out about Ruby being here, and they threatened that they would harm her. As I think of it more, Namaguchi may have to go down. I need an inside man to pin it all on.”

  Davis could not believe how cavalier Brookshire’s attitude was about everything. “Well, what do you want me to do? What is to be my part?”

  “Glad you asked. After I clear you, you marry President Everett. Act like the good, obedient wife he expects. You’ll have a safe yet possibly mundane life here. But you’ll be with your mom, and you’ll make friends with the other wives. I guarantee it. You and I can even have a relationship on the side. It may be hard to believe right this second, but I do care for you. I just have my priorities, and becoming more successful trumps my relationship with you. President Everett will promote me to a high position in his cabinet since I not only broke up the plot but saved him and you. It also saves face for him. Because as I said, you participate, this gets minimized. He won’t have an idea of how close he came to being killed. I’ll probably get Namaguchi’s position, come to think of it. But, I digress, back to our relationship. I’m still willing. Why not? Most of the wives have some kind of side thing going on with somebody here.”

  “You…want…to have a…relationship with me?”

  “Well, whatever, that’s not the important part. So, what do you say, ol’ sport? You in or out?”

  “Out. Most definitely out,” Davis said with displeasure and loathing.

  “Okay, you’re going to be executed then. I will make sure President Everett knows this plan of yours. I’ll keep it secret from everybody else at first so I can arrange for Ringo to ‘meet’ you. A Security Patrol will then trail us so the bunker can be found and destroyed; everyone there will also face execution. The trail between Canada and here will most certainly be closed. And your mom, Ruby, well, I’ll say she was in on it too.”

  After a few minutes of thought and puzzling out her bleak options, Davis said, “Well, I suppose.” Davis stammered as she tried to find the right words. “I mean, you haven’t given me a real choice, have you?” The anger was rising in Davis’s voice. “I’m under duress. I’m not happy about this. And, I hope you fail, even if it means I go down with you! But, to protect my mom and the others, I guess I’m in.”

  October 9, 2056 –

  Late Afternoon

  Davis didn’t sleep after she got back to her bed. She crawled in and felt sick, then lay there all night trying to figure out how to get out of this predicament.

  She got ready for her wedding in silent sorrow and regret. She took a shower, her allotted time, and then ate a few nibbles of her nutrition biscuit and took some small sips of water before the wives went to their exercise class. She th
ought for a moment that perhaps she could find Namaguchi and talk to him, but when she asked where he was, Cox told her that he was off. Brookshire had planned well.

  “Why do you want him?” Cox said as she tightened the corset that would be under Davis’s wedding dress.

  “I was just wondering; he came to see me in the hospital. I wanted to ask him something about that day. It’s not important.”

  As Cox attended to Davis to get her ready, depression hung on Davis more heavily than her large beaded white gown, the layers of fabric almost swallowing her up. She almost wished they would. She couldn’t figure out how this could have gone so wrong, how Brookshire could have fooled everybody. She also couldn’t figure out how to solve the problem. As the last step, Cox put very high-heeled high heeled shoes on her feet. Quickly realizing she wouldn’t be able to walk in these, she asked Cox to please help her stand up and get the hang of it.

  Cox was clearly not pleased to be asked this; she gave a gruff “humph” before extending her arm to help her up. Davis teetered and wobbled as she tried to find her footing. These were far tighter and more pointed than the heels she had the day before. It was almost as if someone was trying to punish her by shoes alone.

  It was unfortunate that this was such a dismal day for Davis. Under normal circumstances, she would be fascinated by the beauty of her bridal preparation room. It had spotless white walls with a plush dove gray carpet. She had a beautiful chair covered in a soft pink fabric that she sat in while Cox applied makeup and styled her hair. The windows had thick, luxurious coverings the same color as the carpet. Of course, the curtains had a large golden E monogrammed in the middle, but they were still pretty. The beauty continued with an antique white mirror that Davis sat in front of while Cox attended to her. The candle holders, with their fake candles, were the same crane ones she had seen on the Palace stairwell when she first walked through. There was even a little golden capuchin monkey waiting for her when she came into the room. It was President Everett’s wedding gift to her. Too bad it’s too small to bash him over the head with, she thought.

  A little bit before the ceremony started, Davis sat in this room on the side of the Palace church. Only Cox was with her, staring at her like she never hated anyone more. Right when she heard the music cue up, there was a soft knock at the door. Cox got up to open it, and Ruby was standing on the other side.

  Ruby spoke first, “We are the people, and the people are we. Can I see Delilah for a moment?”

  Davis held her breath, never thinking Cox would permit Ruby entrance. Luckily, Cox could not care less about her, the wedding, or anything to do with and of the wives. Davis hadn’t realized it when she met Cox, but she must just be another one in the line of cooperators looking for a way to increase her power and position, in any way that she could. Or, for the safety of the secret, Davis presumed only the upper echelons knew that Ruby was Davis’s mom. Cox must have assumed there was nothing wrong with letting a current wife talk to a future wife. It was natural to think Ruby would want to welcome Davis into the household and get her excited about her big day and the fantastic future that awaited her. However, even though Cox let Ruby into the room, she stayed put.

  Ruby said somewhat harshly, “Alone, perhaps?”

  Cox left, saying she would be right outside the door, and not to take long. Davis could tell she was suspicious of something but was trying to hedge her bet she’d do the right thing by granting this favor.

  After she left, Ruby spoke quickly, “Dear. I remembered some things last night. Some things that made me uncomfortable. Years ago, when you were born, I trusted my gut. It led you to me after all these years. So, I am trusting my gut again. I don’t know what is wrong, but I don’t think you can trust Namaguchi.”

  Davis was surprised that her mom had a feeling something was off but pinpointed it on the wrong person. Davis almost wondered if Brookshire had said something to Ruby about Namaguchi since he planned to make Namaguchi the scapegoat. As if answering, Ruby reluctantly added that Brookshire had come to see her that morning and said that she should keep an eye on Namaguchi because Brookshire feared he was up to something.

  Ruby then pulled out an oddly shaped knife, the blade shiny and almost two inches long, with a slight curve to the right at the tip. There were rubies embedded into the short, thin silver handle that curved slightly to the left at its end. “President Everett gave this to me on our wedding night. I doubt you’ll need it. Brookshire doesn’t know I’m giving you this; I’m sure he’d be appalled. But, in case you need to protect yourself from Namaguchi. If anyone finds it, just say I let you borrow it as a good luck gift for your wedding. As I said, I doubt you’ll need it, but just in case, for protection.”

  Davis thought it was so sweet that her mom was trying to protect her. She was trusting her instincts that her daughter needed help. Perhaps she’d misplaced her help, but it was still kind of her mom to put herself at risk to protect her. Davis had only wished her mom could bring her a bee or two instead of a weird old knife.

  Ruby quickly tucked the knife into the wide band on Davis’s dress. She whispered, “Luckily, President Everett always likes these elaborate belted skirts, so it will hide well until you can get back to your room and find a place for safekeeping. And, on second thought, if you get caught with this, I could get in trouble; it’s my knife…”

  “Say no more, mom. I will say I found it and was holding it for safekeeping until I located the owner. And mom, you know I love you. No matter what the situation, I’d always protect you and keep you safe. That’s a promise.”

  After Ruby got the knife tucked in safely and securely, she gave Davis a quick hug and mentioned she should get going. And as if on cue, right after the hug, Cox annoyingly rapped on the door and called through it, “That’s enough, I’m coming in.”

  Davis felt the knife hidden in the waistband belt. It was an odd belt, broad and made of a thick satin and studded with crystals. It tied into an elaborate bow at the back. The ends that hung down from the bow eventually became wider, then trailed onto the floor, creating a train four feet long. It was a lot of fabric to pull, and she would have never said she wanted more weight. She was happy to see that the knife made her feel lighter.

  Cox and Davis sat in the room a while longer. Cox was looking disgruntled; Davis was pondering her fate. After about thirty minutes, the music Davis was supposed to walk down the aisle to began. She knew now that it was only a matter of seconds before she would have to walk down a long aisle and marry Everett.

  The moment when Cox pulled her arm to get her up came too quickly. Davis clumsily got to her feet. Cox told her she would not go down the aisle with her, that when she got her to the door, they would open automatically, and she would depart. Then, Davis would be on her own. They walked out of the room, and Cox got her up to the doors. Then, as she mentioned, Cox stepped away, and the doors opened up.

  ~

  Davis took a deep breath and started her walk down the aisle. She felt like she was in a dream and that it wasn’t really happening. She walked so slowly to gather her thoughts and put off what was about to happen as long as she could. Even though she was trying to linger, she ignored her surroundings. She was vaguely aware the wives from her shared room were standing at the front, looking at her, and that people were sitting in the pews. More of the crane candleholders were at every other row of pews. There was some kind of showy tulle bow decorations in the blush color. No flowers, as predicted. Davis didn’t even hold a bouquet. President Everett was not in the church yet. He would make his grand entrance when Davis was already up at the front; she didn’t know what his grand entrance would be but heard they could be elaborate. Amanda had told her he rode in on a white horse with a long-braided tail and mane for their wedding.

  It felt to Davis that it took her an hour to get to the front. But she was aware it was probably closer to two or three minutes. She heard a noise above her and l
ooked up to see President Everett, seemingly diving from a ledge in the ceiling but wound up in the same kind of aerial fabric that was pointed out to her in the exercise room. He did some sort of complicated twist and descended in the material as it unfolded. Please let him break his neck doing this, thought Davis. But, before she knew it, he was down safely. Unbelievably, his tuxedo wasn’t even wrinkled. She realized the other wives hadn’t said his entrance would be “elaborate.” That was her word. If she remembered correctly, they had said “beautiful” and “amazing.”

  Davis’s knees were shaking. She felt like she could pass out at any moment. She felt the coolness of the hardened steel of the blade pressing against her skin. She felt comforted by it; her mom was right; it gave her a sense of security. It felt as if her mom was hugging her, almost.

  After President Everett took his place at the front with Davis, he gave her a sly smirk and escorted her to the stair below where he stood. She was then looking up at him, and he towered over her by about five inches, even though they were close in height and she perched on stilts masquerading as shoes.

  The Everettisim priest in his crimson cloak stepped in front of them. He looked at both of them with aged eyes; the only part Davis could see of him under the cloak’s hood. His eyes were wrinkled at the edges and had dark bags underneath that gave them a droopy appearance. He then started in a monotonous voice about the solemnness of the occasion. It seemed as if they had designed everything to create a bit of confusion for Davis. Between the incredibly tight and uncomfortable outfit, and the priest, whose face was mostly covered by the cloak hood, slightly resembled Namaguchi. It wasn’t him; she was sure. It wasn’t as if he were a real doppelganger. However, there was enough of a resemblance to give her pause and make her feel uneasy. Unlike Namaguchi’s kind voice, the priest’s voice was droning and dull, almost lulling her into a sense of hypnosis. It suddenly occurred to Davis that she really couldn’t trust Brookshire. Of course, she couldn’t, why did she ever think she could after what transpired! What was to stop him from still killing her and everyone else once the marriage was over? Why had she believed he’d protect them? Davis’s mind reeled as this fact settled in her mind like a heavy stone thrown into a deep lake.