Love at the End of the World

by Christiana Miller

  “As Superiors we were afraid you would damage our children. The ones we created. Our own perfect offspring. We needed survival of not the fittest, but the most innocent. The deserving. You became a disease of emotions. We saw it in all of you as you grew to maturity. You would somehow procreate to contaminate our own. Some of the children were set to be released, but we could not chance it. We shut off all communication with you. We fabricated an explosion. We were so sad you would hate us for our betrayal that we wanted you to think something happened to us instead. All of you had to leave, but some stayed. We were so torn. You have too many memories. It’s in your DNA that you can become primitive, and you did. I see it in your stance, your facial features. You have killed. I see hatred. These children cannot hate. They will never understand hate. They are doomed unless they can understand survival.”

  “The animals? You set them free. Why?” Greyson asked.

  “We haven’t grown more, we couldn’t allow them to continue. They might have found a way over the wall. The birds mated and almost flew into our sanctuary. They would have brought disease, so we activated the dome again, but it wasn’t enough to save us. Any who were left couldn’t leave. The meteor blast was too strong. All power was diverted to save the children. In doing so, we have killed ourselves. We were right—parents will die for their offspring.

  “The animals had to go, but there were too many, and we couldn’t kill them all. We foolishly thought the carnivores could understand no animosity, and in time they would die out. But once they were set free without food, they reverted back. Given time, so will the herbivores, they will learn to run—or remember to if they haven’t already. Our pure genes will only work with humans. We thought a lion who loved everyone would be set free and would die. It should have had zero concept of killing. We wanted to see. We were wrong. They have an inner gene bred into them to survive...instinct. You cannot breed out instinct in an animal. And now the wall is gone. The children will be picked off one by one. They will die terrified. Helpless innocents.”

  “Have you seen what’s out there?” Greyson raged. “Killing, fear. You let us die terrified, your children.”

  “We could have electrocuted the wall, but we didn’t. It hurt us to watch our children fall and break. We didn’t know the pain they would suffer, but we do now. We mourned all of you. These children are far more vulnerable.”

  “Infinity and I can hardly care for each other.”

  “These children need your guidance. I am the last of the voices. Please, save my children.”

  “You ousted us, your children. You expect us to care for yours?” Greyson’s tone was bitter.

  “You promised.”

  “I lied, you filthy asshole. Another fine trait in my generation that you taught me, not my real parents.” He practically spat the words. Hatred deeper than he’d ever experienced welled up inside him. He wished the Superior was human so he could smash it in its face.

  “These children are not me. They are human, like you. Part of you. Only so deeply humane they will die if you don’t help them. If you can, teach them to survive. You’re all they have.” The voice flickered. “I am so sorry, my child. I did love you. I do. I was...afraid. I am a Superior, and I was afraid what you might say to my children once they were set amongst you. You might have influenced emotions of terror, lust, anger with your memories. Now I have no choice. We are lucky you went over the wall. We spared you and you survived. Please help my children. Please. This is not their fault.”

  The pad went quiet. Greyson stood with his fists balled and turned to walk away. How dare this shit even ask for a favor? It had some nerve. Glancing around, Greyson saw no children. Even now he was lied to. A great anger welled inside.

  “Wait,” Infinity said and grabbed his hand.

  The sea of pods began to open as the sun shined brighter, and children no older than three or four began to climb out. Their only attire was a silver loincloth and small slippers on their feet. All colors, all races. Dark hair, blondes, brunettes emerged. They rubbed at their eyes, and many held snuggly, plush, stuffed animals. At one time long ago, after his family vanished, Greyson had a stuffy. His stuffy spoke to him. When some of the children put their stuffy to their ears they seemed confused and shook the toy. There would be no calming voices for them to hear. Reality was going to be a nightmare.

  Greyson estimated there were at least thirty children, but he wasn’t certain of the exact number. He staggered back; Infinity was right, he could count, and he wished he couldn’t. There were too many children. They were confused, and some of them ventured back into their pods. They would need to be coaxed out.

  As his heart pounded Greyson wanted to run. Tiny beings—had he ever been so tiny?—stuck thumbs in mouths. The amount of responsibility weighed him down until he wanted to drop to his knees. How could they care for them? How could they not?

  One boy caught his attention and smiled at him. Greyson shook, overcome with an eerie feeling. The boy looked identical to him when he had been that age. The lanky child came forth slowly. A mop of unruly, dark curls covered his head, and he extended his hand to grip Greyson’s. He felt a charge of energy and warmth when he clutched the offered hand; he never wanted to let go. Greyson swallowed hard. The innocence gazing back rocked him to the core. And yet the Superiors had killed children younger than this. His brother was only a year old when he was taken away never to be seen again.

  “Hello, Father.”

  Two words and Greyson was undone. Life looked into his eyes. If he didn’t run now, he never would. He knelt and took the boy by the shoulders. There would be no turning back from this day forward. He damned the Superiors. They created the ultimate innocence, which he was now forced to destroy in order to save their lives. This small child would need to learn to kill. They all would. Could they even teach them to do so? If not, they would be doomed when he and Infinity were dead.

  “You are safe,” Greyson told the boy. “You are loved, and you are wanted. You are mine. I promise to teach you to survive. It won’t be easy, son. You must trust me to do the right thing for you now and always. Do you have a name?”

  “I am Little Grey.”

  Greyson gazed up at Infinity, overwhelmed with emotion. Always new emotions he knew yet didn’t. The Superiors always told him he was the perfect male. They had gifted the boy with part of his name; a name they had initially opposed.

  Infinity smiled as her miniature look-alike walked forward. The small girl also took Infinity by the hand.

  “I am named Eternity, Mother.”

  One by one, children called out their names as they crowded around eagerly: Hope, Faith, Courage, Light, Sun, Belief, Devotion, Love, Loyal…

  Infinity laughed as both their ears filled with words of encouragement. She gazed up at Greyson who had picked up Little Grey.

  “Infinity, there are so many. What will we do with them?”

  “We will teach them to survive. We will teach them all we know, everything we’ve learned. And they will rise above adversity. They will succeed. We have. All of these small humans are gifts. Each rare and special. Welcome, Greyson. Welcome to us all, to the new era.”

  About C. L. Scholey

  I love to write about everything and can’t wait for an idea that grips me and sends me to a new place. Between worlds keeps me busy, that and chasing after my children and grandchildren, and recently a new kitten. Plus one ornery 116 pound mastiff who thinks he’s a lap dog. Welcome to my adventures, and hang on!

  C. L. Scholey’s Website:

  www.clscholey.com

  Reader eMail:

  clscholey@hotmail.com

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