Iris estimated thousands of girls had been taken throughout the years. The Beasts took about fifty-two Brides a year. More or less. They'd never been specific about dates. The big problem for Iris was that the Brides' names were erased from existence, even their family pretended they had never been born--at least they were forced to. This left no traces for Iris to find enough connections between the girls. She could only track the ones who'd been taken since she was fifteen, the first time she'd asked her father to place a rose in front of the girls' houses and let their parents know they'd be remembered. She'd found the roses in the Ruins and thought they would leave a precious impression if given to the parents.
Suddenly, her room's door sprang open and Zoe dashed in.
"Zoe!" Iris said. "You look fantastic."
"Really?" Zoe said. She was dressed very girly in a blue dress with an extra embroidered shawl. She even had a blue ribbon in her hair. "It's going to be a big birthday, you know. I thought I'd do my best to look as good as them."
"Come here, sweetie," Iris pulled her closer, and fluffed Zoe's hair a bit. "You look like you're going to meet Prince Charming today."
"Yeah," Zoe rolled her eyes. "As if there is one for me."
"Don't say that," Iris said, Colton's image flashing in her head. "He is waiting for you. It's just that you're too busy with all the boys chasing you, so he's gotta wait." They both snickered.
"So no homework, I guess," Iris said.
"Don't let my appearance fool you," Zoe flashed two notebooks from under her dress. "I finished mine and yours, so you could rest your case."
"Oh, Zoe. You're amazing." Iris hugged her. "But you didn't really have to do mine."
"I had free time, and know you hardly pay attention in class. I want you to have good grades to go to college."
Iris hugged her again. It wasn't for the homework. She didn't really like someone doing hers. It was because of Zoe's unconditional love for her.
"Easy with the dress," Zoe pretended to be snotty. "You're going to mess it up."
"Ah," Iris placed a hand on her mouth. "I'm really sorry, my princess."
"I have about half an hour with you, before Cody picks me up." Zoe said.
"What? Cody?" Iris's eyes shimmered. How didn't she think of matching them up before? She thought they'd make a good couple.
"He called me and told me he got my phone number by hacking yours," Zoe explained. "I think he didn't realize that was a creepy thing to do. He thought it'd make me like him, so he could ask me to go with him to Vera's birthday."
"That's something that Cody would do," Iris pouted. "Sorry for that. I guess he liked you and didn't know how to tell you." Iris wasn't going to tell her that Cody liked her too. She thought Zoe should have a chance with him, and then decide if she liked him or not.
"Actually, I thought I'd go with someone you know, instead of feeling so alienated at Vera's birthday."
"You're the one who wants to go," Iris pursed her lips.
"It's just a birthday. And I'd like to see how girls celebrate when they're eighteen."
"If you say so."
"So tell me, how many rules have you broken since you left school this morning?"
"A lot," Iris said.
"Oh, so skipping school while sticking your tongue out to a robot wasn't enough?" Zoe sat on the bed, imitating how princesses lifted their dresses before sitting.
"Thanks for switching the glue by the way," Iris laughed.
"I am still waiting for a thank you from Mrs. Wormwood, but I guess that will never happen, since she would have to know what was going to happen to her first, in order to thank me," Zoe said. "I'm a saint. Ain't I?"
"You are. Aren't you going to ask me again what other rules I broke today?"
"I can guess," Zoe tilted her head. "You went to the Ruins, practiced that weird hobby of yours. Found out nothing about the Beasts, and came back home. You're very predictable." she joked.
"And who did I go to the Ruins with?" Iris grinned.
"Cody?" Zoe guessed.
Iris shook her head “no,” and bit her lip.
"I'm not sure why you're biting your lip. You know you can’t keep a secret from me anyway."
"Colton."
"Colton who?" Zoe said.
"Colton." Iris stressed.
"The Colton?" Zoe's eyes almost popped out of her head.
Iris nodded with a grin on her face. "He is Cody's brother. When he heard I knew something about the Beasts in the Ruins, he offered to come."
Iris recited all that happened between her and Colton to Zoe, who'd been so excited, she thought she'd skip the birthday. But then Cody called and said he'd be late another half an hour.
Having gossiped all they could about Colton, Zoe couldn't resist asking Iris about what she'd been searching the internet for.
"Did you ever wonder what the Beasts really look like, Zoe?" she tried to sound uninterested, as if she were just making conversation until Cody arrived.
"Will you ever stop being curious about them?" Zoe fidgeted, looking uncomfortable in her high heels.
"Are you saying you're not curious yourself?" Iris's stare was sharp, piercing through whatever fake disinterest Zoe showed. Iris was sure she was curious.
"I am," Zoe avoided her friend's eyes. "But thou shall not question the Beast." she craned her head, as if someone could have heard them.
"We're not questioning them. We're having a conversation about them. Don't be such a coward." Iris said.
"Alright," Zoe took off the high heels until Cody arrived. "I guess I broke all the rules today, wearing such a dress, and going out with a boy I barely know. So here is what I hear. Some students say the Beasts look like Aliens."
"Aliens?"
"Those green creatures who look like frogs and have antennas in their heads?" Zoe reminded her.
"I know what aliens are," Iris mocked her back. "But how do aliens really look? I mean all that green stuff about them was only made to entertain kids. Besides, we all know that the Beasts are the aliens, whatever they look like."
"Don't shoot the messenger. I am just telling you what I heard."
"I don't care about what you heard, Zoe. Use your head. Tell me what you think."
"You want my opinion?" Zoe raised her eyebrows. "You usually never listen to anything I say. Anyways, I think they are far more advanced than us. I mean, whatever metallic technology we live in with all those hologram inventions and communication methods, they live a much more transcendent life, if I may suggest."
"Like how?"
"I don't know," Zoe shook her shoulders again. "I can't imagine what I haven't seen. It's just pure logic. If they are our rulers whom we never see, and all of us are obeying them, even the Council, then those Beasts are the shit." Zoe clapped her mouth with her hand instantly. "Lady Jesus, see what talking with you made me do? I have never said the S word before."
"Lady Jesus?" Iris neglected Zoe's silly concern for uttering bad words. "You don't believe in that crap."
"Oh, so this night is going to be full of crap and shit," Zoe said. "My mom believes in it. I don't know what to believe. I am just not as sophisticated as you. Since when do we have such deep conversations? Our friendship is built on you being the outcast who asks questions, and me being the shallow girl who saves your ass."
"You said ass," Iris laughed.
"Well, the train has run off the rails tonight," Zoe said. "And it's all because of you and your never-ending questions."
"Do you ever wonder why the Beasts take only girls?" Iris wondered. "And don't say it's all about Lady Jesus again."
"Don't worry. I won't. I even heard that Jesus is a man's name," Zoe said. "To tell you the truth, your question is the one that I keep asking myself all the time."
"So you ask questions." Iris pointed out.
"Of course I ask, Iris. I just don't utter them, so I won't get expelled or hurt. I have to work hard to earn a place in college and have a life. But when I lay alone in bed and
I’m just about to go to sleep every night, I ask myself why the Beasts only take girls."
"And?"
"Maybe they are only a male species," Zoe suggested. "Or at least some weird sexless species. Maybe with all the power they have, they have that weakness that they can't breed. And in some twist of life, they need females from The Second to breed."
"It's a plausible suggestion," Iris considered. "You think that's why they saved the planet from decaying, to preserve the female baby-makers?"
"Could be. But then a million doors to other questions will open."
"Like?"
"Like what do their babies look like?" Zoe said. "Part human, part Beast?"
"We don't even know what the Beasts look like, so it's unimaginable."
"And what kind of species are they?" Zoe seemed to like the conversation now. "Are the babies also Beasts, or some second generation creatures? If so, where are they, or shouldn't we see them too?"
"Then how do you think they choose the girls?" Iris asked. "According to you, they have to be the most fertile."
"Or beautiful, in case the Beasts are really ugly. They call the girls Brides, right? This sounds like a marriage to me."
"That's a bit inaccurate," Iris corrected. "We are the ones who called them Brides and Beasts. And it stuck since then. The Beasts never called themselves anything."
"They could have easily called themselves gods if you ask me," Zoe said.
"So you really think they choose beautiful girls? Because I went over it in my head today and I noticed not all the girls were airheads." Iris said.
"Before we even continue this conversation, you need to change your mind about all beautiful girls being airheads. That just isn't true."
"I didn't say that," Iris said. "But most of them are."
"No, that's not true either," Zoe insisted. "Elia Wilson for instance, was so close to being the youngest tennis player in The Second. Two years from now she'd have been winning trophies, and she was a ten in the book of beauties."
"She was?" Iris had never told Zoe about the roses she and her dad left at girls’ doors.
"See? And many other Brides have been very interesting girls. Besides, I did some research," Zoe said. "Absolute beauty was never the main criteria in choosing."
"Research?" Iris almost jumped from her chair. "So you do research and never tell me?"
"I can't tell you, Iris," Zoe said. "You'd keep talking about it all the time. And I want to talk about life, cute boys, and things that matter at my age. Anyhow, now you know, and you'll never stop talking about it."
"So if not beauty, then what?" Iris was back to the point again.
"I really don't know," Zoe said. "All I can think of is that the girls have something precious to the Beasts. Something so subtle, none of us can pick it out so easily, unless we've befriended all the girls before they were taken."
"Which is just impossible," Iris said. "You know what new question just popped in my head?"
"Enlighten me," Zoe pursed her lips.
"What if there is something the Beasts are looking for in those girls, and once they find it, collect it, accumulate it or whatever, they have no more need for The Second?"
Zoe shrugged. “You mean..."
"I mean that once they take what they want, we will not be of use to them anymore," Iris said. "What if they never saved us? What if they only preserved us, like some lab rats and then," Iris puffed air from the palm of her hands. "Poof."
"That's some creepy thought," Zoe said. "I don't want to even consider it."
The silence stole the air from the room for a moment as Iris, like usual, never looked away from Zoe, convinced her conclusion was most plausible. Her stare was too sharp. Zoe didn't know what to do, until a small pebble came knocking on Iris's window.
"Who could that be?" Iris wondered, walking to the window.
"It's probably Cody," Zoe said. "Maybe he is embarrassed to knock."
"Why would he be embarrassed?" Iris pulled the window open, as another pebble hit her in the forehead. She took the hit like a champ, then looked down with anger in her eyes.
"Sorry," said the voice from below. Iris couldn't believe her eyes. It was Colton.
15
"What are you doing here?" Iris asked, half-blushing. Colton was down below her window, throwing pebbles so she'd open up. Who'd have thought?
"I need to talk to you," he said. He didn't even bother whispering. This was a boy who was used to getting what he wanted. He didn't have the courtesy to whisper or act a little polite, so Iris's neighbors wouldn't hear him.
"You need to talk me?" Iris pointed at her chest.
"Yes, you. What's so strange about that? Come on, come down now," he said, as if he was just telling her about the weather.
"No, I am not coming down," Iris said. "You can't just knock on my window and tell me to come down."
"Oh." he mopped his forehead. "I'm sorry. I guess I have crossed the line. Look, there is something important I need to tell you. I think I discovered something."
"Is that who I think it is?" Zoe craned her neck from under Iris's arm. "Hi Colton," she waved at him. "It's Zoe, from class."
"Zoe," he pretended to know her. "But of course. How are you?"
"He asked me how I am doing," Zoe giggled at Iris.
"I heard," Iris pulled her back.
"I'm sorry if it's a bad time," Colton said.
"Wait," Iris said. "We're coming down."
"Thank you," Colton said. "I’m sorry again. It's just, I've never really known a girl as just a friend, if you know what I mean..."
"Colton," Iris warned him. "Stop talking. You're blowing it. I am coming down. Let's see what this is about, Zoe."
"Are you seriously going down without taking a snapshot of him standing down by your window?" Zoe had already pulled out her phone. "You realize this isn't going to happen again, right? This is practically history in the making."
"Shut up Zoe." Iris pulled her out of the room.
Colton stood waiting next to his sports car when they arrived, the exact time Cody came chugging up on his motorcycle.
"Cody!" Zoe waved.
Cody came up wearing a tuxedo that looked a size or two bigger than it should. Iris thought Zoe should later teach him to wear a size that fit, if this ever worked out between them. Not that Zoe was the best of dressers, but certainly better than Cody. Also, she wondered how Zoe was going to ride on the motorcycle with her new dress.
"Bro," Cody nodded at his brother.
Colton nodded back silently, a little confused.
"So this is going to be a double date?" Cody clapped his hands together with enthusiasm. "So cool. Two brothers, and two... you're not related, right?"
"This isn't a double date, Cody." Iris was firm about it, hoping her reddened cheeks wouldn't show in the dark of the street.
"Yeah, really. It isn't," Colton confirmed, looking a bit fazed.
"Alright," Cody tried to think of what this was then. "So what is it? Is Iris coming with us, so she makes sure I am not a serial killer?" he turned to Zoe. "Because I’m not. Really. Ask Colton."
Colton looked as if he wished he could disappear. This was just an awkward situation. "Yes, really. He isn't a serial killer. A serial hacker maybe, but not a killer." Colton said, rather mockingly.
Iris almost laughed out loud at how different the two brothers were. One was calm as hell, and the other was lucky he could still stand straight.
"Colton just came to talk to Iris about something," Zoe explained to Cody. "It's pure coincidence."
"Ah," Cody raised a genius finger. "It must be about the..."
"Cody," Iris snapped. "You should go now. You two are late for Vera's birthday party."
"You're going to Vera's birthday party?" Colton looked too eager to know. So unlike him, Iris thought.
"Yeah," Cody said. "Aren't you coming? You're the party animal."
"I was," Colton said. "But I'll pass. Is she going to be eighteen tonight
at twelve?"
"No," Cody pouted. "She's going to be eighteen two years from now, when Uranus clashes into Mars. Of course, she'll be eighteen tonight. You're funny bro." He pretended he was opening an invisible door for Zoe, then ushered her to ride behind him. Iris watched Zoe play princess, pretending there was actually a door.
"Shouldn't you get a cab?" Iris wondered. "Zoe's dress is going to get messed up on that thing."
"It's not a motorcycle," Cody said, starting the engine. "It's a unicorn."
Colton laughed in a good way. "Have fun, bro," he said, and waved goodbye to Cody's chugging unicorn. Although Colton was smiling, Iris had sensed his concern about Vera and her birthday. She wondered about what he'd discovered.
16
"Before you tell me anything, you need to understand that you can't come throwing pebbles at my window again," Iris sat in the comfortable passenger seat of Colton's car. Like most things in The Second, it was a shade of shiny metallic silver. There was no point in asking how much it cost.
"I understand," said Colton. "I just had to tell you something."
"You said that before," Iris wondered why she treated him a bit too bluntly. She must have been pressured by his sudden visit. "What is it?"
Colton pulled out Eva's picture with Vera and Elia. It took a second for Iris to connect the dots. "You came to show me that the three of them knew each other?"
"Two of them were called by the Beasts," Colton said. "I think maybe Vera is next."
Iris pondered the thought in her head. She was dying for something to connect the girls the Beasts took, but the three of them being friends wasn't that much of a connection. "I think it's just coincidence."
"Eva and then Elia, in two consecutive weeks?"
"I bet Eva has many other pictures with other girls that have not been called," Iris pointed out. "Besides, Vera is going to be eighteen in a couple of hours, and Elia was taken yesterday. Never have the Beasts taken two girls in such a short period. No girl is going to be taken again for five days, at least."
Pentimento: a dystopian Beauty and the Beast Page 7
