Fall of Venus

by Daelynn Quinn

  Amazingly, the van landed right side up and with my adrenaline still coursing through my veins I leapt out of the van and helped Lynx out. She looked bruised and sore, but in good condition. Marcus and Clover made it out as well, with superficial bumps and bruises, though Clover has a conspicuous limp in his right leg.

  Headlights of the Crimson vehicles were approaching and we had no choice but to carry out into the field. There was a wooded area in the distance and I knew if we could reach it we would be safe under the cloak of the trees and darkness, at least for the night.

  Lynx hung on to Clover as he struggled to run. Marcus and I took the lead. Car doors slammed behind us and Marcus grasped my hand and pulled me, urging me to run faster. I couldn’t stop myself from looking back to see flickers of flashlights. But when the pops of gunshots sounded I turned back and forced my legs to dart faster.

  Finally we reached the edge of the woods. Marcus stopped and pulled me against him as we waited for Lynx and Clover to catch up.

  “We need to split up,” he said, looking down at my teary eyes.

  “But I don’t want to leave you,” I beg. Marcus wrapped his hands around my neck and gazed into my soul. The flickering flashlights morphed into stars. The explosions of gunfire were booming fireworks, raining down over us. It was the romance of my engagement night all over again. But this time I felt more in love. More sure of myself. Marcus was the man I was meant to be with. Not Glenn. When he pressed his lips to mine, my body weakened and strengthened at the same time. I was relaxed, yet confident. A missing piece of my life was restored. I was no longer afraid of what lay ahead for us. I didn’t want to let go of him, but somehow I found the will to, knowing that we would find each other again.

  By the time Lynx and Clover caught up with us, Marcus pushed me away. I watched him longingly as he and Clover dashed into the woods towards the right. Lynx pulled me away and we went left. After the trees safely concealed us we split up. I kept running, even though the gunshots had stopped and I didn’t see the lights anymore.

  I must have run about two miles into the woods before I approached an unusual landmark. A nine-foot column that had no place in a wooded area such as this, stood amongst the trees. It wasn’t like any architectural construction I’d seen before. It was dark, sleek and metallic, like a shiny missile standing upright. As I closed in on it, I could feel a strong energetic pulse radiate through the air. I decided to stay away from it, not wanting to risk myself for the sake of curiosity, and continued past it on my path. Then I blacked out.

  Chapter 18

  I feel like a helpless teenage girl in a suspenseful horror movie as the heavy door screeches open and I am blinded by the light from the hallway behind the large figure standing in the doorway. The bulky man enters and hoists me up from the floor by my elbows. My wrists are raw from the handcuffs, which he removes, but my muscles are strong. I could easily get up and move on my own, but I play the part of the weak prisoner allowing the Enforcer to half-carry me out the door, dragging my feet. I don’t want them to know that I’ve been using this time to my advantage and I certainly don’t want them to get suspicious.

  I still don’t know how long I was imprisoned for. More than two weeks I would guess. Possibly even a month. Without the luxury of witnessing the sunrise and sunset, it’s hard to say. I just hope that Marcus made out better than I. He probably doesn’t even know if I’m still alive. He’s strong, resilient, but doesn’t hold on to hope very well when it comes to women in his life. I pray that he hasn’t given up on me. The Enforcer leads me out into the hallway where we are met by two more Enforcers, who escort me to my new room.

  At the entrance to the wing, there are two armed Enforcers. Hmm…I don’t remember them being armed before, at least not the ones working inside the building. Something else is different around here. The tension in the air. Fear even. It’s almost as if the air is filled with fibrous webs that threaten entanglement. It’s suffocating.

  One of the Enforcers at the entrance pulls out a handheld scanner and scans my temple. Dizziness consumes me for a few seconds before it passes.

  “McRae, Pollen. Age twenty. Cell number two-seventy. To the left and straight back,” says the Enforcer. They step out of the way and we proceed to my new domicile. Temporary, of course.

  I have no roommates this time. Just a single bed cell at the end of the cellblock. The woman in the room next to me is a mute, and her roommate barely acknowledges my existence. I guess they won’t be helping me in my escape attempt.

  I find myself wondering about Lynx. She made it into the woods with me and that was the last I saw of her. Did she make it? Did she get recaptured? Or did she meet the same fate as Clover? She’s a smart, resourceful woman. I hold on to the optimism that she made it, but I’m also selfishly hoping that she is back here at Crimson, so I don’t have to be alone.

  Once I’m settled, the first thing I do is go to the cafeteria. I feast on a large polystyrene foam plate of pasta with tomato sauce, garlic bread, a salad, and two cups of orange juice. The food they fed me in solitary was bland and tasteless. Colorless too. I savor every silky noodle, every crisp lettuce leaf, and the tart sweetness of the juice. I allow myself to I melt into this moment. After facing death so many times, I’ve realized how blissful something as mundane as eating can be. I allow my senses to take hold. This could possibly be the last truly peaceful moment in my life.

  I was expecting to see Evie or Marcus or even Lynx here. But I don’t recognize anyone. Well, there are a few familiar faces but nobody I really knew. Gazing around the room, I notice a few people staring at me. Some with angry expressions. Some fearful. I must be imagining things. Nobody even knows me. How could they be angry or scared of me?

  Now that I am nourished I’m determined to find Evie and Marcus again. I stand up to return my tray when I spot a familiar face. Respa is standing in a dark corner staring at me. My face lights up as I begin towards her. Then I stop. She shakes her head slightly at me. That short gesture was enough to tell me it is not a good time to talk. She turns and walks out of the cafeteria toward the Rec Room. Something was odd about Respa’s demeanor. She looked bitter, resentful. There was a fire in her eyes that pointed at me. And I don’t do fire well. I wonder if our escape got her into trouble with Quorian, or even with higher ranked Enforcers.

  When I get back to my cell there is a female Enforcer there waiting for me. Her chin-length blond hair is tucked neatly under the blue cap and her eyes are dark and void. She says very little and escorts me to a small room in a separate wing of the building. On the way, I take note of my surroundings. I count the doors, locate hallways, watch every human body we pass, Enforcers, officers, janitors and so on.

  Before we enter the room, she checks my pockets and has me lift up my arms into a T formation while she gives my body a security pat down. Just outside the door, there is a clipboard inside a bin attached to the wall. She takes it out and uses a pen to scribble something on the paper, then replaces the pen and clipboard. A quick glance reveals some numbers, the time perhaps, and her name, Dana followed by the numbers 421. Perhaps an identification code. Seems appropriate considering the residents have identification codes embedded in our tattoos.

  The room is white, windowless, and is furnished with a small table and two metal folding chairs on each side. This must be one of the rooms they brought prisoners to see their visitors. I truly do feel like a prisoner now, even if I’m not wearing handcuffs anymore.

  I sit down and wait for what seems like an eternity, shifting my seat in the chair and staring at the pattern of tiles on the floor to take my mind off the discomfort. I can even here a ticking clock in my head. Tick. Tock. Tick. Tock. Finally, the door opens and as soon as she sees me, Evie flies into my arms.

  “Auntie Pollen!”

  “Oh, Evie I’ve missed you so much.” The Enforcer that escorted Evie, a hulky woman who could pass for a female wrestler, steps in and stands in front of the door for the remainder of our visit.
I’d hate to get into a scuffle with her. She must outweigh me by at least fifty pounds. Even though I’m facing away from her, I can feel the weight of her stare press through my body. So much for privacy. I guess they want to make sure I don’t take Evie and run again. With that thought in mind, I take note of the weapons she’s carrying: a cudgel on one hip, and some kind of holstered gun on the other.

  I sit back down in the chair and Evie hops up in my lap, ignoring the other chair. She kicks her legs gleefully, and I couldn’t be happier to have her so close to me again. I truly do love her like she is my own daughter.

  “Why did you leave me?” asks Evie, playing with the long strands of hair on my shoulder.

  “I’m so sorry, Evie,” I say. “I’ll never leave you again.”

  “Uncle Glenn said you’d come back for me,” says Evie. Uncle Glenn. I never referred to him that way. It was always Mister Glenn, I would tell her, until we were legally married. But that never happened. And never would. I loathe him so much it’s burned a hole in my heart. I wonder what other nonsense he may have told her.

  “He’s not your uncle, Evie,” I say. “Glenn is not a part of my life anymore. And he is not family. Did he take care of you while I was gone?”

  “Yes,” she says. “Glenn played games with me and ate lunch with me. He even gave me lollipops after the nurse took my blood.” They took more blood from her. My own blood begins to boil. They have no business doing this to her. She’s just a little girl. Barely out of diapers. What could be so special about her that they have to take so much blood?

  “Well, I’m happy that he took care of you,” I say, obviously irritated, but I try to hold it together for her sake.

  “Where’s Marcus?” asks Evie.

  Marcus. I still don’t know what became of him after the accident. I know he survived the initial impact, but he could be anywhere in this vast prison. In another wing, in solitary, he could even be in a coma in the medical facility. Unless they executed him. Do they do that here? I haven’t heard of it happening yet, but I can’t say I would be surprised if they did.

  “I don’t know, honey,” I say. “But I’m sure he’s okay, wherever he is.” Evie and I continue to talk about lighter subjects, some friends she’s made, new clothes from the closet, and so on, until the monstrous Enforcer gruffly announces, “Time’s up.”

  I embrace Evie one last time before the Enforcer escorts her out and closes the door. I vow to myself, once we get out of here I will never let Evie out of my sight again. A minute later, Dana 421 enters.

  “When will I see her again?” I ask.

  “Visits have been scheduled on a weekly basis,” she answers tersely before leading me out.

  Once we pass through security and enter my cellblock, Dana 421 abandons me at the gate. It’s late afternoon already. Time really flew by while I was with Evie. I didn’t realize I was there for so long. Before my prior escape, I would use this time to play games with Evie or hang out with the girls in our room. But I’m all alone now. And I don’t have time for trivial time-wasters such as those anyway. I have plans to make.

  The lowest floor of the wing, the Rec Room is lined with some empty prison cells, which contain the “clothes closet,” the shower room, and beyond the stairs is the entrance to the cafeteria. At the far wall is a seating area with couches and fluffy armchairs around a large screen TV. Quite a few people gather there to watch movies throughout the day. The center of the room is more open. There used to be weightlifting equipment here but it’s gone now. On either side of the stairs are small tables and chairs set up for games, writing, drawing, and other leisure activities.

  I sit in a cushioned folding chair at a small round table right next to the base of the stairs, and pretend to read a paperback while absorbing everything around me. I notice three Enforcers pacing the floor, something that never caught my attention before. Two of them, both appearing to be female although they pretty much all look the same in those silly blue uniforms, meet at the other side of the stairs and speak quietly to themselves.

  “Did you hear about Gate 23?” says the shorter of the Enforcers.

  “The security breech? Yeah, Griffin mentioned that. Any word on when it will be accessible?” the taller Enforcer, with long, stick-like legs, asks.

  “Not yet. Officer Wyndham told me to stay away until they get the scanners fixed,” replies Shorty.

  “Whose on duty? I’d love to work Gate 23. It’d be a nice relief to catch a break from babysitting.” Babysitting? Is that what they really think of us?

  “Not sure. I’ll put in a word with Wyndham. Maybe we can both be stationed there for a day or two.”

  The third Enforcer, a tall, lanky man, joins the two gossiping women. “Hey, nobody told me it’s time for a break. Back to the floor you two.” Their bodies stiffen and go back to pacing the common area again.

  Gate 23. Now I wished I’d paid more attention to the blueprints Lynx studied. I need to find out where Gate 23 leads. Perhaps it’s a way out of the complex. Surely Glenn knows, but I can’t face him after what he did. He probably wouldn’t tell me anyway. Then there’s Respa. Speak of the devil. Here she comes.

  “Hey, Respa,” I start. But she walks right by me and up the stairs, ignoring my greeting. I quickly follow and grab her arm, almost causing her to fall. She glowers at me, “Don’t,” and shakes her arm away.

  She continues up the stairs, not even looking back. Why is she treating me with such disdain? Did she get caught as an accomplice in our escape? What happened? I have so many questions for her, but if she won’t even acknowledge me how am I to get any answers? I really want to follow her and demand she talk to me, but I’ve already gained too much attention from the residents here and I can’t risk causing a scene.

  I’m going to have to catch her alone, which will be difficult considering the extra security in this place. The only place around here that offers any privacy anymore is the shower room. I’ll have to get her in there mid-afternoon or late in the evening when nobody is showering. For now, I need to get some fresh air.

  Chapter 19

  Getting to the yard has proved to be almost as arduous as a twelve-year-old kid trying to buy alcohol. Not only do I have to pass security at my own wing, but also at three other gateways, plus they have to ensure that Marcus and Evie are not in the yard with me simultaneously. It’s frustrating. Not necessarily the security measures, but the lack of freedom. I know I’m only a few years out of school, but to be treated like a child again stirs so much anger and resentment in me. The old Pollen would sit in a corner and cry over it. That’s not me any more. I am stronger than that. Hold it together, Pollen. You’ll be out of here soon.

  I’d forgotten how long it’s been since I’ve seen the sun. My eyes instinctively squint in reaction to the blazing rays that bask down on me.

  Unfortunately, the tension out here is no lighter than the inside. The once friendly sense of community that was here before is gone. Nobody comes near me and some even shoot daggers at me with their sideways glances. Enforcers are posted about every twenty feet around the perimeter. Really? As if I’m going to attempt to scale an electric fence.

  To be honest I don’t know why I came out here. I know there is no way out from the yard, but it’s good to know how many Enforcers are on duty at any given time. Come to think of it, there are a lot more Enforcers now than there were when I was first brought here. I wonder how that came to be. They must have an excellent compensation package.

  I spend the next few days making observations and meticulously writing down anything notable on a sheet of paper that I keep glued to the underside of my desk, inside the drawer, using packets of maple syrup I’ve snatched from the cafeteria. Mostly information about Enforcers that I see or overhear, like schedules, posts, even personal information.

  Then one night, I spy Respa entering the shower room at an unusually late hour. No doubt she’s coming back from a steamy tryst with Quorian. Most of the residents in our wing are alr
eady in their rooms sleeping or preparing for bed. There are a few night owls watching movies in the common area, so only one Enforcer is on duty, in addition to the two manning the gate. But since they are outside the gate they don’t even notice when I pass to go down the stairs.

  The Enforcer on duty downstairs is entranced with the television so I’m able to enter the shower room unnoticed. The shower room is quiet except for the drone of the running water and some occasional splashes. I sit on the edge of the sink, waiting patiently.

  The squeak of a turning knob precedes the final splash of water hitting the floor. The drip drop of a leaky faucet silence complements the silence, making the hair on my arm stand on end.

  As Respa comes strolling around the corner, she almost drops her towel at the sight of me.

  “You shouldn’t be here,” she says, glaring at me and readjusting her towel around her chest.

  “Well, this is the only place I can think of to talk to you. Respa, what’s going on?” I ask. “Why are you ignoring me?” She takes a wad of clothes from a shelf against the wall and walks in my direction.

  “I’m not supposed to talk to you,” she says as she starts to open the door. But I lunge forward, push the door back and turn the latch to lock it. Respa stands back in alarm, my renewed strength startling her.

  “You’re not leaving here until you tell me what happened,” I say, glaring at her with brows furrowed.

  “Fine,” she says and backs up to the sink and begins to get dressed. “I’ll tell you. But know that there is nothing you can do now to change anything.” I nod, although I’m not convinced that’s true.

  “While you guys were in the air duct, one of the Enforcers came into the laundry room and saw the open vent. I did exactly as planned and told him I just went there to do laundry and knew nothing of it. He didn’t believe me. I did everything I could think of to stall him. Dropped a basket of clothes in front of him, faked a stomach cramp, even dumped a bucket of soapy water on the floor so he’d slip. But eventually he did get out and relay the message. And I was punished for it. They put me in the hole for eight days. I thought I’d go mad down there,” says Respa.