Glistening Haven: A Shape Shifting Dystopian Boxset

by Jill Cooper

  ****

  The rooster crowed.

  It signaled a new morning. Breakfast sizzled downstairs. Glasses clinked and the smell of bacon woke Jake. For a moment he lay with his eyes closed and pictured his home in New Haven 56. Mom was downstairs, bustling in the kitchen like she always did. She hummed without meaning to when she cooked breakfast and Jake could hear her sweet voice. In the bathroom, Marie slammed the door and Jake would hurry after her.

  “Quit hogging the bathroom.” Jake didn't know how many times he had said that.

  Now he'd give anything for the simple family life instead of what was on his shoulders. How could he liberate the glistenings when he was still so fogged with grief; with all he had lost?

  He put it from his mind, walling it off so it wouldn't hurt anymore. He dressed for the day and hurried downstairs. There was chatter, happy conversation as his friends, family, put together their plates and enjoyed a hearty breakfast. Jake wasn't hungry and instead grabbed his jean jacket and headed outside toward the stables. Horses needed to be fed, groomed, and there was always a cow in need of milking.

  Hard work was easy. Thinking, living in his own head these days, now that was hard.

  Beyond the stables were the wheat and vegetable fields. Off in the distance was the nearly completed home. The roof was covered with a blue tarp, but once that was taken care of, people would be able to move in. They could finally spread out and enjoy all the land they had. Heat wouldn't be a problem with the wood burning stoves Jake had installed last week. It took all their resources to get it built so how did Victor think they could support another five hundred?

  With the food the NH allowed them to keep, if they were careful they would get through winter on the skin of their teeth.

  The horses greeted him with a series of nays when he entered. "Hey fellas." Jake opened the back door, allowing them out into the fields. He meant to fill their water troughs, but something caught his eye.

  The bunks toward the back, the poor people that had to sleep in the stables, were neat and tidy. But their belongings were piled on top. Clothes, shoes, anything they needed to freshen up during the day. All the bunks were like that except for two.

  Two of the bunks were made, but nothing was on top. No spare socks, no shoes. Nothing.

  Two of his best men. His closest. When they disappeared, Jake thought they’d return. But so far, nothing and he was running out of hope. But where had they gone? What were they doing?

  He heard a noise and saw someone stepping out from the shadows. For a moment, terror gripped him and caused his chest to tighten. When her face was caught by a beam of sunlight, Jake relaxed and saw it was his kid sister. Her hair was brushed off her face and secured with a multi-hued head band. Marie’s face was shiny clean and in her hand was an old brush for the horses.

  “Marie,” Jake breathed a sigh of relief. “You scared me.”

  “Sorry, I didn’t mean to. I just came out to brush the horses.”

  “What were you doing back there?” Jake peered over her shoulder at the additional living space.

  Marie shrugged. “Just tidying up. You know me.”

  Jake nodded. “Yeah, I guess so.” Even though he didn’t believe the words. Something about her lately was nagging at the back of his mind.

  “You okay?” She asked with wide eyes. “Never get to see you anymore. I mean, not really. I see you in the halls, I guess.”

  Jake sighed. “I feel the same way, I’m sorry. I miss you too, you know things aren’t like they used to be.. but it’ll get better.” It had to.

  “Better like Mom will be back?” Marie bit her lip. “I know I shouldn’t pin so much stuff on you, but…I miss New Haven, Jake.” Her voice was a whisper. “I miss our house. I miss Happy Days and hanging out at the soda jerk. I always dreamed about what life would be like on the outside, and it kinda sucks.”

  Jake gripped her shoulder. “You blame me, don’t you? If I hadn’t run away…”

  Marie cast her eyes down. “I didn’t say that.”

  “You didn’t have to. And I am sorry. If I knew what they’d do to Mom,” Jake couldn’t finish the thought because while he would have wanted to save her, he wasn’t sure if he could have abandoned Wendy either. But, Marie didn’t need to hear that. He didn’t think it would do her any good to know the truth.

  She nodded, biting her lip. “The longer we’re here, the more I can feel you drifting away from me. I miss it just being us, in our house.”

  “One day we might have that again.”

  “How?” Marie asked sadly, the lines on her face turned in a frown, like a girl who lost her best friend or a puppy. “Not while we’re hiding. While we’re all hiding up here, even the people in town are getting suspicious.”

  “What do you mean?” Jake’s eyes narrowed.

  Marie shrugged, distracted. “Well, some asked why there were so many of us. I said we were all from the same town.”

  Good, that’s what he told her to say. Jake nodded.

  “But how long is that going to work? How long before they start asking questions we can’t answer? I’m scared, Jake.”

  She folded against him and Jake held her. He forgot sometimes how young she was and how scary this all was for her. Marie had been there when he went missing. She witnessed the New Haven police killing their mother and was rounded up for reconditioning—or brainwashing if you were honest about it. Maybe Marie would never get over it, maybe she would always be fragile, and that was on Jake’s head.

  She changed since New Haven. Like she wasn’t even the same person anymore and it was his fault.

  His and his alone.

  “I’ll think of something.”

  “Soon.” Marie said urgently. “People are starting to talk. They trust you. They’re glad you stopped them from the blood lust, but they’re getting cabin fever here. We don’t want to hide forever.”

  “You, too?” Jake asked, crestfallen.

  Marie shrugged it off like it was no big deal, but Jake wasn’t sure he could believe her. “I just don’t want to be afraid. And I’m not a bad person, am I? Just because I’m a glistening?”

  “You are not a bad person.” Jake’s words had power, conviction. He held her chin in his hand. “There is nothing bad about you, Marie.”

  “Then why do I feel so evil?” Marie whispered. “I watch the news. I see how they talk about us. Like we’re…an abomination. If they feel that way about us, why should we give them the benefit?”

  “The benefit of what?” Jake’s face twisted in a deep scowl.

  “Life.” Marie said simply.

  His chest puffed up and his heart tightened. His words came fast and sharp. “It is not ours to give or take away. Who have you been talking to? What did Victor say to you?”

  Another shrug and they were beginning to piss Jake off. It was like she discounted everything he had to say. “If we need to fight for our freedom, I just say maybe we should fight. If they hate us, if they want to lock us up forever, well isn’t it our right to fight for it?”

  She picked up a bucket of oats and headed over to the horses. Jake stared after her. He wanted to find a way to explain to her why Victor was wrong, but a voice came from right outside the stables.

  "Hey Jake!" It was Meghan, his Mom's oldest friend.

  Jake double glanced between her and his sister. “We’ll finish this conversation later? Meghan needs some help, I think.”

  Marie nodded absently. “Sure. You’re busy. I know.”

  Jake didn’t like it, but he rushed outside. Meghan was loading one of the green pickup trucks with fruit, vegetables, and homemade sausage. Back in New Haven she wore nothing but fashionable dresses and proper heels. But now she was in jeans, a corduroy jacket, and her red curls were loose around her shoulders. "Why don't you help me out with these boxes? You're coming to town, aren't ya?"

  "Coming, Meghan." Jake grinned and in a few long strides he was next to the towering group of boxes just outside the vegetab
le gardens. It was getting cooler so they were harvesting potatoes, squash, and carrots.

  "You're a good boy, Jake." Meghan said and Jake heard the unspoken words. 'Your Mom would be proud.' Whenever he was with Meghan, Jake felt it.

  She had a lot on her mind, but neither of them were ready for that conversation. It had been a year and Jake just wasn't ready. If Susan was still alive, maybe she would have the advice Jake needed to hear. What should he do? Was attacking the humans the right thing to do?

  Jake didn't think so. He thought his Mom would say no. Find another way.

  But he damn well needed to find it soon.

  Chapter Three Jenna

  Apartment Complex

  Raleigh, North Carolina

  “Momma!” The baby squealed, kicking his feet out during his diaper change. Jenna’s heart was light as she sat with him in the master bedroom. Her finger ran under his chin. When Travis smiled wide, his gums fully exposed, it made her laugh too. For a few moments she forgot about everything as she leaned forward to kiss his cheeks.

  “I love you, Travis.” Jenna whispered against his face.

  Motherhood. It was something she thought would never be in the cards for her.

  Not until Wendy died. An orphan was left behind; one that needed protecting. One that had to be hid from the NH.

  He grabbed two fistfuls of hair and his brown eyes just like his namesake lit up when they connected with Jenna. Travis loved her like she was his mom, the only one he had ever known. Jenna felt the same way. Having him healed a part of her that was broken a long time ago. Now she was scared to death of losing it all.

  But she couldn’t let it paralyze her.

  Jenna had one final mission to do before they boarded their flight for green pastures. Or, well, pastures lined with sand and palm trees. Life on the beach had been a joke, a dream since she was old enough to talk. And now it was about to become a reality.

  After one more job. A babysitting job. It should be easy.

  Jenna hoped.

  She slid Travis’s pants back up and gave him a kiss, hoisting him up onto her shoulder. “Gonna miss you while I’m gone.” Jenna sadly smiled. “Now, don’t grow on me while I’m away. I’ll be back before you know it.”

  Travis laughed as he rubbed his face into her shoulder. He was tired. Almost nap time. She laid him down in his crib and handed him his stuffed bunny. Without it, he’d go manic, but when he had it, was the happiest, securest boy in the world. Jenna just hoped she could keep him that way.

  “Night sweet boy. Momma will see you soon.” Her eyes filled with tears and she didn’t know when she became such a sap. Part of her hated it, but she wouldn’t have changed it for the world. Didn’t think she could even if she tried.

  She turned off the light and slid into the bathroom. Jenna sat down on the toilet and picked up the piece of plastic that was overturned on the white bathtub. It still read the same thing that it had before.

  Two pink lines.

  Still pregnant.

  Regret, guilt, and fear washed over her and Jenna squeezed her eyes shut. Being a newlywed meant this was a possibility, but she thought she was being careful. Jenna was half glistening and the last time she ended up pregnant, she nearly died. Now with a husband and a son, how could she risk it?

  But how could she not?

  Could she just abort? Just a few cells, right?

  The NH kept track of everyone’s health records and had to approve procedures, but if she could convince them it was a danger to her life, Jenna might be granted her request. She was one of their officers so that had to count for something.

  Jenna let out a shaky breath and was grateful morning sickness hadn’t started yet, but it was only a matter of time. She swallowed back her fear and when she heard Dirk walking outside the walls, she tossed the pregnancy test inside the wastebasket and buried it under a mound of toilet paper.

  She walked down the hall to the living room where Dirk had the bullet proof vest and equipment laid out in assembly line fashion. He was already in his dark t-shirt and police protection gear. His muscular arms bulging from beneath his sleeves.

  “Baby boy sleeping?” Dirk turned to her, a mischievous grin on his face and his blue eyes twinkled.

  “Jenna found she could barely look into them without feeling like she was betraying him. “Just about. When do you think we’ll stop calling him our baby?”

  “Maybe when he’s twenty-two? Three?” Dirk’s warm hands ran down her back before they settled on her waist and edged her closer. He kissed her neck, his lips lingering on her flesh.

  Her eyes closed and she gave a soft moan. This was how she ended up in this mess to begin with. “My mom should be here soon, I hope.”

  “If kisses make you think of your mom, I am clearly doing something wrong.”

  Jenna laughed through her nerves. “Sorry, just anxious.”

  Dirk nodded. “Let’s hope we can get this show on the road soon then. She likes to make grand entrances. I guess we know where you get it from.” Dirk laughed and then his face turned serious. “What’s the matter? You look like someone ran over your dog.”

  Jenna shrugged, but felt the nerves bubbling up. “Just tense. Worried about today.”

  “We’ll be fine. We’ve done more dangerous things than this. It’ll be a piece of cake.” Dirk grinned and kissed Jenna’s cheek. “You’ll see. Now suit up.” Dirk pointed a finger at her and headed for the bedroom; no doubt to kiss the baby good-bye.

  She let out a long sigh and pulled on her bullet proof vest. It zipped up easily but was a little snugger around the abdomen than it had been just a few weeks ago. Damn it, Jenna thought to herself. What if having this baby meant her dream of moving to Hawaii was off? That would mean she’d end up having to stay close to her mother and all the other crazy crusaders. They were the only ones that could help her if the pregnancy went bad.

  Or, Jenna thought, she could get rid of it. Pretend it never happened.

  And never tell Dirk. Because if he knew, there was no way he’d be okay with aborting his kid. Even though she was part glistening, Dirk never gave up on her. And he would never give up on their baby either, but Jenna couldn’t risk dying on her son. He needed her.

  First the mission, Jenna thought. Once this mission is over, I’ll deal with the problem.

  And just thinking that, pelted her heart with pain, grief. God, she was such a bitch, even to a bunch of cells that barely had taken shape.

  On the flat panel screen above the fire place Jenna saw DC. Standing in front of a microphone was her old pal Rebecca Seers, but now instead of just being a pain in the ass, she was a senator. How she ever got elected was something Jenna couldn’t wrap her mind around.

  Scowling, she turned the volume up.

  “New Haven is an antique the country no longer needs. They control our taxes, they regulate our health care, our food supplies. It’s an outdated system as a response to a war that we’ve already won. I was elected because people want it gone. They are tired of handing all their money over to the government and still not being able to buy enough food or get the medicine their children need.”

  So that was how.

  Empty promises, Jenna sneered and turned off the television, throwing the remote down onto the sofa. It would never happen. New Haven would never allow it.

  When the doorbell rang, Jenna raced to pull open the apartment door. There was the weathered, but beautiful face of Jane Moran, framed by long red curls not dissimilar to Jenna’s own. Jenna had expected to see her mother, but hadn’t expected her own eyes to fill with tears.

  Jane huffed out a quick breath. “I’m not that late, am I?”

  Jenna wiped at her eyes and shook her head. “No. Just…big day.”

  Her mother followed her inside. “Uh-huh. Last mission. My girl is finally retiring.” Her words were innocent enough, but Jenna felt Jane’s eyes undressing her. Jane was nothing if not suspicious.

  “Back in forty-eight hours.” Jenna
forced a smile. “Take him out if you want, just make sure he’s buckled in the car seat tight. Oh and bring a blanket. It’s been kind of chilly lately.”

  Jane put her hand on Jenna’s shoulder. “I’ve done this before. You don’t need to worry.”

  Taking a shaking breath, Jenna nodded. “Just nervous.” She picked her gun off the coffee table and secured it at her hip. “Sorry.” She said curtly as she slipped on her leather jacket. Probably should have worn her New Haven police jacket, but she felt funny about it.

  It felt wrong. Never felt more wrong than it did after she adopted Travis.

  When she turned, Jane’s eyes were studying her. Her lips were drawn down and there was something Jane didn’t like. Jenna wasn’t about to ask.

  “And how’s he been? Fine? No…complications?” Jane couldn’t keep the suspicion out of her voice, or maybe she didn’t even try.

  “He’s fine. Normal.”

  Jane sighed. “I didn’t mean to suggest he wasn’t normal. I just…wanted to hear how my grandson is doing.”

  “Just take care of him.” Jenna caught her breath as the bedroom door opened and Dirk came out. “Let’s move out.”

  Something flickered in Dirk’s eyes but he didn’t say anything. He offered Jane a warm smile. “Thanks, Ma.” He winked an eye at her. “We appreciate you watching the boy.”

  Jenna rolled her eyes and tugged on his arm. “C’mon, we need to move out.”

  Jane stepped forward, her wrists clasped in front of her. “I’ll protect him, if I need to.”

  Her words paused Jenna’s steps. She wanted to say it wouldn’t be necessary. Wanted to say everything would be fine.

  But instead Jenna just nodded.

  ****

  “Not sure why I thought this was a good idea.” Jenna said to no one particular as she stood outside the caravan about to embark on a two hundred mile journey to New Haven 57, nestled in a deep valley in Kentucky.

  The hills and mountains that surrounded it made the position highly defensible against glistening attack. The bubble was fortified behind steel walls, almost like a fortress and the Outpost was so deep underground, a nuclear explosion wouldn’t be able to decimate it.