Page 7 of All Your Days
It always hits different when it’s someone you know that gets sent down. And it’s even worse when they’re young like Kelly is. His life was just starting, and now it’s over.
“You can’t do that, what about—”
Whatever Felix was about to suggest is lost when we’re interrupted by another one of my customers, one hunting forsomething a little less sweet and heartwarming than what Felix was after.
It’s not exactly a specialty, but there came a point when I realised that people will trade well for dirty drawings, and it’s kept me solidly in business ever since.
By the time I’ve finished my food, the stack of papers is pretty much gone, and I’ve got a list of new requests. I’ve even scored myself a date to the fire pit night on the weekend. Fire pit nights are held once a month just outside the walls. It’s where the residents get together to socialise and unwind together. And this time, I’m going with Daniel. The guard seemed especially excited that I agreed to go with him.
“That’s goin’ to end terribly.” Jessica says, after Daniel leaves and I hand over my last drawing—a headless portrait of a naked woman playing with her nipples with her legs splayed wide, traded for a small jar of honey.
“Probably, but I’m not goin’ to borrow trouble. Plus, he’s cute.”
Jessica snorts and continues to push her food around on her tray. We’ve never exactly seen eye to eye on what ‘cute’ is in a guy.
“What’s goin’ on with you anyway?” I ask, pointing my fork in the direction of the mess she’s made of her meal.
Now the art’s gone, no one is paying attention to us anymore. Well, one person is. But I’m well practiced in ignoring him.
Jessica shoves her tray away, and without the food in front of her she looks immediately happier. She leans forward, nodding for me to come closer, too.
We meet in the middle of the table, our foreheads pressed together.
“I’m pretty sure I’m pregnant.” Her whisper is so low, I almost don’t hear it.
I’m less subtle than her, and she whacks my hand when my gasp is loud enough to attract some attention.
I knew they were trying for a baby—and considering they are both immune, their baby will be an ever greater blessing. Immune mothers-to-be are given the best care out of all the residents here. Even immune grunts are removed from duties and housed in the special pregnancy residential units to receive round-the-clock care.
“That’s incredible! I can’t believe—”
Jessica’s hand slaps over my mouth.
“I know! But just keep it on the quiet. I need to tell Matty. I’m going to tell him tonight, and then tomorrow we’ll see the docs.”
“My lips are sealed.” I promise when she removes her hand.
The bell rings again, indicating the start of the next shift.
“Well, that’s our sign. Better get to it. Might be my last day, after all.” Jessica laughs again as she stands, wiggling in a dancing sort of motion as she tidies her still full tray.
“Maybe I should find a nice guy to get me pregnant, too.” I sigh dreamily, carrying both our trays to the trolleys for clean up. “I’d be a medical marvel. Then we could spend the next few months lazing around together in the maternity suites while the grunts take care of our every need.”
The ridiculous fantasy has us both falling together in peals of laughter. It’s almost enough to make me forget about the dark, almost black eyes burning a hole in my shoulder. It’s not nearly enough, though, to not notice how those dark eyes are almost identical to the ones of the sweet baby in my daydream.
Chapter two
Jacob
I’ve never understood thesocial order of The Facility. I can kind of understand that non-residents—the scientists, the armymen occasionally stationed here, the commander—are separate from the residents. But the distinction between the grunts, the guards, and the craftsmen has always confused me.
After all, we all end up down here when the infection in our blood takes over.
And really, how are the guards taking care of the infected in these lower subbasements any different to the grunts taking care of the camels out in the yard? Both are violent and prone to spitting.
Ah fuck. That’s too far. I scrub my hand over my face, trying to scrub away the shitty thoughts. The infected here on this level haven’t crossed over into the full zombified state of infection, and even if they had, it’s not right to think of these very real people as animals. I’m just being an ass because I’m in a mood.
Being down here never helps, but really, I’ve been foul ever since breakfast. Ever since fucking Daniel came back to the tablelike the slimy fucker he is, crowing about going to the fire pit with Eli on the weekend.
