My barcode still feels a slight stab of pain, but no where near as much as earlier. I slowly regain my feet and peer back at the Smart Laptop. The red screen is no where to be seen and the keyboard is retracted in the box. What just happened here? I walk over to my door and make my way to Tom’s room. Knocking on the door I get the usual response.
“What do you want?”
“Tom.”
“Yeah?”
“Did you feel that.”
“What? I can’t hear you.”
“Tom, just let me in!” I say with exhaustion.
It takes him a few minutes but he eventually unlocks the door and lets me in.
“Yes?”
“Did you feel that?” I ask again, I haven’t yet taken a look at my barcode, I’m afraid of what I might see.
“Uh, are you high or something because you don’t look to good.”
“No, Tom, ugh. Just listen. I just had the worst pains in my barcode.”
“And I care because…”
“Tom! I was worried that you felt it too and it was something that I never want you to feel. Ever.”
“So you’re asking me if I felt something that gives you pain because you were worried about me. Are you sure you’re sober now?”
“Yes, Tom. Just show me your barcode.” I grab his wrist and examine it – just the normal grey and set in the skin. I reluctantly put my wrist next to his. The sight is just as horrible as I thought. My barcode is black and raised. Small purple veins have appeared around it and one deep red that is smaller, but stands out more from my skin than the others.
“I think you should get that looked at.” Tom says flatly.
“Tom! How can you be so calm! What just happened to me?! I’m there trialling the new laptop and a red screen appeared with code on it. It had code. Then a lightning strike comes and I get this horrible pain in my wrist and I scream out to everyone, but no one comes. My barcode was red and a drop of blood came from it. It bled. Now look what has happened to it and I have been lying on my bathroom floor for hours in pain calling for help and you didn’t hear me?”
“Nope.”
“Tom! You need to take this seriously. Something is going on.”
“Yeah, I know, just please get out of my room.” I look down at his face, it seems to have grown older, and it scares me. What is happening? I need to find out what is going on. I decide to leave Tom in peace and to go to the kitchen to ask Andre.
I reach the kitchen and Andre is in his usual spot in the kitchen between meals. Quietly seated in the corner and reading the newest edition of ‘The Cook’ magazine. Slightly fogged up glasses sit on the end of his nose and he pushes them up as he notices I am here.
“Why Miss Parkson, you were missed at lunch.”
“Oh, sorry Andre.” I turn my barcode towards me so he can’t spot the horror.
“Are you okay?”
“Yeah, just tired.” Andre seems normal, and I can see that his barcode is still the grey, slightly wrinkly thing it always has been.
“You don’t look too well, you should go and get some rest.” Andre ushers me out of the kitchen. “And remember, bare feet and kitchen do not mix.”
YOU ARE READING
Blood Roses
Science Fiction"Tell me how I'm supposed to live with no air." Set in the not too distant future, Luna, the mayor's daughter is living life normally and exploring the new technology. Luna has always had high expectations, but what if she had to change? Once the go...
