Them

Chapter 1

When morning came I went outside and went to the school. Well what used to be a school now it’s just where we go each morning so their helpers can examine us.

Within a month of are twentieth birthday they remove them from society no one knows where they go or if their even alive.

When I got to the school there were a lot of people waiting outside. I got into line with the others and waited my turn so I could go meet Derek. And maybe do something productive with my last year.

When it came to be my turn I went into the old classroom that had been separated into sections by curtains. Then I went in I sat down on the bed and waited for the normal doctor questions. But before I could leave I would have to give them a blood sample. It happens every morning like their waiting for something to show up in it. The doctor came in and he was young. He was tall, had short dark curly hair and green eyes. He had my chart in his hand and smiled at me.

“Hello I’m Dr. Gene Eget; I’m going to be your doctor for now on.”

“Since when did they start assigning doctors to people? Every time I have come in here since I was nine I have always had different doctors.”

“Well someone brought up that maybe for teens there should be a doctor assigned to them so they can get comfortable so that they can ask us questions.”

“Ok, well I have a question.”

“I have an answer.” He said to me smiling.

“Why do they care if they’re just going to kill us and I’m almost twenty I’m barely even a teenager any more, why would they bother?” I said in a clear strong voice.

“Just because you’re almost twenty doesn’t mean you don’t have questions; I don’t understand the first part.”

“I mean, if they’re just going to kill us why should the care if we’re comfortable asking questions.”

“Whoever said their going to kill you?” he asked looking puzzled.

“When I was nine they killed my parents and anyone who’s a month away from turning twenty gets removed; sounds to me like they kill all adults. Unless you agree to be one of their helpers to keep us in line,”

“You think just because they disappear their dead?”

“Well, yes I do.” He tore a piece of paper off and wrote something down on it then handed it to me.

“Meet me here at eight o’clock tonight.” I put the piece of paper in my pocket without reading it then looked back at Dr. Eget. “Ok I’m going to have to take a blood sample now.”

“I know I’ve been doing this since I was nine remember.” He grabbed the needle and drew some of my blood. “Can I go now I have someone to meet?”

“Yes but don’t forget to meet me.”

“Why?”

“I think I have some questions for you.” When I left to meet Derek it was almost ten. He was going to kill me if I was late again. I got to the old playground and found him sitting on a swing waiting for me. His feet didn’t even touch the ground yet, he wasn’t tall enough he was only about four maybe five. When he saw me he jumped off the swing and ran to me, he gave me a hug around my legs.

“You’re late.” He told me.

“I know my check in went long, how was yours?”

“Normal, them taking my blood still hurts.”

“I know, you get used to it though.” I told him and we sat on the swings. “Is the orphanage getting any better?”

“No, I wish I could come live with you.”

“I know, but that’s not how it works.” At twelve Derek and I went to the mess hall to eat. We got in line and they were serving spaghetti with meatballs and breadsticks. After we got our food we went to go find a table. There was only one table with room left and Dr. Gene Eget was sitting at it. “Let’s go sit outside and eat.” I told him.

“There’s room there and he looks nice.” But before I could say anything Derek was already walking over to him. I caught up to Derek right before he reached the table.

“Can we sit here?” Derek asked him.

“Sure, no problem.” We sat down as he said. “It’s nice to see you again Rose.” Dr. Eget told me, which caught Derek’s attention.

“You know him?” Derek asked.

“Yeah, this is Dr. Eget he’s going to check me in for now on.” I told Derek.

“You’re a doctor!” He said surprised.

“Yes, but there’s no need to over react; your sister?” he asked.

“I’m not his sister I’m his friend.”

“My bad; your friend already interrogated me this morning.” After that the rest of lunch was quiet, well quiet at are table. After lunch Derek and I parted ways, he had class and I, well I had nothing to do until eight. I wandered around until the clock tower rang saying it was eight. Then I pulled out the piece of paper from my pocket and it had my house number and street on it (I’m guessing he got it from my file). When I got home the other teens that I shared the house with were in the main room playing some card game. One of the girls looked up when I walked in.

“Rose, there’s a guy waiting for you in your room.” Sam said. Then as I went back to my room they started talking. I walked through my door and found Dr. Eget sitting on my bed.

“Well.” I said.

“Well what?”

“What do you have to ask me?”

“Why do you think just because they disappear their dead?”

“Because it’s the only rational choice they are taken away before their twenty, right before they become adults and never come back.” I told him. “Why do you want to know?”

“Because I’m twenty-one.”

“How old are the other helpers?”

“The what?”

“That’s what Derek and I call doctors because they help Them.”

“Okay, well their all around thirty.”

“That’s weird, were you ever taken away.”

“No.”

“How are you a doctor if you weren’t taken away?” I sat down next to him. “Why wouldn’t they have taken you away?”

“I don’t know, that’s why I came here, you seem to have everything figured out.”