Imagine: A Writing Contest {Closed}

《 Perfect 》

A Short Story Written by hpandpjofan20

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I started to walk home, coming home from school. Today was my last day there and now I'd be assigned a job and a person to marry. My only instructions were to go home and wait for my assignments. To me, this seemed fucked up, but I'm not going to waste my energy on this. 

I got to my house and swung the door open. "I'm home," I said and my dog came bounding down the stairs to greet me. I have no clue where my parents are, but they usually work late, so its fine. I decided to read a book while waiting to here about my job and future spouse. 

*** 

Finally, an envelope and a small package appeared on my bed. There was no return address, but I knew exactly what it was. My assignment from the Provisional. I traced my name on the envelope with my finger. "Elizabeth Patton," I whispered aloud before opening it. "Job Assignment: doctor," it said. I groaned in disgust. I hate blood and vomit and anything like that. I continued reading on. "Love Match: Warren Reid," Of course, they don't even have the decency to pair me up with a girl. It has to be a guy. 

Then, I opened the package. There was a small vial of a pastel green liquid with a label that read, "Drink Me." I picked up the bottle, examining it, but there didn't seem to be anything wrong with it, so I drank it. I know, I know, stupid decision. But its too late now. I started feeling fuzzy and lightheaded, before suddenly having the urge to go see Warren. 

"Fight it," a tiny voice whispered in my mind. I started walking out of my house, like something was controlling me. The logical part of my mind, which must've been the voice whispering kept insisting I fight it, so I did. Something was off, and I bet my life it had to do with that serum from the Provisional. 

All of the sudden, I saw people walking out of their houses. They all stared, blank-faced, walking with a purpose. Something was definitely off. But I saw someone, looking just as confused as I was. Helena.

I would never talk to her unless I had no other option and right now, she seems like the only chance I have. Everyone else looks like zombies. I ran up to her, almost getting knocked over more times than I could count. 

"Helena," I whispered, "Something is wrong." 

"No shit, Sherlock," she replied. 

"Not the time to be sarcastic, Kane!" I exclaimed. 

"Oh so you're being serious now, are you, Patton," she said, snarkily. 

"Just shut up and help me figure out what's wrong with these people! I had some sort of serum in my package. Did you?" I asked. 

"Yes, I had one, but I didn't drink it. I don't trust the Provisional at all. And I sure as hell don't trust anything they give me." I said no response to that, since I drank the serum. 

Helena sighed. "Let me guess, you drank the serum," she said exasperatedly. 

I said nothing and she took my silence as a yes. It didn't really matter either way though. All I cared about was figuring out what was going on.

*** 

Helena and I ended up back at my house, trying to figure out what was happening. "Well, it had to have something to do with the serum. After I drank it, I felt some strange urge to get up and go to Warren's house. He was my match." At the mention of my match, Helena's jaw clenched. What's that all about? That's a mystery for another time, though. 

"I think it was the Provisional. Think about it, Patton. They sent out the serums to us. Yeah, sure, someone could've tampered with them, but they had no reason to. And the government is obsessed with having everything 'perfect'. This is exactly something they'd do, to make sure everything went the way they wanted." I have to admit, she is smart. Annoyingly smart. And pretty. Annoyingly pretty. Yeah I'm just going to ignore that thought.