It's the year 2038 and a deadly virus has consumed the world for more than 14 years.
In Denmark, an unknown politician took it upon himself to create a safe space from the infected. As long as you abide by the 8 Obligations, you are allowed to live...
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
Today, I miss alcohol.
What I wouldn't give for something strong just to take the edge off. I lean back in my chair, close my eyes and rub my temples. A splitting headache is approaching fast. As if I don't have enough to deal with from the rebuilding of the hostel, now there is an unwanted pregnancy that I must deal with too. pregnancies always divide my people. Every abortion creates division in opinions. Our small community suffers for weeks afterwards. And we don't have the strength for it right now. This time I fear it will tear us completely apart. That someone will leave.
And as if that isn't enough, then there is the constant threat of Anthroes or Protectors finding us.
I'm at a loss. I don't know what to do anymore. It doesn't seem fair that I'm the one to make these decisions. There are others in this community who are older and far more capable than me... but no one wants this job. No one wants the responsibility of keeping others alive.
And this time, it involves making decisions that will affect the people closest to me. The only people I truly love...
But I must think about the greater good. I can't make decisions based on my personal feelings. My main concern must be the people under my care. All the people and not just the ones closest to me. So, I must make a sacrifice. Even if it kills me inside.
God, I miss whiskey!
I can't do this on my own. I need help. Someone to talk to. Someone who will listen. Usually that would be Simon. But not this time. Alec isn't an option either. Not now. Not with the choice I'm left with...
Clary... Clary might be the only one I can talk to about this. And even though it's almost midnight, I decide to go see her. But I must be quiet. The hunters still don't trust her completely. Being a Privi and all that. So, if they knew that their leader was seeing her... dating her... sleeping with her... there would be an uprising.
I sneak out of my office and through the empty hallways. Most of the people are staying in the dining hall. They feel stronger together. Strength in numbers, I suppose. Even though the truth is that if we get attacked again, no one will survive. We are low on food, weapons, hunters... and everyone is exhausted too, so we are even low on energy.
Outside Clary's room I discreetly tap the door. I can hear her moving around in there and when she opens the door, I instantly feel calmer.
"Jace...?" she peeks out the door and look down the hallway, "what are you doing here? Someone might see you."
"I'm sorry. I just..." I run a hand through my hair as I try to find the words. I don't know how to explain this. Its not fair of me to be dragging her into it. This terrible decision I need to make.
"Don't just stand there." She grabs my hand. "Come on in." I let her pull me inside. "You look terrible. Is everything all right? Does it have something to do with what I walked in on earlier?"
Of course she knows... sometimes I think she might know me better than I know myself...
"Yeah... that and a lot more shit too..."
"Well, then tell me about it. Maybe I can help you." She sits down on the couch and drags me along with her.
"I needed to talk to someone smart and empathic... I'm drowning in problems. And decisions I don't want to make..."
"So, naturally you wanted to talk to Simon and Alec, but since you came here, I guess the problems have something to do with them...?"
She is bright. No doubt about it.
"Yes..." I drag out the word. She has every right to get angry with me now. Being here as a third choice and not the first...
"It's okay." She grins at me. "I know they are your strongest allies. I'm not offended that they were your first choice. I just envy the friendship you have with them... but back to your problem. It's the pregnancy, right? The one Simon might have caused?"
"You know?"
"Yes. He told me. After he stormed out of your office."
"You followed him?" I'm surprised. I didn't know they were friends.
"Yes of course. I could tell you really wanted to go with him, but your responsibilities lay elsewhere, so I did it for you."
I'm speechless. She did it for me. I lean in and kiss her.
"Thank you..." I mumble against her lips. I don't deserve her. She is better than me. She deserves better...
"You're welcome..." she kisses me once more. "But we can't get carried away, Jace... you have decisions to make."
"Right..." with great effort I pull myself away from her lips. "The pregnancy is one of my problems. Simon doesn't want her to remove it. I know he think it's wrong. As do you..." I glance at her, and she nods but doesn't say anything. "I have to respect her decision. Especially with what she went through last time."
"Last time?" Clary crooks her head to the side. "Last time what?"
"Last time she gave birth." Clary's eyes widens and I know I need to tell her the whole story. "We were only teenagers. We lived in a subway station. I wasn't the leader back then. Kaelie was about 17 or so, and she gave birth to a baby girl. The father's name was Meliorn. You know him, he is one of our hunters now. They were so happy together, even though they were very young. And the child was beautiful. And very easy. She rarely cried. Always smiled or laughed. Everyone helped with taking care of the baby, so Kaelie and Meliorn could rest. But one day the Anthroes attacked. A woman was rocking the child in her arms, getting her to fall asleep when suddenly the Anthroes burst through the doors. I remember seeing it all in slow-motion. I was far away from the door, along with Kaelie and Meliorn, but the woman with the baby wasn't. I will never forget Kaelie's screams as Meliorn held her back while the Anthroes devoured their child. Needless to say, their relationship ended that day. Even though Meliorn saved her life, she has never forgiven him for not letting her go."
Clary's face is stained with teardrops as she is covering her mouth with the palm of her hand. I take her other hand and kiss it. Trying to comfort her.
"She can't go through that again, and I understand her. I know I have to help her, even though Simon will hate me for it."
With tears streaming down her cheeks, Clary nods. I know she understands, even though she doesn't approve.
We sit silently for a while until she regains her strength. Then she looks at me.
"It doesn't seem like you needed help with that decision?"
"No..." I admit. "I just don't want to do it." I sigh. "The decision I need help with is much worse. I know Simon will forgive me eventually for the abortion. But this... this choice I must make now... Alec will never forgive me."
"Tell me about it."
"It's the constant danger this hostel is in. It isn't just the Anthroes. No, we redirected their attention towards another part of the island. But now with the protectors gaining in on us... it draws the Anthroes attentiveness back to us. And we won't survive another attack. From neither of them. And there is only one way to lead their attention in a different direction."
