Year 2934

Chatper 6

Lucas's POV

He was attractive.

No, saying he was attractive doesn't describe Lloyd Carter enough. He is beyond attractive. He is perfect in every single way.

I packed my things; he remained quiet. My hair was thrown into a tight ponytail. My eyes scanned the room in a frenzy, searching for anything important I could have forgotten. Finally, I returned my gaze to Lloyd and offered him what I hoped was a smile. However, I wasn't very comforted. "My brother used to dream up theories of my father. He wanted to believe that I had had a father at one point too. We were only half siblings you know," I said with a sad smile. I am sure my eyes were bloodshot from crying. He pulled me into a hug, and even though I was hesitant at first, I returned the hug. "I miss them, Lloyd. I really do," I whispered. My voice betrayed me and cracked.

Before long, we had my things packed, and we were headed for the train. The ride was endless, but Lloyd broke the tension by cracking jokes. I love how how he can make my eyes light up when he says something that is particularly funny. I opened up to him, told him things I never believed I would. And then we arrived. My house was covered in caution tape. Yet, I disregarded it all and cut off towards the house, and Lloyd followed along behind at a normal walk. That was, until I screamed. He cut out on a run and skidded into the house. A girl stood in front of us. She looked a lot like me actually, but she had dark brown hair instead of red. Beside her, stood a doe-eyed looking boy who had his hand clamped in hers.

"I have some explaining to do."

--
"My name is Briar. Briar Winters," the girl began. Her long lashes batted as she blinked to hide her fear. "The government has been feeding you lies." She dropped her gaze to the ground. "Some things are a risk to say, but I will tell you this, neither of you are twins to anyone. Twins are accepted as well as appreciated. No, you two are an experiment. Two of thirty-four others. The government told you you would help technology rise to its fullest. And you will, but not as you think."

I cut in before Lloyd could get a word out. "One of thirty-four? What does that even mean?"

Briar stared down at the floor. "You two are clones of two different people. Lucas Winters, you are my clone. Lloyd Carter, you are Hayden Carter's clone," she began, letting out a long sigh. "Every year, the government takes one of the thirty-four. Normally, it is at a young age to prevent any chance of one remembering you. The parents start to raise the clone, and then they are given the true child. The parents are injected with a serum to forget ever taking care of the clone," she explained. "Lucas here was an accident. She was exceptional at school, and she was the foundation of the household. She held everyone up. The government procrastinated too long in taking her. It was so long that I had been found out about by my...our mother. Even though the government changes something about a clone to make them distinct or different, it isn't hard to find someone who looks so similar to someone else. This explains why Lucas here has auburn hair while I have brown. It was an intentional difference to decrease any risks."

I stared, gaping, at Briar. It was almost insane. Implausible. But it made sense. Why would I and Lloyd be the ones to go? Why wasn't it Briar? I wasn't satisfied.

"Why was Weston taken? Do you know? How do you know all of this?" The questions were rambling off of my tongue. I was basically bouncing in my seat.

Briar sighed, clasping her hands in front of her. "Weston works for the government now. He scored well on one of his last tests, and they wanted to snatch him while they could. They want to train him, teach him, to clone." I stiffen beside Lloyd, and he seems to notice. "I know, because I, too, work for the government. But I am much more than that, I promise you," she told us.

"Where is my mom? Why do you have my brother?" I fired off. For the first time that night, I stole a glance to my brother. He had glasses drooping down on his nose. His clothes were too baggy. "Why was I told they were dead?"

Reluctant to continue, Briar stood. "My mom is dead. So is my brother," she said truthfully. Her eyes dropped down to the small boy. "This is Nathan. He is Arnold's clone."

I squinted, then. I was trying to find a difference between this boy and the one I knew. "Arnold had brown eyes. His are hazel," I whispered in disbelief. I shot up then and grabbed the collar of Briar's shirt. "Where is my brother?" There was a fire in my eye that I have never had before.

"I told you. He is dead," Briar replied, trying not to flinch. "Nathan and I grew up with the government. He filled in for your...my brother for merely a week."

I was barely listening. I was boiling in anger by that point. "Why? Why do I exist?" she asked, clenching her fists. "Tell me!"

Seeming not too effected by my attitude, Briar folded her arms. She muttered, "It was an experiment. The government wanted to know how far technology could go. We also wanted to know if better, smarter humans could be made. Each of the thirty-four exhibit signs of enhancement. Lucas, you are smart beyond capabilities. Lloyd, you are strong, fast. Both of you are stronger, better than your counterparts."

It was a lot for me to take in. "Tell me one more thing...do you like pink?"

--
"She is the complete opposite of me!" I screamed the moment we stepped out of the house. We were staying at a hotel down the road that the government provided for us. "I don't like her. They let them kill Arnold." I was at my breaking point. Lloyd placed his hands on my shoulders.

"Lucas, it will be okay. We will figure this out," he said as soothingly as he could. He rubbed my arms, attempting to calm me down. It worked, to an extent.

My eyes were watering. "Lloyd, I miss them," I whispered. My voice trembled; I never normally showed signs of vulnerability. He pulled me into his arms and engulfed me in an embrace. When we make it to the hotel, we part ways, and he promises to help with the funeral planning the following morning. Then, we were meeting Briar and Arnold again for more information.

I curled up in bed that night and let the tears flow. That night was the first time in a long time that I cried myself to sleep.