Soulless: The Immortal Gene

CHAPTER TWO:

The following morning, we sat in strained silence around the breakfast table. Roman leaned forward on his elbows as Lisa stood behind in the kitchen, packing some food into a lunch box. The only person who didn't seemed tense was Annie as she slurped down last night's stew. She even dribbled some down her chin and onto her dress.

"So, Annie, is there anything you want to talk about?" Roman cleared his throat. Annie glanced upwards confused, "Perhaps about your dream?"

"Not really." She quickly turned back and continued eating.

Roman looked up at me knowing I was looking at him and frowned. I couldn't eat knowing today we were going back to the technician. As a child, I hated every visit. I'd rather have my teeth pulled than have them poking around in my head.

"Maybe it really was just a dream?" I suggested.

"No nightmare can make a six-year-old scream like that," Lisa said from the counter. She ran her fingers quickly through her straw, dry blonde hair. "Roman, the appointment is at nine. Can you please get ready?" Roman didn't move his eyes away from Annie, almost like he wanted to catch her doing or saying something strange. Lisa then addressed me, "Nadia, don't forgot your appointment today, too, with Doctor Phillips."

"That's not until much later," I dismissed quickly. "I want to go to the technician too with Annie."

"That's not necessary."

"But I want to," I insisted.

"It's okay." Roman pushed back his chair. "Nadia should come with us. She can keep Annie controlled." A knock came from the front door as Lisa stepped into the hall to answer it.

At the entrance, a patrol officer stepped over the threshold. He had his helmet's visor down and was scrolling through his notes on his electronic clipboard.

"I'm here for Annie Richards, female, age six?" he asked without looking up.

I jumped up from my chair angered. "You called the patrol?"

"It's just in case. Better safe than sorry," Roman defended as he stood. "Annie. Go to the officer now."

From her seat next to mine, Annie cautiously wiggled out of her chair and approached the front door. She hesitated, which must have annoyed Lisa as she impatiently yanked Annie forward by the shoulder.

"Stop dawdling," she scolded. Annie tensed up. The visor on the officer's helmet churned and I could faintly hear the hidden camera taking photos of Annie's upturned gaze.

He then stepped into the house and held his small phone to Annie's face. The see-through screen flashed red as he positioned it against her eyes. Annie did her best not to blink but the neon glare made it difficult.

"Look into the light," the officer commanded before the phone beeped and the red glow disappeared. The clipboard in his hand hummed before he took a step back. At the data on his screen, he seemed to sigh irritated. "Another inconclusive read, Richards. Report to sector five for further processing."

Roman called from the back of the hall, "We're already booked for the technician. We're about to leave."

"Be sure you report straight there."

Lisa walked off as Roman headed upstairs to get ready. Annie turned around a little lost as I walked up and took her by the shoulder. I spun her to face me, ensuring I avoided eye contact with the officer and his motoring helmet.

We shrugged into our large jackets and kicked into our thick leaded boots. Around our necks, we kept our gas masks just in case we walked across an open vent spewing chemical gas. There was always some sort of terrorist attack happening out in the capital. Just last month, the terrorist group known as the Mad Dogs had set off a chemical bomb in the sewer. The attack took out one-hundred-and-forty-five people in just six hours, erupting up through the drains and clouding the streets in poison. I pulled my shotgun out from under my bed as I snapped the neck back and checked the ammo. After I armed myself, I slipped into my backpack before securing a bandana over my nose and mouth. Annie grabbed onto my sleeve as I approached her at the front door.