Touchable

A virus long ago escaped, infecting the whole human race, giving them an inability to have contact. Only once in their life may they have contact with the Non-Contacters without dieing, but that one time is wasted when they are born. How does the human race reproduce? Simple. Some are born immune to the virus. They are born with the Mark, showing the world that they are Touchable. And everyone, even the Non-Contacters, can touch the Touchables.

The Touchables, to keep the human race alive, are instantly imprisonned. They spent their whole life in an institute, until they are sixteen. They are given and sold to whoever the Goverment chooses. Scientists and geniuses in the most part, trying to create smarter and smarter children. But, they are also sold in secret. Sold for pleasure to rich Non-Contacters seeking sexual companions in the black market. Abused constantly, and forced to bear children. Unable to choose who they want to love, unable to fight back.

But the scientists are working on a cure, to make everyone Touchable again. Rumor is that they already found the cure, but the Goverment refuses to share it to keep the Touchable market going. Other rumors say that the cure makes you Touchable, but venomous. Able to reproduce, but killing your partner. Making them wither and die. A way to keep the growth of the population in the Goverment's hands, a way to kill their enemies. Pretending to send a Touchable, while instead sending a Venomous.

But those are just rumors.

Right?

~~~~

My life story? Simple.

I was born.

I was raised.

I will die.

When will I die? Well, that's undertermined, but I had a feeling it would be soon.

No, not because I'm old, I'm only sixteen. And not because I'm sick, I'm one of the few who aren't sick. And it won't be because of suicide or undereating, because they watch us too well for that. I will die because I'm Touchable. And when I leave this institute, this gray walled institue with cells for rooms and guards for nurses, I will probably die. I have spent my whole life in this institute, since the day they found I was Touchable. That was the day I was born. Born with the Mark; the Mark of a Touchable. I was instantly shipped off to the institude when they found that out.

I was raised here, but I will not die here. I will die when I leave.

I know, I'm repeating myself, but it's true. Once sixteen, my Life Clock will speed up. All because of the damned fact that I am Touchable. And, being Touchable, I will be raped. Multiple times. Raped by my husband, who I have yet to meet, raped by his friends, and raped by whoever he sells me too.

Rape shall be my death.

It's the same for all us Touchables, we are raised in flocks and die young to satisfy the needs of the Non-Contacts. We all die by the hand of rape. Of course, it's illegal for anyone but my husband to lay a hand on me, but, as long as he's paid, the Goverment turns a blind eye to it.

They don't care. They never did. They just want their money.

The door opens, and I'm told by a programmed voice to enter. Time to meet my assigned husband.

Time to meet my assigned killer.