Yesterday and Tomorrow

Chapter One

Year 3012

"Melanie, we need to have a talk," Melanie's mother poked her head around the door of her room. Melanie was sitting on her bed, doodling and listening to music. At the sound of her mother's voice, Melanie looked up. Mrs. Young's sharp green eyes locked with Melanie's soft brown ones. Shifting her headphones slightly, Melanie ignored her.

"Melanie Celeste, now," her tone turned dangerously sharp. Sighing, Melanie slowly removed her headphones and got off her bed. Turning, her mother stalked down the hall, heels clicking on the wood floor. Rolling her eyes, Melanie followed her to the living room. It was quite modern, with black and white furniture. The large glass window that made up one of the walls allowed them to view the whole city. Living on the top floor of a skyscraper did have its advantages.

Mr. Young was already seated on the couch, and motioned for his wife to come sit next to him. He didn't acknowledge his daughter until she sat down in the chair across from them with a loud thump!

Sighing, Mr. Young turned to her, "Melanie, don't go plopping into chairs like that. It's unladylike."

Melanie gave him a look of annoyance, "Why am I here? What do we need to talk about?"

Her parents looked at each other excitedly. "Well, honey, we have some very big news," her father said.

"Don't tell me you're having another kid," Melanie's eyes went wide.

"Goodness no!" her mother laughed, "We didn't want a child the first time, so we're certainly not going to have another."

"Right," Melanie mumbled and picked at a string on the chair.

Mrs. Young kept talking, "The SRC has been looking for teenagers 12-18 for a study experiment. Of course we volunteered you--"

"You what!?" Melanie stopped picking at the string and looked at her mother in shock.

"--we volunteered you and you were picked!" Mrs. Young continued as though Melanie hadn't interrupted.

"Why would you do this to me!?"

"Melanie dear, this is a big honor! They pay quite a bit of money to the family of the volunteer if they are picked."

"That's what this really is to you. The money," Melanie said venomously.

"That's what we do Melanie. We are trying to become the most influential people in this city, and to do that we need money. I thought you knew that," her father shook his head in disappointment.

"You won't be harmed to the point of death; they assured us that," Mrs. Young said matter-of-factly.

Melanie looked at both of them with frustrated tears in her eyes, "Do I mean nothing to you? I'm just another way to make money?"

"Well, you must find some way to pay us back for the money that has been expended on you to keep you alive and entertained. Having a child set us back on the road to wealth. By participating in this study experiment, you pay a little bit of your debt to us, and help benefit the world!" Mrs. Young looked quite proud of her speech.

"I have to pay you back because you decided to have child? I have to pay for you raising me? Oh right, I forgot, I'm nothing but a intrusion on your life! I'm the girl you decided to rent a room and feed for twelve years! I'm sick of both of you and your obsession with money! I'm not doing that stupid experiment!" Melanie yelled angrily and stormed to her room, slamming the door.

Flopping onto her bed, Melanie jammed her headphones back on her head and turned the volume up too loud. Angry tears made their way down her face, as music blared in her ears. She'd probably end up having to get a eardrum replacement when she was older, but right now, Melanie didn't care. Grabbing one of her pillows, she pushed it over her face and screamed. And screamed and screamed and screamed until her throat felt raw. When Melanie stopped screaming, she laid there with her pillow over her head for what seemed like forever. Finally, she tossed the pillow aside and sat up, turning her music off.