War Of The Sexes

Prologue

               Jim held my hand tightly as I sat on the cold metal stool. Air seemed to stand still under the fluorescent light bulb hanging from the ceiling. The doctor scribbled furiously in his notebook, his eyes moving away for a brief second to give me a short glance. My stomach felt queasy. I wasn’t sure if it was the lack of food in it, or the nerves.

                “Well, Miss Woods, everything seems to be in check.” The doctor said, angling his body to face the two of us. “Are you positive you want to continue in the experiment?”

                I ignored Jim’s eyes on me, “How much is it?”

                “Three hundred thousand if you survive.” His voice got softer with the last few words. “The odds of you successfully making it through this are against you.”

                Jim squeezed my hand, “Ellie, please think about this.”

                I kept my eyes on the ground as I spoke. Eye contact would only weaken me. I needed to take this chance. “I’m doing it.”

                The doctor nodded. “Alright. I need you to sign one more thing before I take you into the Frosting room.”

                “Doctor… Can I have a word with her quickly?” Jim asked. The doctor’s eyes moved between the two of us slowly before he gave a curt nod. He placed the paper and a pen on the counter before leaving the small examination room.

                Jim turned so that he stood before me, taking both of my hands in his own. “This is not the end of the world.”

                “I need to do this.”

                “Ellie, you’re only twenty.” He got down on his knees, becoming level with my eyes. Jim squeezed my hands tightly. “Please think about the risks you’re going to take in this experiment. The doctor just said you’re not likely to make it out alive!”

                I kept my eyes trained on the floor. I needed to stay strong. “I’ll be gone for a year tops, I promise.”

                Jim grabbed my shoulders, forcing me to look at him. His eyes shimmered slightly in the light from the excessive water building up. “You don’t know this.”

                “I do.”

                “Ellie…”

                I closed my eyes, taking in a deep breath, “How else am I going to get myself out of this crap? I’ve been praying for months and finally an opportunity has come. Three hundred grand… that would free me of all my debts.”

                “But is it worth risking your life?” His voice cracked on the last word.

                I swallowed. “Yes.”

                “No, it’s not! Ellie—”

                I stood up from the stool, straightening the paper dress I had on. Goose bumps rose on my bare arms as I brushed past Jim. The pen felt heavy in my hands as I held it posed over the line at the bottom of the paper.

                I had read it before. Prevention of lawsuits on the government if something were to happen. I was entering this experiment of my own consent with no outside influences. I was making a conscious, sober decision to participate in this experiment.