The Twins

Chapter 2: No Turning Back Now

Part 3: purple

   It took what felt like forever to make it to the large government building in the city centre. The twins had turned themselves in about an hour earlier, simply standing outside and waiting for whoever was watching them to arrive. That part had been instantaneous. From all around officials had materialized, as if they had been ghosts, out of places that neither child would have though one could hide.

   Bracelets fixed with a tracker and tazer had been fastened securely onto the right wrist of each teen. Matthew fiddled with his as their entourage lead them through the clean hallways of the government building. The place smelled of leather and cleaning products with soft undertones of paper and ink. That was most likely from all the files stored there, Matthew mused. Most things were recorded digitally at that time, but a lot of large corporations used paper as well in case the digital files were lost, corrupted, or hacked into, and Matthew assumed the government did the same. That was obvious even before he and his sister found the file that rose their suspicions about the government.

   Suddenly the group turned and led the two children into a bare room. Well...almost bare. The room held a single light and a table with three chairs. "An interrogation room",  Matthew thought grimly, "great." 

  In mere moments the entourage had left and a slender man entered. He had a styled mustache which he twirled from time to time. Matthew was unsure whether this was a nervous reaction or if the man just liked his mustache.

"Hello there you must be Marie and Matthew. Pleased to meet you. What fortune that you decided to come!"

Matthew internally groaned.

"Let's begin right away. Marie, you will be transferred to the surface imminently and will begin your work to help Edis keep Its wonderful pillars up to code once you arrive. Matthew will be sent home right away as long as he proves to be in his right mind and to not have any negative thoughts on this interaction."

   Marie narrowed her eyes slightly,"what does that matter?"

  "You mean if your brother has any negative thoughts on this matter?"

   Marie nodded

  "Ah you see well, from our research into human behaviour we discovered that a good number of people in a situation similar to this would become more rebellious afterward. They would believe that their family was betrayed by the government when in reality we are only doing what is best. Not everyone can see past their own noses you see." The little man paused to let his words take the wanted effect,"I'm sure neither of you are those kinds of people though. I'm sure you understand that the surface is the best place for the Saru Tokai to spend their last remaining days helping their city. Right?"

   While neither twin agreed, they both nodded to satisfy the man, who was beginning to seem more dangerous that he looked.

  "Good. Now let's begin." The man started but was interrupted by Marie.

  "Actually, my brother is coming with me to the surface. He is a Saru Tokai as well."

  The man's eyes seemed to pop. As he tried to hide the reaction with a few "hmmm" and "ohh" sounds he reached into his coat and pulled out a device, most likely looking at a file on it.

   "Hmmm, dear our research shows no such data. Can you prove this?"

  After a paused Marie nodded,"Just find us an injured person to heal. We work together, as a team."

   The slim man shuffled out of the room with a few twirls of his mustache and an array of hmmmm's. He returned ten minutes later with an elderly man who had a papercut. He gestured to the injury and stepped back to watch what would happen.

  The twins advanced, Matthew's anxiety rising. What if he saw through their bluff? Both kids placed their hand on the cut and closed their eyes. Matthew tried with all his might to pretend he was focusing on something as Marie did the deed. Within seconds the man's cut had dissapeared. Silence fell on the room.

   The elderly man left and the slim man went back on his device. He said nothing to the two teens to indicate if he was convinced or not. Eventually he placed the device down and nodded deeply.

  "The data suggests you are telling the truth. I will speak to my superiors and we will arrange for the both of you to go to the surface."

  The man left without another word.

   Both twins sighed with relief and grinned at each other. Relief flooded over them in a wave. They didn't speak, afraid that they were being listened to but their joy was apparent. Nobody had to go alone now.

   It was several more hours until the small man arrived again and brought them to a teleport.

   "This will take you right to the surface. Enjoy your new life children!" He said happily. The hidden malice in his words was not apparent in his expression or tone but Matthew could tell it was there. That man was a liar.

  Nonetheless, the two stepped into the teleport and watched as the nebula-like beauty of the In between spread across their vision.

  A new life indeed.