Population Zero

Chapter Five

Things got quiet and empty after Asher's departure and it had been weeks since he left. Granted, many of the boys had recently had their 13th birthdays and were sent off to the Teenage Wing so it really was beginning to get quiet and empty anyways. I never did find out exactly where Asher ended up and not a day goes by that I don't wonder about him. It's very lonely here now especially since Elijah hasn't spoken more than two words to me. I felt like I was becoming unpopular again except this time I didn't have a best friend to confide in. The only person around here that really spoke to me much was Dustin. He was constantly checking in with me since the incident and making sure I was taking all my medications and taking it easy. It really wasn't helping my popularity at all but I felt too bad to try to brush him off. After all, he seemed like the only one who genuinely cared about me these days.

At the next monthly meeting Dustin and Eric got us all together to work on some more life skills. This month we were talking all about channeling our energy away from our urges and towards constructive outcomes. For example, whenever we felt a rush of anger we could go for a long run around the track, or we could swim a few laps at the community pool. During the times when those activities are forbidden, we could practice mind tricks by closing our eyes and pretending we were engaging in those sorts of productive activities. We were also encouraged to become a mentor to someone younger and more inexperienced than us to help them fight any urges they may struggle with. This was supposed to help to remind us of what we were fighting against. Towards the end of the meeting Eric went on a long rant about the evils of procreation and how imperative it is that we never lose sight of our mission. "Let's destroy the human race!" He shouted and slammed his fist down on the round table. Everyone applauded and whistled as I looked over and locked eyes with Elijah. He seemed very passionate and while holding eye contact he continued to clap and whistle as if he were telling me off in some way. I snapped out of it and started clapping and smiling so that I wouldn't stand out from the crowd in a negative way. Especially since I knew Dustin was looking to me to be a sort of leader and mentor to the rest of the group. He really saw  something in me that I just didn't see in myself. Maybe I once saw something in myself but I felt like I was starting to lose it as my 13th birthday loomed near. Memories of Benjamin and Asher kept flashing into my mind and I was finding it hard to focus on anything anymore.

Finally, when the applause began to die down, and the teenagers were released back to their cottage, Dustin motioned for us to stay behind. He stood up and everyone hushed each other and waited for him to speak.

"Now, I know you boys have been enjoying all the extra room in your cabins to spread out and stretch your legs, but it's time we had some new transfers from the West Wing."

Everyone began booing and shaking their heads and stomping their feet.

"Now, now. That's not the attitude I want after you were just lectured on being mentors to help everyone cope with their urges. Come on, guys. Let's give a big friendly welcome to.. Mateo! Ricky! Mason! And ..Nathan!"

As he called out each name a boy stood up and came to the front of the pavilion to stand alongside Eric and Dustin. The boys were all clearly very young and it made me question if I was that small and vulnerable looking when I first transferred from the West Wing. They were fresh faced and youthful. Their souls had yet to be corrupted by hormones and preadolescent urges. I couldn't stop myself from staring at these boys because they brought such a feeling of discomfort to me, almost as if I was feeling threatened by their sudden presence in my life. Yesterday they were nobody. And yet here they were in my life inauspiciously and uncontrollably. Unwanted.

Dustin pulled me aside after the meeting and asked me if I could keep a close eye on one of the new arrivals, Nathan. He basically told me that Nathan is much like myself in that he's always been a level 4. He shows real potential and would be best matched with a mentor like myself. How could I say no to Dustin? I nodded my head and mustered up an authentic looking grin. I turned my eye over and peered through the crowd quickly spotting Nathan with the group of new comers hanging on his every word as though he were their captain and they his crew. I didn't like him one bit.