Death Before Life

Chapter One

Chapter 1 -- 0 AE

Azalea

As I viewed from the predetermined distance of 1500 meters, the final ship took to the air. Somewhere between eighty and one hundred people stood beside me, some crying, others watching stoically. I fell somewhere between the groups, tears threatening to fall, my mouth in a decidedly straight line. My twin sister, and my only remaining family, was on that ship. We had fought for weeks about my decision to stay. She thought I wasn't going to survive, and I just told her to call me from her new home. A few days ago, the protocol was released for how we were supposed to go about collecting and taking the supposed elixir. The buildings that were previously designated for decisions now functioned as dispensaries. As the bottom of the ship slipped from my view, I slipped from the crowd and made my way to one of the newfound dispensaries.

A line of seven people extended to almost the doorway. These must've been people on their own, with no one on the departing spaceship. I felt bad for them. The emptiness and loneliness I was feeling now must be something they've felt for a much longer time, probably years. The expectation of lifespan in the last few years had been greatly diminished. I was lost in thought as the line moved forward, not paying attention to those around me.

"Hello? Miss?" I blinked back into focus to stare at the man at the desk in front of me.

"My apologies. You were saying?" My cheeks flushed at the embarrassing moment. People snickered behind me, and I wanted to snap at them, but it was not the place, the time, or the proper reaction.

"Yes, so, eat the biscuit and the drink right before bed. We've found in the primary test cases that the process goes best when consumed right before bed. There's a mild sedative within the drink that will help you sleep and keep your heart rate calm while you transition. Any questions?"

"So, what will I be once I wake up?" This had been my most burning question for months, but I hadn't had a computer to email anyone who would know. I didn't think anyone would know. The procedure has been kept under incredibly tight wraps since it was announced.

"You will still be yourself. The treatment simply enhances your natural senses and abilities, as well as extending your lifespan. We haven't been able to see yet how long the elixir actually extends life, but it is found that allergies and ailments disappear ninety-eight percent of the time." I nodded along with everything he was saying, my mind starting to drift again. Though this time it was towards my future capabilities. "Miss, can I get your name to strike off of the registry?"

"Azalea Smith, sir."

"Thank you very much miss Smith. Remember, take before bed. Have a good rest of your day." He handed over a package to me. It contained a biscuit that I could only describe as looking like a tan lump of coal, and what appeared to be a bottle of pink fizzy soda.

"Thank you very much. Have a great rest of your day." My mind immediately went back into autopilot. I noticed very little going back home, the grey streets looking as dreary as I remembered, and the buildings looked as empty as ever. My home was the one point of pride I had shared with my sister. It was the bottom floor of an apartment complex, and we had power washed the front of the building for what seemed like hours one day, just to remove all of the ash and grime. It was one of the best kept housing areas in the neighborhood, including all of the people that had lived above us.

Unfortunately, I was sure that almost everyone else in my building had been on the list for the spaceship. So I was now well and truly on my own. I opened the door to complete silence, utterly devoid of any people. From the floor above me, I could hear a distinctive howl of a dog. My face twisted in disgust at the thought that someone would leave their pet locked up to die alone. I ran up the stairs, as fast as I possibly could, and banged on the door, still hoping that someone would be inside.