Run

Chapter 20

I watch as the colour of the sky shifts from deep blue to dark red to orange to yellow. Sitting right in the centre of the horizon is the bright yellow of the sun, slowly but surely rising above the remains of the charred ruins. The yellow radiating from the sun pans out and blends in with the darkness of the night sky, slowly fading out to a deep orange before finally mixing with the navy blue, the bright yellow disappearing completely. Instead, stripes of dark red swirls in the sky with the white clouds.

Beautiful.

My heavy eyelids keep falling, blocking my view of the world, though as hard as I try, I cannot seem to fall asleep. Perhaps it is because there are too many thoughts running through my mind at once. 

I push myself up into a sitting position, gazing spectacular sunrise. After all, it's not every day one get to see the sunrise, seeing how early the sun rises. Since I can't sleep anyway, might as well just enjoy the magnificence of nature.

I lean back, my arms supporting my weight to prevent myself from falling. The palms of my hands are pressed against the soft grass, feeling the soil beneath my fingers. Ahead of me, stretching past the horizon, lie what used to be a city, buildings towering up so high that they seem to touch the sky.

The skyscrapers  are rundown, clearly not maintained well. The paint on the walls are faded. The roof of the buildings are corroded as a result of standing out in the rain year after year, the metal frame of some of them exposed to the world. The sun casts light onto the buildings, making them seem to give out a soft glow.

"Amazing, isn't it?"

I turn towards the direction of the voice and find myself staring straight into Wil's eyes. He looks at me with such tenderness and warmth that I find myself getting lost in his eyes.A smile tugs on my lips but it doesn't last long. All I manage is a small, sad smile.

"Can't sleep either right?"

I shake my head in reply, not seeing the need to voice my answer. I cross my legs and rest my elbows on my thighs, burying my face in the palms of my hands. My lips quiver as my eyes start to water. It takes all my willpower to stop myself from crying.

I just can't seem to shake off the feeling that something isn't right." He pauses, collecting his thoughts. "What am I talking about? At this point, everything is wrong. I mean, look at me." He gestures towards himself. "I am one of the many wrong things in this world that should not even exist."

I lift my head, adverting my intention from my hands that are placed on my lap to my oldest friend, putting my hand atop his as a symbol of our friendship, attempting to comfort him. Do not say that," I whisper. I hadn't realise we were sitting merely inches apart.

"You know it I true, Miri. I am a clone. It doesn't get any simpler than that, nor does it get any less immoral. No matter how advanced our technology may be, the act of creating a clone is unethical, Miri. It is wrong, even if it is in the name of science. I shouldn't be."

"Oh, Wil," I mutter solemnly, unable to think of a better or a more solacing reply.

I let out an exasperated sigh. Wil moves in closer and wraps his strong arms around my body, bringing me into an embrace. I rest my head against his chest, hearing the strong and steady beat of his heart.

"What do you think we are going to do?" I ask.

"What do you mean?" he asks back, his voice muffled, almost as if he is stifling a yawn.

"Aries, Aristelle and Key can't be helping us run away forever. At some point, they have got to return to their normal lives and we will be left all alone to deal with everything. After all, I honestly don't think the hunt for us will stop any time soon. If anything, they might actually add a price to our capture."