Series Memory Sequence 482000152451983 beginning...
Series Memory Sequence 3510001002451983 beginning...
Memory Protocol Active...
Building Memory Database-002-0909...
Start Sequence...
Sequence Active... Beginning waking sequence now...
Memory Series Sequence 482000152451983 beginning...
Memory Series Sequence 351001002451983 beginning...
Memory Protocol Active...
Building Memory Database-002-0909...
Start Memory Sequence...
Memory Sequence Active... Beginning waking sequence now... Sequence will run indefinitely...
Again, I awoke to find that we had landed at our destination. We're in another vehicle, driving. The morning light shines through the tinted windows. I sat up to see Kristonia already awake. I didn't even have time to come out of my slumber before the DNA staff workers carried me off the plane. From there, my memories are fuzzy. I barely remember leaving the airport or even saying a word to Kristonia. The next thing I know, we're in the back of another black SUV traveling down a country highway. My focus turns to the male DNA staff worker and the female staff worker. The ones who'd been with us since we left our home. Kristonia and I are in the third row, while they are in the second row. I can't see the two people in the driver's and the passenger's seats in the front row. With a practiced smile, he looks at me while putting his arm over the seat.
"Driving from the private airport to DNA Labs' main research complex is only four to five hours and a half. So, enjoy the scenery," he said, looking at me, then at Kristonia.
"Okay, where are we?" I mumbled, still half groggy.
The woman turns around, and I feel I am noticing her for the first time. Her hair is in a bun, and she wears sunglasses to hide her eyes. Her blonde hair is the only thing that stands out about her.
"Sit tight. The drive is long. The Personnel will brief you once we reach headquarters," she said in a monotone voice.
"Hmm... Well, yes, mommy!" Kristonia said, showing how annoyed she was.
Leaning back in our seats, we look at each other with concern. We sat quietly in the third row of the SUV, taking in the landscape as it passed us. I couldn't tell from the scenery where in the American Territories we were. The terrain was utterly unfamiliar, and I couldn't place our location. As I looked out the window, tall, thick trees lined either side of the two-lane highway we were driving on. A winding road weaved its way through thickly wooded terrain. The trees were tall enough that their shadows cast darkness over the road, blocking the sunlight. Because of the heavy shadow covering the road, I would not have known it was still early morning if I had just woken up.
There wasn't a single break in the trees since entering the forest. I didn't even know how far we had traveled before both sides of the highway were taken over by forest. Yet, I couldn't help but think this was the last place I wanted to be if our car broke down. The trees were so thick that there was nothing but darkness deep within the forest. I doubted the future for the first time as Kristonia and I stared out the window. I could only remember the words my mother had told me before we left home.
"Be careful and watch out for each other. We don't have any family up that way, so if you run into trouble, you won't have any family to come to help you," Eveline said just before we left. Our mother's words ran through my mind.
The realization hit me hard that there would be no one we knew who could help us out here if something went wrong. We knew only one road that led directly to the airport, but we could have come from anywhere. I couldn't trust my memories. As far as we knew, this road could go on forever in this dark forest, and we did not know where the nearest town was. There was a possibility that we had made a mistake by coming here. Neither the Maine Territories nor the landscape around Heartfield looked like this. I had researched the city of Heartfield after receiving the first phone call from DNA Labs, and this landscape wasn't anything like the images on the internet. There was an absolute difference between the trees around Heartfield and those trees.
Despite my concerns and Kristonia's annoyed mood, we sat silently for almost two hours, driving through that dark forest. I felt a sense of relief wash over me when the trees thinned out, and the sunlight shone through the thick canopy of trees. Within a few miles, the scenery changed. A dense forest had given way to rolling hills on both sides of the road within miles that seemed to go on forever on both sides of the road. Looking out the window, I noticed mountains topped with snow in the distance. It seemed as if the mountain range filled the entire horizon. 'I knew we weren't in the Maine Territories now, but what could we do about that now?' We didn't know where we were and could only trust that everything was okay. Kristonia was already looking out the window past me when I looked at her. I didn't have to say a word to know what she was thinking. She knew just as well as I did, we were somewhere else. Our two escorting officials were calm as they had been when we first met them at our home in Springview. Unlike us, they didn't seem to be nervous about this.
I turned back to see my sister looking down at her holo-Phone. She probably checked her GPS location, and I flicked my wrist to activate my holo-Phone to do the same. A simple shake of my wrist unlocked the screen locker with pictures of my children opening presents at Christmas. It was the last picture I took when I could walk and the happiest Christmas I could remember. As I shook my head, I couldn't think about that. I hurried through my apps to find the Google Maps app. It wasn't on my home screen since I didn't use it much anymore. I quickly opened the app, waiting for the map to load my current location, but all I got was the dreaded loading circle spinning, indicating I had no service. The same problem was apparent to me when I glanced up at Kristonia. We definitely weren't where we were supposed to be. There wasn't an area in the American Territories that didn't have 10Z (zettahertz) service. Most nations had at least 7Z, and for this area not to have service meant it was remote. I turned to the people sitting in the back seat.
"Hey, I thought we were going to the Maine Territories? This isn't where we're supposed to be," I said cautiously.
"Yes, I understand your concern. We're actually on our way to DNA Labs' headquarters. I'm sure you already know that we aren't in the American Territories. Please accept my apologies for the false assumption that your destination and medical facility was to the Maine Territories. Because of the nature of our research, DNA Labs keeps its headquarters location secret," the male official sitting behind me replied.
"Where are we then?" Kristonia asked.
"Our location is confidential, but I am sure once they settle you in, they will inform you of your location," The male official behind Kristonia responded.
"Okay, I guess that makes sense," I replied, looking back out my window.
"So, you lied to us then? Kristen, you can't just ignore them. They lied to us. You signed up for a medical trial, not some clandestine operation," Kristonia blurted.
"Again, my apologies. We did not mean to mislead you. I can assure you that the medical trials will take place in this location. Please be patient," the man said with an apologetic voice.
"Naw... Fuck that. You can't just take people to God knows where without telling them in advance. How are my nieces supposed to come to visit? We ain't got that kind of money!" Kristonia shouted.
"Mrs. Howel do not worry. DNA Labs will pay for all expenses for your family to visit you. The facility will welcome your mother and nieces and take care of them. We have already taken steps to address these issues as we expected this reaction. As soon as you have settled in, I can come by and give you detailed information about the private schools available to the staff," he said with that same smile and sincerity.
His expression never changed, nor did he show any signs of being irritated or offended. Unfortunately, I couldn't say the same about his partner. The female staffer turned around once again. Her expression did not show gratitude for our line of questioning.
"I will say again, set tight until we have arrived at our destination. Then, there will be plenty of opportunities to go over these issues once we are safely at headquarters. Am I clear?" the female staffer replied, removing her sunglasses.
"Eh... Am I clear?? What fucks do...," Kristonia blurted, but she stopped at the last second.
There was a look of intense focus on her face from the female staffers. I could see her eyes consuming my sister's attention. Kristonia's expression went blank, and her annoying presence and demeanor faded. Instead, she seemed to have shimmering eyes as she looked at the female employee. An orange-reddish halo swirled in her eyes. Kristonia's breath increased, as if she was fighting against something unseen.
"Am I clear 001?" she said in a whisper.
"001? What..." I questioned, but something stopped me.
I couldn't talk or think. The female staffer then shifted her gaze to me, and that's when I felt it. An uncontrollable sense of complying with her words overwhelmed me. It went deep into my mind and soul. I felt chains snaking around my body as her gaze became hypnotic. Something felt wrong, but I am helpless to do anything against this feeling.
"001 and 002... Recalibrate. That is an order!" the female said in an icy voice.
"Affirmative... Recalibrating... Memory Series Sequence 482000152451983 beginning..." Kristonia said in a monotone voice.
That's when I heard my voice speaking without me doing so.
"Affirmative... Recalibrating... Memory Series Sequence 3510001002451983 beginning..."
"Memory Protocol Active... Building Memory Database-002-0909... Restarting in 3... 2... 1... Start Sequence," Kristonia said before leaning back in her seat. Her gaze went to look at the window as if nothing had happened.
Suddenly, my thoughts abruptly stopped.
"Memory Protocol Active... Building Memory Database-001-0909... Restarting in 3... 2... 1... Start Sequence," I said as I felt my mind slip away and my view faded to darkness.
I took a deep breath, and I woke up again. I feel an intense panic for a moment, but this feeling subsides in seconds. The female staffer is looking at me closely. I can't see her eyes as she never seems to take off her sunglasses. She looks at her male associate, and he looks back at us.
"Update... We should be at our destination soon. So, please enjoy the rest of your ride," the male staffer said in a cheerful voice.
"Um... Okay... It's been a pleasant ride so far," I whispered.
"Eh... It's been pretty boring if you ask me. How come there's no internet? That's a drag, you know," Kristonia said, waving her hand.
"Free Internet will be among the amenities once we reach our destination!" the male staffer said before turning around.
I turned my attention back outside the vehicle as we drove. The rest of the drive was the same as before. We sat in silence as the scenery passed us by. The rolling hills turned to flat land as the road straightened out. In the distance, I could see several buildings that stood out over the landscape, becoming more prominent at each passing moment. It was like going to New Dallas because you knew you were getting closer to the city because of the high-rise buildings that dotted the horizon. That's what the buildings I was seeing reminded me of as we got closer and closer. My eyes wandered over the landscape, while no thoughts seemed to enter my mind. I felt empty and fogged. It was like I had only now awakened from some dream.