“This way,” Landon escorted me away from the line of bachelors towards the open door.
“Please, come in,” the older wiry-haired woman gestured us inside and shut the door promptly behind us. All the noise and commotion from the main foyer disappeared inside the room. “The council has discussed in great length this morning about your insubordination and your punishment. Do either of you have anything to add to the discussion?”
Landon took a seat at the head of the table, and I remained standing and glanced around the room. I was surprised to see Joshua, arms folded across his chest waiting for a verdict. I wondered if he’d spoken to the council without me.
“Yes,” I spoke up, glancing at Rebecca. “This is ridiculous!” My hands flailed violently gesturing towards the door, “there’s a line of men out there, longer than the Mississippi looking to date me!”
Rebecca nodded, her lips tight not giving any indication of how she felt on the matter. “We’ve already told you that we’d like you to meet people in Haven. This shouldn’t come as a surprise to you, Olivia.”
I huffed, growing frustrated with standing still. “I’d like to tell you my side of what happened.” I took a firm stem forward, eyes narrowing on Rebecca and then Landon.
“Proceed,” Landon nodded curtly. I wanted to jump across the room and strangle him. This was all his fault!
I took a deep breath and tried to speak rationally. “Yesterday evening, Joshua and I decided to study together. We’d been reading for days on our own, and it’s a lot to absorb as an adult,” I emphasized. “We were going over the books. Sharing what we learned and coming up with questions for the council,” I explained. “At no time did we engage in anything beyond studying. Yes, we’re friends. But we accepted the rules and have abided by them. Rebecca had explained to us that sleepovers were forbidden, and neither of us did anything of the sort, sleeping or otherwise. If anything, Joshua had a girl in his room who wasn’t me! Clearly he wouldn’t have done that if we were still interested in one another. We’re best friends,” I affirmed. “You can’t expect us to forget each other.” Maybe I’d gone too far, but though I trusted Joshua and the fact he’d spent time the previous week with Rane, it was still worth noting to the council. Maybe they would be more lenient on me.
Landon glared at Joshua. “Do you have anything to add?”
Joshua stepped beside me. He didn’t look happy about the situation. How could I have expected him to? “Only that if we did break your rules, it was because we didn’t understand the reasons behind them.” I still didn’t understand, but kept my mouth shut. Joshua stepped forward. “We promise you, nothing happened. However, if you must punish us, I ask that you punish me. Olivia is too important to sacrifice by forcing her to leave. Banish me.”
“No!” I screamed, my eyes wide, staring at Joshua. He couldn’t be serious.
“Settle down,” Rebecca ordered. “No one is being banished, at least not right now. I do, however, recommend moving you both to different floors. I think it would be in everyone’s best interest if Joshua was required to room on the boys’ floor and Olivia spend some additional time in the tech center. Olivia, you will also be involved in interviewing potential bachelors to date. We’re compiling a list and will narrow the selection down for you, but we expect you will work with us in this matter.”
I had no choice but to offer a faint nod in understanding.
“If you should both choose to visit one another, it must be in a public setting. If you truly are studying, visit the library. If you want to share a meal, go to the dining hall. We have rules for a purpose, to instill order and prevent anyone from being taken advantage of.”
It was in that instant I finally understood everything. “No one is taking advantage of me!” I exclaimed. “Just because I’m capable of getting pregnant doesn’t mean I will.” Did they not trust me? Did they think of me as a child, a little girl? “You can’t send me to the tech center! I don’t deserve to be locked up like an animal! I’m an adult!” I demanded. “I should be treated like one.”
Rebecca’s eyes pierced into me. “We do trust you,” she answered, “we’re not requiring you have a chaperone at all times but you’re young, Olivia. Too young to understand the ramifications of what you’re doing or saying. It’s more than raising a child, you will be the future of the rebellion if you get pregnant, and the father will be your husband. This not a choice you will make lightly.” Rebecca sounded quite forceful. “The responsibility of being a parent isn’t all we expect of you. You are the only one, the last woman alive who can conceive. This doesn’t weigh lightly on any of us. With time, word will reach not only Genesis, but all the cities. The government will come for you, Olivia, and we will do everything in our power to protect you. We can only work with you if you’re willing to work with us. Whatever road you choose, the man who father’s your child must be strong and willing to remain alongside of you.” She informed me.
“What else is in the technology center?” I blurted. I tried not to look at Joshua, but I could feel he shared my curiosity. I knew I shouldn’t have asked, but I couldn’t stop myself.
“We really hoped to have this discussion after you’d settled in and were comfortable with Haven as your new home,” Rebecca informed me. I waited anxiously, still wondering what the tech center was. Finally she continued with an answer, one I wasn’t sure I’d like. “It’s one of our few research centers in the community. The government has an entire town of scientists. Although our resources are quite small, we are doing everything in our power to understand what the vaccine did to the human body, so we can try to reverse the damage.”
Joshua finally spoke, asking a question that had been on both of our minds. “Are you going to want to study Olivia?”
Alexia replied, “‘Study’ is such an oppressive word.” She smiled faintly and I almost wondered if it was an apologetic look, considering what we were talking about. “She is not a lab rat, if that’s what you’re insinuating.”
“What if I don’t conceive a child?” I asked. “What if I’m no different than anyone else in this room?” It was possible they were making me into something I wasn’t.
“We don’t believe that to be the case. Your mother was special, and we are confident you are, as well. We promise that the news of your pregnancy will be uplifting. You may be uncertain now, Olivia, but this is what you were made for. We will protect you and your child.”
I didn’t believe her. The smile on her face led me to believe she was trying to tell herself she wouldn’t hurt me. I wanted to reach out for Joshua’s hand, but I didn’t think the council would approve.
“Our punishment for defying the laws is separated living quarters?” I repeated, hoping that was it. I could live with that. I would be miserable locked in the tech center for a while. If I could regain their trust, perhaps they’d let me stay in a room on a different floor in the dormitory. I would certainly miss having Joshua across the hall, but it didn’t mean I couldn’t ever see him.
Landon’s eyes narrowed. “I’d like to put trackers on Olivia and Joshua to ensure they don’t break the law again. Do I hear any objections?” He asked the council.
No one defied him, though, Rebecca spoke up. “If we are putting trackers on them, then I don’t see the need to have Olivia locked up. I recommend we put her on Jacqueline’s floor. She’ll still spend her afternoons in the tech center, but she can be provided more comfortable sleeping arrangements. She’s not a prisoner here, Landon.” She shot him a disapproving look, then sent me an apologetic one.