There was a time when people thought it would be in the best interests of public safety to simply eradicate all Unstables at once. However, fortunately, compassion and rationality prevailed when C-Shapes affirmed that this virus could no longer be transmitted from person to person, and that killing millions of people would be wrong when they are working on a cure. A lot of people still believe a cure is impossible. There have been times when rogue groups have taken matters into their own hands. It is like in the old days, only it is no longer a race issue—its mobs of different nationalities going around killing anyone they think pose a risk as an Unstable. It’s not often talked about, but in a lot of the poorer countries—they’ve done some terrible things to where there is only a very small population of Unstables left. I suppose, fear is a great motivator to commit what I still consider murder despite everything I’ve seen and been taught during my training.
2. Sitter
My first day was actually only about two weeks ago. After you’ve completed your three week training course, you’re handed a badge and a special cell phone. If you’re ever faced with the situation of your Unstable turning Aggro on you, you run. You do not attempt to engage, talk, think—you simply run. You press a special button on your cell and a red light at the top of it starts to blink, slowly at first… then it quickens its pace, as the Hunters are growing closer. It is kind of like a time limit, you know to get the fuck out and survive until it is fully lit and the cavalry has arrived.
I get dressed that first morning. An anxious feeling of sickness rests in the pit of my stomach. I comb my short light brown hair back and run some gel through it. I put on my running shoes, which contrasts sharply against my professional attire, but it comes highly recommended when engaging in any occupation that deals with Unstables. I grab my car keys and take one look around my huge apartment. It is a lot more extravagant than when I was younger… before the shit hit the fan—but housing these days is not exactly an issue anymore.
I climb into my car and leave to meet with the caseworker; I believe her name is Kathleen. My mind is running a million miles a second with the anticipation of starting my new job that I am not clear on that point. I drive a few miles to a small C-Shapes office. I enter the large golden trimmed double doors and walk across a smooth marble floor. I meet a nice looking secretary who asks me who I have an appointment with… I pause for a moment.
“Kathleen?” I say more as a question than a proper answer.
“Katharine?” The secretary replies in the same manner.
“That’s it,” I reply. “I’m new… first day and all that.”
The secretary laughs and shakes her head. “Don’t worry about it.”
I take a look around the entryway; tall trees grow from huge pots around the large windows that surround the building. The walls are lined with rough, rocklike surfaces with water pouring down them; bright lights shimmer from below illuminating the dancing flow of the water creating beautiful reflections against the adjacent wall. C-Shapes definitely does not cheap out, even on a simple field office… then again, they can definitely afford it. They probably have more money than any corporation, or country, in the world at the moment.
“Katharine will see you now,” the secretary says as she smiles and gestures towards a room at the far end. It’s 2B.
“Thanks,” I reply as I return the smile and head off.
“Mr. Chase,” A dark skinned woman with long hair says as she leads me into her office and has me sit across from her. “It is good to meet you.”
“You as well,” I say as I nod.
“So what made you want to become a Sitter?” She begins and then laughs as she thumbs through a file cabinet. “…other than the fact that we desperately need them?”
“I did the normal stuff for a while and I just wanted to be of some help. If I can help someone I feel that my life is somehow more productive than just… stocking shelves.”
“Well, even though I know you’ve had a long wait period and we’re always understaffed…” Katharine says as she nods and pulls up two files and places them on the desk, “It is not for everyone. A lot of people think they can handle it, but sometimes they get the fear that their Unstable is going to go Aggro on them.”
“I think I’m a fast runner,” I say as I shrug my shoulders.
“Let’s hope that confidence lasts,” Katharine says as she opens up the first one of the files and shows me a picture of a man that seems oddly familiar. He has very dark brown hair and blue eyes. He is smiling a big wide dopey grin in the picture. He seems happy. “This is Noah Williams, a 29 year old highly functioning Amnesiac. He does not work…”
“Noah Williams, I know him. He was in the same grade as me… used to work on the college newspaper and then was the youngest person to get on at the local paper in our town,” I say as I look at the picture once more. He looks so much older, different. “We used to be really good friends actually, well before he left for college and we lost contact… But I used to read his articles.”
“Well that’s a first,” Katharine says as she nods. “Anyway, I doubt that will be of any help to him… I mean, he has no memory of his life before that day, but who knows. He should be an easy first case. He is pretty capable, you should just have to make sure he takes his Calm—he is on a Monday, Wednesday, Friday Schedule. You might have to cook a few meals, sometimes he prefers to do it himself. He knows what a Sitter is, most of the time he will remember you as he gets to know you. So just keep him on task, he still likes to write… the last Sitter said it was mostly nonsense, but you know, whatever keeps him happy.”
“Got it,” I say as take the folder. “Same address… I used to live right across the street.”
“Yeah… his mother still lives in the residence; however, she had a stroke a few years back and hasn’t been able to take care of him… any of your parents make it?”
“No…” I reply. “They were staying up north in Wisconsin with friends, I meant to go and visit them but, before I could—they both went Aggro.”
“Sorry to hear that,” Katharine says as she shakes her head. “My mom went Aggro about two years ago. It’s best to not be there… I wasn’t. I’ve heard stories though and no one should have to see that.”
“Yeah,” I say, although, I do not know if I am agreeing or attempting to reassure myself of something I’d rather forget.
“Moving on,” Katharine adds as she takes a hard swallow as though a lump was forming in her throat. “We usually don’t pair up male Sitters with female Unstables… you know the rules though.”
“I know,” I add quickly. “Instantly lose your job, face jail time.”
“Like anyone would want to even mess with an Unstable anyway,” Katharine says as she lets out a short little laugh, for a second she sounds as though she is one of those types that does not really see them as people anymore. “Especially with the fact that they aren’t right in the head and could go Aggro on you at any moment… it shouldn’t even be a… thing.”
“Yeah, it would never be an issue with me.”
“Anyway,” Katharine says as she holds up a picture of a girl with very short brown hair and hazel eyes.