Elsa sighed, shifting on her feet. I could see the pain behind her eyes as she tried to focus. “We haven't properly met.” Elsa held out her hand as she introduced herself. “I'm Elsa.”
“Chloe.” She smiled weakly, shaking her hand. “I'm here to help go over your research with you,” Chloe admitted. “The boys told me back in Torv that a woman named Olivia is here. She's the last woman we've found capable of bearing a child.”
“That we know of,” I acknowledged. It was possible there were others out there like me, right? I was surprised they'd confided in these strangers about who I was, but I had to trust them. They wouldn't betray me, would they?
Chloe smiled weakly. “In Torv we've managed to help impregnate women without the government's knowledge. We've been at it for decades but there have been some complications…” Her words trailed off and she sighed. “The process does something to the mothers, causing hemorrhaging in seventy percent of cases and is almost always fatal for those mothers.”
“That's terrible,” I gasped. I couldn't imagine a woman signing up and knowingly risking her life in order to have a child.
Chloe frowned. “We've tried every inoculation and therapy we could think of to increase the chance of a successful pregnancy. The reality is we can't figure out where we're going wrong and we have no idea how the government has zero percent mortality.”
Elsa nodded. “We haven't even begun to look at DNA. Most of the tests and comparisons we've made in the lab are between reproductive scans that show no physical differences between Olivia and the women who can't conceive.”
“Well I'm here to help in any way I can,” Chloe offered. “I'm sure you have a lot of data that needs analyzing. I was hoping,” she glanced from Elsa to me, “that in return you might join me back in Torv to help with the pregnant women.”
Elsa paused, considering Chloe's request. “We'd be happy to try. Olivia would be a lifesaver if she came along.”
Chloe raised an eyebrow. “You're Olivia?” she asked, astonished. I hadn't properly introduced myself, and I shifted uncomfortably on my feet. I felt as though I was being scrutinized for not saying so sooner.
“I am,” I finally admitted, not entirely comfortable with this woman knowing who I was. I also didn't know how I could be of any help in Torv. Did they want me to join them as a human specimen that could offer a blood sample or a lab test at any time? I was more than just my genetics. Besides, there was no possible way I could help a dying woman in labor. The thought alone was terrifying and saddening that a mother would purposely give a child life knowing she wouldn't be there for her baby.
Elsa glanced at Joshua and then at me. She made sure Chloe couldn't hear the exchange. It was the first time she'd ever said anything to me without so much as moving her lips. Mindonsiphan? It was a single word, simple, and conveying so much it sent a shudder down my spine. I had no idea what she meant. Of course I knew what the procedure was and what Joshua and I had gone through, but in no way did I understand, or could even fathom, how my coming along would help. Mindonsiphan was administered to teenagers during rapid growth. I doubted the pregnant women were in their teens. Obviously, there were lots of changes going on with the pregnant women, but it seemed unlikely it would be safe for the baby. What did she think I could do to help? My training was in combat, not aiding in a labor.
Chloe glanced around oblivious to the silent conversation. “Do you mind showing me to my quarters? I could use a shower.”
Elsa led her towards the recruits’ building where Joshua and I had stayed when we'd first come into town. “I'll see you both later.” I waved goodbye and grabbed Joshua's hand, walking with him towards our home.
“That was interesting,” he whispered to me, keeping his voice down as we walked further from the city center towards home. Everyone from Torv had disappeared. I knew Mason had gone to see Chancellor Collins, but I hadn't paid much attention to the two strangers. I wondered where they had gone off to.
“I suppose it was.”
Joshua stopped walking and turned to stare at me. Feeling his hand jolted me back slightly when he stopped. I turned around. “What?” I was confused as to why he stopped moving.
“You don't find it odd that they're expecting us to help cure women who are dying?”
“I find everything here odd,” I remarked. “Shadow is nothing like I expected heading west would be.”
Joshua smiled. “What'd you think? It'd be like heading into the sunset together, living happily ever after?”
I raised a curious eyebrow. “I thought you'd never read any romance novels.”
He grinned, pulling me with him towards our home. “I never said that.” We'd lived in our new home for a few weeks with books lining the shelves. I shouldn't have been surprised he would have picked up one or two by now.
“Of course not.” I rolled my eyes, smiling as we headed inside our warm home. I curled up on the sofa, grabbing a book, and felt Joshua sliding in beside me, grabbing a blanket for us to share together.
Just before sunset the town of Shadow gathered to pay respects to Margo. The last funeral I'd witnessed had been my father’s. Many had died in Haven but none had been properly buried after the devastation. Same for Thena.
The sun had yet to set. It was perched in the sky, hanging in a delicate balance just above the water. I'd never walked this far south of Shadow. The journey on foot took over an hour and I knew we'd be walking back in the dark tonight. I didn't care. It was for Margo. She deserved a proper goodbye.
Standing before the beautiful lake, the sun falling over the horizon lit up the sky with shades of gold and red. The warm light spread across my cheeks as I felt the first tear. I listened as Chancellor Collins spoke first. He offered more than just condolences but a speech of respect and honor. “She was one of us,” Collins spoke. “A soldier who fell on the battlefield in a time of war we had not waged upon ourselves. We must remember that even those who fight against our enemy may not be our friend.” I was glad Chloe, Beckett, and Asher hadn't been invited to the funeral. I wasn't sure how they'd take to Collins’ speech. He continued, “We pay our respects to Margo. We hail her as one of the great warriors. One of the first to accept Shadow as her home, and one of the last we ever wanted to say goodbye to. Margo was a good friend to many of us here, and an even better companion for most. Her infectious smile lit up a room. Her eagerness drove us all to succeed, to want to be better and do better. Not once did she ever give up. Not once did she ever doubt what we could do together, as a community. For her we lay down our lives. For her we seek justice and retribution towards a common enemy. Her death will not be in vain.”
He opened the urn as I reached for Joshua's hand. The wind whispered as the sun further set slowly below the horizon. “Goodbye,” I breathed, swallowing the pain as her ashes danced in the wind, offering her freedom.
Lying in bed that night, with my back to Joshua and his arm wrapped around me, I slid my hand into his. “Do you ever miss Genesis?” I asked quietly, unsure if he heard me. Today had been a trying day. With the funeral and the new members of Torv, I missed the familiar. It was nice to have Joshua's arms around me.
A moment passed before I could feel him shift against me. “I miss my parents,” he admitted. “You miss your mom, don't you?” I felt his breath tickle the back of my neck. He knew me too well.
“A lot,” I sighed. “Sometimes I wonder how she's doing without me there.” I knew from Rebecca that she was okay. I didn't know how much of that was truth, and how much had been to ease my mind while in Haven.