Remainder

Read Remainder for Free Online

Book: Read Remainder for Free Online
Authors: Stacy H. Pan
aleuron. You must wear it at all times.”
    Bailey frowns. "But it's so ugly! Aren’t there any pretty ones? It's not going to go with any of my clothes. Can't you get them to make me a pretty one?" Bailey whines.
    "I'm sorry, sweetie. They all have to look the same. It's the rules. I can't change that. Why don't you put some stickers on it or something to make it pretty?" Killian asks, dismissing her annoyance with a wave of his hand.
    "Stickers? What am I, five?" Bailey responds annoyed. "I have to go get ready for Percy’s party."
    "But, Bailey...." starts Killian, but it's too late, she's already gone as quickly as she came. "Alec, go get Zareh."
    Alec departs and comes back with a lady who looks to be in her forties. She is short and very petite. Her shoulder length brown hair has some gray streaks. She has small features, almond shaped green eyes, a petite nose and thin mouth. Everything about her is tiny, almost fragile. She looks as though if you touch her, she will break.
    "656. That is what we will call you. No need to say Enforcer when you are here. We all know what sector we are in," says Killian.
    “Zareh, this is 656. Will you please show her around the house and take her to her room?” asks Killian.
    “Yes, Mr. Buchanan,” Zareh says quietly.
    I get up and follow Zareh out of the office. As I follow her, I notice an interesting pin in the back of her hair. The simple adornment consists of a red bird with a long tale. Its wings are tucked in, a confining rope, I think, crosses over its body creating an “x.” The pin is outlined with silver and when it catches the light, the red shines, making the bird look like it’s on fire. My admiration is interrupted when Zareh addresses me. I contemplate my name. Enforcer-656. Or just 656, as Killian said I would be called. I am now a number. A number with a face and brand.  Just thinking about what it means makes my head spin and I try to focus on right now, the red bird, and putting one foot in front of another.
    “Overwhelming, isn’t it?” inquires Zareh in a sweet voice.
    “Yes it is,” I reply as I take in my surroundings.
    “You’re going to be fine, dear. You will get acclimated in no time!” She smiles sweetly.
    I am grateful, though a bit wary, to be shown some kindness from a pure blood, especially after all I have seen today. “What do you do here?” I inquire.
    “I do the majority of the housework. I am in charge of keeping this house clean and doing the laundry.” She says it with such pride in her voice.
    “That’s a lot of work,” I say. “It’s a huge house!”
    “It is, but I don’t mind. I am grateful for the opportunity to work for Mr. Killian.”
    “Do you have help?” I ask.
    “You mean, do I have a clone?” she asks.
    “Yes.”
    “Oh heavens no! I don’t have a clone.” She chuckles like that thought is so silly. “I am from the Laborer sector. We don’t have clones.”
    “Oh.” I want to ask why people from the Laborer sector do not have clones, however, I do not want to get in trouble for asking too many questions. Zareh stops abruptly in front of a closed door.
    “Here we are!” she says excitedly. She opens the door and we step inside. “I hope you like it,” Zareh says. “I cleaned it for you this morning.”
    “Thank you!” I respond.  The room is small, dark, and a little chilly. A shiver runs down my spine. I do not know if I am really cold or just overwhelmed by the events of today. There is a small twin bed against the wall with red bedding. Red clothes lay on the bed. There is a small bathroom with a shower, sink, toilet, and mirror. At least this bathroom has a door. A dresser sits on the wall opposite of the bed, a single clock resting on top. That is it. There are no windows and no decorations. I feel like I am in a prison cell in this room. I am not in a prison though. Inmates serve their time and then they are released. They regain their freedom. A stifling thought echoes off the walls

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