My memory’s fading already, Tom. I won’t remember much when I wake up. We can pass the Trials. It has to end. They sent me as a trigger.
Choose right now or they both die!” Thomas opened his eyes and stepped forward. Then he pointed at Brenda and said the two most foul words to ever pass through his lips. “Kill her.
Maybe you’ll forgive me someday.” Thomas almost hated her for sounding so reasonable.
And if all has gone according to plan, we have sent the brightest, the strongest, the toughest of our subjects to a safe place, where they can begin civilization anew while the rest of the world is driven to extinction.
Their politeness annoyed Thomas. He remembered stories of killers being put to death in the old days. They always got a last meal, too. As fancy as they wanted it. “I want steak,” he said, stopping to look at her. “And shrimp. And lobster. And pancakes. And a candy bar.” “I’m sorry – you’ll have to settle for a couple of sandwiches.” Thomas sighed. “Figures.
A distant, faded memory of sucking on pennies as a kid popped into his head.
I’m trying to forget just as much as you probably are. Look, I’m not stupid. I know that we can never be the same. But I still wouldn’t change anything. It was the plan and it worked. You’re not dead and that’s worth it to me. Maybe you’ll forgive me someday.
We are our thoughts and memories and personalities.
The open sky in front of him was a deep purple, slowly fading into the bright blue of day, with tinges of orange from the sun on a distant, flat horizon.
But they’d survived that, too, eventually finding their way to the settlements. Where they might’ve lived in peace if it weren’t for a committee called the PCC.
I’m sorry, Tom, she answered back, in his mind once again. But thanks for being our sacrifice.
Panic swelled inside him once again, almost too much to bear. But he took a deep breath and forced himself to try to accept the situation. Just go with it, he thought. You won’t figure out anything if you give in to fear.
Be careful,” he said dryly. “Don’t die.
All we can do is find our friends and make sure we die on our own terms.” “Well said, son. Well said.
We can’t give up. Ever.
Like I said, they wanted to test us, see how we’d react to what they call the Variables, and to a problem that has no solution.
Two men, three, a woman – four people total.
We are evil. They are kids. We are evil. We should stop, let the Munies have the world. We are evil. We can’t play God. We can’t do this to kids.
We’re doing the right thing, Thomas. See you on the other side.
Glad you came,” Gally said in his raspy voice. “Because the end of the world is upon us.