Almost Perfect

bitter sweet ending

Almost Perfect

I was never born, not in a natural sense anyway. A chicken isn’t born, it’s hatched. Some times chicks are hatched in an incubator or other controlled environment. I’m not saying that I’m some type of desecrated human-chicken hybrid hatched out of an enormous egg, I’m just saying nobody ever gave birth to me. I was created in a test tube. 

My parents wanted the perfect child, one that would make them proud. Fifteen years ago they went to the DNACCF or the Deoxyribonucleic acid Child Creation Facility. At the DNACCF they do what the name claims: create children. All my parents had to do was give the DNACCF DNA from citizens that possessed the genes they wanted me to have, and boom, the perfect baby. 

It’s not really that simple, however. Do you know of the Dolly Sheep cloning? It took two hundred seventy six failed attempts before a successful cloning on the two hundred seventy seventh try. Back then scientists were not as bright as they are now. Still, it took my parents seventeen failures before I was created on the eighteenth attempt. That day was fifteen years ago on July 24th 8175. It was a mistake. 

* * *

“All you have to do is win Kirna!” Mother yells at me. 

“I can’t!” I scream back. Soon she’s assailing me with a torrent of harsh insults. Once she finishes I try to explain, “Mother, I can’t win this one for us. Raewin is way ahead on training. She’ll be the one to win, I’m sure of it!”

“No! You can’t let her. You are going to be the girl who gets the honor of winning the Survival Challenge. I don’t care if you have to train day and night for the next two weeks, with no sleep to be ready. Your’re going to win!” Once my mother has made up her mind, she is resolute on her decision, and expects obedience. 

“Mother,” I try for the last time,“If I train that hard it will kill me.”

“Then so be it,” She walks off in a storm of belligerent fury, her bitter words irrevocable. My stomach clenches in a too tight knot, depriving my lungs of air.                       I though I was perfect

When I was created my mother made sure I had the genes of a winner. I was made with strong bones, muscles, and a quick mind. Every time there’s a competition I’m expected to win, and I do... most of the time. 

This year I’m finally eligible (at age fifteen) to attend the annual Survival Competition. This a contest where sixteen kids like me, who have trained for five years at Bronzefield Academy, get shipped off somewhere in the wilderness and must survive on their knowledge and skill. Contestants can drop out of the challenge at any given time if they feel the need to. To make the game just a little more exciting, robots are sent out who are programmed to attack, and even kill the contestants. 

  All the robots have cameras installed in them, so people can easily watch what’s going on. This year my mother expects me to bring her honor by winning. I’d bet with my life if I lose to Raewin, she’ll kick me out and create another child, someone better.                               I have to win. 

“Kirna?” I spin around fast as a bullet and come face to face with Nina. I keep my face looking languid, a blank, unpainted canvas. 

“What do you want?” I ask her. Nina is a princess. She was created to be the little girl my mother and father truly love. With her buoyant attitude, blonde curls, and baby blue eyes, it’s no wonder everyone adores her. I hate her. 

“I just wanted to tell you, you shouldn’t make Mommy so upset,” she says tentatively. 

“I just wanted to tell you that you shouldn’t make Mommy so upset,” I mimic her words in a burlesque way.

“Tell me Nina, does Mommy ever yell at you? Does Mommy ever whip you? Does Mommy ever tell you it doesn’t matter if you die as long as she’s happy?” I shout at her on the verge of tears, “Of course not because mommy loves you!”

Nina darts out of the room crying liquid shards of glass. I better prepare for punishment tonight, I think while the roots of my legs are planted to the floor. Nina’s admonishment echos in my mind... you shouldn’t make mommy upset. 

* * *

It’s down to the final three of us- Raewin, a strong athletic boy named Corren, and me. It’s hard to believe I made it this far. I guess the robots were focused on the more exciting targets aka Raewin and Corren.

I bolt upright hearing a noise in the underbrush. Thinking it’s a robot I prepare to run, but it’s soon obvious my inference was incorrect. Leaning close to the ground I peer through some leaves and branches. The sight I see takes my brain a moment to register. 

Raewin and Corren are sitting together eating a meal of squirrel and dandelions. Raewin’s long and beautiful rose-colored hair falls over her shoulders. Besides a small scratch on her cheek, she’s perfect and healthy looking as ever. If only I could be like her. 

Corren on the other hand isn’t looking as good. He’s got a wound on his arm that’s obviously infected and is festering with, well lets just say it’s not pretty. His sand-colored hair is crusted with blood and grime. Still, he looks glad to be alive and in the game. 

I let out a sharp gasp as a robot explodes out of nowhere. One minute I was spying on Raewin and Corren and now I’m faced with this metal computer-programmed monster. It’s stainless-steel arms are sharp as a razor, and it’s red flashing eyes are the eyes of a demon. A split second later it’s charging me. The world around blurs and drains of color.

I’m on a flat plane of stark white nothingness, just me and the robot charging in slow motion. It’s coming towards me inch by heart stopping inch. My mind races with choices and actions to take. I know I can outrun it. If I do I could win the competition. I could please my mother.

The world comes back into focus and time. The robot races closer and closer. My feet feel glued to the ground by some invisible force. My plan to flee is completely assimilating in my mind, and yet, my body refuses the command. Some say that in dire situations your life flashes before you. It’s mostly true. 

I think of my family, my abusive mother. If I can get away fast enough I still may have a chance to win. If I win I can get... what? The question comes to me. If I go home Mother will just sign me up for more competitions. I can never please my parents, not the way Nina can. 

I picture Father watching me, telling me I’m can outrun death, that he and Mother created me to be a sprinter. Nina’s urging me to just win for Mommy. Mother’s yelling at me, letting me know in her spiteful voice, I’m smart enough to make a plan of escape. 

Well, Father, I am fast enough to run away, you chose the genes for strong long legs. Nina, I don’t care anymore what Mommy thinks of me. I’m no longer her robot. Mother, I’m smart enough to know winning won’t make you love me or make you proud. You will just use my win for your own glory. I’ve made up my mind.  

The robot rushes, arms open towards me, at the speed of light. I fly forward on wings light as air, finally free, waiting for the heart stopping embrace.        

Reviews

[Seshat Nidaba]

I'm truly fond of your name, is it the one you possess in real life Risha?

You truly do have the mind of an author. There is a depth and intrigue in your dialogue and narrative that I find very mature.

Your depiction of emotional themes freeily and your psychological description of relationships, is truly VERY entertaining.

[John F Carver]

Very good story. I was riveted to it all the way.

[Risha]

The ending on this story makes you feel joyful and sad at the same time. I wrote this for a school assignment and it gave me many questions as to what life would be life if your parents didn't love you. I've never liked the idea of suicides, but this was a little different.