Yep, having a career chosen for you was absolutely fantastic.
A big “44” glowed at the end of the hall, black digits backlit by white light.Theorchid-likebiohazard symbol bloomed around the block numbers with bewitching beauty, even though Aiden knew each petal symbolized death and destruction.
Haunting Holly appeared as Aiden closed in on numberforty-four, the only entrance in the long, brightly lit hall with its doors closed.“Hello and welcome to theEnd-of-Life Unit.Only authorized citizens and MediCenter employees are allowed entry.The Key Corp thanks you for your understanding and for your help in keeping our city and its citizenssafe.”
Aiden tugged at the too tight collar of his scrub top.“TheEnd-of-Life Unit?”
The hologram’s sterile smile was right at home in thebleached-
outcorridor.“That’s correct.Please place your cuff beneath the scanner.”She motioned to the panel at the side of the door.“All authorized citizens and employees will be granted entry.”
“Hang on.There must be some mistake.This is the morgue.”As he said it, he knew this was no mistake.Cath had put him here on purpose.
Haunting Holly clasped her hands in front of her hips and nodded.“Yes, you’ve reached the morgue.Or, as we like to call it, theEnd-of-Life Unit, orELU.”
Aiden stared at the overly chipper face and hollow eyes of the MediCenter’s seemingly omnipotent mega computer.“This can’t be happening.”He stumbled backward, reaching out for something to hold onto as his world slipped out from under his heavy boots.
The morgue?Thefuckingmorgue?That’s where Cath sent him?This is the place he was going to have to spend the majority of his life?No, not even just the majority of his life.He’d end up here after he died too.He was going to spend his entire earthly existencein this morgue.
Haunting Holly tilted her head to the side.Her hair fell away from her cheek, revealing a small, Key Corp–red gem dangling from her ear.The corporation really had thought of everything.Her delicate eyebrows lifted.“Please place your cuff beneath the scanner.All authorized citizens and employees will be granted entry,” she repeated.
Aiden held out his arm and didn’t stifle his groan when his cuff flashed green and the double doors slid apart with a quiethiss.
“Welcome, Aiden.”Haunting Holly walked backward into the reception hall, arms open as if these first steps of the rest of his life were something to be revered instead of reviled.She pointed to the glass reception desk gleaming like a crystal in the corner of the giant room.“Octavia will get you checked in for your first day.I look forward to assisting you during your career in theEnd-of-LifeUnit.”
Aiden paused in front of Haunting Holly and her clasped hands and brilliant smile, forgetting for a moment that she was what her name implied—a hologram.“You say it like it’s a good thing.”He stepped through her.As though he were in a rainstorm of color, light misted around him.He stared at his palms, painted Key Corp–red by Holly’s blouse.If he ever felt empty, he’d remember this.He’d remember Holly, all seeing, all knowing, all nothing.
Haunting Holly blinked out of existence—well,thisexistence—and Aiden was left gazing at the deep umber of his own skin.He cleared his throat, stuffed his fingers into his shallow pockets, and proceeded toward the giant crystal of a desk and the youngshort-hairedwoman seated behind it.
Octavia didn’t look up from the holopad balanced on one hand.Aiden stood there a moment, shifting uncomfortably in the silence.“Hey,I’m—”
The petite young woman held up her hand, stripping Aiden of his introduction.
“Okay,” he said, “I’ll just stand over here and wait until you’re finished doing whatever it is you’re doing.”
She let out an annoyed puff of air.“Do you not know what it means when someone holds up their hand like that?”With a flick of her wrist, she reenacted the move.“It means you need to stop talking, not switch subjects.”
Aiden pulled at the short sleeves of his uncomfortably small shirt.“Sorry.”
“It’s too late.”She tapped purposefully on the glass desktop.“I had the perfect conclusion to my paper, but it’s gonenow.”
“We’ll have time to do classwork down here?”Maybe it wouldn’t be as horrible if he had time to work on his studies.After all, he would be starting over...again.
Herglitter-linedeyes narrowed into sparkling slits.“No.I only had time to do my work because the guy I’m waiting on islate.”
“That’s me.”Aiden poked himself in the chest.“I’m the lateguy.”
Octavia pursed her lips, the pink slivers almost disappearing completely.“Yeah, I realize that.”Aiden waited in another awkward silence as she scanned her holoscreen.“You’re wearing the wrong scrubs,” she finally said, her vibrant blue eyes boring into Aiden.“Ours are blue.You’re wearing chartreuse.Surgical wears chartreuse.”
Aiden glanced down at his slightly too small scrubs.“They’re the only clean ones Ihad.”
“But we wear blue.”She gestured to her top as if doing so would magically change the color of his outfit.
Aiden tapped the toe of his boot against the floor.“I, uh, I’m not sure what you want from me.I didn’t choose to come here.This is where I was assigned.”
“Great.”She tucked her holopad into the front pocket of her top, shoved herself away from the desk, and took off toward the other end of the expansive reception room.“They’re always sending down idiots who have messed up their lives and are now here to mess upmine.”
Aiden stepped forward, paused, and then took another tentative step.“Am I supposed to followyou?”
