Chapter 4

            The next morning, Eden woke up early. It was a Saturday. She didn’t have school today; therefore there was no distraction from the issue of whether or not someone will come for questioning. She rolled over to see what time it was. 07:06. She tried to sleep in, but she could not fall back to sleep. Instead, she tried to recall what dream she had last night. Oh, that’s right a nightmare. She grunted. It was no wonder she had a nightmare; yesterday was full of dangerous and strange situations. She dreamt of the fear she felt when the policeman pinned her against the wall. She recalled an exaggerated scene in her dream in which Adam almost died fighting Matt, Jacob, and Mark. Then she remembered that shadow in the mirror. The shadowy eyes that were wreathed in red flame grinned at her. It was ever present in her dream. “Like how our rulers are ever present in my life.” She was so afraid of what may happen to her brother and herself. Adam was so nervous last night. She thought about his argument against Mark. Adam seemed so confident that he would be safe from the probing eyes and hands of the rulers. His actions and attitude after the fact suggested otherwise. Eden believed he was correct, though. Why would the officials take out one of their best computer scientists? There was no good reason. If they really did want protection from invasion and war, should they not keep Adam happy and safe?

She grabbed her stuffed creature that her mother gave her. She always grabbed it when she was nervous or thinking deeply. It was old, older than her mother. She learned that these creatures were called bears, and that they typically lived in forests. Eden wished that they were still alive. They seemed so cute according to the pictures she had seen and the stuffed animal she owned. She hugged her bear and closed her eyes. Her thoughts drifted from Adam to Abel. She wondered if he survived the night. He probably hates me now. When would she be able to call him back? Would he even come back? She took some comfort in the fact that no one had shown up yet. She figured that these government investigations would most likely happen in the morning. Her thoughts were getting more incoherent as time went by and she started dosing off again.

 

Eden didn’t know how much time had passed, but she awoke to a knock at the apartment door. She heard Adam’s muffled voice as he answered it. There was another man’s voice, and he did not sound friendly. She quickly got dressed and went out to meet Adam and the man.

“Citizen, you were caught out of doors after curfew. Do you deny these allegations?” The man spoke with no emotion.

“I was at my door just at the third horn finished.” Adam held his composure very well. Only Eden could recognize how nervous he was.

“Do you, or do you not deny that you were out of your assigned housing unit after curfew commenced?”

“It was only a few sec-“

“Comply with the question, Mr. Arborson.”

“What if I do not comply with answering the question?”

“In that case, you will be taken in for questioning within the day.”

“What happens if I do comply with answering the question?”

“You will also be taken in for questioning within the day.” The agent stood there, waiting for Adam to answer.

“I will wait to comply when I am brought in for questioning. You do know that I am a computer scientist who is not expendable, correct?”

“I have no part in deciding that, Mr. Arborson.”

Adam sighed. He ran is fingers through his hair, and then rubbed the back of his neck. “When they do come for me, can you inform them that I will come peacefully? I don’t want the neighbors to know that I was taken in for questioning.”

“I will present your request to the council. Good day, Mr. Arborson. We will see you soon. In the state, we believe.” He waited for Adam to reply.

“In the state, we believe.” Adam stated convincingly, though Eden could hear the begrudging tone that lingered.

The agent turned around and left. Adam watched him as he went down the stairs and into a dark vehicle. He closed the door and smashed his fist again the wall. “Dammit, dammit, dammit! DAMMIT! It was literally two seconds. TWO SECONDS. Two small seconds out after curfew.”

“Calm down, Adam!” Eden insisted. He has never been this emotional.

“Calm down? How do you expect that I can be calm with the present situation? I am going to be taken in for questioning. Questioning, E. That means I won’t be here. That means you will be alone with just the cat. That means- that means Goddammit!” He punched the wall again.

“They won’t find you guilty of anything. Just tell them the truth. Tell them that we were going to donate money and got mugged in the process.” She put her hand on his shoulder.

“Eden, you don’t know these people. You don’t know how they work. I am in the system. I know secrets and I have the ability to work with computers. They can see me as a threat. They may think that I am acting in espionage. Or they may just use that as an excuse to get rid of me. It is sad to say that just being a good worker and doing your job can make enemies in unknown places.” He relaxed a bit. “Honestly, I don’t know how long they can or will keep me. I’ve got to cool my head. I’m going to the grocery store to pick up some supplies and food for you while I’m gone.” He grabbed his sweatshirt and headed to the door.

“Should I go with you? You don’t seem like you should be out, especially if-” She walked towards the door.

“No. You need to stay here in case they comeback before I do. I should only be twenty minutes.” He didn’t wait for her to reply. He just left.

Eden stood there, staring at the door. What was going on with her life? Can’t we just catch a break once? She thought as she stared up at the ceiling. Within the last twenty four hours she was assaulted repeatedly, she abandoned her cat, and now she is losing her brother to the people trying to ‘protect’ the society in which she lived. She went to the kitchen to make breakfast. Abel wasn’t there for her to feed. What can I do? What is there to do? How can I remedy any of these situations? This was going to be a long day. This will be the last day she will see her brother for a long time.

Adam returned with a lot canned food, water, and plenty of bread. Eden greeted him, but he only replied with a grunt as he put the food away. “Eat this canned food when the perishables are gone. Hopefully, I will be back before you need to buy anything. That donation money will stay here. Use it for yourself along with the money I will leave here.” He turned back to her and they sat at the table in silence. “If anyone comes to question you, Eden, act ignorant. Cry, if you have to do so. They know you are young, so they should be lenient if it comes to that. You got into the door before me, so you may be safe. Damn, I can’t believe this is actually happening.”

“Adam. Everything will work out fine. Just keep telling yourself that. You are not guilty of anything.” She tried to sound as confident as he did last night.

“I know.” It was more than obvious that he didn’t want to discuss what the questioning would be like. “I talked to the land lady, Mrs. Hutchinson. She said that she will look out for you while I am gone. E, if you ever feel uncomfortable in our apartment, you can sleep in her place.” Adam was truly preparing for a long time away from home.

“Why do you think that they will keep you so long, Adam?” She inquired. Adam was always thoughtful and looking to the future, but this seemed different, somehow.

“I am just preparing for the worst situation.”

She just looked at him, expecting a more thorough explanation.

“That is honestly all it is.” He didn’t sound defensive, just tired and worried. “People sometimes don’t show back up for weeks when they get called in.” He thought for a moment. “Talk to your ballet instructor, Ms. Popov about how you are living alone now. Perhaps she can walk you home, or something.”

“Okay.” At the mention of ballet, Eden remembered the night before and shifted in her chair. That was not a bad suggestion. From now on, she did not want to leave her studio alone.

“What’s wrong?” His eyes were so deep and languid. It was apparent that he didn’t sleep last night. She could not tell him about the assault. That would only be the feather that breaks the camel’s back.

“This is whole situation broke up the family completely now. We won’t be together for a long time.” She redirected her discomfort to this hideous truth. She won’t have Adam to rely on anymore, at least, not for a long while.

He smiled half-heartedly, his face still drawn. “Come on; let’s play cards, just like when we were kids.” He went to one of the kitchen drawers and took out a deck of cards. It was old. Most of the cards were bent, and many of them were discolored. They were around when her ancestors were still underground. So that is how they spent Adam’s final hours. They laughed about different situations and reminisced about when their mother and father were alive. Adam looked at his watch. It was already one in the afternoon. Just as he moved to say something, there was a knock at the door.

The blood in Eden’s face drained, and she went pale. Adam looked at her and went to the door. She was right behind him. He opened the door and there stood a young and chipper man. He could not have been older than Adam. He was dressed in a fine suit, and greeted Adam with an energetic handshake.

“Hello and good day! Mr. Arborson, I presume?” He smiled as if it was a crime to ever show anything but euphoria. His eyes were practically closed from the force from his cheeks. The smile that was stretched across his face wrinkled his pasty skin into harsh folds.

“Yes, I am Mr. Arborson.” Adam stated.  He returned the handshake with less enthusiasm than the man in front of him. “And what may I call you?”

“You may call me, Mr. Friend.” Adam eyed him suspiciously. “I know, ‘that is one interesting name,’ you might say. Well yes, but I think it captures who I am to all I meet! I am a friend to all.”

“Are you here to take me in? Or shall I invite you into my home, Mr…. Friend?” Adam preferred the robot of a man that showed up earlier.

“I would love to come in, thank you!” The man walked past Adam. “And who is this, fine young lady?” He took Eden’s hand. As he gestured to kiss it, she simultaneously started to shake his hand. He chuckled at the incident.

“I’m Eden.” She mumbled. She also felt uncomfortable around this man.

“Aaahhh I see. Is this your wife or girlfriend, Mr. Arborson? You know you really should tell the bureau about these things.” He shook his finger and looked back at Adam with a condescending ‘tsk tsk’ look, Eden noted.

“This, Mr. Friend, is my sister. The bureau should be aware that she has been in my custody since I was eighteen, and that she will remain in my custody until she is eighteen.” Adam clenched his teeth after this comment, and then relaxed a bit. “Of course, when I say sister, I do mean step-sister. I wouldn’t want to lie to you.”

“That is peculiar, indeed.” He said. He was looking around the house, expecting to be shown around. “May I have a look around?”

“You seem to be helping yourself to it, anyway.” Adam was on the verge of insolence. Who was this man? “Though, I would like to know why you are here. Could you tell me that, Mr. Friend?”

The man chuckled again, it was quite high pitched. “All in good time, Mr. Arborson. Shall I call you Adam?”

“Mr. Arborson is fine.” Adam walked ahead of him. “This is our kitchen.” He waved his arm. Eden could see that his was relaxing a bit, whether Adam knew it or not. In an odd way, Mr. Friend was helping slightly lift the uneasiness of the situation. He was rather humorous, considering the present state of affairs.

“I see.” Said Mr. Friend.

“Here is the broom closet, and these are the bedrooms.”

“Why are there three? You, surely, only need two, correct?” He walked ahead of Adam and peered into Adam’s room.

“Well, one of them was our parent’s room.” Mr. Friend obviously, didn’t take note of anything interesting in Adam’s room. He moved down the hall to the vacant room, nothing much in there.

As he moved to Eden’s room he asked “Oh, I see. What happen to them?” Eden’s room was just a bland as Adam’s; everything to be seen was seen at the door.

Adam sighed. “Before I give you my life story, tell me who you are.” Mr. Friend just casually brushed off the remark and opened the door to the restroom.

“They were murdered. Three simple words, Mr. Arborson.” Mr. Friend went to the kitchen and sat at the table.

Eden suddenly found this character more disconcerting than humorous. His voice changed to a dark and airy tone. He reminded Eden of her parents’ death and her eyes started to water.

“Come. Sit with me, you two.” Adam was no longer as liberal with his reactions to the man’s presence. “I am here to take you away Mr. Arborson.” The smile was gone, and the room went silent. “I’m sure that you already knew that, but I first had to inspect the premises. I had to make sure that you were not hiding anything. Alas, this is just another dwelling.” He looked around with disgust. “I don’t know how serious you think this is. Let me tell you. It is very serious.”

Eden looked at her brother. He was as stoic as ever. She saw his jaw clench as he held his unwavering stare at Mr. Friend. She turned to Mr. Friend, and looked at the menace of a man in front of them.