Blue Blood

“The International Court of the Protection of Citizens has concluded that Dr Fournier is an imminent threat to society and has pronounced life imprisonment for her on the grounds of unethical medical practice and schemes against the government.” The prosecutor looks at me with a sneer, her severe face tinted with amusement. “Dr. Iris Fournier, we hence revoke your medical license and deem you ineligible for practice.”

 I look back to that incident, the incident that changed everything. 

“Prep OR 2, I'm on my way.” 

“What... What is this?”

“Doc, are... are you seeing this?”

Little did I know it would be the last time I would get to say that.

I feel my lawyer shake my arm. His eyes filled with sorrow and concern, but with knowingness. He knew he couldn't help me.  

“Fournier is it? I’ll need you to follow me now.” A short blond man says. I look back at my lawyer, who seems like a hoax. 

I follow the man to a black car, which takes me to a black helicopter, which takes me to a bright island, the black walls of the prison shining in contrast. “The brightest minds are the most dangerous.” They said during the hearing. I can see that now. As I walk through the prison, it seems so different from anything I've ever seen. The floors are pristine white, so are the walls, strikingly distinct from the outside. 

I’m led to my cell, and I see someone. A tall woman. She turns around, and my heart sinks. “Eve...How-?” I breathe. “I knew you’d end up here too.” She laughs. “I thought you were dead,” I say, shocked.

“So are you now. Looks like you have uncovered the truth. There is no place for people like us.”

“What happened Eve?”

The door shuts, and she's gone again. I hear another voice, the worst one I’ve heard, one I know all too well.

“Why are you here?” I speak, annoyed.

“Iris, I'm afraid we’ve got off on the wrong foot.” she smiles.

“You mean putting me in jail for doing my job?”

“I have saved you tremendous pain, you found out something you shouldn't have.”

“That half the humans we see are not humans after all? I think those 4 billion people have a right to know.”

“The weaker ones won’t be able to take it, Iris. There is a reason why. You can help me set them free.”

“Through genocide?” I scoff.

“No…” I hear a gunshot, feel a bullet through me. Eve.

There is no blood on my body, but the lawyer lies lifeless, blue blood staining her shirt.

I turn to see Eve, her eyes shining. 

“How am I not dead?”

“Do you think they put you in here because you found out about the blood? We all know that. We’re here because they can't control us.”

I see thousands of long-lost people walk up to us from their cells.

“Welcome home, Iris.”