Free CHOSEN: A Paranormal, Sci-Fi, Dystopian Novel by A. Bernette

she’d wind up spending there.
    When
the twins were around nine, the glass had to be replaced after an incident of
them running into the lab. Stella had rolled one of the heavier chairs and
slammed it into the desk causing it to crack across the top. 
    The
crack had started small, but over time had grown to where Mave couldn’t put
pressure on it or even focus with it always staring back at her. The
replacement took them nearly two months and during the wait they laid a piece
of metal sheeting over the desk, which was more of an abomination to her senses
than the broken glass.
    Stephen
stopped at the door. “Good morning, Aunt M.” He never came into the work room
if someone was there without some kind of announcement or greeting, as if in
need of permission.
    Mave
turned around, saw Stephen, and smiled her big smile. “Well, good morning to my
favorite boy in the world. Come on in.”
    Stephen
didn’t move for a moment, his face seemingly blank. He loved Mave. She always
made him feel special, wanted, and needed. He couldn’t remember a time when
Mave wasn’t around.
    Stephen
walked casually over to where Mave stood near the coffee machine, fumbling with
a pouch of coffee and a large container sitting underneath the machine.
    Despite
the fact that they were not of the same blood, Mave was closer than any other
family, outside of those on the ARC, and she had no children, nieces, or
nephews. She found a quiet satisfaction in being called Aunt M.
    “I
spoke to Stella today. She’s enjoying herself. She’s met more people like her.
She is the only person she’s met there who has been to Antarctica.” Stephen
paused as he glanced around the room. “Where are mom and dad?”
    “They
are in the lab doing some testing. Do you need them?” she asked.
    “Yes,
I have to pass on messages from Stella and I need to help them today.” he
added.
    “Oh,
that’s too bad. I was hoping you’d work with me today. I’m waiting on some test
results but they’ll be finished soon, and then there will be plenty of work to
do.” Mave stopped to check the time on the wall behind her and walked back to
her desk. “Tell them I made more coffee.”
    “Okay.
I will help you later if I finish up with them in time.”
    Stephen
walked through a door, down winding steps to the small room with control panels
measuring the temperatures, pressures, and oxygen levels. He slipped off his
shoes, put little booties on, and then he went into the small white decontamination
chamber.
    The
fluorescent bulbs were engineered to kill bacteria that might be harmful in the
lab. The small chamber had a second luminescent bacterial disinfectant that scanned
the entire person and any objects being carried.
    Once
both doors were closed Stephen stretched his arms out and he waited for the
three beeps that would tell him the scanning was about to begin. He closed his
eyes, took a deep breath and held it, counting to ten in his head. One. Two.
Three. Four. Five. Six. Seven. Eight. Nine. Ten.
    Everyone
told him he didn’t need to hold his breath, but he couldn’t help it. Three more
beeps signaled that the scan was complete. Stephen exhaled and then pressed the
button for the door leading into the sterile lab. This was Rupert’s main domain
when he wasn’t in the larger science workroom with Mave. Windows at the top of
the lab let light in from the ROC room.
    Going
through the lab he found his way to the door that opened into the ROC room. It
was covered with windows on the outward facing side that started at two feet
from the ground and rose to the ceiling. From here they had a full view of the
ocean.
    Along
the bottom of the walls were three tunnels leading into the ocean for further
observation and sample collection. His father had designed it that way to ensure
they could continuously collect and monitor water samples, measure water
vibrations, ocean floor vibrations, water levels, and monitor ocean life.
    When
it wasn’t being used for work it was