Snippet #2100020

It was a small room, with few furnishings, but it was the only thing Ellisia could really claim for herself. Even the clothes in the tiny chest were picked for her for her by someone else, washed by someone else. Her body had been created by another person, to serve a purpose they chose for her; her mind, but a borrowed scrap from a stranger who was still closer to her than most anyone else. And her soul…did she truly have one? Did anyone else ever wonder about that? She paused, pressing a hand to her chest, feeling her heartbeat. Surely that must be borrowed, as well. Though she knew the room did not truly belong to her, she was usually able to forget that, a blissful thing. After all, no one spent as much time in here as she did.

Now, she straightened the sheets on the bed, tucking them in securely, before laying the pale blue blanket across the mattress, plumping the pillow and arranging it carefully. She smoothed a hand across the fabric, dispelling any remaining wrinkles, and smiled. Ellisia loved when everything was just right, in its perfect spot. Turning, she folded her hands in her lap as she sat on the small stool in the corner, letting her eyes wander back and forth across the room, daydreaming. Someday she’d like to visit a field of flowers, one that stretched as far as the eye could see. She supposed it was a silly dream, to lie on the ground and watch the sky float by, smelling the sweet perfume and listening to buzzing bees, but it was the most beautiful thing in the world, to her. She’d seen something like that in a movie once, and she could almost pretend she was there, grass tickling her bare arms, the wind gently playing with her curls. But all dreams have to end, and this one was no exception.

“Ellisia?” Her brown eyes slowly found their way to the speaker, still lost in her imagination. He frowned, knowing this mood well. “Wake up, Ellisia. Are you listening to me?” She sighed, and closed her eyes, bidding silent farewell to her wish. When she met the scientist’s gaze again, her eyes were focused, clear, no longer lost in a happier place, and she smiled at him, a sweet, apologetic smile.

“I am sorry, I was daydreaming. Did you need me for something?” Ellisia stood, a question in her eyes. The Dr. Moore looked away, brushing a hand across his thinning hair, ragged at the sides. I need to get this trimmed, he thought, trying to distract himself. It was hard to not worry about this gentle girl, even if he knew she was only a clone, a clone created to serve a single purpose. There was a reason few people wanted to work with, or on, her- she was just too…too human, if ever such a compassionate human was to walk the earth, one with no ulterior motives, or unselfish desires. But surely even she, a clone of perfect innocence, was not that pure? No, he must leave those thoughts to his superiors. He merely cared for the girl, ran tests every once in a while, took her to her different appointments.

“It’s time,” he said, opening the door. He could see she did not fully understand, but she obediently walked outside, waiting for him to take the lead. As they walked down the hall, he explained, “You are to enter Bradley Lake’s mind, as you were told previously. The…the others are gathering.” Get it together, Moore! She’s an experiment! Oh, maybe I’m getting too old for this. Unnoticed, she nodded, a thoughtful expression upon her face.

“Of course. I am simply surprised that it took so long to come to this. Do not worry,” she added, placing a hand on his shoulder and ignoring his incredulous look. “I was made to do this.” She smiled again, an angel’s smile, comforting and warm. Unable to respond, shocked at being reassured by one of his own experiments, Moore merely nodded, thankful they were nearing the room they had been summoned to. Opening the door, he gestured for her to enter first. She hesitated, taking a deep breath, shoulders hunched, before stepping into the doorway, in view of the others. He entered behind her, ushering her to a seat. He stayed back, against the wall, feeling both guilty and excited, wanting distance from her and those unsettling eyes. He supposed it was simply her nature, but every time he looked at her, he was reminded of a small, trusting child, and forgot that she was physically 17, nearly a full grown woman, true age notwithstanding.

Ellisia, for her part, simply folded her hands in her lap, neatly and precisely, and watched all that happened around her with her eyelashes lowered, veiling her gaze.