Chapter 4
.
Liz went on her big cross country trip. She swam in the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. She went to almost every MLB stadium, including the Montreal Royals and the Toros de Tijuana. She saw the northern lights and Hawaii. She partied and hooked up with a number of boys. It was fun, but she always had the nagging thought of what was coming. Every day her smartphone reminded her exactly how many days before May 6th. Liz wanted to see every MLB stadium before she died, the news season started in late March, and her death was scheduled for May 6th. The fear that Dr Conway warned her about was real, Liz began considering her options. Going into massive debt for the rest of her life frightened her more than death. Some human rights groups helped people like her. Occasionally they got the contracts voided, on the grounds that they were mentally ill. But then she'd still go into debt to pay back Lifecorps. Liz had heard rumors of an Underground that helped hide people from Lifecorps. But even if they took her to Canada or Mexico, and got help from sympathetic locals, Liz would still live in fear of the day when some police officer or Lifecorps bounty hunter would arrest her. Liz already lived in fear, she didn't want that forever. The only other option would be to win the lottery, but the odds were not exactly in her favor. Liz returned home for Christmas, it was good to see that Marie was doing well. It almost made it all seem worthwhile. Almost.
.
Allie: I heard one guy won the lottery and used the money to get out of his contract with Lifecorps.
Liz: Yeah. A part of me thought "Good for him, sticking it to the man." The other part of me thought "Why couldn't it have been me."
Allie: He's donating some of his proceeds to help others, people like you.
Liz: It would take four hundred thousand dollars to buy out one contract. So, after saving himself, even if he donates all his winnings, he could buy out another 24 people. Do you know how many people are awaiting their executions from Lifecorps?
Allie: A lot more than 24.
Liz: So maybe he can buy out much less than one percent of these contracts.
Allie: It's still something.
Liz: Maybe, but the odds aren't exactly in my favor. I'll keep buying tickets.
Allie: Have you thought about asking for help from the Underground?
Liz: Then I'd just be living in fear forever.
Allie: But you'd get to stick it to Lifecorps.
Liz: Good point.