Chapter Four
Eric Morgan woke up, groggily, but was abruptly startled, when he viewed his surroundings. Steel tile floors, concrete walls, high-tech metal machinery, ropes binding him to a chair. He wasn't sure where he was, but he definitely knew one thing. This was not his bedroom. Or his other favorite place to sleep, Geometry class.
Looking around, he wondered if Amy was okay. "Amy?" he called out.
"Eric?" a voice called. He had a spark of worry, realizing that his sister, Tasha was tied up in the chair beside him.
"Are we the only people in here?" Eric asked her.
"Karen's here too. Eric, I'm scared," Tasha said. "If that Annie girl tries to destroy us, we'll be dead."
"And how did Jeanine come back?" Eric asked. "I thought she was dead."
"You wish," Karen said.
"Huh?" they both asked, wondering what ties that a girl like Karen could have to the girl who died two years ago.
"Haven't you heard?" she asked. "Annie was saying that twenty-three clones, even if she can delete their emotions and make them cooperate, is not enough."
"Isn't that why the organization is going to bring them together?" Tasha asked.
Eric winced. He hated the thought of Amy being with another boy, even if it wasn't by choice.
"Well, Chris told me that if they did succeed, they could make their children adults in only two days," Tasha shuddered.
"Oh, wonderful," Eric said.
"But why are we in a separate room all by ourselves?" Karen asked. "Wouldn't it be the Amys they wanted? And why would they want Aly? Don't they know she's imperfect by now?"
Eric shook his head. "The organization never found out that Amy Thirteen was made. When Amy Three died, and the organization didn't know, they assumed that Aly was Three. I don't think that they're aware that she's not like the others."
"Oh, we are aware, Eric," a voice declared in a charming French accent. "In fact, I do happen to know a great deal more than you do," Annie said, standing near his chair. "I could tell you if you would help us."
"Help you?!" Eric asked in astonishment. "Forget it lady!"
"But would you not like to be perfect, like us?" Annie smiled at him.
"Eric is fine the way he is, and so are we, so leave him alone!" Tasha braved.
"Oh, and I see your standard of perfect," she said, examining Tasha. "You have acne on your nose. And you have glasses! Braces, as well. Your physical ability is ghastly, and your appearance could use some help too."
Tasha looked hurt, and as her older brother, Eric had to stick up for her. "Don't you dare talk to my sister like that!" he yelled.
Annie returned her focus to him, as he struggled to untie his hands. "And I suppose you, a seventeen-year-old boy, with a 3.0 GPA, and lacking emotional perfection is about to take me on? You do need work," she shook her head sadly.
"What kind of work?" Karen asked grimly.
"Just a few adjustments," she said, eyeing Karen.
"And just why would we let you do that?" Karen asked.
"Have you ever wished that you could be superior to your friends?" Annie inquired.
"Well, I guess I might be able to join cheerleading if I had a better toe touch," she reasoned.
"And you, Eric," she said. "Up against East View High, your basketball team could seriously use a perfect boy. If they had one. And Tasha."
"Don't insult me again!" she pleaded.
"Perhaps Dwayne Hicks wouldn't have dumped you for Simone last year if you didn't need those glasses. And I will bet you that you would work out more if you had perfect genes. If you did, you could be the prettiest girl in school. Prettier than Simone. Or Amy," she whispered in her ear.
"No!" Tasha said.
"Fine," Annie replied. "I will see you later. I must see to the Amys. Jeanine, please reason with your friends here while I reason with the Amys."
The Amys will never give in to her, Tasha thought. Neither will I. However, Tasha had no idea what a little bit of technology could do…