Tell Me The Truth, My Love

Tucker moved quietly through the hall, his steps light against the cold metal floor.

The corridor stretched ahead, dimly lit by the emergency glow strips along the walls. He glanced behind him.

No one.

He exhaled, then kept moving to the kitchen.

Tucker peeked his head inside. The room was still, the only sound was the faint hum of the air vents.

“Lien?”

A shadow in the back shifted. She appeared from the other side of the fridge, eyes cautious at first. Then they softened.

“Tucker!”

He stepped inside and they embraced each other.. “I got your message.” he said. “What’s wrong?”

Lien hesitated. Then, quietly—“Nothing.”

Tucker frowned but didn’t push. He wanted her to speak when she was ready. He walked to the sink, leaning against it.

Lien followed slowly. Then, without a word, she turned and leaned her back into his chest.

His arms wrapped around her, instinctively. He kissed the top of her head.

“We’re gonna get through this,” he murmured. “We always do.”

“This time… it feels fake. Why do the most visceral things feel fake?”

“I don’t know. Sounds like something Akira could answer.”

She chuckled, but it was soft, distant.

Tucker stroked her hair.

“It’s all so different now,” she whispered.

“It doesn’t have to be.”

She paused for a moment. Then she took a deep breath.

“So they didn’t tell you to kill me?” she asked.

His body stiffened. It was like a shot to his system.

Lien didn’t move. Just waited. Waiting for his next move. A response. Anything.

Slowly, he unwrapped his arms from her.

She turned, staring into him, searching.

“I would never hurt you.” Tucker said finally.

“That’s not what I asked.”

A beat of silence.

“How would you even know that?” he asked.

“Because,” she said with her voice trembling, “I was given the same instructions.”

Tucker stared at her. His stomach turned, cold.

Lien shook her head. “We’ve been together so long. I feel so close to everyone.”

“Half a year with the same people will do that to you.”

Lien stepped back. Walked toward the other side of the room.

Tucker followed.

“This isn’t a joke,” she snapped. “How could they ask us to do something so… horrible? Like it’s nothing?”

“Dr. Martinez said we’d figure out a plan together.”

“And you believe him?”

“He’s kept us glued together so far.”

Lien looked down at her feet. “I… I have to tell you something.”

Tucker studied her. “What?”

“I’m afraid of going back.”

“You’re afraid? Don’t worry about it. I won’t let anything happen to you, I promise.”

Lien swallowed hard. Then she took a breath.

“No, I…I’m… afraid of re-entry.”

“Why?”

Lien exhaled slowly, steadying herself.

Then—

“Tucker… I’m pregnant.”

His breath caught.

Shock. Pure and absolute.

His mind wanted to race but where was it to go?

They were just teenagers.

They weren’t supposed to be biased to one another, let alone intimate. Now, he was going to be a father? At a time like this?

Lien’s gaze searched his face, waiting, bracing.

Then he moved.

His hands found her face, cupping it gently. Then he kissed her. Deep. Strong.

She melted into him.

They loved each other. What else were lovers to do?

Then came a voice from the entrance.

“Jack?”

They broke apart instantly as if nothing ever happened. Each other’s spit was still wet on their lips.

Akira stood in the entrance.

For a long moment, no one spoke.

Then Akira scratched the back of his head. “Sorry… I, uh… thought Jack was in here.”

“You don’t know where he is?” Tucker asked.

“No. And from the looks of it, no one followed the doctor’s advise.”

“I guess not.”

There was a long pause.

“I didn’t see anything,” said Akira.

“I have no idea what you’re talking about.” Lien said. Her face instantly red.

Tucker cleared his throat. “Look, we should all get together and just decide what to do as a team. Together we have the leverage to demand whatever we want.”

“That’s a good idea,” said Lien.

“Ok, well I’ll try to round everyone up.” said Akira. “I just need to know what to say. The doctor told us all to stay in our rooms and we didn’t follow orders.”

A puzzling look overcame Lien’s face. “Wait, if everyone has left their room, what was Dr. Martinez doing?”