Kira carefully wriggled out of Asher's hold, the latter letting out a low groan as he grabbed her arm. "Where are you going?" he murmured, eyes still closed.
She leaned close to kiss his forehead. "Good morning! We have school today. Remember?"
"What time is it?" Asher asked, his voice raspy.
"5 a.m. You can sleep in if you want. I have work to do," she whispered, and he gently released her hand.
Murmuring a quick prayer, she turned on a battery-powered torch. Since the meteor crash five years ago, electricity had become a distant fantasy for their street and many other middle- and lower-class areas. Using the torch to navigate their one-bedroom apartment, she finished the chores they had left half-done the previous day.
Afterward, she stepped into the shower, shivering when the cold water hit her light brown skin. Asher still hadn't spoken to the landlord about the water issue.
With a heavy sigh, Kira resorted to boiling hot water on the stove before making breakfast—toast and coffee. When the sun began to rise, she returned to their bedroom, opening the curtains. The sunlight pierced Asher's eyes, prompting a yawn as he sat up.
"We're going to miss the bus; it's almost 6:30," Kira said as he reluctantly got out of bed.
Squinting, he followed her to the kitchen, where their dining table was.
"Thank you," he said, smiling as he took his serving of breakfast.
Unlike Kira, who was overly organized, Asher was quite the opposite. Though he helped out every day since they split the chores, she preferred to do most of it on her own.
"You haven't brushed your teeth," she pointed out quickly as she sat down at the table.
"I'll brush them afterward; I'm sorry." He shrugged, devouring the slices of bread.
Kira shook her head and focused on her meal while reviewing a few pages of their comic book draft. The young couple co-owned an indie comic book company, selling their work weekly at a bookstore in town. Asher did most of the drawings and character illustrations, while Kira concentrated on scriptwriting.
Their earnings funded daily activities, and since the government covered their education, they saved for other academic materials, rent, and minor expenses. To boost their income, Kira worked part-time at the local library, while Asher worked at a bakery on weekends, which covered their bread needs.
"Since we're going to print it today, why don't we go somewhere nice afterward?" Asher asked, taking a sip of his coffee.
"We have to go to church after school. I don't think we'll have time," Kira replied calmly. She glanced back at the table, opened a journal, and began drafting a mini shopping list for supplies, her fingers trembling as she gripped the pen.
He stretched his hand across the table, reaching for hers. She placed her hand in his, and he caressed it warmly with his thumb. "Are you scared?"
She hesitated, then whispered, "Yes... it's tomorrow, Asher."
Kira dreaded the Vortex testing days more than anything. Beyond the blood tests and the numerous robots and scientists guarding the scene as if they were fugitives, she loathed the idea of joining the academy. While other students prayed for the chance to gain powers like the Vortex alumni, Kira and Asher prayed against it.
Their goal was simple: to test negative for all Vortex assessments until Kira turned 20 in two years and Asher turned 20 the following year. Once they passed the test, they'd leave Brooklyn for any university in England and further establish their business. That wouldn't happen if they were confined to an academic institution, trained like soldiers.
"It's okay; we won't get tested. Besides, none of us have symptoms yet."
"But what if we do? What if you do? They'll take you away from me," she whispered, tears welling in her eyes.
Asher's chair scraped against the tiled floor as he pushed it aside, moving to her side and squatting down in front of her. His blue eyes met her brown ones as he gently held her hands.
"No one's taking me away from you, and you're not leaving me either. We'll get tested tomorrow, and it'll be negative, okay? Just stay calm." He wiped her tears as she nodded.
"I love you," she said, giving him a small smile.
"I love you more," he replied.
Minutes after breakfast, Asher walked to the bathroom. After brushing his teeth, he removed his shirt, revealing a slim, toned and tatted torso. He stretched his arms in preparation for basketball practice when he noticed something reddish imprinted on his skin. He examined his hands as his eyes widened in disbelief.
"This can't be happening," he muttered.
Asher hastily showered and got ready for school, wearing a long-sleeve sweatshirt over his jeans to conceal the rash. His mind lingered on it throughout the bus ride and the first three classes. He tried to stay focused and less suspicious as Kira held his hand beneath their desks. Normally, he initiated contact, but fear of infecting her kept him withdrawn.
"Prescott! Keep your head in the game!" Coach Grayson yelled at him during basketball practice. His mind raced with odd possibilities of what could happen if he was actually positive with the virus. The sweatshirt he wore over his jersey made it harder to play, and his fears multiplied every time he glanced at Kira watching from the bleachers.
Before the Vortex divided mutants into factions, their world had been shared in various halves, and every organization played along with the "battle of the fittest" rules.
Teens who fled from foster homes after the apocalypse turned savage and preyed on others to survive; they were known as Strays. The older ones who were out of foster care either had jobs or stayed in Internally Displaced Persons camps where they were fed. Being a member of the physically weak faction, Kira relied on Asher for protection from Strays; he never let her leave his side for any reason.
After missing the hoop again, Coach Grayson asked Asher to leave the court while a substitute replaced him. Letting out a sigh, he gritted his teeth and headed to Kira, who was holding their bags.
"Come on, let's go," he urged, taking both backpacks from her. "Bye, Coach!" Asher waved to the dark-skinned man.
"Good luck, Asher! I'll see you tomorrow. Hopefully, neither of you gets enlisted by the VORTEX," Grayson said, sharing his hopes.
"They won't. Goodbye." Kira smiled as Asher held her hand.
"Goodbye, Kira!" Grayson called as they turned to leave.
Their next stop was the church, a barely standing structure with partially broken pillars and a leaking roof. While Kira prayed that God would protect them from the mutagen, Asher fervently hoped that the rash would disappear and that it was merely a mistake.
After dinner that night, he stepped into the shower after Kira had fallen asleep. He let the cold water drizzle on his skin as he became lost in thought. What if he tested positive and she tested negative? Since he met her during the apocalypse, she had been the only person holding his crumbling world together after he lost his parents. They had been through so much together as a team, and now she was a vital part of him. How would he cope if she left? More importantly, how would she manage if he left?
He shook off the thought, deciding to focus on the positive side of things. Who knows? It could be allergies. But life seemed to drizzle salt on his wounds when he caught sight of a long trail of dark purple veins on his arm. His breath hitched as he quickly put on his pajamas.
Asher turned on his laptop at the study table, the screen casting a glow on his worried face. He clicked on the browser and checked for the Vortex's website, skimming through it. Holding his breath, he clicked on the tab labeled [UPDATED MUTAGEN SYMPTOM LIST — please report to your academic advisor immediately if you develop any of these symptoms].
Breathing quickly, Asher scrolled through the webpage. His heart raced as he read carefully. His worries slowly eased as he determined that his symptoms didn't relate to other factions—until he reached the Vipers.
[VIOLET LEAGUE — VIPERS]
— Fingernails hardening or elongating into claw-like structures.
— A tingling or burning sensation in the hands or mouth, especially when angry.
— Faint purple veins or discoloration appearing under stress.
— A red, irritated rash forming on the hands, often worsening with heightened emotions.
— A sudden aversion to specific scents or tastes as their venom develops.
— Reflexes becoming unnaturally fast, like a striking snake.
"F_ck no!" he cursed, slamming his hands on the table. His heart raced as despair clouded his face; another symptom. His body trembled as tears trailed down his cheeks while he leaned on the chair, glancing at the screen and contemplating his next move.
"Babe?" Kira's voice broke through his haze, and he quickly changed the tab, wiping his tears away as she turned on the light. Luckily, there was power that night, which usually lasted for two days until the next week.
"Hey. Sorry if I woke you," he said weakly. Kira walked over and sat on his lap, wrapping her arms around his neck while he secured her waist with one arm. She yawned quietly before gazing deeply at him. "Are you okay?" she asked softly, a quality he cherished about her. Asher always tried to keep her happy; the idea of making her angry or causing her to cry was unbearable.
"Yes, yes. I am," he lied.
Kira sensed something was off but decided not to press the issue. He would open up at his own pace. She rested her head on his shoulder as he clicked on YouTube.
"What were you watching?" she asked.
"Just random shorts," he replied.
They scrolled through a few YouTube videos until Kira drifted back to sleep. Asher carried her to bed, lying next to her on his back, staring at the ceiling as she turned in her sleep, resting her head on his chest and intertwining her leg with his. His heart fluttered, but tears brimmed his eyes at the thought that this might be their last night together.
"They won't take me away from you," he whispered.
The next morning, he tried to engage as he rose earlier than she did; he barely slept. He finished her chores and went downstairs to talk to the landlord about the hot water, paying him extra to get it fixed alongside an advance on the rent and electricity bill. No matter how hard he tried to fight it, part of him knew he was going to leave, and the innocence in her eyes while she got ready for the event pricked at his heart.
Kira wore no jewelry due to VORTEX lab rules, opting for a plain blue strapless dress and a white wool cardigan to cover up.
"You're always so beautiful," Asher complimented as he helped her arrange her long braids. She laughed before adjusting his collar and raising her legs to kiss him lightly on the lips. Asher leaned closer the moment she pulled away, claiming her lips again with fervor, softly and gently nibbling at her full, round lips as a tear trailed down his cheek. Maybe this would be the last time he experienced this with her.
She slowly broke the kiss, and his eyes offered her slight reassurance that everything would be okay, and that they'd return home with good news.
She cupped his cheek and wiped his tear away with her thumb. "It'll be okay."
"It will," he replied, smiling bitterly.
---
The basketball court served as the test lab for their school. Parents hugged their children goodbye; the apocalypse had ruined the finances of many families. Everyone wished that their child would be chosen and ease their burden.
Kira and Asher walked into the makeshift lab, hand in hand, as several people glared at them. Aside from the undeniable fact that Asher was extraordinarily handsome and popular, which drew jealous glares from girls towards Kira.
People found it foolish for young couples to keep relationships, let alone live together as though they were married. Sooner or later, they would be separated by the VORTEX. But if a miracle occurred, their romance could blossom. In a world focused solely on survival and dismissing sentiment, Asher and Kira dared to cultivate their love like wildflowers on dry land.
The lab was filled with six large blood testing machines, about the size of vending machines. The testing process was relatively simple: males stood in two lines in front of their respective machines, mirroring the females. A VORTEX scientist stood by each machine; once the blood was collected, the sample would be placed in the machine, which would turn green for positive or red for negative. Positive mutants were to follow the soldiers waiting at the exit, where they would be kept in a large truck as they awaited the test results.
The school would maintain records of the positive results and update the list for the next test.
The smell of disinfectants and chemicals mixed with blood samples filled the room, and those who weren't strong enough quietly retched. After everyone was seated, an AI assistant, resembling a floating white orb, scanned the room to ensure that no one would dare to run away or hide. It hovered over Kira, settling there for a moment, causing Asher's heart to leap as he held her hand tightly. The orb moved on, and after its survey, it announced:
[All students in attendance, testing can commence.]
Asher gulped when his name was mentioned. It just had to be done in alphabetical order—he silently groaned.
Standing at the front of the queue with first names beginning with A, B, and C, Asher stretched out his other hand, trying to hide the one that bore the rash while the official carefully cleaned the area. Kira clasped her hands together, praying calmly, while Asher mumbled a prayer, his heart racing as his blood was drawn and placed on the testing machine. After a few seconds, the AI-powered machine uttered words that shattered his world.
[Asher Jamin Prescott. Positive. Faction: Viper.]