Spring 2007 High School Edition
Corruption Chapter 1
Travis Hansen
Fiction (9th-10th)
Second Place
Canyon View High School
Teacher: Cody Christensen
The rain pounded against the window, and the wind howled like wolves as a young woman sat in her lab. A flash of lightning illuminated the room showing the woman in a more clear light, and another figure she was unaware of. Looking over her research she gasped and rose from her desk heading towards the door. She was just about to open the door when she heard a noise behind her. Turning she saw an open balcony. Cautiously she walked forward out onto the balcony. Looking down she was startled as someone grabbed her from behind and covered her mouth. She struggled and then fell still with a blow to the head.
“I could have some fun with you,” the figure, a man, said from behind her as he licked her neck. Involuntarily she shuddered as she imagined his face. She could see the yellow, rotten teeth falling, the shallow eyes, hear him as he smacked his lips in anticipation, feel as he began to trace his fingers up her arm. She began to struggle then felt him remove his fingers. Prepared for the inevitable, she waited. What she didn’t expect was to be pushed over an open section of the railing. Nor did she expect to land on a hover car. Her blood slowly began to pool around her until it ran down the side of the car mixing with the rain.
“Hello, are you Alex Drocken?” a police officer asked as Alex opened the door.
“Yes I am. Is there a problem officer?”
“I’m afraid I have bad news Mr. Drocken. May I come in?”
“Of course.”
“Mr. Drocken, I’m afraid something terrible has happened to your wife,” the officer began when they had settled into the living room.
“Cathlen? What’s happened? Is she ok?” He fell silent, holding his breath, waiting for the answer.
“Mr. Drocken. I’m sorry to say that your wife,” here he paused to settle his mind, “your wife is dead, Mr. Drocken. She was found late this evening after having fallen from a research balcony.” Mr. Drocken was shocked into silence trying to process what the words meant.
“Bu-bu-but what about the rails? She couldn’t have fallen off! The rails would have stopped her!” Alex tried to get up but fell down into his seat. His limbs felt like they were full of lead and his mind was full of fog.
“Mr. Drocken, the balcony she was on is used for research. There were no rails.” Rising to his feet he began to pace.
“No.”
“I’m sorry, Mr. Drocken.”
“She can’t be gone,” he whispered, his voice steadily getting louder until he was shouting. “We were going to go on vacation. She was going to have a baby! She’s not gone!” Alex sunk to the floor sobbing as the police officer let himself out. After all, he was only a police officer; he didn’t know how to deal with this! After what felt like an eternity Alex picked himself up off the floor and contacted the local mortuary to see the body of his wife.
The sun was just peeking over the skyline as Alex arrived at the mortuary. Stepping out of his hover-car and walking towards the door, he braced himself mentally. Entering a room a few moments and a few turns later, he saw the body of his wife. Her hair splayed out around her and her pale face made a dull ivory color by the surrounding area. Walking forward on unsteady legs he began running his fingers through her bloodstained brown locks.
“I love you baby,” he muttered before feeling overbearing fury and slamming his hand against the wall. “Damn it Cathlen, why did you leave? Things were just getting better. We were going to have our dream finally. We were going to have a daughter! How can you do this? I don’t know what I can do. It was your idea to try after last time, and now you just leave me!” Turning back he once again laid his eyes on her peaceful face, imagining the emerald eyes. He remembered how her feather-light touches on his face felt, and he longed for them. He longed to have her back in his life. He longed for one more kiss. He longed to say goodbye.
“Mr. Drocken? I work for the mortuary,” a voice interrupted his tirade. “A few of your wife’s possessions are in storage. If you would come with me we can get them for you,” Standing slowly he turned to see an elderly lady standing in the doorway.
“I would like that ma’am,” he said in a haze. Following her out of the room, they arrived at a room marked RENOLDS in black letters several floors up. Opening the door he saw that it was a worn down office. Beckoning him into her office she sat down at the desk and motioned to the chair across from her. Opening a desk drawer she reached in, pulled out a small folder, and slid it across the table. Reaching in to the folder he removed a small holo-disk, “I have a holo-viewer if you would like to view that.” At his nod she turned on the built-in holo-viewer in her desk and left the room. After the door and clicked shut, Alex went to the other side of the desk and placed the holo-disk in the holo-drive. The three-dimensional image rose up above the desk, revealing what could only be his wife.
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