Welcome to the dystopian world of Fluorescent Frost. Where genetic disorders are rampant and one doctor goes to unethical extremes in the pursuit of humanity’s next evolutionary steps.

“Jax, this isn’t a good idea. I’m not ready to meet your mother.” Abrielle pleaded. She was always overthinking everything. I yanked my hands out of my gloves, my dark skin a striking contrast to the heavy snow carpeting the ground. Combing my hands through my black dreads I breathed deep and took her hand in mine.

I gently brought it to my lips and kissed her fingers. “She’s excited to finally meet you. We can’t put this off forever Brie.”

“You may think the world of her, but I…”

“You two have your differences sure, but you also have something in common.”

Brie lifted an eyebrow at me, “Oh?”

“You both have me.” I pulled her in for a hug and felt her burrow into my arms. When we pulled away I cupped her face, “Can you please just trust me on this? I promise the rumors about her aren’t true.”

She nods and falls in step beside me. Snowflakes drifted past the neon street signs and graced our heads. The moonlight brought out the amber highlights in Brie’s hair and reflected on her fair skin. She’d chosen a beautiful emerald lace blouse with a long black skirt. Even though dinner was at the penthouse, she’d still insisted on getting dressed up. One of the many things I loved about her was her confidence. The woman wore what she wanted and did as she pleased with little worry on what others would think of her. 

That being said, it didn’t mean I didn’t worry about her. It was important that they got along. I love my mother, but I knew she could be a bit obsessed when it came to her work. The same work that Brie was petitioning against. She was set to meet with the president in a week. 

Brie pulled her hand from mine and stuffed it into her pocket, “I can’t understand how your body is always so cold. Your hands are like icicles.”

A frown weighed my expression down, it was the one thing I was self conscious of, and the one thing I despised about myself. No one could figure it out. Doctors said it had something to do with the blood flow in my body, my heart beat extremely slow. Many of them didn’t know how I was still alive. I didn’t care about the how, I was just grateful for every day I was still breathing. And every day I got to spend with Brie.

We reached the skyscraper after a few blocks and took the lift to mom’s penthouse. As we walked up to the door, Brie stroked her hair with her hand and smoothed her skirt. It was her nervous habit, and I found it adorable.

“She’s going to love you Brie.”

I knocked and she put her favorite smile on. The door opened, “I was beginning to worry Jax. Thought you love birds got lost in the snow.” She turned to inspect Brie with her intense gaze, an eyebrow lifted. “And this must be Brie.”

“Hello Dr. Stembrooke.” 

They shook hands and mom stepped aside to let us in. I hung our coats and we made our way to the dining room. It was obnoxiously extravagant. The table could seat eighteen easily even though no one other than mom and I normally sat at it. A crystal chandelier hung from the high ceiling, lighting the room in shimmering soft light. But the most stunning feature of the room was the two massive walls made out of windows that overlooked Novanex. The city spread before us for miles, each person below looking like a bug from this high. My chest tightened as I quickly looked to the floor. Ground. Solid. Sturdy. Ground. It wasn’t going anywhere. I was fine. I was okay. I was safe. I glanced back out at the city, it’s not like the windows were going to break. The wind wouldn’t swoop in and drag me out. I wasn’t going to fall a hundred stories. This fear was infuriating. It wasn’t even rational.

“Jax?” Brie’s concern rang in her voice and pulled me back. I offered her a half smile and pulled a seat out for her before taking my seat with my back to the windows. Not seeing gave me some semblance of peace. I felt Brie’s hand wrap around mine and give a gentle squeeze. 

When mom took her seat, she turned to Brie, “I hope you like stuffed quail. Jax has been so secretive about you, I’m afraid I know nothing about you, not even your favorite meal. I would have had the chef make it special. If only I’d known.” She let the words hang in the air, an accusation directed toward me. 

“I told you mother, I wanted to see where things went with Brie before I introduced her.” Why did she always have to push? She always assumed I was going behind her back, intentionally leaving her in the dark. 

“Oh? Things must be going well?” 

I caught Brie’s smile out of the corner of my eye as I nodded. 

Several servants entered with various trays of food or decanters. Conversation paused while our plates were set before us. The quail was slow roasted and rested on a bed of mashed potatoes. Braised carrots and broccoli added some color to the dish, making it look all the more appealing. Both Brie and I bowed our heads, I spoke a soft prayer of thanks before looking up to see my mother’s scowling face. 

“I see you’re still obsessing over that childish religion.”

“My beliefs are my own mother. Let me have them.”

She turned to Brie, “And you follow the same passive god in the clouds?”

“Actually I believe that He is living inside me and other believers. An active and omnipresent deity who is always moving for our good.” That fire for her faith, it was another thing I found incredibly attractive. When I met her at university, I knew nothing about her religion. But she was always so open about it, she invited me to church for our first date. It was a unique request and I was head over heels for her, so I obliged. Not that I would tell my mother that Brie was the reason for me finding the faith.

Mother scoffed and rolled her eyes. “I refuse to believe in something so abstract. I am a scientist, facts are my religion. And the fact is there’s no proof.”

“There is proof. But even if God were to come walk the Earth for you to see and feel, it wouldn’t be proof enough for you, would it?”

My gut twisted, don’t get me wrong, it was impressive to see Brie hold her own, but this night was already tense before religion was brought up. “Why don’t we table the faith discussion. We don’t need to agree with each other.” They both sent me dangerous looks that made me snap my mouth shut. 

“So Brie,” Mom’s tone shifted to one of forced politeness. “What do you do for work?”

Taking a sip from her wine glass, Brie matched with her own quiet civilness. “I’m a case worker for the judicial court system.”

“And what kind of cases do you work?” The question came from mom like a sheet of ice. Cold and short.

Brie spared a glance at me. With an exacerbated sigh, she turned back to my mother’s challenge. “I’m working to regulate experimental testing, specifically on human subjects.”

“You mean you’re threatening to end everything I’ve worked for and put a stop to us finding cures for genetic disorders that have plagued ninety percent of the population?”

“Mother, please.” My attempt to defuse the situation only riled the women up.

“You can’t seriously think that the way you’re going about things, experimenting on humans, on children, is the ethical way to do things?” Brie snapped.

“Don’t you think I tried other ways?” Mom stood, kicking her chair back against the windows. “This is the only way that works.”

“Only that it’s NOT working Dr. Stembrooke. How many have you cured?”

My mother remained silent, her nostrils flared with rage. 

“Exactly. Now tell me how many you’ve killed.”

“Jax, how can you be with someone like this? An arrogant, self-righteous child with a saviour complex?”

Brie forced a smile, “Funny I was going to say the same thing about you.”

I raised my hand, “Enough. Please.”

The women looked at me with a pair of sour scowls. But they holstered their insults as we began to eat. I made my mannerisms obvious for Brie, who’d never had to deal with multiple forks on a table before. While mother had opted out of serving salad, she would never host without dessert. With a silent nod to Brie, I picked up the fork to the left and ignored the dessert fork resting above my plate. She followed my lead and we all began cutting into our quail in silence.

Brie, kind hearted as she was, broke the quiet with a more neutral question. “Jax tells me you did your professional studies in Luxnerve? I’m interested in studying law there. Would you recommend it?”

“I certainly would. Luxnerve only accepts the brightest students and produces some of the greatest leaders Novanex has ever seen. If you make it in, you have to go. Whatever it takes.” Mother prided. 

With a smile Brie agreed, “I submitted my application a few weeks ago, I should be hearing back any day now.”

“Oh you’d meet all the right people at Luxnerve. That’s where I met my assistant Lucas Rigger. He’s got some wonderful theories and has even helped with some of my most unique cases.”

Brie’s expression turned into a hard line again, “I’m sure he has.”

Mother took a moment to chew before swallowing and continuing, “Have you ever had any political aspirations dear?”

I choked back a laugh. Brie? A politician? She’d mop the floor with the emperor and his council. There’s no way she’d want to kick that hornet’s nest.

“I have thought about it.” Brie gave me a stern look and I turned my attention back to my food. “But I don’t know how much pull a politician actually has at making a difference anymore.”

Mother agreed, “Quite right. But if you go to Luxnerve, you would have a real shot if you decided to pursue it later.”

The rest of the meal was uneventful. Mother asked me about my studies at university, she of course had to mention how she’d wished I’d taken the scholarship to Luxnerve and followed her dream for me. A surgeon. That’s what she wanted me to be. But my passion was neuro chemistry not anatomy, and I was certainly not interested in genetic alteration surgery like my mother. While she believed that changing one’s DNA was the cure to all genetic disorders, I saw things different, on a chemical level. Certain disorders, whether genetic or not, occurred from chemical imbalances in the brain and/or body. My belief was that pharmaceuticals could be a viable option to easing symptoms and providing relief for the masses, without the high risks of surgery.

Soon enough, Brie and my mother were bonding over how much they both wanted me to succeed and find my place in this world. By the time dessert was served, I was ready for the night to be over. They’d gotten along well enough, all we had to do was survive the triple chocolate cake then Brie and I would be free to escape. 

Out of the peripheral, I noticed Brie hesitate. She pushed the dessert plate away and shook her head. “I am absolutely stuffed to the brim Dr. Stembrooke. You’ll have to excuse me if I pass on dessert.” She poured herself a few cups of water and chugged them in an almost desperate manner. 

“Brie. Are you okay?” I knew she wasn’t. It had to be her blood sugar, not that I wanted to bring that up here. If my mother knew Brie had diabetes, she’d become obsessed like always. I watched as Brie’s eyes began to gloss, and her movements slowed. She needed to get home, now. Her father would know what to do, he would know the best way to handle her hyperglicemia. 

I stood and pulled Brie to her feet, “I think it’s time I got Brie home. She’s had a long day, you can understand, right mother?”

“Well of course. But, is she not feeling well?”

Brie gripped my shirt tightly and whispered, “Don’t let her…”

Dipping down, I brought my arm up under Brie’s knees and lifted her into my arms. “She’s fine mother. She just gets tired sometimes.”

Brie’s eyes were fluttering closed now, her voice rasping and pleading, “She can’t… Please.”

“Jax.” Dr. Stembrooke blocked the door and narrowed her eyes at me. “What’s wrong with her?”

“Nothing.” I snapped. “There is nothing wrong with her, she is perfect in every way mother.”

“But her body isn’t. What’s her genetics?” It was a common question. Nearly everyone in Novanex had a genetic disorder. To ask someone their genetics was as customary as asking for someone’s last name. But when it came to my mother, Dr. Stembrooke, the question could sometimes mean a death sentence. 

I looked at my mother now. It was easy to imagine her back in her lab, donning her white coat. She was no longer looking at Brie like she was her son’s girlfriend. No, she was looking at her like a child being given a new toy, to play with, to poke and prod with as she pleased.

“Her genetics are none of your concern. I’m taking her home. Her father knows how to handle these episodes.” I charged her, ready to ram my way through her and out the door if I had to, but she stepped aside. I made my way to the street and flagged down a transport cab. From the communicator on my wrist, I messaged Brie’s father. Brushing the hair off her face, I held back tears, “She won’t have you. I promise.”

---

The funeral was trash. There were roses everywhere. Brie hated roses. At least she had. Before my mother killed her. Brie’s father pulled me into a deep hug. I stiffened. He had no right to sympathize with my sorrow. He may not have pulled the trigger, but he loaded the gun in my mind. It was his signature that gave my mother the right to operate. 

When he pulled away, his face twisted in grief. “I’m sorry.” His voice broke. 

But his apologies wouldn’t bring her back. No one could bring her back. I left him to greet other mourners, taking a corner seat in the small chapel. My mother dared to show her face, and had the nerve to sit next to me. Clenching my fists I struggled to corral my rage.

“Jax.” She spoke softly.

“Why are you here?”

“You need to come home. It will help you grieve.”

“You do not have a clue what will ‘help me grieve’.”

She put a hand on my shoulder and I stood to avoid her touch. 

“You shouldn’t be here.” My voice raised. People cast looks our way, but I didn’t care. Not anymore.

With a curled lip, she stood as well and snapped, “I didn’t kill her Jax. I tried to fix her.”

“She wasn’t broken!” I bellowed. “She was perfect in every way.”

“She was sick.”

“And you held that against her. You demand medical perfection or else you demand the opportunity to ‘fix’ them.” My hands were shaking. The stone walls of the church made a chill that began to set in my bones. Each muscle from my legs to my neck constricted. The tension became unbearable and I stumbled backwards.

“Jax?” My mother’s voice sounded far off.

With my back against the wall, I slid to the floor and began convulsing. Not again. Not now. Not with her here. She knelt over me and brushed aside my hair. 

“Leave me alone, this will pass.” I managed to growl through my gritted teeth.

“I can fix this. You’ll never experience these episodes again when I’m finished.” Her words were a distant whisper and I knew she couldn’t resist. I would be her next experiment. An lab rat for a procedure that has never succeeded.

NO AI was used in the writing of this post.