A red haired woman ran down the rain soaked streets. Her high heels echoed in the other wise silent blackness. She was breathing heavily. Her once curly hair was now in tangles, full of leaves and mud. She hugged her body, trying to shield herself from the biting cold. Her run slowed to a walk and then to a standing position. She breathed in, trying to calm herself in the darkness of the night. She just stood there, thinking, crying maybe. The woman wasn’t sure if the rain was tears or the tears was her rain. She looked up, at a lone street light that shone down on her. Her gray eyes flickered with loneliness, fear and heartache. The girl leaned forward, resting on the streetlight, as if it was a friend giving a reassuring hug.

“He doesn’t love me.” She whispered to no one in particular. She raised her hands up and started wiping away the raindrop tears that formed. “He only sees me as a child.” She slid down the pole kneeling. Small sobs escaped her mouth, as rejection set in. She tried to rub away the tears but they never seemed to stop, no matter how hard she tried. A voice broke through the darkness, holding a cruel tone.

“I see no child here.” A small laugh escaped his lips. “Do you see a child my friend?” The girl’s gray eyes widen. She turned her head, looking at the two men, their faces covered in darkness. The other man laughed. “No child here, just a whore on the street corner.” The girls eyes widened even more, tears falling faster than the rain. She stood up, walking backwards. “No, please.” She looked at the two men, then turned, ready to run for her life. But strong hands grabbed her, pulling her towards them. She struggled, they held her tighter. She screamed, they shoved her into the wall. “Shut up!!” One of the men yelled as he slapped her across the face. She fell to the floor, dazed. The other man grabbed her by her hair, dragging her into the nearest alleyway. She held onto the man’s hand dragging her. “Oh god, please no. NOO!!!.” She screamed as her struggling body got pulled into the darkness. Her pleads faded away in the night, as did her life.

Error 05

*

“What is it? In remembering what we want to forget.”

“What can you forget, when you don’t even remember.”

“Are our memories valid? Or is it all fabricated.”

“Fabricated memories are just as valid as real memories.”

“Why are we so different?”

“Different is only the same in the end.”

*

Clare sighed a heart filled relief. She was looking down at a piece of paper. This wasn’t some ordinary paper. It was a notice paper, that she, Clare Donez, was not fired from her job.

"Oh thank god!" She had dodged a bullet, more like a cannon, or better yet a nuke.

The “layoff” had left many people without a job and many more without a life. She took off her glasses, as she leaned back in her chair. Her pink fluffy robe kept her warm, giving her a false sense of security. Clare was still working for the company and was promoted to the same area as Will, which made her very happy. But the lingering feeling of knowing she was close, made her wonder if someone stuck their neck out for her. 

She glanced over at the clock, noticing it was 8:00. In another hour, she would have to go to work, and help shut down Model Numbers 06-29. She felt sad about it but she put that thought out of her mind. The Model Numbers 06-15, looked un-human, almost falling apart with age. The 16-29, was a different matter, for they looked human and acted human. 

Clare knew though that it was all a program, nothing more. Clare had only been with the company for 8 years, two years less than Will. It was just that Clare was young, fell into a job opportunity that paid a lot of money and didn’t care what she did as long as it didn’t cost her life or her body. She got up and walked over to the TV. She turned it on, just for noise, because she didn’t like the quiet that echoed in her single apartment. Her mind wandered as she listened to the news being reported.

“Another body has been found today. This is the 6th victim this month. We fear that we have a serial killer on the loose. Its recommended that people travel in groups and to stay home at night. For those who work late hours…..”

Clare sighed, she wasn’t going to follow those rules. She already “knew” the said serial killer. Clare wasn’t a target but nonetheless, she wouldn’t walk out in the open like that. There still was the scum of the earth to think about. The ringing of the phone distracted her. She walked over to it and smiled when she saw the name on the phone. She picked it up with glee.“Hello Will. What do you need this morning?” She gave a chuckle as she blushed a little. “You are such a pervert.” She rested her elbow on the white tile of the counter. “Yes, I can pick you up, it won’t be a problem at all. See you soon.” Clare hung up the phone, humming a bit. She hadn’t felt like this since high school. She ran to her room to get ready.

*

Will hung up the phone. A small frown crossed his face. 

“So Rod, what is it that you want to talk about?” Rod’s red hair was turning white but his skin was tight around his face. “It’s the Module Number 00.” Will’s eyes widened but he kept his cool. 

“What about it?” Rod became angered. “HER! What about her.” 

Will swallowed hard. “Sorry…what about her?” 

Rod grabbed the coffee mug in front of him, slowly taking a drink. “She’s reacting. If I had known sooner, I would have done it quicker.” 

Will stood up fixing his tie. Rod was on his rant again, something Will chokes up to being old. “What do you mean Rod?”

 “Number 88. If I had only had people killed quicker, 88 would have come sooner.”

Will was becoming uneasy about the talk, he was afraid Rod might go on a killing spree. Then again he already was and had done so in the past. “But Rod, if you had rushed you might have not gotten the results you needed.” Rod looked up at the younger man, looking up at him like Will was a saint. 

“Will my boy, if I hadn’t had you around, I don’t know what I would do.” Will begged to differ on that but he wasn’t going to tell his boss that. More so when he wasn’t stable mentally. Rod glanced over at the clock, then back at the mumbling old man. 

“Rod, what is 88 to 00?” 

“The connection is never ending. Eternity” He stared blankly on. Will noticed and felt concerned. The guy may be a nut job but he did need to know someone cared for him. Will walked over to his closet, grabbing a blanket. He walked back over to Rod, handing it over to him.

“I want you to stay here for today. You look tired and a little sick. No one will know you’re here, so you shouldn’t be bothered.” Rod took the blanket slowly. He looked up at him and smiled. 

“Thank you my boy. You always take care of me. Ever since Sarah died.” Rod rested his head on the couch he was sitting in, slowly drifting to sleep. Will was confused. He didn’t know Sarah. Will headed for the door because he didn’t want Clare to know Rod was here. He looked behind him before locking the door. Dancing on the edge of a knife was something he never intended to do, but with his job, he’s on the tip.

*

A young boy listened to the intercom above.

“ Programmers report to the technical department. Model Numbers 06, 07, 08, 09, 10, 11, 12, Report to technical department.”

23 stared blankly at the metal box with holes in it. He felt heavy. Having his creator telling him he is going to be shut down, scared him. 23 wasn’t meant to be scared, he wasn’t meant to feel that. The people behind him moved, complaining about the job before lunch. He turned around, looking lost. He wandered around, looking for a familiar face. One that he once called mamma. His fear became a frantic run as he searched the crowd for the person that use to hold him close. Pleading sorry over and over again. He stopped when he heard her voice.

“Coffee!"

23 ran to her in a full sprint, clinging onto the hem of her shirt. The woman looked down, a bit annoyed by what was next to her. She shook her head, clearing her thoughts.

"23, what are you doing?" The woman sounded stressed now. "I didn't program you to do this..." She tried to shake him off, but his soft, broken voice reached her ears.

"Don't let them kill me mama." 23 leaned into the woman, looking up at her with his bright green eyes. Tears welling up and flowing over their edges. The woman became pale, as she looked on in shock. Her own voice just above a whisper. 

“Why? Why are you crying?”

*

“Model Numbers 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, and 20, report to the technical department.”

Number 88 looked onward as the loud crowd barked angrily at each other. Many people found out about the untimely death of their fellow coworkers, many 88 helped dispatched himself. 88 started walking, as no one was giving him orders at the moment. He didn’t know where he was walking or why he was walking in the first place. All 88 knew was that he was being called. The metal clank on the floor was dulled by the panicked scientist. They feared if they didn’t follow orders, they’d be the next victims.

88 wanted to laugh. Laugh at what, he wasn’t sure. At the hysteria, at the emotions forming inside him. 88 didn’t know, nor did he want to. The voice in his head, wouldn’t leave him alone. It was driving him crazy. Crazy was something he was not used too. Something he’d rather leave dead. His mind wandered as his feet traveled to a familiar, yet unknown destination.

He stopped and turned his head. 

On a capsule, red painted numbers seemed to scream. 88 spoke.

“00.”

He reached his hand out, touching the cold metal. 

“You know me but are you the one I talk to?” 

He stayed silent, but no answer came. 

“88, what are you doing out?” 88 turned, he felt like he got caught on something he shouldn’t have done. 

“Will? I was bored.” Will was dumbfounded. 

“Bored isn’t in your program, but at this point I'm not even sure what you are programed with...” Will looked at the container 88 was touching. Will recalled the words Rod spoke to him earlier that morning.

“The connection is never ending. Eternity.”

“00. No start or end. The same with you 88.” Will couldn't help but muse at that.

88 dropped his hand. “I hear a voice.” 

Will was about to ask but Clare walked up. She was putting her hair up into a ponytail. 

“Come on Will, we still have a job to do.” 

Will gave a heavy sigh. “Yeah, yeah.” Will went to go and walk off, but a firm grip stopped him. 

“23, where is he?” 88 looked on blankly in Will’s eyes. Will looked away, not knowing if it was the coldness of 88’s eyes or Will’s own guilt. 

“He’s going to be shut down.” 

88 let his arm go. “Protect.” 

Will started to walk away, confused by that word. “Protect, protect what? 23?” Clare grabbed Will’s hand. 

“What’s the matter?” The two walked together, softly swing hands. 

“I’m thinking….” Will grabbed Clare’s hand, pulling her into an empty janitor’s closet. 

“Will?” 

“You think you can do something for me?” Clare nodded, as Will held her closer. “It will be dangerous if we get caught.”

*

“Model Numbers 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, and 29, report to the technical department.”

*

Clare waited at the door. Waiting to work on number 23. She watched as Model’s started walking in, mismatched and un-orderly. Clare also noticed that the 20 Model’s looked different than 23. 23 was taken well care of as well as the youngest looking Model. She hadn’t paid attention to the differences between Models, because she just saw them as things. Now, this “thing” has something special. And this “Something” was caused by its interaction with Number 88.

Clare looked at the clock, getting nervous by the second. 23 hadn’t shown up yet and all the other’s Model’s had made their appearance. 

“Clare? Where is your Model. How come it hasn’t shown up yet?” 

Clare turned to the person talking to her. Not sure how to react. “I don’t know? Maybe the programming is slowing in that model.” 

The person sighed. Clare couldn’t put a name on the young blonde woman next to her. 

“Lucky, that means you don’t have anything to work on.” Clare smiled softly.

 “But still, where is 23?” Clare had a heavy feeling in her stomach, she had hoped Will had nothing to do with it.

*

Number 88 froze on the spot while walking. He was getting an order from someone in the communication center. The voice that talked to him was human but so cold. It was giving him an order for assassination. Many assassination has happened this month and this would be like no other for him.

“The Target.” 88 spoke with his metallic voice. The voice responded. “Terri Anderson.” 88 started moving again. Ready for the next mission. 88 recalled the name Terri Anderson and knew she was the creator of Number 23.

88 started running now and jumped out an open window. He landed five stories below, landing on the ground, leaving an indent. Locking onto his target’s image. He used his ability to hack the camera’s around the area. He ran to a building and jumped up, landing on top of a large skyscraper. He looked down, noticing that one of his camera’s had Terri Anderson targeted. 88 was about to go after her but stopped.

88 froze in place not knowing why. Just seeing the person she was with, froze him. Terri Anderson was with 23. 88 jumped to the next building, closer to the two. On his assassination hits he never hesitated, he did what he was programmed to do. This was different. Terri was with 23, holding him close.

88 jumped down and landed down in front of the two. Terri’s eyes widen in fear. She held herself tighter around 23.

“Please, you can kill me, but let David go.” 23 looked over at his mama. Then back at 88. A small smile came on his face. “Mama said David.” He closed his eyes at 88, tears falling. “David don’t want Mama to die.” 88 looked at the two, his face cold and blank. He raised his arm up. A blade shot out, ready to be swung down. For the second time that day in that same hour, he stopped.

88 retracted the blade, reporting back to headquarters. “Terri Anderson, Confirmed dead.”

Terri’s eyes widened, as she turned her head towards 88. Still holding tightly to her son. “Why?”

88 turned, ready to jump back up. “Our memories…Now leave....” He jumped, vanishing in front of them.

Terri sat there with 23 close to her body. 88 had left her alive, leaving her with David. David looked up. 

“Mama, we need to go. 88 told me to run away and hide.” Terri got up, pulling her son along. 

“Where are we going?” 

“A place they will never find us.” Terri called for a Taxi and they quickly left the area. Not long after, did her cellphone go out the window and shatter all over the ground.

88 waited for them to leave, before he left as well. He had to make sure that 23, no, David, was safe.

Something inside him, told him that he was.

*

“What is it? In remembering what we want to forget.”

“What can you forget, when you don’t even remember.”

“Are our memories valid? Or is it all fabricated.”

“Fabricated memories are just as valid as real memories.”

“Why are we so different?”

“Different is only the same in the end.”

*

"How can we be the same?"

"For we are one after all."

*