The Cleanse Initiative

Danny was five years old when the Vagrant wars started. He doesn’t really remember life before the “cleanse”. There was rain in spring, food that we didn’t have to fight for, a house that was full of love. We had a home. Now we just have each other.

I’ve lost track of how many places we slept but this week it’s been the gutter projects of Old Sanfield, Missouri. The gutter projects can be simply described as shipping containers with a cut out window in stacks and rows. They don’t come in colors unless black, grey, and white is part of the rainbow. They are a new concept made by EloGat Corp. A greedy conglomerate that has manipulated and monopolized the medical system in this country for decades. It’s supposedly a solution for the problem they created seven years ago. Five million dead and thirty million homeless within a year after “The Cleanse”.

We were experiments. The government agreed to let EloGat “try” their cleaning initiative in ten urban areas across the nation. The cities most affected were in what most people called the “ghettos”. Where us brown and black people were heavily populated.

The government stressed how depleting resources would ruin our way of life. For months all we heard on the news was how there were meat shortages, gas hikes, housing inflation, and climate change causing agricultural strain. The greenhouse gases started to make it hard for us to breathe. So, the people in power came up with a cleaning solution.

The government signed a bill and EloGat began nightly spraying the cities using drones. We were told that the top scientists created an absorption gas. It could help absorb the damaging particles we as a society kept putting into the air. But they lied. The immediate side effects to those closest to the spray zones got sick and many died. This included our parents. Cancer, tumors, headaches, restricted mobility were just some of the consequences of the new solution. This caused small riots at first. Then the “poor” started driving to the ‘burbs damaging property and setting houses on fire. Why? Because they needed the rich to feel the sadness and anger too.

A war broke out, well several. People were sick, loss their homes, died, and the homeless fought those who just didn’t give a Damn!

My mom practically lived at the hospital with MRIs, scans, and blood transfusions. The hospital bills were through the roof. I used to hear my dad trying to whisper in anger over the costs. He was so focused on mom to the point where he wouldn’t even see about himself. I think that’s why he died first. Kids weren’t as easily infected or maybe I should say it just laid dormant in them longer.

Danny and I have been homeless for six years. The foster system became overwhelmed and we slipped through the cracks after our parents died. Millions of people dead, millions orphaned, and millions homeless. EloGat really wanted to make the world cleaner alright, even if that meant eliminating people.

So, I stare out the makeshift lonely window of the gray shipping container and try to hold on to the few memories I have left of our mom and dad. Family dinners, birthday celebrations, and the unnumbered laughs are fleeting. I grabbed my backpack and pulled out the golden heart-shaped locket they gave me on my last birthday together, number nine. I opened it so I could gaze at their face quickly before Danny woke up. A tear began to escape my left eye. Then I heard an energetic voice.

“Good morning Myan, why are your eyes watery?” “No reason, it’s probably allergies again Danny.” I quickly answered. “Myan, guess what tomorrow is.” I just stared at him and said “January 1, 2030” “Well, yeah but it’s your birthday big sis. “Well birthdays really don’t matter. Just make sure you have your backpack. We’re leaving in ten.”

We started right as the sun was rising that way we could be in Minnesota by the next morning and Morringly, Canada by two days after that.

“Hurry up Danny! Jump! I got you just don’t look down.” Woosh. Woosh. “Close call buddy. You still need practice getting on these trains huh? Good thing you got me, big sis.” “Yeah” said Danny. “But I’m the one who keeps you safe.” “Right, whatever you say bro. This train ride will probably be the longest we’ve been on. We will ride until halfway through Minnesota but afterwards we have to go by foot.”

This train wasn’t as full as I thought it would be which I am glad about. It’s so much harder not being reported to the Raze police at our age. We hide often. Danny is twelve and I’ll be fifteen tomorrow. Somehow, we’ve stayed under the radar. We grab food wherever we can and if anyone tries to get too close, my taser speaks for us. Most people don’t mess with kids though.

Woosh. Woosh. The wind is loud at night but we eventually get to sleep.

“Wake up Myan. I’m coughing up blood again.” “Is it a lot?” “No, see.” Danny showed me a blood speckled napkin. He was right it wasn’t much but any blood is too much. “Here, take this and grab your water.” I placed a small white pill in his hand and rubbed his back. “Little bro, you will be alright I promise.” I know shouldn’t make promises but he’s all I have left. Well, him and my locket. I got him back to sleep but I just rested my eyes ‘til morning.

We jumped the train midday. “Let’s race.” Danny said. “Catch up Myan, you’re so slow.” “Danny, wait up.” Before I could get a good start, I heard my brother scream. Suddenly there was a popping sound and a man yanked Danny in mid-air. “Let him go! Let him go!” Then, I felt a pulling and saw nothing but darkness.

Drip. Drip. Ting. I awoke and felt damp. There was a lady with a bowl in her hand. “Young lady would you like some soup?” “Who are you, where am I? Where’s my brother? Danny! Danny!” I responded. “I’m Zee. We’re in the Subsect underground canals. Don’t worry your brother is fine he’s playing with my son.” “What do you mean don’t worry?! You kidnapped us!” She chuckled a little. “No, we saved you. The field you and your brother were running in had sensor explosives. Danny tripped one and my husband grabbed him before it went off.” “How come I didn’t hear it?” “You fainted sweetie.” Zee said.

The door swung open. “Myan, you’re woke. I just had the best time with Mario. He has toy boats and I ate hot soup it was so good. I don’t even remember the last time I ate soup. Did you eat your soup yet sis?” “Oh my God Danny why did you go with these strangers?” I asked. “They saved us. The little bomb thing went off and Jacob had just snatched me out of the way.” responded Danny. “Thank you for saving us but we really do have to be leaving soon. We’ll leave first thing in the morning and get out of y’all way.”

“Why are you in a hurry to go?” asked Zee. “We have to get to Morringly, Canada.” I calmly stated.

“What’s there?” asked Mario who was standing next to Danny. Danny spit out “We have to get to the Irons Cancer Institute before I die.” I quickly cut in, “Danny, you are not going to die. You will be fine. Everything will be fine.” Zee gently placed her hand on mine and I pulled away. “Understood. I will make you two a food pack for your continued journey.” said Zee. She gave me the once hot soup and told me to eat up and I did.

Morning came. I guess I didn’t realize how tired I was because I slept eleven hours straight. I grabbed our bags and told Danny to say his goodbyes. I could tell he was sad but that didn’t matter if he needed treatment. Before we could slide through the canal opening Jacob stopped us and offered to get us to Canada safely. “I know you have to go but let me get you to the clinic.” Jacob said. “I let you borrow my dad if it means you will live” Mario interjected. “That’s kind but we can do it.” I stated. “We know you can do it but you don’t have to alone.” said Zee. I looked over at Danny’s face and it begged me to let Jacob go with us. I kept trying to come up with a reason why we should go alone but I was too tired to let Danny down and I was too tired to keep being alone. “Ok.” I said hesitantly. Jacob grabbed his already packed bag and led us out of the canals. “We’ll see you when you get back” Zee said.

It was a long trip but we finally got to the doors of the Irons Cancer Institute. I clinched onto my locket and my brother's hand then the doors opened. We eagerly entered.