The Others

Mae clutched the locket that was deep inside her apron pocket, closing her fist tightly around it. It was the shape of a heart, with tiny roses shaped from white and yellow gold on the front. On the back was an engraving. It read, ‘E.M.L.,’ the initials of her great-great-great-great grandmother, whom she was named after: Edna Mae Lewis. It had been passed down throughout the generations, always given to the eldest daughter from her mother.

The inside was empty, as it was not meant for pictures; yet had a greater purpose. When it was passed from mother to daughter, the mother would write a note to her daughter and place it in the locket; this was the tradition.

Her locket remained empty, devoid of the note. Her mother had passed on before writing her note inside Mae’s locket. When her mother was found, it was among her possessions, and was then given to Mae. It was the only thing she had left of her mother, and she kept it with her always.

Her mother had been slain by the Others, and the heart-shaped locket was her downfall. To the Others, gold is like poison; when they saw the locket, she was killed instantly, without question.

That is why Mae always kept it hidden in her apron pocket, and only took it out for a few seconds to admire it each night before she slept.

Mae was a Slave to Ankrom, an Other with a powerful influence in the government the Others had formed once they gained complete control. He was good with numbers and mathematics, so he was made in charge of the Others’ treasury. There was no more paper money; everything was digital. Slaves, however, had no money whatsoever.

Ankrom was assigned to use treasury money for research on chemically altering humans so they would not resist the Others' dominance and therefore eradicate any type of retaliation.

Mae was going to be the first slave to receive the serum when it was ready, in a few short days. She had no idea of this plan, or that Ankrom had seen her locket in her apron pocket. He had decided that injecting her with the serum would prevent such disobedience in the future, by her and all slaves. It would also eradicate the possibility of any wayward ideas or plans also. Ankrom smiled at that last thought, a creepy sinister smile.

Mae was doing her regular chores when Ankrom approached her. “Mae, a word. Now.” The last part made Mae slightly nervous, but she did not let Ankrom’s words or tone of voice change her facial expression. She turned and faced him. “Yes, Master Ankrom?”

“Take off your apron and turn it upside down and hold it from the bottom,” Ankrom ordered, crossing his massive arms over his broad chest.

“May I empty the pockets first, Master Ankrom?” she inquired.

“Did I tell you to?” Ankrom spat, clearly irritated.

Mae was startled at Ankrom’s response, and immediately untied her apron and grabbed the bottom, the contents of her pockets hitting the floor and her shoes. The locket was among them. She pressed her lips firmly together as Ankrom spied it near his shoe.

“A gold locket.” he simply stated, looking at her with a hard stare. “You know the punishment for that is death.”

“Yes.” Mae replied, her eyes fixed on the antique locket on the floor, the one thing she held dear. Tiny streams of tears ran down her reddened cheeks. “Let me wear it at my execution, Master, please.” She raised her gaze to his face, her eyes pleading for this one request to be filled.

Ankrom laughed. “You’re not going to be executed. You are going to be punished, Mae. You will receive the Obedience Serum, which will stop any type of disobedience in the future. All slaves will receive the serum, and the Others will reign supreme from then on.

Mae felt dead inside. Obedience Serum? A punishment worse than death, she thought. She secretly hoped that the serum would kill her, at least then she could finally be at peace, and reunited with her slain mother.