Beaker to Life

  Beaker to Life

  Ottilie Weber

  All rights reserved. No part of Beaker to Life may be reproduced or transmitted in any form in or by any means such as photocopying, recording, informational storage, electronic or mechanical, and lastly as a retrieval system, without written consent of Ottilie Weber.

  This story is a fiction work. Situations, characters, along with names of characters are all part of the writer’s mind. If there are any situations, then it is completely unintentional.

  For friend Brittany, we have known each other for years. We have shared a lot of laughs, creativity, and many stories.

  Prologue

  Warmth surrounded me as light pings pecked against the window and roof. Mother Nature’s song tickled my ears, but my eyes stayed closed. I didn’t have to wake up if I didn’t want to. I had a choice. Keeping my eyes shut, I uncoiled from my covers, rolled over, then curled back up, tightening my hold on my blanket. My body was comfortable, but my mind was bouncing many different ideas and memories against my brain. It was making it very difficult to fall back to sleep. Sighing, I stood up and wrapped the blanket at the end of the bed around me as I tip-toed across the room. The rug fibers pressed between my toes. Tilting my head up, I stared up at the dark clouds. It was morning, but there wasn’t any trace of any light.

  My fingers pressed against the cold glass lightly as the water droplets ran down. My eyes watched as each water droplet left almost a trail behind it, patterns formed on the window. Every teardrop was the same, clear, wet, and small. I wasn’t like the other water drops. I was created rather than born. Years of being called a freak, monster and even had death threats against me, I found myself wanting to be like everyone else. I would have done anything to be like them. Though, he was always different. We didn’t always get along, but he still managed to make sure that I felt human.

  I barely got a chance to live. The scientist never gave me genuine affection but treated me as a trophy for a fair prize pumpkin. He made sure to show me off. While other kids were learning to ride their bikes, I was poked and prodded by scientists, news reporters, and so many others. Then some wanted me dead. The protests that would form when I was to be somewhere. The people had signs and were shouting out that I was a sin, a creature from hell, against all laws against nature. People knew who and what I was, so they hated me.

  There was no way to keep track of how many nights I ended up curled up crying. Then against all his father’s wishes Sawyer would come down and sit with me to make me feel better. He was the only one I got to talk to, and he did not seem to care what others said about me. Sawyer was able to see me, for me, even when I didn’t know who I was. Sawyer and I were friends through it all, as much as we tried to be anyway because, at times, it was difficult to have any form of a relationship with someone. I don’t think I could have survived without him. When he was gone, I missed my rock, my encouragement.

  Being the only successful human clone in the world has made me stand out a little. The rarity makes me more of a science experiment than a living, breathing human. Taking in a deep breath, I sat on the couch by the window, watching the storm and creating the cocoon with the blanket as a haven around me.

  Part One

  Seventeen years earlier

  1

  Sawyer

  I wanted to play with my trucks. Where was Daddy taking me now? He didn’t ever let me into his lab. I ran a little faster to keep up with his steps. Dad was happy about something as he held my hand tightly. He was grinning ear to ear, and I started to smile, hoping that I did something to make him happy, but he then rushed to the back of the room. I got onto my toes and arched my neck to see what my dad was looking at on the counters. I wished that I were taller. I started to jump up and down to get a better look but failed.

  “Now, son, do you know what this is?”

  I didn’t even know what he was pointing to. Didn’t he realize that I couldn’t see above the counter? I just nodded my head as my dad started explaining something in those funny big words I couldn’t understand. It was better to pretend that I knew what he was talking about; my mommy called it make-believe.

  Then Daddy shifted and held something in his arms, wrapped in a blanket close to his chest. I stood on my toes as I pushed myself up against his knees, hoping to see this time. That was when I saw a tiny nose sticking out of the hat and blanket.

  “It’s a baby. Did the baby come from Mommy’s tummy?”

  “No! This isn’t a natural baby! On the contrary, my dear son, this was made by science!”

  “Robert, Sawyer is four. He’s not going to understand your experiments.”

  I stared at my parents and narrowed my eyebrows. When my mom’s friend was pregnant, Mommy told me a baby in her tummy. At first, I was worried she ate the baby. Mommy had to explain that she didn’t eat the baby. That’s where a baby was growing inside of her. My mommy waltzed over gracefully and took the baby into her arms. The smile I once had was gone as my lips tightened, and I crossed my arms. She was beaming at the baby and holding it close to her. I was her baby. She held me that way. She then sat on the ground so I could finally see what they were talking about.

  “Come here, Sawyer, the baby isn’t going to hurt you.”

  I strolled over so slowly, not sure what to make of the baby. I stood in front of my mommy while she stroked a long finger down the sleeping figure’s face.

  “See, she’s not going to hurt you.”

  I dropped my gaze down onto the slumbering face realizing she was so small; I thought babies were a little bigger.

  “It’s a girl!” I cried out, scrunching my face together.

  My mom laughed, making her whole face light up. Looking at her made me smile once again. That was when the baby woke up, and her big blue eyes were wide and searching my eyes then to my mom. I put my hand out to touch the baby just as she had. Grinning at my mom, she put an arm around me as I sat down next to her to still be near the new baby.

  “It’s a science marvel! What do you think you’re doing acting like it’s one of your children?”

  “Oh, Robert, she’s just a baby. Even if you cloned her, she’s just a child. She’s just as human as you are.”

  “It’s going to prove-”

  “Oh, shush, Robert, I know this is a big deal, but she’s still human.”

  “It’s a science experiment.”

  “She’s just a baby, she might have been created in this lab, but she’s still a living, breathing human. You’re going to have to treat her as such.”

  I just let my parents’ words fly over my head as the baby stared at me. I’m sorry, baby, I don’t know how to help you. I’m just as confused.

  “There are big hopes for it.”

  “Robert, refer to her as you would to your son.”

  “You gave birth to our son just like every other human. This clone was created in a science lab to prove that cloning humans are possible. Think of the possibilities!”

  My mom sighed. Her once pretty smile was long gone. I hugged her as she held me tighter.

  “What happened to the man I married.”

  “What are you yammering on about?”

  “You have no real compassion towards this little girl.”

  “Do you not get what this could do for our family, Melanie? We could be the richest people ever and-”

  “Forget the money. After you created this little girl, what did you expect to happen to her? Were you expecting no emotions or thoughts to cross her mind? That she would grow up and be a thoughtless object that sits in the corner of the room?” She paused and adjusted the baby in her arms as she stood up. “Robert, I’m proud of you for doing this. Really, I am, but honey, you have to think ahead and remember this baby is a living bein
g.”

  “I just don’t think you understand the magnitude of cloning and what doors that I opened.” My dad continued.

  “I just don’t think you understand to the full extent of what you’ve done.”

  My dad rolled his eyes and muttered. “What harm can a baby do? It’s not like I have brought life to a full-grown man corpse-like in Frankenstein.”

  “She won’t be a baby forever-”

  “Just shut up. You don’t know what you’re talking about,” my father shouted. “Why couldn’t you be like other wives and just be happy about what I accomplished?”

  I gripped onto my mother’s leg. He only started to raise his voice more lately. I glanced at the little girl my mom was holding. Were they yelling because of her?

  “Is she my sister?”

  “No! It’s not part of this family. It’s a science experiment.”

  I crawled closer to my mom, and the baby started to cry.

  “Oh, please, Robert, calm down. You’re frightening the children,” my mom hissed. She gazed down at the baby and started to bounce her. “Calm down, little one. Everything’s going to be okay.”

  My mom headed up the stairs to our house. I ran after her as she rocked the baby.

  “Does the baby have a name?”

  My mom smiled and opened the door that leads to the kitchen and out of the lab. I hopped up the last of the stairs, scrambling to catch up. My mom sat down at the kitchen table. Once I was at her side, I gripped her leg to stare into the baby’s face once again.

  “What do you want to name her?”

  “Dotty!”

  “How about the name Madeline?” my mom laughed.

  “Hi, Madeline.”

  She smiled at me and kissed my forehead. Then the baby threw up on me, and I screamed.

  I wanted to sleep, so why did Mommy and Dad have to yell so much. I crawled out of my superhero sheets and crept out of my room, holding onto my teddy bear that wore a superhero costume. I stood up high to reach the handle and turned it to look out the cracked door. I didn’t see Mom or Dad as I moved quickly to the room next to mine that Mommy put Madeline in. Dad didn’t seem to like the space.

  I slowly opened her door and walked in carefully, making sure I wouldn’t wake her up if she were asleep or step on a toy that we might have left on the floor. With measured steps, I held my Teddy closer to my chest. I drew closer to Madeline. If I moved too loudly, she would scream loudly, then Mommy and Daddy would catch me out of bed. I used my hand that wasn’t holding Teddy to grab onto a bar to try to pull myself up to look at her. Her green eyes turned to look at me. They weren’t blue like they had been that first day. Mommy said that was normal. Madeline’s eyes were wide and glassy. I started to pull myself up on her bars and climbed in to sit next to her.

  “It’s okay, Madeline, you’re my friend.”

  Her lip started to shake like it usually did before she cried because Mommy and Dad began to bellow louder. I helped her sit up a little to sit in my lap as I hugged her and let her hug Teddy. I wish Mommy and Daddy would stop fighting.

  I sat on the floor, twisting the wind-up car. Madeline was now almost one my mommy kept telling me. Madeline sat across from me, taking one of my cars and putting the car into her mouth. The hallway was the best place to play with the cars because it was the longest road. Madeline then started to hit the car against the floor.

  “Hey! Don’t do that!”

  Her green eyes grew big as she stared into mine, and I was still mad at Madeline. She already broke one of my cars. I miss that bright red car.

  “Okay, Madeline, it’s naptime.”

  Mommy came into the room and gave me back my car as Madeline started to cry. Madeline then grabbed on to my mom’s star necklace. The two disappeared up the stairs. Her spit covered the car, gross. A few minutes later, mommy came back downstairs and kissed me lightly on the forehead, then sat down next to me.

  “My little Sawyer, you’re such a good boy, and I want to thank you for being so good to Madeline.”

  “She’s okay for a girl.”

  My mom laughed as she ruffled my hair that was the same color as hers. I looked into her green eyes and smiled. My mom started to twist the chain of her necklace.

  “Melanie, what are you doing?”

  “I’m sitting here with our son, Robert. What does it look like I’m doing? I can see how spending time with our son seems foreign to you.”

  “Where is it?”

  “Madeline is now asleep since it is her naptime.” Her voice was sharp.

  I looked up at the tall man that was my dad. He wasn’t looking at me but at my mother, who was sitting down at my level.

  “Son, go up to your room. Your mother and I need to talk.”

  His voice made me scared. Something didn’t sound right. So, without glancing back, I started to head up the stairs to hide in my room. There were some loud voices and a slamming of a door. Then everything was silent.

  I started to get hungry for dinner when my dad came into my room. His eyes were flat as he frowned. My dad sat down on my superhero covers and took off his glasses, then rubbed his eyes.

  “My son, please sit down next to me. I have to try to explain something to you that you’re too young for.”

  I tilted my head. Quietly I climbed up on the bed next to my father. His brown hair was short, unlike mine. He turned to look at me, but his gaze was nothing compared to mommy’s.

  “Sawyer, my son, your mother…she left.”

  “Did Mommy go to the store?”

  He was quiet for a moment, then sighed.

  “Not like that Sawyer, you’re too young for this, but she won’t be coming home again.”

  I was confused. What did Dad mean Mommy wasn’t coming home? How could Mommy not be coming home? Tears started to sting my eyes.

  “What do you mean?”

  Dad put a hand on my shoulder as I looked at the ground. Teddy sat on my floor, staring up at us, still smiling because he wasn’t confused like I was.

  “My son, your mother doesn’t want to be near us because she can’t take this family anymore with Madeline.”

  “But Mommy said she was happy at how I was a good boy.”

  “Women are complicated, son, never forget that. Your mother doesn’t want to be with us, so she decided she didn’t want to be a wife and a mother, so she just left.”

  Mommy didn’t want to be a mommy anymore? She didn’t want to be near me? I could feel the tears roll down my cheeks as I still didn’t understand what my dad was trying to tell me.

  “I’m sorry, son, I know you probably don’t understand this, and this is going to be hard, but Sawyer, I’m here for you; just remember that.”

  With that, he stood up and left the room, leaving me alone.

  2

  Madeline

  If I keep my eyes closed, I don’t have to worry about seeing the scary monsters. Especially the ice woman with her frozen stare. I held the thin blanket tighter to me as the cold tile floor made me shiver. I hated how cold Dr. Vodola kept his lab. I’ve been in other rooms when he has taken me to talk to people, and these rooms or labs weren’t as cold as this one. I’ve told him I was freezing, and he didn’t seem to notice that I was even talking.

  “Are you awake?”

  I cracked one eye open to see who was there. Dr. Vodola standing there in khakis, a blue dress shirt, a tie, and his white coat in his hands.

  “Yes, sir, I’m awake.”

  “Good, now get changed into your clothes, and we’ll get going.”

  I stood up and grabbed my dress and went into the lab’s bathroom. Slowly I took off the dark pink nightgown that I wore at home in the lab and into the regular clothes that I was only allowed to wear when I was going outside the house. I tugged on my light pink shirt, and blue skirt then skipped out of the bathroom. Then I sat in my corner of the lab to put on my white socks with the little pink rim then my white shoes. I ran a brush through my hair quickly.

  “Wh
ere are we going?”

  I was excited to be leaving the room, but I was afraid of what was outside these walls. The last time I went, scary people who hated me lined the streets. I didn’t even know who they were, but they threw things at the car and had signs that had angry things written on them. Dr. Vodola taught me how to read. I wish he hadn’t, so all I would have to see was their angry faces and not know what their signs said.

  I hated going to the meetings, though. I already hated having to sit still with all adults and not play with the other kids. I never got to play. Then if that is not bad enough, the men in white coats ask questions to Dr. Vodola about me like I’m not there to answer them myself. Not that I could answer some of the questions they asked.

  I can’t figure why everyone makes such a big deal about me. I never saw Sawyer go through anything as I did. I had to ask Dr. Vodola about that, and he said I was a clone, but I was still confused. Dr. Vodola got angry at me for this and said any moron knew what that meant. He told me I never had parents, and I was created in a lab. I had asked if Sawyer was like me. Dr. Vodola just laughed at me.

  “Sawyer is my son. No one is like you. You’re the only successful human clone.”

  The sad memories came back to me as I followed him out of the lab and to his car. Sawyer was outside in the front yard with a soccer ball and his red and black uniform.

  “Dad, do you think you could come to this game?”

  My eyes widen, and I started to hope we could go to his game instead of the meeting. I’d never been to a game before. I looked at the Doctor in desperation to go to the game instead of yet. I never knew if I was going to an actual meeting or one that I got poked with needles. Without even looking at Sawyer, Dr. Vodola answered.

  “No, and you know why Sawyer.”

  Dr. Vodola opened the car door.