The Individuality Gene Read online

  Will Save

  The Individuality Gene

  G. Sauvé

  The Individuality Gene

  Copyright © 2019 G. Sauvé - All rights reserved.

  [email protected] - G.Sauve.ca

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, and events are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

  Cover Art: Eugene Chugunov

  Cover Design: Mircea Adamoiu

  Dedication

  To my grandmother, who passed away during the writing of this book. I will always remember you.

  How Brave Are You?

  A portal hovers before you. It flickers. Once. Twice. It's about to vanish. You must pick a course of action. Will you let it close and return to your life, or will you act now and claim your FREE STORY? The choice is yours.

  ENTER THE PORTAL

  GSauve.ca

  Contents

  Dedication

  How Brave Are You?

  Fractured

  The Glowing Forest

  Kidd

  Memory 1

  Memory 2

  Memory 3

  Memory 4

  Memory 5

  Memory 6

  Memory 7

  Memory 8

  Memory 9

  Memory 10

  Memory 11

  Memory 12

  Memory 13

  Memory 14

  Memory 15

  Memory 16

  Memory 17

  Memory 18

  Memory 19

  Reconstructed Memory 1

  Memory 20

  Reconstructed Memory 2

  Memory 21

  Reconstructed Memory 3

  Memory 22

  Reconstructed Memory 4

  Memory 23

  Reconstructed Memory 5

  Memory 24

  Memory 25

  Memory 26

  Memory 27

  Memory 28

  Memory 29

  Memory 30

  Memory 31

  Reconstructed Memory 6

  Memory 32

  Reconstructed Memory 7

  Memory 33

  Memory 34

  Memory 35

  Memory 36

  Memory 37

  Memory 38

  Memory 39

  Memory 40

  Memory 41

  Memory 42

  Memory 43

  Memory 44

  Memory 45

  Memory 46

  Memory 47

  Memory 48

  Memory 49

  Memory 50

  Memory 51

  Memory 52

  Memory 53

  Memory 54

  Memory 55

  Memory 56

  Memory 57

  Memory 58

  Memory 59

  Memory 60

  Memory 61

  Memory 62

  Memory 63

  Memory 64

  Memory 65

  Memory 66

  Memory 67

  Memory 68

  Memory 69

  Memory 70

  Memory 71

  Memory 72

  Memory 73

  Memory 74

  Memory 75

  Memory 76

  Memory 77

  Memory 78

  Memory 79

  Memory 80

  Memory 81

  Memory 82

  Memory 83

  Reconstructed Memory 8

  Reconstructed Memory 9

  Reconstructed Memory 10

  Reconstructed Memory 11

  Stolen

  The Journey Continues

  Did You Enjoy the Book?

  How Brave Are You?

  About the Author

  Fractured

  W ill Save Jr. stared at the memory organizer with bated breath. His heart hammered against his ribcage, and his hands shook uncontrollably. No matter how hard he tried, there was no denying the reality of the situation.

  The memory chip was broken.

  “No,” he groaned. “This can’t be happening.”

  Panic rose within him. What if the chip was irreversibly damaged? How would he know what had happened to his father? Was he dead or alive? Why had they never met? There were so many unanswered questions.

  The urge to smash the memory organizer was great, but Will Jr. could not afford to make a bad situation worse. There was still a chance the memory chip could be repaired. But how? And by who?

  Kara. She was no expert, but she would know who to contact.

  Will Jr. leapt off his bed and rushed downstairs in search of his mother. He found her in the living room, reading a book.

  “It’s broken,” he said, skidding to a stop in front of her and showing her the damaged disc.

  Lowering her book, Kara took the silver disc and studied it.

  “What happened?”

  Will Jr. shrugged. “Can it be fixed?”

  “I don’t know. You should ask the man who created it.”

  “Who is he?”

  Kara smiled.

  “Kidd.”

  Will Jr. gulped.

  Kidd was known by all but respected by few. His brilliance was uncontested, but his insanity was equally recognized. Trapped in the body of a child, the man was rumoured to be over ten thousand years old. Will Jr.’s best friend claimed they were related, but he refused to believe it. He had only met him twice, and both instances were now distant memories.

  “Are you sure he can fix it?”

  “Kidd can fix anything.”

  Will Jr. was conflicted. Part of him was relieved. Another was terrified. What if the rumours were true? What if Kidd was a robot? What if he was a demon? What if—

  “Kidd is no different than you and me,” said Kara, sensing her son’s agitation. “He may be a little odd, but he was a close friend of your father’s.”

  Kara was right, and Will Sr.’s memories proved it.

  “Where does he live?” asked Will Jr.

  “In the Glowing Forest.”

  He gulped again. The Glowing Forest was said to be haunted. Will Jr. was not the type to believe in such things, but a lot had happened in the past week, and the existence of ghosts no longer seemed so ridiculous.

  “Is there a way to contact him?”

  Kara shook her head. “What’s wrong?” she asked. “Are you afraid?”

  Will Jr. knew his mother was teasing, but he chose to take her words as a challenge.

  “Of course not.” He snatched the memory chip from his mother’s hand, slid it into his pocket, and hurried to the front door. One quick press was all it took to force it to retreat into the wall. Moments later, he was on his way.

  The Glowing Forest

  S anctuary. The last human city. Unlike the towns of old, it was discovered, not constructed. The survivors of the Great Cataclysm stumbled upon it nearly fifteen years ago when they fled to the center of the Earth. According to Will Jr.’s teacher, it was built by aliens hundreds of millions of years ago. Once upon a time, he had doubted the claim. Not anymore.

  Will Jr. studied his surroundings with a new eye. The glossy, charcoal-coloured buildings once seemed mundane, but now that he had something to compare them to, he realized the dwellings were centuries beyond what his father had known. Will Sr. grew up in a time where metal, concrete, and glass reigned supreme. Will Jr. lived in a world where materials were irrelevant. Dwellings were chosen, not built. Grass stood where asphalts once would have existed. Trees were scattered throughout Sanctuary. Some glowed. Others did not. Vehicles no longer existed, nor were they required. People walked. It kept them healt
hy and grounded.

  Electricity was also antiquated. Crystal technology served as the only source of energy. Not only was it far more potent than electricity, but it could be used as a direct source of light.

  Will Jr.’s gaze wandered beyond Sanctuary. The curved nature of the landscape tricked the brain into thinking objects stood higher the farther they were located, but the truth was far simpler. The center of the Earth was a sphere. This, combined with the inverted gravity that governed it, meant objects and people alike were drawn outward. All one had to do to see the far side of the sphere was look up. A small sun hovered at the centre of the sphere. Beyond it stood a lush landscape. Scattered buildings could be spotted here and there, but most structures had been swallowed by the flora. Only the human city remained free.

  Will Jr. loved Sanctuary—it was the only home he had ever known—but reliving his father’s memories had ignited within him a deep wanderlust. He craved adventure. He wanted to feel the wind caress his skin. He dreamed of sunsets and starry nights. He longed for the feel of snowflakes melting on his tongue. But deep down he knew it was wishful thinking.

  Will Jr. was no hero. The closest he would ever come to going on an adventure involved entering the Glowing Forest in search of Kidd. Forgetting about his surroundings, he quickened the pace. With a little luck, he would reach the forest before the day came to a close and the sun’s glow decreased, bathing the centre of the Earth in shadows.

  He almost made it, but a familiar voice reached his ears moments before he left the city.

  “Will!”

  The teenager scanned his surroundings and quickly spotted the young man running toward him.

  It was JJ. His full name was Jonn Junior, but no one ever called him that. He was Will Jr.’s best friend. And his uncle, which was odd because he was nearly a full year younger than him. But Will Jr. had never let that get in the way of their friendship. They were best friends. They were family.

  “Where are you going?” asked JJ as he skidded to a stop. He was shorter than Will Jr. and rather scrawny, but he made up for it with great acumen.

  Will Jr. cringed. He prided himself on being honest, but he had promised not to share his father’s adventures with anyone. As much as it pained him, he could not disclose his true destination without having to reveal the existence of the memory organizer.

  “Nowhere,” he lied. “I’m just taking a walk.”

  “Want company?”

  Of course! Thought Will Jr., but the words he spoke aloud were far different. “Thanks, but I’m not in the mood to hang out.”

  “Oh, okay. Enjoy your walk.”

  “Thanks.”

  “The parkourball semi-finals are tonight,” said JJ as he walked off. “Don’t forget.”

  “I won’t,” promised Will Jr., but his friend was already gone.

  Feeling disheartened, he continued his journey. A short walk was all that stood between him and his destination, yet the sun was fully dimmed by the time he reached it.

  The Glowing Forest shone with a ghostly brilliance. The trees swayed in an inexistent breeze, their glowing leaves rustling eerily. Branches creaked, simulating the wails of lost souls. House-sized trunks told of the trees’ ancientness. According to legend, the forest grew atop an ancient graveyard. It was said that, on dark nights like these, the souls rose from their graves and possessed the trees, using their powerful branches to punish all who dared venture into their territory. Will Jr. never believed such stories, but the sight of the swaying, groaning trees left him feeling uncertain.

  Why would anyone choose to live in a place like this? he wondered. He slipped a hand into his pocket and fingered the damaged memory chip, hoping it would give him the necessary courage to enter the forest.

  It did not.

  Willing his legs to move also failed. It was not until he asked himself what his father would do in this situation that he finally found the strength to advance.

  One step. His heart raced.

  Two steps. His hands shook.

  Three steps. The eerie glow of the forest swallowed him whole.

  Will Jr. stopped and waited for something to happen. The trees continued swaying, unbothered by his presence. Assuming the legend was untrue, he ventured deeper into the woods. Every so often an eerie groan or a creepy rustling reached his ears, but that was the extent of his punishment. Still, Will Jr. sensed powerful presences all around him. They were not angry. Nor did they take physical form. They merely hung around, curiously observing his progress.

  Will Jr. wandered through the forest, unsure where to go. Every so often, a spooky noise caused him to readjust his course, but the teenager never felt threatened. He kept going until a dark shape appeared between the trees.

  It was a house.

  The dwelling was ancient. It was made from the same black material as the rest of the alien buildings, yet it was unnervingly different. It took the teenager a moment to realize why. The home was being overrun by plants. There were vines and shrubs; grass and flowers; and trees of all sizes. But the strangest part of all was the fact that not a single door or window was obscured. It was as though the owner had made a deal with the flora. In exchange for letting them invade his home, they agreed to let the sun shine into the dwelling.

  The residence looked abandoned, but one of the windows on the second floor was illuminated.

  I hope it’s Kidd, thought Will Jr. as he made his way toward the house. The farther he got from the forest, the darker his surroundings became. By the time he reached the dwelling’s porch, he could barely see. The sense of safety that had accompanied him throughout his journey was gone. He now felt nervous and jumpy.

  He came to a stop before the front door. After a moment of hesitation, he pressed his hand to it.

  Nothing happened.

  He hesitated for a moment longer before knocking.

  Still nothing.

  He waited nearly a full minute before accepting the fact that the door would not open. He would have to find another way into the residence. He started down the stairs but only made it halfway before a hissing sound reached his ears. He came to a stop and turned around.

  The door was open.

  There was no sign of whoever opened it, but Will Jr. refused to let that stop him.

  “Hello? Is anybody there?”

  No response.

  He crept closer and peered in. The house was pitch black.

  “Kidd?” he called.

  No reply.

  Will Jr. groaned. The last thing he wanted was to venture into a creepy house, but he had come too far to turn back. Squeezing the memory chip for courage, he took a deep breath and entered the residence. Moments later, the door slid shut.

  Will Jr. was trapped.

  Kidd

  W ill Jr. was trapped in total obscurity. He tried to pierce the veil of darkness, but ended up losing track of which direction he was facing. He tried using his hands to locate the exit, but failed once more. He was about to panic when a crystal flickered to life above him.

  Will Jr. breathed a sigh of relief, but the exclamation soon turned to one of stunned disbelief.

  The inside of the dwelling was a hoarder’s paradise. Stacks of various objects covered nearly every centimetre of the floor. There were piles of clothes, towers of pots and pans that seemed about to collapse, mountains of dusty clothes, as well as a wide assortment of unrecognizable items. Will Jr. had never seen so much stuff gathered in one place.

  The first thing he did was try to open the door. When that failed, he scanned his surroundings once more, but most of the objects remained unidentifiable. It was not until his third pass that he finally spotted it.

  A path.

  Barely wide enough for a human to navigate, the trail led deep into the messy dwelling. Determining its exact length was impossible, which left Will Jr. with only one option.

  Squeezing the memory chip for good luck, he ventured forward. He quickly reached the perimeter of the lit area, but a second
crystal flickered to life moments after he stepped into the darkness. This happened over and over again as Will Jr. followed the meandering path. After what felt like hours, the path came to an end at the foot of a narrow staircase. Unwilling to give up, he began the slow ascent.

  The second floor was less cluttered than the first, yet piles of junk were scattered throughout the hallway that stretched before him. Half a dozen doors lined the walls, but only one was open. It stood at the far end of the corridor, the yellow light that escaped it producing just enough light for Will Jr. to navigate the cluttered corridor.

  It took a while, but he finally reached the illuminated room. Like the rest of the house, it was chaotic, yet there was something different about this mess. It was more ordered, almost as though each object had been purposefully placed rather than discarded or stacked for storage. This, combined with the lack of dust, told Will Jr. he had reached Kidd’s workshop.

  “Hello?” he said. “Is anybody there?”

  A grunt emerged from a nearby stack of coiled tubing. Scraping sounds followed soon after. The mound of tubing shuddered, then a gloved hand shot out and felt around until it found the corner of a nearby work desk. Another grunt was heard as the arm folded itself, forcing the body to which it was attached to appear.

  The creature was unlike any Will Jr. had ever seen. Its general appearance was that of a child, but the white lab coat and thick leather gloves shattered the youthful effect. The being’s face was made of metal. The eyes were disproportionately large, and there was no nose or mouth to speak of. The ears were also missing. As was the hair. It was a chilling sight, but Will Jr. refused to give in to the fear that gripped him.

  “I’m looking for Kidd,” he said.

  The robot cocked its ugly head and studied the teenager. It took nearly a minute, but the metallic being finally spoke.

  “Will? Is that you?”

  There was a moment of stunned silence as Will Jr. struggled to understand how a creature with no mouth could speak. In the end, he chose not to care.

  “Do I know you?” he asked.

  The creature chuckled.

  “Of course you do,” said the robot as it grabbed hold of its face and yanked. The metallic mask came loose, revealing the face beneath.