Izzy, Karsyn, Greta, Lilly Z, Jamie, Sydney, Skai

Period 9

EXPOSITION

The day had come. Dale Mackintosh, who was finally eighteen years old, was able to start

choosing his next life; whether or not he wanted black or blonde hair, if he was going to college,

where he was living, if he would play football or baseball, who he fell in love with, and most

importantly— how he will perceive the world.

Dale had grown up knowing very little about the organization. But today was the day that he

would have his first meeting with his own assistant, whose name was Sarah. Sarah worked for

the organization, and helped people create their next life. Dale was rarely this nervous. Suddenly,

there was a knock at the door, vibrating the whole house. Dale walked toward the door quickly,

and opened it with a trembling hand, he was greeted with the smile of a blonde, green-eyed

young women.

“Hi there!” she exclaimed happily. “I’m Sarah, are you Dale Mackintosh?”

Dale was speechless, almost in shock. After what seemed like an eternity, he answered, “Yes,

please come in.”

Dale led Sarah into his living room, where they sat on the dusty couch. Sarah had brought a

purse and pulled out a bright yellow computer and began typing. She turned the computer toward

him. “This will be your form that will need to be completed for your next life. To edit your form

at any time, you will need to call me. I am the only one should have access to this file.”
In the beginning Dale was scared. But after reading the form and studying carefully, Dale felt

good and understood what Sarah had to say. He nodded energetically like a bobble-head in

agreeance. Sarah then closed the laptop and got off the couch. “Let me know if you need

anything. Remember to call me on your phone!”

Time went on and Dale was now twenty-five years old, and living each day the same—wake up,

go to work, come home, and go to bed. Fifteen years later, he was forty years old, still living the

same old boring life. Dale was starting to get fairly tired of this. When Dale was sixty-five, he

decided to call Sarah. He had grown to hate his life and was confused why the organization even

existed to customize your next life. It was in that moment that he easily decided he wanted to

rebel in his next life. Dale was so bored with the life he was living now and almost was about to

burst like a volcano with rage. Living every day the same way just wasn’t working for him

anymore. He wanted excitement, thrill, and adrenaline pulsing through his veins always!

“Sarah?” Dale was on the phone, “Can you come over? I’d like to add something to my form.”

“Of course,” she answered kindly. “I’ll be right over.”

With the click of a button, it was done. Dale had successfully programed a rebellious trait on his

form. With a smirk on his mouth, he continued to vigorously scan through the form and finished

filling everything out perfectly. Almost ten long years went by, and Dale finally felt like his time

had come.

Pacing around his dark and dingy room, Dale was as nervous as an expecting father. “Should I

call Sarah now, should I wait, or should I not even call?” Dale thought. This was a lot more

pressure than Dale originally thought it would be, “Do I really want to do this?” As time ticked
on, second by second, minute by minute, Dale finally decided that it was time to give Sarah a

call.

“Hey Sarah, I think I am ready to get this over with,” Dale explained.

“Okay, I will meet you at the hospital!” replied Sarah.

By calling Sarah, Dale thought this would relieve all the pressure, but it did not. The pressure

grew as intense as an overfilled balloon that was about to burst, his anxiety was through the roof,

every step to his car felt as if he was taking ten steps. Opening the door of his grey van, sliding

himself onto the velvety black seat, placing one foot on the gas, the other on the brake, and one

hand on the wheel, and the other on the gear shift, Dale began to back out of the driveway to

begin his trip to the hospital.

The drive to the hospital felt like an eternity, but everything was just a blur. Entering the parking

lot, Dale felt extremely overwhelmed. This was a major point in his life. As he got out of the car

and walked towards the hospital, the doors slid open and he was greeted by the receptionist,

which started to calm Dale down.

“Hello! What can I help you with today sir?” asked the receptionist.

“I am here to check into my room and meet with my assistant, Sarah,” replied Dale.

“Name please,” the receptionist questioned.

“Dale Macintosh,” he responded.

“Alright, you will be on floor four, in room 426!” answered the receptionist.
Dale thanked the receptionist; then proceeded to the elevator, where he was taken up to floor

four. Dale arrived at his room, where everything was white; the walls, the bed, the bed sheets, the

desk, the chairs, everything except a bright yellow computer. “How weird,” Dale contemplated,

“This room has no sign of color, but that computer. It was as if there was almost no life present

in this room, excluding the computer.” Dale was instructed by Sarah to put on a white hospital

gown and get into the bed. She let Dale know that she would be back in a bit. Dale got into the

gown and laid comfortably in the soft silky sheets of the bed. About twenty minutes later, which

seemed to last as long as a dreary, rainy day, Sarah entered back into the room and she sat down

at the desk then pulled up Dale’s completed form on the computer. The adrenaline rushed back

into Dale’s limp body, “Was this the right decision!? Do I really want to do this!?” as all these

thoughts filled Dale’s head.

“Dale are you ready to submit your form?” questioned Sarah

Dale began to hesitate, “Yes,” he mumbled.

“Alright, just close your eyes and lay back, everything will be okay,” Sarah said.

As Sarah pushed the button, Dale slowly passed away. The thoughts have left Dale’s mind. Dale

was finally calm as a still lake on a cool spring morning. Everything seemed like it would finally

be perfect.

Abhorrent screams, blazing white lights, shivers ran up his spine. The boy that is portrayed in

front is not the stuffy, dull baby he once knew in the life he had yesterday. Black as night straight

long hair that fell to the side of his face, it fell perfectly down the middle, what child has a full

head of hair, insufficient legs and feet, an adorable infant. He was a dashing young boy. Who
knew he’d destroy what kept the society going? His mother Carin was a delight to look at.

Prettiest nurse ever to be seen, pale white skin, rosy red cheeks, a smile so bright anyone would

fall for her looks. Her glossy green eyes were like fields of grass. She was beautiful. His father,

Konnor Sayers, CEO of the Organization of Customization, the most powerful man in the world.

Konnor’s crystal blue eyes and his shiny white smile made it so effortless for him to get what he

wants. Konnor gets everything, he needs everything. His first born, Axel was not who Konnor

wanted. Axel was special, different than everyone he’s ever met. It all started once he left the

hospital, howling every night, keeping his parents awake, fussing with his father after every time

he opened his mouth. The life at home was never easy for young Axel. He’d look forward to his

walks with his mother. Axel’s favorite thing to do, running with his mother, took all day. After

his mother picked him up from the park, they’d walk for hours. He adored the way the sun

glossed and heated their skin, the way the light shinned between the tall green ecstatic apple trees

made them feel as free as a butterfly flying throughout the world. Axel loved running. He loved

just being with his mother, he spent every moment he could with her. He tried filling his cracked

heart with his mother. While they walked, they felt alive. Free from his father, free from his

“poster child” life style. He’d happily run the town with his mother. Before the sun sets, the walk

to the ocean to see the sun fall. After several miles, they finally return home. He was only two

with the stress of a forty-five-year-old man who is dying of cancer. It was sad to see Axel, he

acted out when he was a way from his mother. When he was with his father, Konnor, he’s caused

chaos around his town. Although he knew it was wrong, Axel raced to steal little objects he

could fit into his little pockets, putting inappropriate posters on the walls on buildings, tearing

posters and signs down, whipping all the journals, pens, papers, everything on the office desks in
his father’s company. Konnor had enough. Before Konnor dealt with his son, he talked to his

wife.

“That’s it! I have taken enough disrespect from Axel, he is leaving TONIGHT!” blasted Konnor

stomping out of his bedroom into the T.V room where his rosy wife Caren stood.

“You can’t do this! Think of the man you would become, think of how people at work would

think of you, the world would shame you,” cried Caren with a mournfulness pitch in her voice.

“That’s why no one will know. He is dumber than a baby bird trying to figure out how to fly. He

doesn’t even know how to tie his shoes. He goes tonight. If someone asks where our beloved son

is, he is staying with family. He’s leaving now, that’s final.”

“And what has he done to you?” quickly questioned Caren.

“He ruined this family’s name!” shouted Konnor jumping up and down.

Later that night, Carin built up the courage to confront Konnor about his erratic decision to take

him away.

“Do you really think it’s appropriate to send our own child away to an institution?” Carin said

agitatedly.

“Axel is out of control. He doesn’t listen and he behaves like a wild animal. Since I’m the CEO

of customization, it would be odd when I’m seen around my child who doesn’t act like the

perfect poster child we want to represent. There is no discussion about this. We are leaving

now!” shouted Konnor who was infuriated.

“NO,” loudly exclaimed Carin, “He’s only a child, this is absurd, He is my child too. Please

don’t do this.”

Since Konnor was provoked, he fled the room bitterly. He was very heated at Carin thinking how

selfish she was acting, while Carin was thinking the same. Konnor storming into Axel’s room

grabbed Axel telling him it’s time to leave and to grab his things. Axel became very confused

and nervous about what was about to happen. His heart started to race because he was so scared.

Because Konnor didn’t want to waste time, he helped Axel get ready to leave. Confusion

continued to flood Axel’s mind, but he still did what his father told him. Konnor took Axel to the

car so quickly that Carin didn’t notice and didn’t get a chance to say goodbye. Outside the house,

Carin caught them leaving and shouted, “Goodbye Axel, I will always love you,” with many

tears streaming down her face. With sadness and fear, she looked at Konnor and said, “You are

going to regret this.”

Down the driveway, Konnor was backing out to take Axel to the institution. On the drive,

Konnor, who was furious, was ignoring Axel, who was confused about what was happening.

When, they got to the institution, Konnor didn’t waste time taking Axel into the facility. Konnor

got Axel out of the car as well as his things. Looking at his confused son, knowing he may never

see him again, Konnor got in the car and drove off like a speeding bullet.

“Yep! I’ll see you tomorrow, Kiara!” an employee said over her shoulder as she walked out of

the building at the end of her shift. As she turned around to look for her car, her eyes rested on a

young boy who was walking aimlessly along the sidewalk. He was looking all around the
parking lot, and he looked dazed and confused. Gingerly, the employee approached Axel and

knelt beside him.

“Hey there, little guy. I’m Sona. What’s your name?” she said with a warm smile.

Axel stared at her for a little while before answering. “Axel,” he said in a small voice, his

hands fumbling with the hem of his worn blue t-shirt.

“Axel, do you know where your mommy and daddy are?” asked Sona. Axel shook his

head, when in reality, he knew that his mom was at home and his dad drove away. He was

smarter than he seemed. Sona put her hand on Axel’s shoulder, but he resisted, kicking and

screaming at the top of his lungs. She gripped him as hard as her small arms could and held him

close to her chest. As she picked him up, he bit her arm. She yelped, but that didn’t loosen her

grip. She carried him through the institutions spotless glass doors and practically threw him into

a security man’s arms.

“Tell Ruby that he is a feisty one!” she chuckled.

The guard didn’t realize how squirmy Axel was, and almost lost grip. He took him right to

Ruby’s office, and put him in the chair in front of her desk. Axel immediately got up and started

to hit the floor. Ruby didn’t know what was going on, and frankly felt intoxicated. She rang a

bell to bring a guard in, ignoring the wails, and politely asked,

“Who is he?”

“Some kid Sona brought in from the street” the guard, Oliver, said in a monotoned voice.

“Is he staying here?” She queried.

“I think. You will have to ask Sona, she knows.”

Ruby sighed, and rang the bell again. Oliver opened the door, sarcastically saying,

“Yes, sweetheart?”

“Take him to isolation, I’ll deal with him in the morning” She said, rubbing her temples from the

headache the bloody-murder screams gave her.

Axel squirmed in the uncomfortably stiff leather chair. as the employees talked in hushed

voices outside the door of the room. Suddenly, the door opened and one of the employees walked

into the room. He sat down and began filling out paperwork for Axel to stay in the institution.

The man filled the pages with as much information as he could gather from the two year old. The

two of them stood up and the man led Axel to a room. The musty room, which had beige walls

and cement floor, was downright depressing. The only things in the room were the rickety, gray

bed in the corner and a small dresser.

“This is going to be where you stay for a little while, Axel. You can sit on the bed if you

want. I’ll be back, I’m going to grab you some clothes,” the man said to Axel, who sprinted over

to the bed and quickly climbed up the side. He sat there staring at the wall until his vision began

to blur. He heard the man say behind the door with a chuckle,

“He’ll need to stay there for ten years, at least.”

Axel sat in that room with the blank, cream colored walls for 3,832 days. He slept, ate,

looked, and dreamed over and over again. Ten years, he thought. Ten years, and I have no

friends I haven’t talked to anyone, and I have done the same thing over and over again.
With that, the buzzer to open his door went off, and his guard, Oliver, waved his hand toward

himself, motioning Axel to leave his room.

“Ruby and I are trusting that you can walk to the cafeteria alone today because you’re old

enough to do so,” Oliver said in a grave manner.

Axel happened to look at Oliver’s face, for once, when he talked, and saw his comforting, tender

eyes. The vibrant hazel had somewhat paralyzed him, and without thinking, he moved his legs

down the cold hallway. He turned around to reassure Oliver that he was going to the cafeteria,

when he saw Ruby talking to him. It was silent, which is why he was able to hear Ruby’s grating

voice say,

“Does he just realize that he could be taken out of isolation if he acted in a respectful way?

He has been here for ten years and not spoken, he hasn’t been inviting or warm. I mean yes, his

parents left him, but we have given him everything he needs! But don’t get me wrong, if my kids

acted like he does, I might bring them here too.” Ruby chuckled, and Oliver tried not to smile but

he showed some teeth to aid Ruby’s joke.

But when Axel heard this, it almost made his feet unconsciously stop, and his heart feel

heavy. He suddenly felt tired, but his brain was only beginning to spin.

We figured it out! a disembodied voice said It’s the last piece to the puzzle! If you fake being

nice to people, we might be able to get out of this prison! Axel smiled, which hurt his cheeks

because he hadn’t smiled in so long, but he didn’t care. From that day forward, he did smile, and

wave to people, and when Oliver came to open his door, he would say thank you, and How are

you today?
The days passed, and the smiles came and went before it was his fifteenth birthday. Ruby called

him down to her office, and before he had never noticed how bright and comforting her office

was, but today he saw and wondered if she decorated it like this on purpose.

“Axel,” She said, almost joyously, “Oliver and I have talked, and you have made serious

progress here. When you first came in, you were this short-tempered two-year-old who didn’t

want to talk, but always wanted to scream. There was a lot of screaming. A lot.” Ruby sighed

when she said a lot, almost as if she missed his wails. But she gently smiled and proceeded her

speech, “So, since it’s your birthday, we have a surprise for you!” She stood up and walked into

the hallway, and waved to Axel

“follow me.” She said. Axel stood up and walked into the hallway, jogging to catch up to her.

She stopped at a door, far away from the isolation hallway, with the number 412 printed on it, in

tarnished gold.

“what’s this?” he asked, but deep down in his heart, he knew that this was his new room.

His brain started talking to him again.

It worked, kid! You did it! You really can fake it till ya make it. Axel’s heart was beating out of

his chest, and his lips naturally curled out of the excitement.

“this, young man,” Ruby said, looking and pointing to the door, “is you brand new room!”

She lifted herself on her tippy toes and twisted the handle. Axel walked into the room and

immediately saw a young boy sitting at the desk by the widow, working on school work.

“this is your roommate, Micah, who is one whole year younger than you, but you two don’t

share a birthday…” Ruby kept rambling but Axel blocked out the noise, fascinated by the

presence of Micah. He hadn’t been around people, kids his age, in almost 13 years. He watched
Micah stand up, and that only began the friendship between the two boys. At first, Axel was shy,

but by the time he was 16 he was telling Micah all of his secrets. They shard posters in the room,

talked to each other, walked together, and even shared some crushes here and there. By the time

Axel was 17, he had a feeling that he would be getting out soon, so he spent every moment with

Micah, so he could use him later.

“They grew up,” Ruby said, “they grew up together, despite the fact that they didn’t meet

until they were fifteen.” She smiled so brightly, knowing she had put a true friendship together.

Packing up his bags, Axel looked around at his secluded room and thought to himself, I

will not miss this place one bit. He had been cleaning up and preparing his bags all day and

although he didn’t have much to pack, he was getting tired. Suppressing his excitement, Axel fell

asleep happily, an emotion he hadn’t felt for a long time. Besides, the next day couldn’t come

any faster. Axel’s eyes opened and filled with a blur. He saw the bright rays of sunlight shining

through the window. As his eyes cleared up, he saw a faint shadow.

“Wake up!” the guard shouted aggressively. Axel jerked awake to the sound of the guard’s loud

voice.

“Time for breakfast. Last time you have to eat that junk,” chuckled the guard. Axel took a long

cat-like stretch and quickly go out of bed. The guard led him to the large auditorium filled with

children of all different ages. Axel kept his head down while he walked down the aisle, yet he

could still feel the piercing eyes of the insane children as he waited in line for breakfast.
When he approached the food, he heard the cafeteria worker’s voice from behind the glass, “I

made this breakfast especially for you Axel.”

“Well thank you,” said Axel in an uneasy voice. The cafeteria worker slapped a pile of mush

down on his tray.

“Mmmm,” Axel said, trying not to gag. Taking his tray, Axel headed straight for the empty table

where he sat every morning. Axel felt lonesome until he sensed the presence of someone next to

him.

“Hey, can I sit here?” asked Mika, who is Axel’s one and only friend at the institution.

“Yeah,” Axel responded in a toneless voice.

“What’s the matter?” Mika asked, “If it was my last day here, I would be ecstatic.”

“I am excited, but I just don’t know what I want to do with my life,” Axel replied, thinking about

all the time he had spent at the institution.

“Maybe you can just see the world, and live a little,” exclaimed Mika.

As the two boys finished up their breakfast, a sharp beeping noise sounded in the auditorium.

“Ahhh! Maybe they will fix those bells while you’re gone!” the boys laughed.

Multiple guards were leading the swarm of children back into their rooms, so Mika and Axel

said their goodbyes and went their separate ways. Once Axel got back to his room, he started to

gather his belongings that he packed the night before. Wow, he thought, the day has finally

come, I get to leave the institution in which I spent my entire childhood. Year after year, cooped

up in the institution, Axel anticipated this day. The guards escorted Axel to the lobby, where he
grabbed his papers from the front desk. The creaky large metal doors opened, and Axel walked

out with his head held high. Now, at eighteen years old, he was ready to take on the real world.
Rising Action/Complication
Dawson, Sreya, Ava, Brette, Jason, Kaitlyn
 Climax and Resolution

Connor A, Connor S, Lily F, Dan S. Meara, Chord

Period 9

The gray behemoth stood as it ever had, daunting and unmoving, except for this time

there was hope. The rebellion, that had never fought, enthusiastically approached with fire in

each of their eyes and courage in their hearts. Inside their ears there was the small voice telling

them they would fail, but it was overpowered by hope. The opportunity for change had revealed

itself for the first time for as long as anyone can remember, and they were not going to let it slip.

To get in meant change.

“Today will be the last we are played like puppets,” a large man yelled with his fists to

the sky, “and they will fall at our feet!”

They crawled closer with cackling guns, getting rowdier as if every single one of them

was just then realizing it was now do or die time. They were fed up with waiting. After the last

rebellion fell, they all knew what could happen to them. Farther up, some held their guns as if

their life depended on it, some ran after seeing the sheer mass of the building, while some

stopped and stared, paralyzed by fear. For freedom, they were willing to fight.

Gunfire had already started with occasional shots on the building, chipping small bits of

paint off the thick, steel shell. The bullets were generally ineffective on the impenetrable

building, and some employees in the building even watched through the thick glass that the

bullets bounced off. After the last attack, they had reinforced the already strong defenses. They

laughed at the approaching group and how they fought against them to no avail. Their mockery
only drove the group. They picked up speed and with that the gunfire as well. The previous

sprinkle had turned into a torrential downpour of gunfire.

“Kill them all,” someone yelled

“Conserve your ammo until we get closer,” another person yelled, getting lost in the

screams of others. He knew they were failing already.

Now, they were right at the base. Being able to get in was going to be the hard part for

them though. They had to able to since to get in was vital. It seemed taller than it ever had before

and looked impossible to take down with the guns they had gotten with the limited time and

money they had access to. Before they had little money, but now they had none. A man held a

WW2 era shotgun, which had completely rusted over, tightly to his chest because it was all he

had. He knew it was his chance at fighting. They had come too far to go back now, and everyone

was firing. The blasts of the guns firing, deafening them more and more as they continued. Some

people even got caught by others blindly firing, tearing holes in their flesh. In the absence of a

distinct leader, they fought disorganized and madly. Men charged at the base hitting it as if they

could knock it down with the strength of Hercules.

Konnor, who sat in his office, knew that losing to this group was not an option. He also

knew the building would not easily fall to a bunch of rebellious teenagers with guns. To kill them

all would mean another group would rise just as this one did, but it would have an equal effect to

leave them squabbling about. This thinking made him horribly anxious. Since it came down to

him, he knew he had to make the decision sooner rather than later. Solemnly sitting, he thought

about this as the chaos reigned outside, with the sound of bullets roaring. He was a hard man but
one not completely void of emotions. He thought some more deep in his mind and decided he

had to do it despite what he wanted.

The angry mob grew too close for Konnor to turn back. He barked the order, causing the

crowd of bright-hearted individuals to burst into a sea of flames. He thoughtlessly ran back

inside the corporation, being choked by the smoke and debris. Once he was safe, he started

peering outside of the glass window, only to see that fires had died out and the smoke has mostly

vanished, leaving the remains of the decimated crowd clear as day.

Reality smacked Konnor brutally across the face, leaving a glaring scar that will never

fade. He thought about the terrible deed he has done, his mind racing from what an individual he

killed could have been doing in life, to wondering about the families that will miss them, and

lastly that he is the cause of it all. Konnor started to devastate the room until there was nothing

left. Paintings were broken, books were thrown on the floor, and vases were smashed. Then he

threw himself on the couch, silently waiting for his wretched emotions to subside. Once he

finally had the courage to look up, he saw his wife standing in the doorway.

“What are you doing here, Caren?” he muttered, lowering his head back down. She stood,

speechless, with nothing but a look of disappointment on her face.

At last, she managed to sputter, “I . . . I can’t . . . believe that you did this.” Just before

she could run down the hall, she began to unnervingly vanish.

Konnor could do nothing but let out a sorrowful murmur of, “Caren.” It was a vision.

Konnor drove his head back into the pillow and continued laying on the couch, as if he were a

child facing punishment. He began dozing off to sleep, thinking he would get a break from acting

like Hamlet but that didn’t gain him any pleasure. Even in his dreams, the grueling images kept
chasing him, because they were all too real to him. He envisioned the crowd of citizens, who just

wanted to state what they believed. He was touched, but it slowly shifted into images of the dead,

collapsed on the floor, limbs and bodily fluids scattered about. As if things were not bad enough,

Caren appeared in front of him. However, she was not alive. Instead, she was one of the many

bodies sprawled on the ground, which were killed by none other than himself. He awoke.

Konnor heads home after killing the hundreds of rebels, who dared to test him, feeling a

sense of pride and leadership. Nothing can stand in the way of Konnor’s satisfactory mood - until

he gets home. Caren angrily stands in the doorway, with a killer look on her face, ready to fight.

The news is playing on the T.V behind her, screaming with intensity. In this moment Konnor

thinks of her as Medusa, like she could kill with one glance. Before Konnor approaches the door,

he braces himself for a heated brawl.

“How dare you! How dare you come home with that smug look on your face after

coming home from killing. Killing kids who just wanted a change! I can’t believe you. To stand

there, watch and do nothing! You disgust me.”

“Caren, where is this coming from? You know I did what I had to do. They would ruin

my reputation, everything I stand for, which would ruin me!”

“You know, maybe those kids were right- maybe we do need a change. Maybe the world

would be better without customization, without me or you-”

“Caren, honey, you’re just saying this, I don’t understand why you are so mad!”

Despite the anger In Karen’s eyes there was a glimmer of sadness begging to express itself.
 “I am NOT just saying this! They are people just like you and me who just happen to

have a different opinion than you. They didn’t deserve to die.”

“They were only a couple of kids-”

“That’s it. They were just kids. He was only a kid.”

After this statement she walked into the kitchen, with a look of dazzling confusion and

sorrow, leaving Konnor standing confused and irritated. Konnor was stressing beyond belief,

sleeping little to none throughout the night. Caren didn’t join him until late in the night, which

made him curious, so he imitated a deep sleep, knowing all too well his restlessness. There was

movement in and out of the room before Caren left and didn’t return. Konnor barely noticed, for

his mind was racing other directions.

Why is Caren so upset? They had argued countless times before about customization, but

usually she was more lenient. This time she was extremely stubborn and passionately argued,

which was frustrating. It was probably due to the destruction of the rebellion. She was never fond

of Konnor’s ruthless nature against a cause he only partially believed in. But did he believe in it?

The thought had been haunting him relentlessly.

It must be so hard for Caren, to watch the countless tragedies customization has caused.

No satisfaction can truly be reached from customization, a process that was thought to make

people happier. It has only caused more conflict. Throughout the night these thoughts kept

singing in his head, like an angered symphony.

 Before he knew it, Konnor woke up into an eerie and foggy morning. The view from his

window revealed little of the surrounding environment, he felt as if he couldn’t escape the house,

for there was nowhere to go.

As he exited the bedroom, he felt unsure rearing the corner, as if he had an instinct telling

him he may not like what is waiting for him. Once he worked up the courage to turn the corner, a

woman’s helpless scream blasts inside his head. He hits the ground due to the sheer sonic power

of the concerning scream. The voice began to sob, and he lifted his head to vaguely witness a

blurry figure stand in the kitchen. He knows it’s not real, as if he has finally drifted off to sleep

and is living in his dream. The lifeless body dropped to the floor without resistance as the

sobbing stopped, like a sack of potatoes.

After the torment of the daydream subsided, Konnor slowly picked himself up, expecting

to see a body on the ground. Luckily, there was no body to be found, only an empty pill bottle on

the floor. He tried to remember how things such as the pill bottle and other objects around the

kitchen got arranged the way they are, but he could barely recollect a single memory of

yesterday. Although Konnor was just in his kitchen last night, it felt different. Maybe because of

the foggy morning that awakened him, but maybe because of his restlessness.

“CAREN!”

As he walked to the living room, he viewed the tragic aftermath of the scene he had just

witnessed. Caren’s body was sprawled on the floor, cold, empty, and lifeless. Now the only

thoughts that were able to penetrate Konnor’s mind were the ones of Caren leaving in the night

and not returning. And the vague scene of an overdose. And the empty pill bottle on the floor. He

could feel the thoughts smashing at his heart. He was such a fool. He let her leave during the
night. And end her life! He felt a new kind of compassion and loving toward Caren, which is

much too late.

“No no no! Why?! Why did you have to do this?!”

The tears poured out of his eyes. He let her slip away from him. It was his fault! How did

he make her life so miserable and not even notice he was doing it? He can’t even remember the

last time he told her he loved her.

“No Caren,” sobbed Konnor. “I love you!”

But it was too late. Disgusted by the scene of his doing, Konnor sadly marched to his

bedroom to find a wet, mangled piece of paper on the nightstand next to Caren’s side of the bed.

Interested by the note, he opened it, certainly afraid of what the note may contain:

My life is falling apart. Konnor, customizing must stop. It only causes destruction. The kids of the

rebellion have all been killed. They were just fighting for peace. I think your actions were

careless. I feel like I’m living with a murderer. Did you have any reason to kill them? Besides

keeping your reputation. You can’t let authority go to your head. And you are. You’ve let your

reputation define you to the point where without it, you have nothing. Now, your reputation is

infamous. I heard some startling news that the rebel you killed, Jax, is Axel. I know our son was

not who we expected, but he is still our son. You can’t kill family! Maybe it was an accident, but

that is no excuse. I feel like running away but who knows maybe I’ll change my name and you’ll

kill me like Jax. Your behavior lately has been so erratic. Sometimes you doubt the benefits of

customization. Why don’t you do anything about it? The family I have chosen is not what it was

years ago. They have let me down. There is no escape from my life now. I could customize my
next life, but there will surely be problems with that life too. I would rather feel nothing than feel

the sadness in my heart right now.

When he had finished reading, the note stung at Konnor’s fingers. He could not have

thought lower of himself. Konnor destroyed his entire family. He loved Caren, but he is confused

why he now feels like he loved his son. He exiled his son, but why does he miss him now that

he’s gone? He now just saw Axel as a helpless child. So innocent and so rebellious.

Tortured by the guilt and regret, he tried his best to block out the thoughts that haunted

him. He did everything. He viciously scratched at his scalp until his head burned. He turned on

the TV to blast the volume. But despite the volume ferociously striking at his ears, he could still

think. After his failure, he finally gave up and stormed out of his house. Now it is only his house.

He drove foolishly and without any thought, which took him on a path very familiar to him.

Konnor’s respite towards himself was growing by the minute, as the reality began to set

in. Everything he had going for him had been stripped away like a bee in the rain through

circumstances he knew were on his own indiscretion, although that didn’t stop his faltering

hopes to find an illegitimate scapegoat.

Caren was gone, his authority was being questioned on a mass scale, and he had violently

killed his own son for the sake of protecting his cooperation.

He walked into the corporation poker-faced, hiding all emotion and pain he had,

determined to get to his office without any socializing. He reached his office, and he caught sight

of his secretary.
 “Marty, can… uh, do you mind if I talk to you for a second,” Konnor stuttered, pulling

Marty towards him with his shaking finger, as though his finger was a small tree in the middle of

a hurricane.

“Yes Sir?” Marty replied, a look of dread filling his face, patiently waiting for another

murder to be assigned to him.

“What’s the point of life? Where does the line get crossed from success in life to failure?”

Konnor was rattling as he spoke, his thoughts were racing and he couldn’t keep his mind from

bouncing.

“I own the biggest company of the world and have more subordinates than any other man

in history, although all I can think about is how I’ve failed at life.” Tears were slowly forming in

his muddled eyes, his gaze akin to that of a Deadman walking.

“Don’t beat yourself up over this sir. You know that this business and technology is

going to be bigger than all of us in the annuals of history, provided that it already isn’t. So what

if you killed a rebellious, disgruntled civilian, who cares? What we have here is so much more

important than a stupid kid dying prematurely.” Marty had an unusual confidence in his speech,

his words flowing smoothly like a swarm of bees out of their hive, even his body language had a

persona of confidence.

“Shut up Marty, shut up!” he said, as his face had turned into a fiery fury of anger, which

happened so suddenly Marty didn’t know how to react. “You don’t understand what’s

happening! That ‘stupid kid’ I killed; he was my son!”

“Oh my god, I’m sorry sir, I didn’t know,” Marty said, speaking with no reminisce of his

former confidence.
 “And if my son’s execution I ordered doesn’t make you think differently of this ‘bigger

than life business’, my wife just killed herself because of the monster I’ve become. My own

family, my own blood, it’s gone! All because of this business, which has done nothing but hurt

our world!”

Konnor surged out of his office, running with a dogged determination towards the rebirth

systems.

“Konnor!” Marty yelled, chasing after him with panic, confusion, and fear

simultaneously filling his face, “Whatever you’re about to do, don’t do it! We have a good thing

going for us!”

Marty’s words were doing nothing but fueling Konnor more, who didn’t return even a

glance to Marty. Running was the only thing on Konnor’s mind as he passed by the offices,

employees, and luxury he had attained throughout his life, with only one thing on his mind: to

tear all of it down.

“If I want to save mankind this is my only option!” Konnor irritably declared to his

friends, before approaching the door.

Once Konnor landed upon the thought of destroying everything it took over his

conscious. Nothing anyone else said or did was going to change Konnor’s mind. The only barrier

between Konnor and the room full of everything he wanted to destroy was a steel door. The door

was protected with a six-digit password Konnor could say in his sleep. He was in; the world was

about to be changed forever.

As he looked in the room, he saw almost 1,000 computers, all holding the vital

information to people’s future lives. All the computers had lights that put on a show while
Konnor was working. At the front of the room was a massive computer, which controlled the

ability to receive all people’s wishes. If he destroyed this computer, he would destroy everything.

This was the same computer he had been using every day for many years. Never once in those

years did Konnor think he would destroy all the technology he had once worked arduously to

create.

Destroying all the data Konnor had saved was going to be an Odyssey. Getting rid of all

the technology was going to take much more effort than getting into the room. Konnor had all

the data backed up onto multiple hard drives incase anything ever went wrong. He also had many

different passwords so no one would be able to hack it and delete the data. The whole process,

even for Konnor, would take hours. Konnor would need to individually clear the hard drives.

What was going to be the most time consuming was destroying the technology.

As Konnor furiously typed the codes, pounding on the keys, causing the keys to scream.

Throughout the whole process Konnor never thought twice about the consequences that would

follow. Konnor never realized how society would react when they found out what he took away

from them. For many people being able to customize their life was a safe spot. Knowing exactly

how their future life would be, having the ability to fulfill their wishes, was very comforting.

Within ten minutes everyone’s wishes and dreams were gone forever.

The next task Konnor felt he needed to take care of was eradicating the ability of

customization. Konnor was the only person who knew all the technology and processes behind

customization. He was also the only person who had access to the technology and the

information. If all the customization technology was not completely extinguished, Konnor knew

someone would be able to recreate it.

 Many passwords had to be used to unlock the customization coding. The code was

written in a secret way so only Konnor would understand. Konnor wrote the code many years

ago and wasn’t completely sure on his secret language which added a little challenge when

dismantling it. Password after password each serving a different purpose but each working

towards Konnor’s goal. What seemed like five minutes to Konnor was really an hour, but soon

enough Konnor was on the last step. He needed to type in one more password, that would

officially delete all the technology.

“71A2g35dSq ^,” Konnor confidently repeated aloud.

This was the password that would indelibly remove all the coding. Anything Konnor had

done could still be revived as long as he doesn’t type this code. Konnor had something else in

mind though he efficiently and assertively entered in the password and that was it. All the coding

Konnor had spent years on and the wishes so many people had, were now irretrievable.

The next step for Konnor was to destroy all the computers and their memory disks.

Konnor knew that if someone really wanted to recreate the customization, they wouldn’t need

these specific computers but it made him feel better knowing there was nothing left. Konnor

came prepared bringing a sledgehammer with him. Konnor wanted to start with the basic

computers and then end with the mothership. Individually computer by computer Konnor

smashed everything.

“Agh!” releasing all his rage Konnor aggressively threw the sledgehammer over his head

demolishing the main computer.

Boom! The screen shattered and pieces went everywhere. Konnor felt like hulk, he had

the strength to do anything. The floor was coated with a dusting of computer. All the rubbish
laying on the floor must have been at least 10 feet tall. At this point if someone were to walk in

the room, they wouldn’t be able to guess what this room was once filled with. Doing all this

demolition physically took a tool on Konnor but emotionally he was feeling much better. He was

able to release so much of his stored rage.

Konnor wasn’t the person to go running around, like a chicken with its head cut off,

telling everyone what he had just done but, word still spread quickly. Just hours after Konnor had

made the move news casters, reporters, and angry civilians were bombarding Konnor with

questions. Some people thought Konnor should be killed or he is put in jail where he is punished

until he reveals his secrets. On the contrary, some sided with Konnor and thought that what he

did was for the benefit of society.

Konnor was only willing to say one thing, “I did what I thought was best for the

progression of society,” he responded in a monotone voice completely ignoring any other

questions.

Almost immediately anyone who thought they were capable tried to revive the lost

information. The exceptionally desperate even started to write new code. Hundreds of different

attempts were made hundreds of brains worked together to try to get back something that was

supposedly the greatest thing ever. No one could, no matter how many different people, no

matter how many different techniques nothing worked. If anyone did figure the code out, it

wouldn’t have mattered because eventually it became illegal. Anyone caught trying to code

would be punished. The government thought this was the best solution for all the disagreements

regarding if customization should be allowed or if it was humane.