Escape to Eden Read Online Free PDF Page A

share their knowledge. That leaves the entire human race, what’s left of it, at Techheads’ mercy.”
    “And what about people like me? Originals? Where are they?”
    Anthony exhales slowly and shakes his head. “Those who have survived have either been taken by the Institute or are in hiding.”
    “And society is okay with this?”
    “I wish I could say no, but you have to understand that this is a very different world. With people dying as young as they do, people have fallen into a survival mode. When the Institute tells people that Originals are kept in a safe place, that they are taken care of and have a great life, people don’t question them. Nobody wants to know the truth. Everyone just wants to live as long as they can.”
    It’s too much for me to take in. Maybe if I can remember who I am and where I came from, I might be able to better understand what he’s saying, but right now it sounds like I’ve awakened into a world where no one cares about anyone else, or what is happening. If the dream was a paradise, the reality feels more like a hell.
    “And my memory? Did they permanently mess it up?” I ask.
    “I believe they gave you a drug that temporarily blocks your memory. They do this to Originals to keep them calm through the testing.”
    “Testing?”
    Anthony nods. “A great deal of testing. All kinds, some of it quite painful. Before your DNA can be sold, they need to know if you have any defects, or the potential for defects.”
    I rub my arm. “So I’ll get my memory back?”
    “I think so. In time.”
    I breathe easier, but his answers have me wondering about something else. I look at Anthony, his creaseless white shirt and sharply creased slacks.
    “Why are you helping me?” I ask. “Aren’t I worth a lot of money? And won’t anybody who helps me get into big trouble?”
    He smiles. “For a long time the Institute has said they are close to finding a cure, a breakthrough that will return our DNA to the way it was. A growing number of us no longer believe them.” He lowers his feet back to the floor and leans against the desk. “We think the only way to fix the human race is to start over. Find Originals and protect them. They are our future. It’s not a coincidence that I work here next to the Institute.”
    “How many Originals are there?” I want him to say thousands. I want him to say that they are all around but just keeping a low profile. I want him to make me feel like I’m not alone. He doesn’t.
    “In my lifetime, I’ve only met six. But that doesn’t mean they don’t exist. Many of them are in hiding.”
    “Have others escaped from the Institute like me?”
    “One. A year ago.”
    I lean back into the chair, letting his words sink in. A feeling of hopelessness smothers me, making it hard to breathe.
    He says, “You’re very lucky, you know? But something tells me luck had nothing to do with it.”
    I open my mouth to say I don’t feel very lucky when a pounding on the door has me off the chair and backing into the corner.
    The Institute . They’ve found me.

I press my back into the wall until it hurts.
    “It’s okay,” Anthony says. “I asked someone I trust to come help us. You have nothing to fear.”
    I start to protest, but he’s already opening the door.
    A girl pushes herself the rest of the way in and says, “So what’s so important that I had to come all the way over here on a Friday night? You know it’s my only night to wear a dress—”
    The words stick in her throat when she sees me in the corner. She looks younger than I am, but by the confidence in her voice and her stance, standing tall with shoulders back, I think she could be older. Her wavy blonde hair goes past her shoulders and contrasts with her short black dress. Her eyes are amber colored like Anthony’s. She carries a black bag over her shoulder.
    “Her eyes,” the girl says and looks at Anthony. “Is she—?”
    He nods and turns to me. “This is Jenna. She’s here to