Lab Journal Entry #32

[matril]

"Change of Heart"

Top of staircase, dimly-lit. ELI is holding the camera shakily

ELI (VO)
I haven’t gone down there. (Distant noise from downstairs; camera jumps) I haven’t been around here much at all over the last week. I just don’t have the stomach for it.

(Another noise) Tori, you’re wondering how I feel about all this. I still don’t know. You wonder if my feelings for you have changed, though you’re too nervous to ask. What am I supposed to say? You’ve changed. You know you have. Of course you have, after everything you’ve been through. Some of it’s your fault. Some of it isn’t. So where does that leave us? (Pause) Maybe that’s a stupid question to ask in the face of far more important concerns. Like, is your new creation going to come alive and instantly start on a murderous rampage? Or is it going to go off happily with its ready and waiting companion?

(Pause) If I was told, moments after gaining awareness, that I was made exclusively for the purpose of being someone’s mate, I’m not sure I’d be very happy about it. And if the creature is rejected yet again, this time by its own kind – what then?

Noises, growing louder. An animal cry. Voices, one of them gravelly and fierce. ELI falls silent and holds the camera in trembling hand. Downstairs, suddenly, is silence. After a long pause, ELI goes hesitantly toward the stairs. Then footsteps, and TORI appears, wild-eyed and gasping.

TORI
I couldn’t – I couldn’t go through with it.

ELI
You didn’t – but I heard voices?

TORI
(Leaning against wall, eyes shut) It was the creature. The first one. It was watching through the window...waiting for me to finish the job. But all my misgivings came rushing back to me at once. (Opens eyes) I was making a mate, Eli. Do you realize what that means?

Beat.

ELI
Offspring.

TORI
(Nods) I wasn’t making just one more. Not really.

ELI
What did you do?

TORI
I destroyed it.

ELI
(Pause) And the creature?

TORI
You heard. It was enraged. Or grief-stricken. Both. For a second I was sure it was going to come in and kill me.

ELI
What did it do instead?

TORI
Threatened me. Told me it would be with me on my wedding night.

Pause

ELI
What now?

TORI
Long-term? I have no idea. Short-term? (Straightening) I have...biomaterials to dispose of.