Under My Skin

By Brianna Tibbetts

My heart is pounding, a steady reminder that any misstep could destroy everything. There’s nothing for me outside; my value is here now. I can’t tear my eyes from the beautiful people that fill the room. My breath hitches in my chest. I tighten my fist around the drive carrying my invitation. It’s all that keeps me from questioning my presence. Everything around me is the height of popularity.

This is where stars are created.

“Mikael?”

I turn to see a woman in a stunning purple suit with immaculate hair. I feel messy just looking at her, though my own short, blonde curls are as well-groomed as they can get. My suit jacket is nice, but years out of style. It takes everything in me to put up a confident front.

“That’s me.” I extend my hand, holding back a wince as my coarse skin meets her soft palm. It’s a predictable contrast, but it still causes a spike of fear in my heart. My hand tightens around the invitation.

I was chosen.

The woman smiles, which doesn’t suit her. “Welcome to Inspire.” She spreads her hands, showcasing the glistening marble below us and all those standing on it. This is her kingdom.

“Thank you for the invitation.” I run my thumb over the drive. It’s still real. The hologram told me I could be part of a new trend. Noticed. Inspirational. The epitome of human.

It’s my dream.

“Come with me. We’ll get started. We’re excited to have you.” The stylish crowd parts for the woman as she strides forward, but none of them make eye contact.

I follow because I’ve already come this far. The crowd is full of models, and the only reason I’m not drowning in self-consciousness is the knowledge I’m about to be like them. Being a member of Inspire is to be successful. It’s the way to redeem yourself. To become better. To become more.

“Right this way.” The woman presses a button beside a frosted glass door.

I move forward as the door lifts. Where the room behind me is opulent, the one in front of me is sterile. There are no bright colors, trendy fashions, or holographic signs. Instead, the room contains a reclined chair, several computing systems I don’t recognize, and two Inspire employees clad in lab coats. Everything my eyes are reporting to my brain is different from what I expected. The growing chill in my bones brings me to a halt.

“Go on.” The woman is at my back. The presence isn’t comforting.

Unsure what else to do, I move forward. The people in front of me don’t meet my gaze. Their stares are vacant, like they’re incomplete. My skin prickles as I realize it was true of everyone back in the marble room, too. Everyone is hollow.

“What is this?” Building nerves in my gut make it hard to keep a level tone.

The woman shifts to face me, the odd smile back on her face. “We’re all about creating ideal heroes. Those worthy to be noticed and to inspire.” Her smile slides into a grin. “It’s what we take pride in.”

My eyes flick to the chair and the machines, then back to her. “How?”

“To create the ultimate you, we need to remove you.” She laughs, glancing down and shaking her head. “I realize this may not make sense yet, but trust me, the system works.”

Her words bounce around my head. I glance back at the vacant-looking employees by the chair. “You… erase people?” I can hear the truth in my words. This whole place is full of empty stars waiting to influence an empty world.

The woman’s expression twists. “Of course not! We take you out, not delete you. Think of it as a new way to be human. The ideal way to be human. All you need to do is agree. No need for pain, redemption, nothing. You will be remade!”

My thoughts whirl and bump into each other, but one of the woman’s words stands out. “Agree? I can say no?”

The woman purses her lips. “Of course. We aren’t villains, Mikael. We’re a business. There are laws.”

I take a step back, my nerves steeling. “Then my answer is no.”

A heavy sigh escapes the woman, like I’m disappointing her. “Mikael, in your application essay, you claimed this was your dream. Do you really wish to throw it away?”

My face hardens. “It was, before I understood. All those people Inspire sends into the world? They aren’t heroes. They’re just gone! None of them are famous. None of them are fine. You say you remove pain and any need for redemption?” My chest is heaving. “All that tells me is you don’t know the first thing about what it means to be human. You won’t bend my humanity.”

The woman folds her hands and gives me a pitying look. “I see. Well, Mikael, if you recover from your tantrum, you are welcome to return. We are willing to help you.”

I move toward the door. Sweet, cool relief floods me as I realize no one is going to stop me. “I’m going back to the real world.” I smile for the first time since I arrived. “I may not know where my redemption begins, but it isn’t here.”

No one follows me as I flee, but I don’t stop moving until I’m out of Inspire and across the street. The building glistens, but I’m no longer fooled. The invitation is still clenched in my fist, and I consider it for a brief moment. She was right. This was my dream for years.

I loosen my hold, letting the device fall to the pavement. Then, with as much force I can muster, I bring my heel down on the drive. My dream is shattered on the ground. I’ve never been more relieved.

Taking a deep breath, I toss one last glance at Inspire. “This is the only way to be human.”

Can you guess which song from the 1990's inspired this story? Share in the comments!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Brianna Tibbetts was raised on a steady diet of rich literature, and has been writing stories as long as she can remember. She has a passion for deeply developed characters and rich story worlds. Brianna has a BA in English and spent the first part of her life traveling around North America and Europe. She channels her experiences into her writing, infusing her fantasy and science fiction with the colorful details of the real world.

---

More Stories | Author Website