I think if I’m gonna start anywhere, I might as well start at the very beginning. Like, way at the beginning, the night I was born. Keep in mind, this part of the story is gonna be a bit vague, after all I don’t know how much of it is true; all of this part comes from what other people have told me. My birth in particular, is a case of someone telling someone who tells someone who tells me… Right, anyways, let’s begin. It was apparently a warm night in District 22’s Nest.

  The lone woman wandered through the streets, panting. She was exhausted and could feel her legs beginning to give out. She looked around for a bit to make sure the coast was clear, then continued to move; for someone in her state, she could move quite fast. The clinic wasn’t too far from here. Just a bit more… She placed her hand on her belly, feeling the life within, currently begging to be let out. It was too soon for them to be born.

  She pressed forward, before arriving at her destination. A small clinic that was open all night. Accidents happen everyday, sometimes for no reason at all; that’s why they call them accidents. So it was good to have easily accessible health care like this. Of course, you’d never be able to get this kind of thing in the Backstreets. Stumbling inside, the woman was greeted by a warm, but empty room. Her hair was disheveled, her clothing was ragged, and her footwear was just a simple pair of sandals. The only person there to greet her was a young man at the front desk.

  “Ma’am?” He asked, looking up from his computer moniter. “Are you okay?”

  “I… I need help.” She panted.

  “Right,” he nodded, not quite catching on what was going on. “Do you have an appointment?” He said, going through what was lined up. From the woman’s appearance, he assumed that she was some drug addict or someone who somehow snuck in from the Backstreets. But, suddenly she raised her voice.

  “No time!” She said, immediately cutting to the issue at hand. “I’m having a baby!”

  That was when the man at the front desk noticed. The woman’s flushed appearance, her distended belly. “Ma’am, are you…?”

  “…In labor…” She completed his sentence.

  “Right, right, I’ll get someone.” The man rushed off. Did anyone here who knew how to deliver a baby? Why was she going here to give birth? Why did he have to be the one to handle this? Childbirth grossed him out. He rushed to the back where a few of the other clinic workers were. Most of them tired and burnt out from working the graveyard shift. “Guys, do any of you know how to deliver a baby?” He asked in a panic.

  “What?” One of the older men said, “I helped my sister deliver hers, why? Having one of your own?” He asked, curious. He also knew one of the nurses had a kid on the way. But, he was met with a more serious response than expected.

  “There’s a woman at the front! She’s in labor!” He continued to panic, causing the rest of the doctors to immediately stand up in shock.

  So, if you think I’m going into the details, about my mother jackpotting me out from between her legs, you’re mistaken. Pregnancy in general makes me uncomfortable; I’m sure the circumstances of my birth have something to do with that. So I’m gonna gloss over this part. Just know that, according to the people who gave me this story, it was a difficult labor, that lasted until the sun rose. I hope the doctor’s don’t resent me for making them stay up all night like that. I wouldn’t know if they did, never met them after this.

  “It’s a boy!” One of the doctors cheered, looking at the newborn in front of him. “A healthy baby boy.”

  “A bit underweight, but not dangerously so.” A nurse said, as she cleaned the baby up.

  The infant was placed beside his mother, both of them crying. Yet, despite the whole ordeal, with her newborn son being right next to her, she did not hold him even as she nursed him. Treating him not as a newborn baby, but as simply a thing that was before her. A detail that the doctors noticed but didn’t comment on. It wasn’t their room to ask her such questions.

  “We’ll let you rest, ma’am,” the doctor who greeted her at the entrance said. “J-just know, that this isn’t a hotel. You’ll have to leave once you’re rested up. Do you want us to call your husband or family, perhaps?”

  The mother didn’t say anything. Her eyes were fixed on the window in the corner of the room, that looked outside. There was no light behind her eyes.

  To which, the doctor responded by not saying anything either. Simply giving her a nod, then walking out, letting her be.

  So my mother. I know almost nothing about her beyond what happened here. I don’t know why she did what she did. Why she didn’t raise me. I barely know what she looks like beyond what I’ve asked others. That she had long blond hair, freckles, and pale skin; guess that means that I got all my looks from my father, who I know even less about. Hearing this story, you’re probably quick to assume that she was heartless, simply abandoning her son at birth, not even cradling him as he cried. But I don’t know the full story, neither do you, so don’t go judging her. Alright? I don’t love her, can’t love someone I’ve never met, yet I hold no animosity towards her. All that being said, it was about an hour after giving birth, that she wrapped me in a blanket, put me on the center of the bed, got up, and walked out the door. That was the last time anyone ever saw her.

  The doctors were alerted by the sound of baby crying, prompting a number of them to rush in to the room the mother was placed in, only to find a baby and no mother. There wasn’t a note, they didn’t even catch her on the way out. It was as if the baby just arrived here out of the blue. Looks like they had to make some calls…

  She… Well, here’s the thing. I did lie a bit when I said I don’t know the full story. Keep in mind, this is what I was told growing up. So I don’t know if this is true or if it’s just something to make me feel better about being abandoned. I didn’t mention it because I didn’t know how true it was, you see. But, according to these guys I’m gonna mention soon, she was going to be deported to the Backstreets. She wasn’t going to be able to stay in the Nest… So I guess she waited and held out, long enough til I would be born. I still wonder what the plan was… Did she give birth in the Nest because it would make me a Nest citizen so I would be able to stay there? …or did she simply not want to take care of a baby in the Backstreets, so she made me someone else’s problem? I guess holding out as she did was all for nothing, huh? Seeing as I’m recording this from a Backstreet’s apartment, with someone getting murdered just out the window. Heh… Anyways, you’re probably wondering why I know all this info, where I’m getting it? Well, that leads me to the next group. A trio of Fixers, who I owe my whole life to. Their names were Geddy, Alex, and Neil. This was a few weeks later… Maybe a month, I’m not so sure, I literally just got there.

  Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.

  “You know, when I was told that we would me assigned to make a delivery to the orphanage, I thought it would be stuff like supplies… You know, food, toys, clothes…” Geddy said, staring at the baby carrier. “I wasn’t told that it would be a baby.” He was a tall, curly haired man, wearing a pair of sunglasses

  “Ah, come on, Geddy.” Alex said, walking up to the carrier. The baby inside was fast asleep. “He can’t stay here, his parents are AWOL, he needs a home. I’ve heard a lot of good things about that place up ahead.”

  “Why are they giving the job of ‘take baby to orphanage’ to a bunch of Fixers and not doing it themselves?” Neil said, rubbing his bald head. “Come on, this just feels insulting, we were handling an Urban Legend threat just the other day.”

  “Did you hear?” Geddy said, “Kidnapping is on the rise in this area. People creeping out of the Backstreets and nabbing children. I guess whoever is sending us has the money to afford Fixers.” He said, as he walked with the carrier over to their car. “With our truck, the kidnappers won’t even be able to see the baby, much less snatch it from us.”

  Neil groaned, “Who even chose this job. I already took care of a baby, I don’t want to take care of someone else’s. Especially not some woman who isn’t even present.”

  “It’s just a day’s drive.” Alex said, dodging the question. “We won’t have to put up with him too long. Plus, the doctors say he’s well behaved and hasn’t been crying much.”

  “It was you, wasn’t it?” Neil groaned.

  “Well… Yes… But it’s because the pay is good!” Alex said, holding his finger up to the baby, who grabbed it instinctively. “Come on, he’s kind cute! Plus, what if our presence inspires him? If that happens, the kid’s gonna grow up to be a kickass Fixer!”

  Neil groaned, crossing his arms. He was a Fixer, he should be out fighting Syndicates and seeing what is the latest update from the Hana Associations, not being a babysitter. But, he gave a sardonic smile, “Fine. But, because you’re the one who suggested this job, you’re on diaper changing duty, got it?”

  “Ai, sir!” Alex nodded.

  “Come on, guys,” Geddy looked out the car window. “They said we’ll get a bonus if we arrive early. With the payment from this job, we can treat ourselves to some good meat tonight!”

  How you predicted the future, Alex… If you could see me now, running my own Office. If you’re wondering what Office they were with, I don’t know who they were with at this time. But from what I know, they were in and out of Office’s all the time. Neil even briefly considered joining Dead Flowers around the same time I was with them. But, man, they were great. They weren’t even Grade 5 at this time, they were no one special, not on anyone’s radar. But, man, I wouldn’t be who I am today if it wasn’t for these three… In case you were wondering, the trip to the orphanage went off without a hitch. So much for the whole kidnappers thing. But, hey, they got a big paycheck out of it and that’s all that really matters at the end of the day, huh?

  “Weirdest story I’ve heard?” Alex said, in the backseat, next to the baby carrier. “I heard this from some guy in the Deyvat Association… But it’s sorta like what we’re doing here. He was tasked with literally delivering a baby.”

  “Wait, what? Like… Like that…?” Geddy asked.

  “What? No! Of course not. I mean he was given a baby and tasked with bringing it somewhere.” Alex explained. “But, here’s the thing. The baby was premature. So it had to be put in an artificial womb, which was carried on the guy’s chest.”

  “Wild… How did it end?” Geddy asked, invested in the story.

  “He brought it to the location and it was placed in a second, more complex womb… 3 months later, it was ‘born’ completely healthy.” Alex said. “I don’t know the delivery guy’s name, but according to people who met him, he looked like a famous actor.”

  “Yeah, I don’t buy that story.”

  “I’ve seen weirder though.” Geddy said, “Why do you draw the line here?”

  “The guy who told the story said that him and the baby had some sort of psychic link and that they allowed him to see monsters that were invisible to most people.” Alex continued.

  “Okay, now that’s just making stuff up.” Neil groaned, as he looked out the window. “Here’s the place. Want to say your final goodbyes?” It was a large bulding at the top of a hill, surrounded by buildings. At the back, behind the orphanage, was a large forested area. Then, beyond that, was apparently a large cliff that lead right into the Backstreets. “Do you think they tell the kids that misbehave that they’ll be sent to the Backstreets? Treat the place like one big Boogeyman?

  “Do you have to be so morbid? But, yeah, I can see that…” Geddy said, as he looked to the baby, who was staring off into space as infants seem to love doing. “Why does this have to be a final goodbye?” Geddy said, looking at the baby in the backseat. “We can visit him in the future, can’t we? Just get an update.”

  “You two really need to get married and adopt some kids of your own if you’re gonna be like this.” Neil sighed, “…But fine.” He looked into the backseat. Despite his complaining and pessimism, he still gave a playful wave. “See ya, kid. Hope to see you in the future.”

  The three Fixers hopped out of the car, stretching after such a long drive. They got ready to walk up. The orphanage already knew they were arriving, so it was gonna be a quick exchange. That was when Alex gasped. “Hold on! I just realized…”

  “Yes?” Neil asked.

  “Uh… Does he have a name?” He said, scratching his head. “I don’t think the doctor’s even called him by name.”

  “That they didn’t…” Geddy nodded, before looking at the others. “…Well… I’m not the only one thinking it, right? We were the ones who helped get him here. I feel we should be able to name him, right?”

  “What about Neil?” Neil suggested with a laugh, before going back to his normal serious face. “But I joke. Alex? You have any suggestions?”

  “Well… I have one. It’s a bit schmaltzy though.” Alex looked at them nervously.

  “Go ahead, can’t be any more schmaltzy than what we’re already doing; giving a baby a new home when we could be fighting for our lives in the Backstreets.” Neil said.

  “Let’s hear it.” Geddy said.

  Alex nodded, “Well… My kid brother passed away at a very young age. Like, he was just two when he died. Maybe we can name him after him: Emilio.”

  “Hm… Emilio,” Geddy nodded. “You know what? I like it.”

  “Works for me.” Neil nodded, starting to walk up towards the orphanage. “Come on. Let’s go, Emilio, to your new home.”

  So that’s where I get my name. Bunch of random dudes gave it to me, completely improvised. Guess this teaches me that I’m a sucker for heartwarming crap like this. But, I’m gonna end this recording here before my teeth start to rot from all this sweetness. Hate to leave the other alone for too long. Next time I speak, I can finally go into the things I was conscious for. My childhood. Before everything went to shit.

  End of log.