The Secret Death of Bees

by Ari Collins


My floral shirt attracts two newbees, their carapaces white with blue crosses. Only my research team and our sponsor, a healthcare corporation, know the bugs’ secret. Chemicals made bees endangered, yes, but newbees weren’t engineered to supplement the bumblebee population.

The newbees depart, looking for flowers I helped save. Or bumblebees that still dare live.