Elevated (Book 1): Elevated Read Online Free Page A

me?”
    I cover my mouth. I always smacked Aaron when he used that term. Here I am blurting it to a complete stranger.
    “Sorry, Elevateds.”
    The electronic voice interrupts us again. “Now serving A532, that’s A532, thank you.”
    At the end of the row, Lillia’s legs wobble and it takes a moment for her to stand up. Breathing hard, she steps towards the door. She looks back one more time with a terrified expression.
    I turn towards Elliott. “What happened to your uncle?”
    “My uncle?
    “The one that spits far.”
    He pauses for a moment. “I think he seems happy.”
    I wonder what his uncle does. A Spitter would live mocked as a Lesser for sure, a small step up from a Basic. Probably watches over burger flipping drones or files papers somewhere. “It’s unfair. One spin at the GEMO wheel decides your fate.”
    “It unlocks who we are. Like genetics. Some people are tall, some are beautiful some are—”
    “Butt ugly,” I say as I turn towards him.
    His face is shocked. “I was going to say smart.”
    He must think I implied he’s ugly. My mouth tries to form the words to say that I don't think he's unattractive. That he’s actually quite striking. Or he would be if he weren’t so brainwashed. He speaks up before I have a chance. “You've got nothing to worry about anyway. You have green eyes.”
    “That's an old wives’ tale. ‘ Stand on one leg while they zap you,’ ‘Only eat white bread an hour before.’ Makes me sick.”
    He chuckles.
    “A533, please see attendant. That’s A533. Thank you.”
    Shelly stands up, with a confused expression on her face. She giggles, shakes her head, and strolls to a man holding a device in his hand. They stand there talking. Then, they start arguing about something. Shelly’s eyes twitch and her arms tremble like an animal on the verge of being attacked.
    “CHECK AGAIN!” Shelly says, shaking violently.
    “What’s going on?” asks Elliott.
    “Not sure,” I say.
    By now, everyone is watching. The man shakes his head again. She snatches the device and her eyes race down the screen. The attendant points at it and her hands shiver. The device slips through her fingers and the man grabs it.
    She begins to cry. “I’m healthy! I am!” she says as tears soak her shirt. “Isn’t there anything—”
    The attendant gazes sternly at her and shakes his head again.
    For a few minutes, we endure intolerable pleading that keeps increasing in pitch. After what must be the millionth beg, her body slumps. She storms out with her head facing forward, avoiding eye contact. As she passes by, the status screen updates behind her.
    A533 – Cancelled
    Shelly pauses for a moment at the exit doorway. She breathes a heavy sigh and then is gone. After spending her life building to this moment, Shelly Steele will never be a Flier.
    “We shouldn’t be required to do this,” I say.
    “No one is required.”
    “How can anyone compete if they don’t get zapped?”
    I’m using the same arguments Mom and Mr. Roberts used in the restaurant and I hate myself for it. I’m slipping. I reach for my phone to call Aaron, but he won’t ever forgive me if he finds out I'm in line right now.
    A loud electronic voice pierces my brain. “Now serving A534, that’s A534, thank you.”
    Zach stands and heads out through the doors. He marches confident and strong, like I would expect.
    A tap on my shoulder causes me to lurch.
    “You’re next,” Elliott says.
    What did I do to deserve waiting with this guy? “Yeah.”
    “Can you really do it?”
    “Do what?”
    “Live not knowing, not seeing what could be.”
    “I could ask you the same question.”
    He’s puzzled.
    “Let’s say you go through those doors and become an Unsound. And you get locked away from your family and friends for your entire life. Tell me you won't wonder what a normal life could be.”
    Elliott leans in. “You talk as if you know an Unsound.”
    I nod. “My dad.”
    He turns his head away from me.