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

“I’m sorry.”
    Typical reaction. They think it’s sympathy, but it’s fear. As much as everyone talks about genetics not factoring in and your parents not determining your powers, having an Unsound in the family is mark of shame. Most don’t discuss it. The only person in my high school that knows is Aaron. After the torture thrown at me in middle school, the last thing I want to do is let anyone know.
    The exit door stands to my left. I want to bolt, want to get out of this place, but something keeps me glued to my chair.
    “Rose. I know you’re scared. But if you leave now, you won’t get another chance.”
    He’s right. With millions of kids involved, getting another appointment is near impossible. I would end up with the other Basics. I stare at the screen, willing the phoenix not to fly by again.
    “Rose. Think about this.”
    “You think I haven’t? It’s all I’ve thought for years. I’m not like you, or the other kids here. You sit there, blindly waiting for your number to be called, trusting everything will be—“
    “You don't know me at all.” For the first time, there’s terror in Elliott’s face. He turns back to watch the screen.
    “So you’re scared too, then.”
    Did he feel as helpless as I did?
    Elliott takes a deep breath. “I can't control which system I was born in. I can only control how I cope with it.”
    “That's the only power you think you have?” I ask.
    “It’s the only power any of us have. Anything else is an illusion.”
    My heart jolts as the phoenix flies by and displays my number. The mechanical voice cuts through me. “Now serving A535. That's A535. Thank you.”
    I’m still. Trapped between two worlds. Somehow, none of the thinking, the planning, or the debating have prepared me for this moment. Elliott stands and tries to nudge me out of my chair. I won’t move. I’ll wait here. If they want me so bad, they can drag me through those doors. A part of me wishes they would. The exit is a few steps away.
    “Rose, please!” His blue eyes pleads with me.
    Blue eyes. Like Dad’s.
    No.
    I can’t surrender. I stand up and storm towards the exit.
    “Rose! You know what will happen if you don't.” I have no idea what will happen, regardless of my decision. Neither does Elliott.
    I turn back to him. “Best of luck.”
    The exit doors lay a few steps away. Pushing through them means leaving GEMO behind forever. No going back. I kick them open and leave the room behind.
    I will never be a mutant. Never.

CHAPTER THREE
    The Center must be designed to disorient visitors on purpose. Between the matching hallways and furniture, it’s impossible to find anything. Of course, I doubt many kids bail on them at the last minute. As I turn down yet another hallway, I finally see the exit doors. A row of posters flashes by my side and one catches my eye with its bright letters:
    Hidden? No longer.
    The powers buried within me will remain a mystery. I’m sure it’s the right decision. Mostly sure. About as much as I can expect. My mind wanders to the futures of those I left behind. Zach, Lillia, Shelly. What will happen to them?
    And Elliott?
    The more I think about him, the more a curiosity begins to form. What will his power be? Why do I care so much? My mind keeps racing until it occurs to me to check the Reunion Room. The nearest screen shows Elliott’s exit location. Wing F. I’ll join his and everyone else’s families and wait for his arrival. I hope everyone is happy with their powers.
    ***
    Hoards of families pack Wing F. It’s a bit like an airline terminal, except here, being “delayed” means a whole lot more than not getting to New York on time. You can almost see the stuffy air, trapped by the narrow walls and low ceilings. Some parents pace while others keep a sharp eye on the large screen in the corner, their lifeline to their children’s fate. Every few minutes, a scurry happens when a bell chimes and the statuses update. In the opposite side,