I Am Elite (A Colors novel Book 1)

by Kimberly Westra

  We chat a little while longer, watching the sun set behind the mountains. His hand no longer on the wood, but on my knee. Looking down I place my hand on his. This is my first time acting on a crush. I never felt like I had the time, or the guts really. I have never really opened my heart to anyone. Letting Aran in is really scary, thrilling and wonderful all at the same time. Maybe opening my heart to him is worth it. The feeling is pretty great so far. And he is the nicest guy a girl could ask for. Yes, opening up to him is a good thing.

  We will be great together.

  Once the sun is fully set we get up and he puts an arm around me.

  “Can’t have you falling down again, can we now.” he says jokingly.

  “Better hold me tight, you know how clumsy I can be.” I reply, leaning in a little closer. Yes, this is a good thing.

  He drives me back to my house, walks me to the front door and I give him a small kiss before going in.

  “Bye,” he says shyly as I close the front door of the tiny house.

  My parents’ house, if you can even really call it that, is located at the outskirts of the town. It really is more of a two story wooden hut than anything else. Buying land is expensive, even in this part of town. So many owners buy only a small plot and build up. Which is exactly what my parents did. They invested everything they had into our little home.

  The roof sinks and leaks, the windows have cracks, the floor has no solid foundation and the wall no isolation. But it is home. It is where I grew up.

  Our little house is located in a neighborhood that is known for housing the less fortunate people, the poor, and we are definitely them.

  Dad had an accident when I was just a little girl and with a missing arm, finding work has been hard. Most days he is out in town hoping for small jobs, but with this being a poor town, not many people can pay him. Mom had to deal with miscarriage after miscarriage and it has left her heartbroken and mentally unstable. She suffers from severe depression, anxiety and panic attacks. She is unable to really communicate with others and spends most of her time inside the house or in the mountains. They both love me very much. I was their miracle baby, and they always try to give me the best of what they have. With them both unable to work, we try to survive from my income alone. Which is, to say the least, still very little. When you are just starting in the real world, like Dad always calls it, the paychecks are still a bare minimum. I am hoping to build salary credit soon so that we can spruce this place up a bit. I love our little home. But I wish I could give my parents a little more comfort. And I would not mind walking up the stairs without the fear of falling through them.

  This morning the broken stairs don’t bother me. Today, I skip down them, carefully. Today I cannot stop smiling.

  I sit down in the kitchen. Smiling still. When I woke up earlier I thought it was all just a dream. There is no way we actually kissed, no way he drove me home and then kissed some more.

  My finger traces my lips. The memory of his lips on mine lingers and I can almost smell his sweet metal scent around me. It is quite unbelievable that this truly happened. We have known each other forever. I have helped him with dating advice before. He has always laughed at me for not dating anyone. Who could have thought we would end up liking each other.

  Gilanna has to know, she will kill me if this stays a secret for too long. What will she think of this? She has a bit of a temper, and I am not sure what she will think of her two best friends dating. Hopefully she will be happy for us.

  I shift in my chair and stand up. My stomach begs me for fuel. While searching the kitchen for something to eat I check the calendar.

  Elite selection day, great.

  There is no way Gil will be focused on my romantic story today, not with the selection happening. As a good friend I should probably go and support her today instead.

  So I grab an apple and leave a note to tell my parents where I have gone. They never really care if I go out, but they worry about me quickly. So I always make an effort keeping them in the loop. Although, telling them about Aran is maybe a little too fast. First I want to tell my crazy best friend.

  I catch her hair before I spot the rest of her. She is in the process of trying to tame her wild orange red hair. A pained look crosses her face, then the tension releases when she spots me.

  "Mera!" She yells, apparently forgetting she is holding her hair in the process.

  "Oh, crap." She turns back towards the mirror and starts the laborious process all over again. I laugh at her but I can tell she is anxious. Her bright orange eyes pop out even more than usual and she bites her lip subconsciously. If I were an Elite, I would be nervous too. Today is the biggest day of the year for the Elite under the age of thirty. Today Gilanna has the chance of becoming a worker at the palace, which would be the greatest honor for her and her family. Members from every house will be chosen to come to the palace for an internship. Every month participants will be sent home, except for one. The last remaining Elite will stay at the palace with a permanent position. The family of that Elite will also be greatly rewarded. I know it is a dream for most Elite to make it to the palace. I know Gilanna has been dreaming of this day for a long time.

  I move in and give her a hug while making sure not to mess up her pretty dress and make up. She truly looks stunning.

  "You will come and watch.. right!?" She asks almost begging.

  "Of course, and afterwards I have some big news to tell you." I reply, hoping to distract her a little and get her excited for my announcement.

  With a raised eyebrow she gives me a confused look. She must be wondering what the big news might be. She might even be trying to stare it out of me. But it will be better for her to hear afterwards, since I still don't know if it will make her happy or sad.

  Chapter 2

  On selection day all the Elite come together at the town square. The square is built a little lower than the rest of the town. Humans and Elite waiting to watch the selection sit on the grass slopes surrounding the square. It somewhat reminds me of an arena, looking down at the crowd. Behind me, and all around the square, are shops. They have gone all out for selection day with bright colored balloons. Banners and streamers hang high above me, dancing away in the mild wind.

  Large screens are hung on every corner of the square. Most of the people in Springlake do not own a television, so seeing these screens is quite the spectacle. The screens switch to a different town square across the country every few seconds. The excitement builds as the crowd watches the Elite gather all around the country.

  I am yet again thankful for Gilanna's bright hair, it makes her easy to spot. I wave at her as she moves along the crowd. She chats with other Elite. Jealousy hits me, even if it’s only for a brief moment. The Elite have everything in this world. Gil is my very best friend, and she loves me, no matter what. But seeing her standing with the other Elite remind me of our differences.

  Six tables with House flags show the Elite where to go. I chose a spot near the orange flag, knowing that’s where Gil will be able to see me best. She could use a calming view. Her bubbly personality and the excitement is making her so jumpy it almost exhausts me to look at her.

  Gilanna waits with the other Orange House members for her turn to sign up. Each Elite puts their hand on the screen that has been set up on the table. Last year Gilanna told me that the hand is scanned and all your information is automatically sent through to the palace. And apparently, that is where they pick out the selected.

  "Hey, you look great today."

  Before my mind grasps that the words are meant for me he sits down right behind me. His solid chest closes around my back and I breath out, leaning further into his body. He moves closer and lets me lean on him while we watch the Elite sign up.

  "Hey," I reply, immediately embarrassed by my lack of words.

  Gosh, I’m such a fool

  I peak back at him. But he only grins at me with his beautiful face and kisses my cheek. If only this moment would never
end. I close my eyes and focus on my breathing, with every breath I feel his body behind me and I feel like the happiest woman alive. Why have I not opened my eyes earlier? This feeling is a little awkward still, but amazing!

  A strange sound. A feeling of surprise and confusion overcomes me. It is as if balloons are being popped. The balloons at the shops behind me still hang there, none of them broken. They cannot be balloons. Then what?

  Gunshots.

  Rebels!!

  I look for Gilanna in the now scattering crowd and for a second I panic. Where is she? Where is her red hair? Men come in from the other side of the square, their guns held out and shooting into the clearing. They only aim at the square and their motive is clear, they hate the Elite, and today is a highlight in any Elite’s life.

  I keep searching the crowd and finally spot her. It had almost been her turn to sign in, and she is now trying to hide behind the table. The men move closer, she sits frozen in her spot, eyes wide. If she does not get out of there they will shoot her in only a few more seconds. I yell for her, but still she just sits there. The men are getting closer by the second. I need to get her out. I push myself away from Aran, and hardly notice him trying to pull me with him.

  I am up and running, almost laughing at myself for running towards the men in guns, not away. Sprinting towards Gilanna, I place my hand on the table and push myself over. My feet find the ground and I kneel down next to my best friend. Pulling her arm, she finally seems to snap out of it. She might be an Elite, but even Elite have fears, and she seems paralyzed by hers.

  "Run, come on, run," I yell while my hand stays firmly around her arm.

  The men are so close now that the popping is getting almost too loud to handle. But we keep moving and I keep pulling. Even when something crashes into my arm that makes my stomach turn, I keep moving. All I can think about is the safety I had just felt with Aran. We have to get to safety. So we run, Gil and me, hand in hand, and I search the screaming crowd.

  Where is he?

  There is no time to stand still, so we keep running across the street and I push Gil into the alley. Aran must not have noticed I moved away from him. Did he realize I was not with him when he ran? I ran towards danger, but I had to, for Gilanna. He must be so worried.

  Where would I go if I were him? He would go somewhere we both knew the way. He would go somewhere safe.

  I pace up and down the alley for a moment, trying to regain my bearings.

  Yes, he would go to the factory! He has to be there! We start running again, scanning the crowd until I finally spot him. He sees me too and he starts moving my way. His relief disappears as he comes closer and his eyes land on my arm. His face turns from joy to horror.

  His gaze lingers on my arm and I yelp. Blood flows out of my arm and drips on the street.

  I was shot?

  Looking down at my bleeding arm makes me dizzy and I feel myself falling.

  Aran’s strong arms catch me before I can hit the ground.

  “Come on Mera, stay with me now,” he says with heavy puffs.

  I don’t know where he is taking me but his arms feel safe. For a moment I am safe in this bubble and as long as I do not think about the blood gushing out of me, things are just fine.

  When my eyes open he runs me through the factory halls. The doors are familiar. He is taking me to the infirmary. That’s very smart.

  Doctor Nicola looks up with questions in his eyes and his mouth a little open. He has probably never had anyone in here with a gunshot wound.

  While he takes a look at the wound Aran explains what is going on outside. Gil just stands by with panic in her face and unbelief in her eyes. The doctor only nods, his eyes focused on me.

  “There is a small complication,” he says focusing on my wound.

  I drift in and out of consciousness.

  “What do you mean?” Aran says.

  “The bullet, it was dirty. It is poisoning her, she needs surgery right away.”

  A part of me hears him. My alarm bells should go off. He is a factory doctor, has he ever fixed

  shot wound? Does he have any idea what he is doing?

  But my mind wanders. My eyes lose focus and everything turns black.

  My eyes feel so heavy, opening seems impossible. Instead my other senses kick in. The smell here is different from the infirmary. It smells familiar. If I weren’t so out of it, I’d laugh at myself for not noticing I was in my own bed sooner. How did I get here? How long was I out?

  I try to remember what has happened and the events slowly come back to me. The events come back to me in slow motion. Sitting on the grass, feeling bliss. The memory of confusion and then the horror of seeing the rebels. I remember a sharp pain in my arm and Aran’s arms surrounding me as I first saw my wound.

  A shiver running down my spine makes me move a little. The movement seems to startle someone in the room, I hear someone shifting and my eyes reluctantly open.

  Both Gilanna and Aran are looking at me. Gil is sitting in the window, as far away from me as possible and Aran sits by my feet. A small smile crosses my face. A smile they do not return.

  "C'mon, don't look so gloomy, I am good as new." My voice sounds collected and I raise my arm in proof. But I do not get the response I was expecting. Gilanna stands up and while she turns to look out the window a small tear falls down her cheek. Aran grabs my hand and uses the other to go through his long blond hair. Something he does often when he is nervous. My attempt to catch his eye fails as he deliberately looks away.

  An urge of panic rises in my body. With my good arm I push myself into a sitting position. The tension fills the room. They look everywhere but at me and I am starting to wonder what I’ve missed. Is something wrong? Didn’t the doctor heal me? My arm feels sore, but alright. So then, what is going on?

  Gil moves and steps out of my room. I hear her telling my parents I have woken up.

  I turn to face Aran.

  "What is going.."

  My question hangs midair when Mom rushes through the door with Dad on her heels. He tries to hold her back, calm her in a way. His efforts go to waste.

  "How is this possible? You can't go?! HOW did you…." She yells while her, once beautiful, eyes look at me with pure horror.

  I fall with my back against the wall as I stare at the people in my room. Mom does not usually speak in front of other people. But now she is yelling. Something must be really wrong. Have I done anything wrong? Is she mad at me for running to help Gilanna? And what does she mean with ‘how’?

  "How, what?" I whisper and wonder if anyone even heard me.

  Minutes seem to pass while I search all the eyes staring back at me. In reality it is probably only a second when Dad breaks the silence.

  "Mera, you have been chosen as one of the twenty Elite selected." His words are clear, but I am not sure what he is saying. I can’t comprehend what this means. Selected? Me? That can’t be possible. The medication must still be in my system. Everything feels vague, unreal, like I am dreaming. There is no way I was called to be a selected.

  I am only human.

  My mind goes blank.

  The voices of my parents, Gil and Aran sound muffled. The sound of glasses being put down on the kitchen table wake me up further. They have left me in the darkness of my room and I am grateful. After hearing what had happened I must have passed out. Slowly the reality of the day’s events hit me. Tension works up in my body. My heart rate speeds and my arm throbs. I try to remain calm. It does not work.

  I am a mess.

  The solace of my bedroom keeps me safe for a little while longer. Downstairs the voices grow louder and the worry becomes more tangible. I should go to them. I should comfort them that all will be well. But will it? Will all be well?

  A sigh escapes as I feel hunger and thirst. This is as good a time as ever. I get up and slowly make my way down the steps, towards the voices.

  The kitchen table barely fits my parents, Gil and Aran, but still they make room
for me to squeeze in. As I sit down, Aran stands up to pour me a drink.

  He really is the sweetest.

  When he sits back down Gilanna tells me what happened after I was brought to the infirmary. She tells me that the palace had decided to continue the selection day as intended. They had wanted to hide the rebel attack from the rest of the nation and after cleaning up all the mess they forced all Elite to return and finish their signing up. Once everyone had signed up the square was transformed into a dance. Usually it’s the highlight of the year. But Gil tells me this year nobody danced. The film editors were careful not to broadcast Springlake at this time.

  Then, during the dance the screens had shown the King. After his usual speech he randomly selected an Elite from each of the twenty regions of our country. He started with region one and called out names all the way to region fifteen. Our region.

  The King had unknowingly made a huge mistake. As he named the, so he thought, Elite, he had really called my name.

  I stare at the people around the table. They are the ones I love and care for the most. Yet this does not add up. The story sounds fake, unreal. I was in surgery while the King himself called out my name, not knowing he had just called out a human. How can that be possible? I am not Elite, nor did I sign up.

  It takes what feels like hours of thinking and looking back on the events when it hits me. When running for Gil, I jumped over her signing table. "I must have placed my hand on the screen while jumping over the table."

  Eyes widen, then nods conform. That has to be it.

  "So, what does this mean?" I look between my eyelashes to the rest. I know exactly what it means, but I am unwilling to admit it.

  Mom looks at me through her hands, "you go, you have to go, it's the rules."

  I touch her arm and she gives me the smallest hint of a smile. She is right. The rules are, that once you enter and your name is announced, you go, no matter what.

  "But I am not an Elite, there is no way they will let me?" worried that I might start crying I bite my nails. Our King is not a kind king. He does not do well with liars or anyone that goes against his will. If I do not do this his way, it could mean punishment, even death. I have heard stories of humans being killed over less. A chill runs down my spine. The King likes to show the country just how strong he is by making people into an example. He enjoys killing people a little too much. I have heard of humans being hung, or shot in front of a crowd.