I Am Elite (A Colors novel Book 1)

by Kimberly Westra

  Crazy how my nails were my biggest worry just yesterday.

  Yesterday.

  Looking at Aran makes my heart break. How can I go now that I have just started to explore these feelings for him? It was only yesterday we confessed a sense of interest. Only yesterday we dared to open our hearts. He looks back at me and I feel his heart break too. He is just the kindest man I know, and even though none of this was intentional, it feels like I am letting him down. His eyes, droopier than ever, find mine. For a moment we share the sadness of our predicament.

  "There is one good thing about this though," Dad looks almost scared as he speaks "you will get a monthly paycheck which is three times as large as now."

  I almost laugh. Dad is the best at looking at the bright side of a situation.

  I nod at him, not wanting to break his glimmer of hope. He has to believe things will be ok. He has to think his daughter is strong. He doesn’t have to know that, on the inside, she is breaking. My parents look so fragile sitting here, unable to help me. They can only give me words of encouragement and hope. They are heartbroken and are still trying to be strong for me. But they have to stay safe. There is no other option than to accept the King’s terms. Following his rules is the only solution.

  The next morning I take the long walk towards the region office. Others in our area have a car, or a horse, but we can't afford either, so walking comes easily. With everything that is going on it almost feels like therapy. I focus on my movements, feeling the pressure of each step. While walking I count the rocks on the side of the dirt road. It’s a calming exercise that always seems to help.

  The mountains, painted in all shades of green, slowly lose their white blanket. If only I could just hike up there, instead of to the region office.

  I take a sideway glance at the town, the houses, the people. It is all I have ever known. Is this really it? Am I leaving this place because of some crazy mistake? Will I ever be able to return? Or will the King..

  No, do not finish that thought.

  I had never been outside our region. The rest of the world is one big mystery to me. We do not own a TV or any other form of communication. I use a phone ever so often while working at the factory, and I use the computer daily, but it has limited access. Cell phones are a luxury most of us do not have, only the Elite will be seen carrying those around. Will knowing a culture shock is coming, lessen the blow?

  Two human children play on the side of the road. They are completely covered in dirt, with big smiles on their faces. They look so happy and carefree. How I’d love to change places with them right now. A strange feeling lingers deeply in my heart. Something tells me life is about to change, and I am not excited. Even if life here has been simple and small, it is safe and all I have ever known.

  Way too soon I find myself standing in front of the region office. It has always been a rather impressive building for an area like this. The two story white building, with four large columns at the front seems angelic in this green and brown scenery. Five steps lead to the large double doors, which stand open, inviting me in.

  I have only been here once before, to renew my identification papers, but that was six years ago and in that time they have made the place look even nicer. It was then I first had to scan my hand. It was a normal procedure, nothing could have told me then my hand would be scanned at selection day. If only that second time had never happened.

  The tall windows have beautifully draped curtains and the floors are polished and shiny. The furniture looks new and the staff seem almost royal in their crisp outfits. Behind the reception desk a tiny lady with glasses on the tip of her nose looks up at me. Her beady green eyes catch mine. Why is a Green House member sitting behind a desk at a region office? She keeps her eyes focused on me and waits for me to speak.

  "Hello, I am the new selected, I was supposed to report here?" my words come out tumbling with embarrassment.

  "The selected? But you are human?" She puts her glasses higher while examining my eyes and making sure she is right. She huffs when she realizes she is.

  I am only human.

  Still she turns away from me and presses a button on her telephone. She points to the seats behind me and I take the hint, and step backwards. She closes her hand around the phone and she whispers rapidly. She doesn't want me, or anyone here, to know what she is saying.

  It feels like I have been staring at the clock for forever when my name is called. A stern and anxious looking man stands in front of me. My hand reaches out to shake his, but he turns and gestures at me to follow. My hand drops back to my side as I obey. We move through some halls and end up in a small office. He yet again gestures at me with his hand and I sit down quickly in a large black chair.

  "So who the hell are you and why are you here?" he says sitting on his desk and puffing out his chest.

  He seems to be trying to intimidate me, but it doesn't work. There has been a fair share of Elites that tried to push me around while fighting for my position in the factory. Still this place and this situation make me very uncomfortable. He might not intimidate me, but what he stands for, does. He is my connection to the palace and I wish to be anywhere but here.

  His small beady blue eyes peer at mine and I return the stare. It really is an odd sight. He is about 5’7, so only a little taller than me. He has black greasy hair, combed to the side to hide his loss of hair. He tries to hide a twitch but I can tell he is very nervous and anxious about the situation.

  There is no way to bluff my way through this. So being completely truthful seems to be my best option. He has to understand nothing that has happened was on purpose. He has to understand none of this was my plan.

  So I tell him the full story. First how the rebels came and how I had run to save my Elite friend. How I had jumped and how I got shot. I conclude my story with our conclusion of how my name must have ended up on the list. While talking he moves from his position above me, to a chair across from me. He seems to become smaller and smaller. Fear rises in his eyes.

  Once the story is over I need to catch my breath, I did not notice how fast I had been speaking. After a few large intakes of air I look up at him. He stares at me with his beady eyes and one eyebrow raised. His brain is racing and his bright blue eyes flickers. My green eyes are human, dull. His Elite eyes are blue and radiant. Like a fluorescent, glow in the dark blue. But his eyes are far away, and he is sunken deep in thought.

  Then he jumps up, making me jolt up in shock. In a swift motion he picks up the phone on his desk and while waiting he paces the room. It takes forever for the other person to pick up. He tells my story to the person on the other end. I try to focus on my breathing, somehow even more nervous now. Does he believe me? What if he doesn’t? All the different ways of punishment cross my mind and I swallow hard.

  He goes silent and nods his head a few times, "Yes sir, of course sir."

  Silence again, more nodding.

  He then looks directly at me and finishes his conversation, "I will tell her Your Royal Highness, of course she will fully cooperate."

  A small sliver of panic rises in me, Your Royal Highness? Did he just tell him my whole story to the King? The way he speaks the words sends terror down my spine. He has pushed me into a corner and there seems to be no way out of it. With every ounce of strength in my body I remain seated. Fear rushes through me. Hopefully he won't see it.

  He sits down in his chair and folds his hands. "That was the secretary to the King, and after that, the King himself," he says, confirming my worries. Holy crap.

  I swallow hard and close my eyes. Here it goes. I am going to get hung.

  "Because your name has been announced publicly they have decided that you shall enter the selection. The King is a good king and feels that you as a human could probably use the extra paycheck."

  My mouth drops. I open my eyes to stare at him and swallow again. A good king? Nobody ever says anything good about him. And now he is doing me a favor? It does not sit well with me. I have
heard horrid stories about him and what he has done, but here he is inviting me to his palace. What is in it for him? Why does he want me there?

  But then again, what if he truly is trying to better himself after all these years of following in his father’s footsteps? A tiny bit of hope washes over me. I like that scenario better than all the others I have come up with. I will stick to this one. It will all work out just fine. It might even be a good thing for the other humans. I can show that humans are also good at things.

  "You will have to pretend you are an Elite though," he says.

  My heart stops. I almost choke mid swallow and stare at him wide eyed.

  “Say what?” It comes out as a stammer.

  He continues, his words sweet as Honey, "of course we don’t want the world to know you cheated right, dear?"

  A shiver runs down my spine as the threat of his words hit me. I do not know their game, but they are not going to make this easy on me. I am probably the opposite of an Elite. I am not that pretty, not that talented and not that strong. I don’t have any money, let alone Elite clothes. I don’t eat fancy foods or know my way around the Elite etiquette. So how am I supposed to go to a palace, pretend I am Elite and not get killed.

  My little sliver of hope is miles away. My mind races out of control. Panic.

  The man looks at me, apparently mid-sentence. His face annoyed.

  I have not been listening to him. Perhaps I should make an effort. He might say something useful.

  He sees he has my attention again, shifts in his chair, and continues telling me the conditions of my stay at the palace. First he tells me the usual conditions that all the selected hear. Things like, no leaving palace grounds without consent, no talking to the press, no wearing jeans while out of our bedchambers and so on. Nothing too strange and I nod along. This I can do.

  But then he concludes with some conditions, especially for me. I must wear colored lenses outside my chambers at all times. I must pretend to be an Elite at all times. I must tell others that I grew up in a poor Elite family due to a outfall between my family and the region office. He explains that because the fake fallout, we did not get any financial support from the office.

  I nod. Anger rises in me. We never had a fight with anyone and still we did not get any financial support. It is one of the Kings ways of showing the humans that we were less. Humans are not as important.

  “Now, you understand the rules. It is needless for me to tell you the importance of following them.”

  I nod. I guess so?

  “Your family lives on the Oaklane, at the end of town,” he says, making his point.

  My eyes pop. I know what is coming.

  “Should you fail, we will find them. We will make sure none of you will ever work again. You don’t want that, do you?

  No income means no food and no roof over my parents head.

  No pressure.

  He put the forms under my nose and hands me a pen. It crushes me to know that I have no way out of this without seriously harming my family and reluctantly sign the papers in front of me. I am going to have to fake this so hard.

  When I make my way home I allow myself to cry for just a minute. I allow the sadness, the worries, the self-pity and the hurt. I will have to leave this safe place and go to the unknown. If I fail, my family will pay the price. I sigh one last time, then I stand up straight, wipe the tears from my face and put a mask in place.

  I am Elite.

  Chapter 3

  I am so not Elite.

  Looking in the mirror, I can hardly recognize myself. The region office gave me two days to get ready. They also told me that my looks will just ‘not do’. So here I am, opening up a large box of clothing and other fashion items.

  While looking through the clothing they have provided fear creeps in. The real Elite selected probably did not get a full makeover package. They don’t need to fake it. Of course I am not good enough to pretend to be Elite. Of course they have to change everything about me. I feel even less than a human. This is devastating. Every layer I put on, changes me. My human self is disappearing.

  They picked a dark green knee length cocktail dress with a little lace belt that ties into a bow at my back. The enormously high black heels make me feel like a newborn giraffe, unable to stand up straight. How the heck am I supposed to move in these? But the small black clutch they added is nice. Not that I have any use for it, but still, it looks nice. At least there is one thing I like.

  I open the box again and read the note one more time.

  Miss Mera,

  Put on this outfit on Wednesday. Add the headband and let the rest of your hair down. Put in the contacts. As you can see we picked blue. Our intel says you work at the factory office and perhaps you can blend in a little with other Blue’s.

  Use the make-up to add a little more color to your pale complexion and add the red lipstick. You will be picked up at two PM promptly. We expect to find you in tip top shape and ready for your close up at the airport. Do not bring your family. They cannot be in any picture associated with you.

  Please note that your personal items are not to be worn in the palace. We will be sure to stock your wardrobe at the palace for the extent of your stay. You will only need to bring the essentials listed below.

  I put the note down and try to calm myself. The note is rude, intrusive and infuriating. How dare he tell me what to wear? How dare he tell me my clothes are no good? But most of all, how dare he tell me my family was not to be associated with me?

  I sink to my knees and allow a few small tears to escape my mask. How am I going to do this? They can dress me up. But that doesn’t change the facts. I should have known I can’t bring my personal items, or my parents. Yet it still hurts. I need them. I don’t know how to be Elite. I only know how to be Mera, the human girl with broken, but wonderful parents. They have always guided me. And man do I need guidance now. I have no idea what the palace looks like, let alone know what to do there. Or how about etiquette, or fashion, or, or..

  Snap, I am losing it.

  A small knock startles me a little and I quickly, but carefully wipe my tears away. It would be a waste of time to have to start over that horrendous makeup session again.

  My breath catches when the door opens and I see him standing in the doorframe. With the craziness of the last few days there has hardly been any time to see, or think of, Aran. I have to look up to find his eyes. When I do, they are full of softness and hurt. I know he is not mad at me for all of this, yet guilt washes over me. He deserves so much better than this.

  "I was told to say goodbye to you here, you are not supposed to be seen with any humans?" His voice shakes and his eyes drop down. He seems embarrassed.

  My arms wrap him into an embrace. My body is telling him not to be embarrassed. Telepathically I tell him I like him. But the words don’t come. So we stand in silence, hugging.

  "Mera, I need to talk to you before you go, can I steal a few more minutes of your day?" He says as he pulls back.

  I nod, point towards my bed and sit across from him. I make sure my dress does not wrinkle as I move my legs to face him.

  "I don't really know where to start. But I need you to know that my feelings for you, short as our budding romance was, have been there for a while. I have wanted to be more than your friend for so long. And now that I have finally had the courage to act on it, you have to leave,” he speaks softly, “I know these are just words, but If you will have me, I will be waiting."

  He can hardly look at me while speaking. He trips over his words a few times but that doesn't matter. He is saying exactly what I need to hear, and what I also feel. I lean in and press a soft kiss on his lips. He returns the kiss and for a moment there is only us. The kiss deepens a little and a small moan escapes his lips. If only this wasn't our last kiss I would have giggled. But there is nothing to giggle about right now. I have no idea how long I will be gone. Or worse, if I even come back. And I have no idea if I am allowed to contact
him while I am gone. I probably shouldn’t, for his own safety. They already threatened my family, I can’t have them threaten this sweet man too.

  The thought pulls me away from him. I stare deep into his beautiful eyes and know that if I am going to survive this, I have to put up my mask. He cannot be pulled into this mess. He has to stay safe. If the King does not know about him, he cannot harm him.

  “I really care so much for you Aran. Which is why I need to ask you not to wait for me.” I almost don’t dare to look at him, and as soon as I do my heart breaks. “I wish I could ask you to wait, I just, don’t know how long I will be gone, and that is not fair to you,” I add, pleading in my mind that he understands. He just has to understand.

  He only nods. He is trying to remain strong for me, and I do the same for him.

  “Just one more?” he asks questionably but with a small rise of his eyebrow and the faintest hint of a tease. I smile and lean in.

  At first the kiss is firm, strong and confident. Then it becomes softer until our lips only have the faintest touch. As if we are saying goodbye, which I guess we are. He moves his lips away from mine and I crave them more than ever.

  As he pulls me up from my bed he hold me at arm’s length and looks me over.

  "Gosh you are beautiful." a small smile comes my way and for a second there is only joy. I lean in for one last kiss and then I grab my bag.

  I don't look back as I leave him in my room. Instead I focus on the horrible heels I am wearing. I put all my focus in getting down the stairs without dying. One step at a time I make my way down.

  There I find my parents, Dad has his one arm wrapped around Mom’s shoulders. His other arm was lost at the factory many years ago and he has yet to find a job where they don't mind. Mom is holding a teddy bear I used to love and I try not to look at it. This whole experience is hard on all of us, but my unstable mom is taking it the worse. She has been in tears for the last few days and I struggle to keep my mask in place.