Rising Up: A YA Dystopian Sci-Fi Series (Tranquility Series Book 1)

by Tanya Ross

  The view from the top was no longer a welcome one. The scene at the bottom of the hill was grim. Graham’s arm was bleeding scarlet. The monster had bitten into his forearm where it hung by thin sinew. The monster pulled it away with another snap of its jaws. The Greelox continued its shredding, now consumed with its goal to destroy and devour its prey. Graham’s screams rent the air, earsplitting and agonizing.

  “Bixby, go, go, GO!” Jasper screamed. “To the gorge!”

  “But Graham…!”

  “GO! We can’t save him!” Jasper bolted toward the hillside. Bixby followed on Jasper’s heels, blood dripping from scratches on his arms. Adrenaline seemed to make them superhuman, and the men pushed toward the ravine where they fell into the cleft, exhausted.

  The growls grew louder, as the monster ripped and tore. Graham’s shrieks suddenly went silent. Jasper and Bixby watched in horror as their friend, Graham, paid the ultimate sacrifice, his body disappearing into pieces.

  His bravery spent, Jasper sobbed and wailed. Bixby howled in fear, exposing their whereabouts in the crevasse.

  Their safety became uncertain once again. The Greelox turned sharply to pursue Bixby and Jasper. The cat raised and lowered its head as if to judge the distance. It assembled its girth and balanced on its haunches, ready to close the expanse with a calculated leap.

  Forcibly grabbing the pike he had regretfully left behind earlier, Xander bellowed orders to his panicked REMs. He jammed the metal bar under a bulky stone, just below the mammoth boulder atop the crest. “Girls—throw rocks from your satchels at that animal! Guys—grab the bar and lift—as hard as you can! The rest of you—pry up this rock!” They pushed and pulled, their sweat and tears dripping salty serum on the rocks. Their combined strength budged the rock off its space, but it was not enough. “Push—harder!” Xander yelled, desperate.

  The second thrust sent the underlying rock free, its release causing a domino effect. Dozens of hefty, misshapen rocks let loose and hurtled down the hillside. The crowning boulder at the top, where Xander had stood earlier jesting about success, followed. It rolled downward in the path laid out, its descent a force of solid fury, gaining speed in a frantic rush.

  The Greelox’s pointy ears lay back in defiance as it turned toward the roar from the hillside.

  The shower of rocks was followed by the deafening crash of Xander’s “Success” boulder, quaking the hillside. A brown, dense cloud permeated the air. The echo was multi-layered thunder, bouncing off the canyon and shattering the grainy terrain. Then silence. The settling powder finally revealed the Greelox, lying dead in the dust.

  27

  Will’s Day Off

  After Will had said goodnight to Ember, he returned home in a mood not unlike an airborne balloon. His Alt points were climbing. The only thing bothering him was the mystery of Ember’s mom and her ring. When he thought about the problems, his good Alt points seemed to evaporate.

  In spite of the threatening losses, he was off the next day and ready to delve deeper. While he would have loved another day with Ember, she had her appointment with the Magistrate for her checkup. He would have to go solo.

  He had already found the next ring recipient on the list, Omar Sensus. He was Level Eighteen. After starting with Level One, it seemed logical to next speak with the person who represented the top Status. Will hurried into his yellow pants and threw on his printed tank top—the one with the collar and small images of a lemony sun on a pale goldenrod background. He debated about the windbreaker but decided it would be unnecessary; he’d be back before nightfall.

  As Level Eighteen Omar Sensus was Gold, his home would be luxurious. Will was looking forward to seeing what awaited him, too, once he made it to Level Eighteen. He daydreamed about how long it would take to achieve Status Eighteen. If he stayed true, he wondered if he could be at eighteen in less than five years. He could be Elite before he was even twenty-five! Maybe that achievement would be a first. He could make history—again. He smiled broadly. His future was bright…

  The sweet daydream made his trip across town go by in no time at all. Will arrived at Number Sixteen Hundred, Golden Circle Drive, in the Gold Coast sector of dwellings. This time the CommuteCar had driven right through the palatial arch, the camera recognizing his badge as he held it up for viewing. The gates, a shimmering metallic gold, opened gently with an orchestral rendering of Bach’s Opus Five.

  At Number Sixteen Hundred’s door, he rang a massive doorbell that chimed a few bars of Tranquility’s anthem. He looked directly into the camera at the door, smiled, and gave a little wave.

  “Hello, may I help you?” came a woman’s voice through a speaker.

  “Yeah.” He caught himself. His language should be professional. “I mean, yes, I hope so. I’m Will Verus. I’m actually a Plauditor, though I’m not dressed in uniform today.” His Level Twelve yellow sportswear was a glaring contradiction to the customary black uniform. “Looking to congratulate Omar Sensus on his achievement. The city wants to make sure he’s enjoying his new advantages as a ring recipient. Is he available?’

  The metallic door opened from the bottom, sliding up in an electronic whoosh. “I’m his wife, Fennie. Come in.” She gave Will the citizen’s salute, her golden fluffy sleeve rustling with the movement.

  Will returned the gesture and stepped inside an elegant room. Shiny gold frames on the wall. Burnished gilded arms and legs on the chairs and tables. Large glittering vases of mums. Plush gold velvet upholstery. A tea cart with gold-veined swirls accenting the marble. This place is ridiculous, Will mused. Wow.

  “I was just sitting down for my breakfast.” She indicated the crisply set table. “Care to join me?”

  “Yes. That would be a pleasure.” He took the chair offered up to him.

  “I’m afraid Omar won’t be joining us, though. Omar died. About two months ago. It’s still… a shock.” She picked up a petite gold paper fan lying on the table next to her plate and fanned herself gently. Laying it back down, her hand trembled slightly, but she gave Will a genuine smile. “You’re a Plauditor. I’m surprised you didn’t know about Omar before coming out here.”

  Will felt overwhelmed. The news about Omar was sad, but it put him one step closer to unraveling the mystery. Was Omar’s death like Talesa’s? He wanted to do more, but his compassion for this woman kept him from asking more questions. After all, his life’s work was to cheer people up, not cause them to grieve. Probing further might just push her to lose points. Better to reassure her and give her hope.

  “You have my deepest sympathies, Mrs. Sensus. I’m truly sorry for your loss and for disturbing you at this difficult time.” Will reached out and touched her hand. “Is there anything I can do for you?”

  “I wish there was. It seems no one can help me understand what happened with Omar.” She poured Will a cup of hot tea from a pot on the table and set it before him. “Help yourself to any of the food, too.”

  “Thank you. Mrs. Sensus, I can try to help.” Will’s pulse quickened. If she was going to talk, he was going to listen.

  “I doubt you can, but I’ll tell you the story. A few days before his death, we talked about how he didn’t feel…right…but we postponed reporting it, thinking it was an emotional thing. We didn’t want to draw attention… “

  “Of course. But his Alt…did it show that Omar was in an emotional crisis? Someone like me could have come.” Will wished the man had reached out. Maybe Omar would still be sitting here.

  “We weren’t sure what to do. And Omar didn’t want any fuss. He was a good person and wanted only to help others. His journal, ‘Words of Wisdom’ was an encouragement to many. That’s why he earned the Augur Prize. But he never wished for the attention he received.” She stood up and walked across the room where she picked up a framed picture from a small table. “Here…here’s his picture.” She gazed at it longingly. “I only focus on the good memories. Not the loss.”

  “He was lucky to have you. It seems you were a great co
uple.” He took several sips of the warm tea to give himself a moment. Will thought about his own relationship with Ember. When two people know they’re meant to be together, the loss must be terrible. He shivered slightly, thinking of what losing Ember that way would be like.

  “Yes. And Omar was only a hundred Alt points away from being designated ‘Elite.’ But He wasn’t sure if he wanted to become part of the government. Now he’ll never have to worry about it.” Her face brightened a bit, as if she had just found the silver lining.

  “Again, I’m so sorry, Mrs. Sensus. I see by your clothes that you’re also a Level Eighteen, so you’ll be staying in your dwelling. But, please—take care of yourself. Your Alt points depend on it.” Will set his cup down and prepared to leave. “Thanks for the tea. Maybe I’ll stop in another time to see how you are doing.” Will was anxious to leave this place. He could hardly keep from running out the door.

  “Certainly. Thanks for stopping by.” Fennie tossed her dark hair and walked him to the curb out with a smile. She waved to him as he headed for the safety of his ride, but he barely saw it.

  The CommuteCar was waiting for him at the curb, just as he had requested. He jumped in and told the car to head to the Plauditorium. There he could find other ring recipients. The information from Fennie had changed everything. Something was going on, and it was bizarre. At this point, he didn’t want to waste time with face-to-face interviews. He decided to make some calls through his Alt; he could even facetime.

  The CommuteCar was not even completely stopped when Will jumped out. He vaguely heard the car wishing him a “positive and sparkling day” before his feet hit the sidewalk. From there, he dashed. He was on a mission.

  As he opened the door to the Plauditorium, he immediately saw his Alt score post on the overhead screen. As usual, it was extra high, but adrenaline seemed to be escalating it. He noticed his name was at the top of the leaderboard for Alt points. Great—no one will bat an eye that I’m here.

  He cruised over to his regular station, but of course the weekly Temp occupied it. If not for the Temps, he would never have a day off. He approached the woman at the desk, relieved to find it was someone he knew. Darla was an older Level Fifteen, probably fifty, but she prided herself on her appearance. Will could tell she spent much of her spare time in the youth-restoring shops on Bliss Avenue. Her white hair was adorned with elaborate hair combs, and her indigo-colored clothes set off her rosy complexion.

  “Hi, Darla!” Will extended his arm in greeting. “Thanks for being here on my day off.”

  “Well—hello, Will. What an unexpected surprise! I’d be thinking you’d be out enjoying your day.” Darla never took her eyes off her screen but returned the Tranquility salute with enthusiasm.

  “Just thought I’d allow you to go to lunch early and have an extended break. It’s my Act of Kindness for the week.” He’d already done his act of kindness, but this would be an ideal opportunity to slide into his workstation for a while.

  “So sweet of you, kid. Rack up those points! It won’t be long before you’re Orange. And Level Thirteen fits you perfectly. Level Thirteen—Optimism. You’ve got that nailed already.” She talked to him without taking her eyes from her screen. Darla took her work seriously.

  “Yeah…thanks. Just settling in to Twelve, but—”

  She interrupted, her voice enthusiastic. “I’d be thrilled to take a longer lunch today. Thank you, Will.” Darla finally took her eyes briefly off the screen to look him up and down, a provocative appraisal that made Will blush.

  “I’ll fill your seat for ninety minutes. How’s that sound?”

  “Why, just wonderful. You really are so…special.” With that, Darla rose from her chair and caressed Will’s face. “See you soon, babe.”

  Ugh! I shouldn’t let her touch me. But the temporary takeover was easy. So glad Austel is off today, too. Perfect. Will flew into the chair, and logged into the history page to find, once again, the picture and names for Talesa’s class of ring honorees. He had a sudden deep twinge of conscience as he accessed the database, feeling as if he was completely betraying his city and his grandfather. He had made a promise to his Gramps to follow the laws. Here he was, instead, acquiring information that was classified. He felt hideously corrupt. Sinful. He could be severely disciplined for this if someone found out, and he would not only lose his job and his Status, but he would bring dishonor on his entire family.

  He hesitated again, the guilt becoming a monstrous stone in his gut. His Alt vibrated, and the screen above showed a steep dip in his Alt points. The negative thinking was toxic. Will closed his eyes, thinking about the sacrifice he was making on Ember’s behalf. The surge of tenderness and compassion instantly resurrected his points.

  Accessing the data while keeping an eye on the surveillance screen, he looked again at Omar’s name on the list. Everything showed as it was before. He examined more recent newsletters. There was nothing to indicate Omar’s death. Or Talesa’s, for that matter.

  Going back, he quickly zoned in on the Level Fifteen, Sixteen, and Seventeen honorees. Transferring their contact numbers into his Alt with a click of a button, he sighed with a combination of relief and satisfaction. As soon as Darla returned, he could be on his way. He was eager to make the calls. Were there any more dead “Tranks” out there?

  In the meantime, Will returned his eyes to the monitor. It wouldn’t be acceptable if he didn’t monitor it closely. Darla was a good person and a first-rate Plauditor. He wasn’t willing to mess up her observation record at the station.

  No sooner had he focused on the screen when he saw the boxy, tan vehicle again that drew his attention a few days ago. There it was in the corner of the screen, disappearing almost instantly from view. Shazz. What in the heck is that doing out there? I’m gonna have to make a report.

  He punched his screen and pulled up the report form. He typed quickly, filling it out. There was so much on the form he couldn’t answer, other than the description of the thing. He clicked “submit” after making sure that it went in under Darla’s account.

  He wasn’t even supposed to be here, and he wanted no questions. He squirmed in his seat, his thoughts distracted. His chest was tight. He longed to be told he was doing the right thing by doing his investigations. The burden was getting heavy.

  He heard the click of heels approaching his station, but his concentration was still on the screen. “Darla, you’re back early. You could have taken more time.”

  “Great compliment, but I’m no Darla.”

  Will jerked around in his chair. It was Austel who stood there, grinning. “Nothing better to do on your day off, Will? You should be with Ember—at least to watch her. She’s up to something.”

  “Yeah, yeah… I’m keeping an eye on her. Can’t be sure of her motivations either. I’ll keep you informed.” Will turned back around in his chair to monitor the screen again, avoiding eye contact with Austel. He thought he sounded more convincing that way.

  “Good…good. At least we know why that break-in happened. The Sciolist would never allow someone to keep a ring that didn’t belong to them.”

  “That break-in was Sciolist? How do you know that?”

  Austel patted himself on the back. “I’ve recently made a friend in the Elite, Will. You’d better watch what you do.”

  Journal Entry #5618

  Talesa Vinata had to be eliminated. At first, I thought Talesa was lovely. We became acquainted. I spent some secret time with her last year. We dated for quite some time, unbeknownst to anyone. She even made me wonder if I might marry her. Especially since she was beautiful. I was quite in love with her.

  But after a time, I began to feel uneasy in her presence. She began cancelling our dates. She had to be plotting just like others in the higher classes…but, I digress.

  And now, the woman’s daughter, Ember, has caught my interest. There is something about her that’s different. It’s not just her beauty, so much more vibrant than her mother’s. Perhaps s
he is poison as well. Or, could she be valuable? I’ll be looking deeper.

  -Serpio Magnus, Magistrate

  28

  Ember’s Exam

  Ember wished she could be with Will. He would be investigating on his day off, and she would report to the Solace Institute for her exam. She was nervous. She had never been to the building before. Her Alt was already showing distress so, as she sat in the waiting area, she practiced a 4-7-8 breathing technique. The breathing became a tranquilizer: she exhaled completely through her mouth, making a whooshing sound, then closed her mouth and inhaled quietly through her nose to a count of four. She held her breath—seven counts; she then exhaled through her mouth to a count of eight. Now she was more relaxed, and her Alt was responding by holding steady.

  Her mother came to mind. She still grieved, still felt the vast loss, especially when she needed her mom, like now. She held back tears when any little memory was triggered. Would they be looking for that, too? And when they discovered that grief that she tried so hard to bury, would they send her to be counseled?

  A medic with the name tag, Carly Spero, called out, “Ember Vinata.” When Ember stood up, Carly gave her the anticipated Tranquility signal.

  Ember appraised Ms. Spero’s emotional set as she ushered Ember into a plain, white room. The medic was happy as a child in the Fun Zone, her aura a mottled blue. “How are you doing today, Ember? We received a report about a time when you became weak and faint. We’re just going to check your vitals and do some imaging. We’ll be able to see if your heart is functioning okay, and if your brain is free of any blockages. These are things your Alt can’t measure for us. We hope you can be comfortable during this process. It won’t take long.”