The Summary of Human Existence (Chapter 3)

# Chapter Three

Elisabethe

The bars slam close just as I swing underneath them. I’m breathing hard, but it feels good. I aced that simulation.

My best friend, Ivy, gives me a high five. “Good job, girl!”

I give her a big smile, and bend over to let out a big breath. My ribcage is on fire. Breathing in that air could not have been good. But it was a simulation-it couldn’t be real, right?

Yeah.

Brons, the instructor, scribbles something in his clipboard then gives me a thumb’s up. “That’s your personal best, Brontë. Good job.”

I flick my red ponytail off my shoulder and nod, then stand up. “Thanks, Sir.”

“What do ya say we go celebrate, huh?” Ivy asks, wrapping an arm around my shoulder.

I shrug her off, grinning. “Sure. But first-”

She rolls her eyes. “Let’s go stop at Jason’s. Got it.”

Jason is my other best friend, and his opinion is highly important to me. Ivy, she’s my cheerleader. She doesn’t want to be a Runner, like me. She’s more into brains. Jason already is one because he’s one month older than me, so he got to take his Adolescence Test already.

We walk the metal hallways, the soles of my booted feet making clunking noises against the floor. They always do that. On Parade Days, when all the Runners and Searchers show off, it sounds like a thousand cattle fighting. Of course, I’ve never seen or heard a thousand cattle fighting; I’ve been underground my whole life; but I can imagine. I’ve learned. Ivy wears the tennis shoes that are appropriate for her. Simple and tan, like everyone else in her rank.

We get to Jason’s room, labeled clearly in his nameplate: JASON CLEVELAND, TWO ONE FOUR. Since he’d passed his Adolescence Test, he lived by himself.

I knock on the door in our secret way that tells him it’s us: two beats, one beat, four beat-just like his House Number.

He opens the door, wearing his light green jumpsuit that declared his profession: Runner, first rank. He smirked when he saw me. “Hey, Lis. How ya doing?”

I tighten my ponytail. “I’m good. I got my personal best today!”

“Oh? Good job.” He says, looking past me, at Ivy. “Hey Ives. What’s up?”

“Nothing much,” she replies, elbowing me playfully. “We’re going to celebrate ‘lisbeth at-”

“I can’t come.” He cuts her off. “Sorry, Lis. Ives. I know it’s really important and all, really, an amazing job to you, Lis, that’s what? 95?”

“96,” I correct him.

“Right. 96, good job! But I was out all night last night training, and I just need some sleep. I’ll swing around later, Okay? I promise.”

I sigh. Ever since he became a Runner, he’s out training all night and sleeping all day. We never hang out anymore. I know that’s what Mother said; that after you take your Adolescence Test, there’s no room for friends, but I still feel…frustrated about it.

I give a tired grin. “That’s alright, Jason, really. I should get some sleep, too.”

“Right. See ya.” He shuts the door, and Ivy turns to me.

“Sleep? I thought we were going to get some Ice Cream.”

“I’m sorry, Ivy. It’s just-”

“I know.” She gave a sigh that matched my recent one perfectly. I frown, is she mocking me? But she continues, “You just do your personal best. Promise that when you become a Runner and I, a Mapper, we can hang out more?”

I gulp.

“Promise.”