The Summary of Human Existence (Chapter 10)

# Chapter Ten

Elisabethe

Jason fiddles with a pencil, frowning crookedly. “We don’t even know who caused the attack. They just came so fast.”

“What did they look like?” I ask. “Maybe their colors resemble the colors of another country?”

He shook his head. “They were in dark blue suits. And they wore some kind of silvery mask. No holes or anything. They could see us and we couldn’t see them.”

“Blue and silver.”

“No!” He drops the pencil, and it bounces off the table. “Look, they didn’t resemble much of anything but a very put together army. They knew exactly where we were and destroyed us. Who’s to say they won’t come after us again? We don’t even know they are.”

I want to bring up the fact that the color blue means peace and loyalty; silver means mirror or wealth/modern. I want these simple facts to calm him down. I know they won’t though. He’s so angry. I feel it’s because he was up there when it happened, but he was quickly rushed out of the way. He’s only a Rank 1 Runner, and therefore not adequate enough to be fighting. That’s what’s angering him, but I don’t bring this up either.

So I say something much more calming, even though I know it’s only something he’s heard a thousand times before already. “We’ll find out, Jason. We’re good at tracking them.”

Huffing, he says,  “I want to be a part of that.”

“I know, Jason. And you will, soon. We will.”

He sighs. “Yeah. Us together.” He held up his pinkie finger, and just like always, we twisted our fingers together in promise.

It’s Ivy who breaks the promise-making. She slides in next to Jason, smiling broadly. “Guess what?” she declares.

My mouth is forming the word ‘What?’ when I see that she’s wearing a white jumpsuit, unlike her yellow jumpsuit, which all untested adolescentes wear. I’m still wearing mine. “But we didn’t finish the test!” I gasp, puzzled.

She shrugs. “Instructor Brons said I didn’t need to. I took the simulation last night. I wasn’t allowed to tell you unless I failed, but…”

“You got it!” I shriek, laughing.

Jason offers her a high-five. “Good job, Ives. I knew you could do it.”

“Thank you,” She says proudly, then turns her eyes to me. “Did you not get to?”

I shook my head. “No…? Must be because you're special.” I smile, because I mean it, but also because I want to hide the hurt. I know for a fact that I’m one of the best adolescents going for Runner. Everyone says so, including Brons. Why didn’t I get picked like that? Then again, Runner is one of the most difficult positions to get. That must be why I can’t skip the test like Ivy can.

Side eye.

I drank the rest of my apple juice, and threw the finished product into the trash can that was being wheeled around.

“So when’s your first day?” I question Ivy.

“Tormoww. Actually, Jason, they said there’s a chance I’ll get to be the one monitoring you!”

“Wait, really? How? I haven’t even had a real mission yet!”

She smiles teasingly. “Well, you’ll just see, won’t you?”

He almost jumps up with excitement. “I’m going on a mission soon? Really? Thank you so much, Ivy!” He threw his arms around her in a quick hug then bounced away, off to talk about his delights to someone else.

Ivy gazes after him, then shakes herself and turns back to me. “Don’t worry, Lis. You’ll get Runner. You're really good.” Ivy lowers her voice. “Even better than Jason.”

“Thanks Ives. But I’m not worried.”

“Are-”

“Beep….Beep…” I jump from the table. No. Another attack? But no, because this time, words follow it. “Would the following adolescentes please escort themself to Center Compound? Thank you…” A series of names are listed, most of them I knew. I glance at Ivy, who shrugs, not at all worried. “...Alyssa Banks. Frederick Bonsai. Elisabethe Brontë…”

This couldn’t be good.

↻

“I’m sorry, what?” Alyssa leans forward, piercing the officer with her hazel eyes. “I’ve never even heard of this position. It most certainly wasn’t in the packet.” She was talking about the packet that we were given two months ago with all the possible positions we could take after the Adolescence Test.

The officer, who’s name tag declares himself Tom, says, “I apologize for this inconvenience.”

I find this a pretty stupid answer, but I don’t say that.

David Jay holds up his hand. “So you mean to tell me that there is a secret mission-er-position-and you’ve picked us to be…a part of that?”

Officer Tom nods. “You eight were the top of your classes. You are the first choice.”

“And the second choice?” Alyssa fires.

Tom doesn’t seem to like this question. He does not answer it. Instead, he says, “This will be your only chance to agree to this position. You will never be offered this again.”

I frown. This seems like a plot hole; a trap. Yet the chance of a special position, a secret position, that will pit me above all else-I admit, it’s appetizing.

“What does it entail?” I ask.

Tom looks me dead in the eyes. “A chance no one else gets.” Well, that was helpful, I think grumpily.

Taya Samson bites her lips, then says, “I’m in.”

We all turn to her, and she shrugs. “What? If this is a one in a million chance, I want to be in it. It’s got to be important.”

That’s what propels me forward. “Me, too. I accept the position of Seeker.”

It doesn’t take long for the last six to agree as well.