Luminosity by Stephanie Thomas Page B

trained to do when the Keeper is present, and once the room is silent, she stands up straight and begins to speak.
    “As our new, full Seers are finishing their tattoos, the Institution has a very important announcement to make. To some, it might be upsetting, but we’ve entered a new era in our fight against the Dreamcatchers.”
    There hasn’t been an actual fight just yet. That’s the first thought that comes to my mind. We’ve only been preparing to fight. But to say we’ve been fighting all the time makes the message that much more urgent. It makes it more real, more now.
    “Our training exercises will change.” The Keeper looks at all of us, speaking in a tone that one would use when trying to inspire their troops before they go out into battle. “There will be no more room for the weak. A great threat has been detected, and I am sure you’ve noticed that we’ve upped our security as a precaution.”
    Again, eyes are on me. This time, I don’t bother to look.
    “In order to stay prepared, we will be introducing live rounds to the training games.”
    The collective breathing in the room stops.
    Did I hear her correctly?
    “We will be using Citizen convicts as our targets, and they will be armed.” The Keeper pauses as the tension in the air becomes crisper and more taut. “We have, up until this point, kept our Seers under protection for the good of the City. But what good is it if we are protecting Seers who aren’t strong enough to protect in return? You need to be able to take a life. To kill. To protect the Citizens.”
    “Is she serious?” Connie whispers, a waver in her words.
    “It is a new day! We are at war, and now, more than ever, we need to be strong! We will begin to use live rounds tomorrow. Get a good night’s rest, and remember, it is for the good of the City.” The microphone clicks off and the Meeting Room is silent.
    The wave of whispers starts somewhere in the back, and by the time it reaches us, everyone is talking. Connie is freaking out and has reduced herself to tears. Mae is trying to keep Connie calm with reassuring pats on the back. Gabe reaches for my hand and when he finds it, he holds it without saying a word about anything.

Chapter Nine
    With nothing else on my mind but the upcoming Training Games and our new mandate to use live rounds, I find it hard to believe that Mae is so excited about our journey off our bunk floor.
    Mae, Connie, and I are packed into an elevator that speeds down its shaft, passing floor after floor at a high speed that makes my stomach feel like it is in my throat.
    “So, has Gabe stopped being ornery?” Connie leans against the metal walls that box us in.
    “Somewhat, I guess. It’s definitely better than it was before.” I shrug a shoulder, not quite content with my observation. “But who knows? I was pretty angry with him after that whole thing at the Ceremony. Maybe he’s annoyed with me again.”
    Connie picks at a scratch on her arm. “Boys forget pretty quickly.”
    “Yeah. Brandon forgets every day that I like him.” Mae laughs and playfully pushes my arm. “Sometimes, their skulls are so thick that nothing gets to their brains.”
    I grin and nudge Mae back. “Maybe you’re right.”
    “Ooh! I can hear them already!” Mae suddenly squeals as the elevator slows and comes to a stop.
    Today is our turn to visit the lower levels of the Institution, where the young Seers are kept. It is a requirement for all girls over the age of fifteen to help at least once a month in the children’s wards. We don’t interact much with the young Seers, as there’s such a gap between what they know and what we know, and sometimes it becomes frustrating when communicating. It’s not one of my favorite things to do, but today is important because when Mae, Connie and I are done with our visit, we need to come up with a report on how the younger Seers can be better integrated with the rest of the Institution.
    The doors slide open and the