Read City Center, The for Free Online

lockdown.”
    “Remove accent walls. Stream all reports.”
    Ava walked to the middle of the main room and set the book down on the lounger. She removed her sweaty tracksuit and splashed cold water over her face while the reports streamed. The wall divided into multiple segments, each streaming a different report about the same thing—the terrorist attack on the City Center.
    “Did they capture him?” Ava asked.
    “Report loading.”
    Ava sat in her lounger and clutched the book against her chest. She needed to know what happened to Joseph before she could focus on the book. The report downloaded and the shimmering face of the female Info-tainer spoke. “The terrorist has been captured. He is now being detained under Planner Dickson’s division until Chief Morray has been thoroughly briefed. The technical glitch in the mainframe was absolutely not due to terrorist activity. The ITs are looking into the cause of the power outage.”
    “Have consequences been determined?”
    “Stipulations will be determined by Chief Morray. Trial to be set at later time.”
    “Are there any additional threats from the Outside?”
    “Conditions on the Outside continue to worsen. Security along the perimeter continues to hold a Level-5.”
    “Will this affect Graduation Day ceremonies?” Ava hoped for a delay. Anything to give her more time.
    “Graduation Day ceremonies are in full swing. The agenda is being finalized and will be distributed later in the week. We’ll stream footage and interviews throughout the week. Would you like to view predictions for this year’s top ten?”
    “Exit report,” Ava instructed.
    She knew Joseph would be dead by morning. She wondered if Morray would even bother with conducting the ritual trial. He’d most likely go straight to execution. She looked at the book, wondering what could’ve been so important he risked his life to pass it along. She flipped through the pages, knowing she’d never be able to decipher the contents. City Center residents weren’t taught to read. All information was either downloaded directly into their personal microchips or streamed from reports. Reading was considered uncivilized. She’d have to learn how to read. The only way would be to download reading instruction software. Older programs were obsolete and unavailable. She glanced at the book, knowing she couldn’t let Joseph die in vain. There was one option. Delilah could obtain files off the dark-market.
    “Contact Delilah,” Ava instructed.
    She waited until Delilah’s hologram appeared. “Happy to see you made it home.”
    “I need to speak with you,” Ava said. “In private.”
    “How’s that supposed to happen? We’re on lockdown.”
    “We can do a, you know, one of those things we do?”
    “Now? That could get both of us marked for questioning.”
    “We’ll be fine. They don’t care about two eighteen-year-old girls.”
    “This isn’t like in the movies, Ava. This is serious.”
    “Which is precisely why I need you.”
    “Fine. But if I get caught, you better pull your rank.”
    “Of course.”
    Ava logged off the internal system. She went to her sleep pod where she kept her digital tablet hidden; a relic from the days before that she had gotten off the dark-market. Tablets were no longer permitted on the Inside. She tucked herself inside her sleep pod and switched on the tablet. The monitor lit up. An invitation to chat popped up on the screen. Ava accepted and Delilah’s face appeared in 2D.
    “What’s so important you’re willing to break the law?” Delilah asked.
    “I saw him.”
    “Who?”
    “The guy the reports were talking about. Him…”
    “You mean, the…”
    “Yes. I can’t go into details, but I promise to explain everything.”
    “I think your pre-grad stress is causing mental delusions,” Delilah said.
    “I’m fine. Actually I feel better than ever. I feel awake. Alive.”
    “You don’t sound fine.”
    “I need your help getting software on reading