Free Heightened: The Federation Series by Miria Masdan Page A

on-line, or off-line. I could individually check each life force. My current program is only capable of detecting on-line Federation citizens.
    I place my visual display on standby and start scanning the forum with my eyes. I look for anyone acting unusual. I’m about halfway through when the lights dim, and the head proctor walks out on stage.
    I maintain my focus on the audience. No one looks suspicious. I glance at the stage every time a new intern is announced. They all seem within protocol.
    “Emma Greene,” the proctor calls.
    I look up expecting to see a female intern, but no one walks out. That’s unusual. A moment later a slender, dark haired girl walks onto the stage.  She has her hands fisted at her side.
    The proctor smiles at her; she looks confused and nervous. That’s unusual. I initiate my visual display and scan her.
    Her scan is normal. I watch her carefully. The proctors have finished calling her order. She takes a seat, but she doesn’t maintain proper Federation protocol. She turns her head slightly, looking at the stage. She exchanges glances with the proctor. He returns the gesture, and she looks away. She should be still, and focused, but she is looking around the forum. She glances my way, and her gaze stops. She’s noticed me looking at her. She looks shocked.
    I think I might have just found someone of interest. I tag her in my program so that I won’t misplace her location. My plans for Smith to scan me are replaced with plans for an interrogation.

CHAPTER FOURTEEN
Emma
     
    I step into the line. My head is aching. Sean is behind me. I look at the girl’s hair in front of me. I muffle a smirk. All I can think about is stumbling up the stairs. We’re all lined up, waiting for the Proctors to call our names. But we are alone in the hallway. The mumbles of quiet conversations fill the space.
    “Emma,” Sean whispers. “I need to talk to you. What happened to you? Where did he take you, are you in trouble?”
    “Okay, that was way more than one question,” I say. “And what are you talking about?”
    “Not here,” he looks around. He seems nervous, “tonight at the banquet. We can talk about it then.”
    “Okay,” I say, “but you brought it up, and why are you acting so weird?”
    “I’ll find you and we can meet on the balcony.” He uses the back of his hand to wipe his brow. 
    “What do you think it’ll be like?” I ask. I’ve heard rumors about the banquet.
    “A bunch of young adults with heightened emotions for the first time will prove to be interesting.” His voice is a matter of fact and dull. He is the perfect citizen. “Please promise me you’ll be able to control yourself, and stay away from anyone you don’t know. Keep with the interns.”
    “I think I can manage,” I say. “You’re so strange.”
    “I’m serious,” he looks at me and I feel uncomfortable. He’s never looked me in the eyes before. “I don’t want anything to happen to you.”
    I sense a touch of jealousy in his voice. I never thought of him, as anything other than a friend before, but evidently he has considered it. “I promise.”
    “Good,” he seems satisfied with my answer and he looks away from me.
    There are only a few more people in line in front of me, and I straighten myself up. I glide my hands over my hair, and I wrench as I hit a spot that hurts. I feel a bump, but I have no idea what happened. I ignore it and turn to face the girl’s hair in front of me. She’s next.
    I hear them call her name, and I stand only feet from the stage. I hear them call out Education. She smiles. My mind is wandering. I’m thinking about Pam and her warnings this morning, then I think about Sean and then about Adam. Could they somehow be related or is it a coincidence?
    I don’t hear them call my name, but I feel the nudge from Sean. He touched me. I walk out onto the stage and stand next to Adam. He smiles at me and winks.
    “That’s odd? Why is he winking at me, in public? God