The Queer Rebels

Chapter 34: Ascending

Hooking his thumbs in the jumpsuit's pockets, not showing any visible concern, Eli starts up the stairs.

I follow a few steps behind him, trying to exude the same aura of nonchalance. Just another day at work. Another day emptying trash cans and sweeping sidewalks. Keeping the city of Dimstad sparkling clean.

But inside, I can't temper the swirling doubts.

The warm sun beats down on my back and the sounds of the city fill the air, oblivious to the turmoil in my chest. The questions spinning in my mind. Will our disguises fool anybody? How will we sneak past security and make it to the floor where they keep prisoners?

At the top of the stairs, Eli opens the heavy glass door, passing it to me as he walks inside.

The lobby has marble floors and tall ceilings. The back wall, which is flanked by staircases, has a large mosaic portrait of the Great Olek. His steely eyes and stern expression are a reminder of his absolute power.

I suppress a shutter.

On the right of the lobby, there is a large bank of elevators. One of them must go to the secret floor that Marcy told me about. But a card reader restricts access.

My card barely got me on the tram. I know it won't work here.

I see another maintenance worker headed towards the left of the lobby. As I scan my eyes past them, I get a sinking feeling.

There are two middle-aged guards sitting at a folding table. They each have clipboards and a handheld scanning device. They must be checking workers in. Making sure people are going where they're assigned.

But before I can panic, Eli slips a card out of his pocket and flashes it at me as he passes. "Let me handle this," he breathes.

It's not the counterfeit we made. The ID card he holds has the face of the guy from the street. The other maintenance worker.

How did he steal it?

Eli has more tricks up his sleeve than I realize.

So, I let him step ahead, and instead of walking towards the guards, I turn and head up the staircase at the back of the lobby, walking casually. Like I know where I'm going. What I'm doing.

And even though I can't see him anymore, Eli's voice echoes through the open space. "You sure this is the wrong building?" He sounds annoyed. Inconvenienced. "I could've sworn..."

The guard apologizes–apologizes!–and tells him he needs to report a few blocks down.

"Well, shit. Sorry to waste your time, brother," Eli says, softening his tone. "But, hey, can you point me to the John for a quick pit stop?"

A moment after the guard directs him to the stairs, I hear Eli's boots behind me.

Soon, he's next to me, a self-satisfied grin on his face.

At the next landing, Eli pauses to look both ways. Then he leads us to the elevator bank, presses the call button, and takes out a new card. A different one before. This one is black and boasts a golden star next to the identification picture.

"How?" I mouth the question, staring at the guard's security card in Eli's hand.

Eli just shrugs as the elevator doors open in front of us with a ding.

We step on, Eli keeping his face shaded with the brim of his hat. Then he taps his newly stolen card on the security reader and clicks for floor fourteen. A light turns green and soon we are ascending.

I can feel my stomach drop to my feet as the floor numbers light and unlight with quick succession, marking our rapid rise.

The elevator doors open to a side corridor. We can hear people's voices down the hall. Close by. There must be a conference room or common area because several conversations are muddled together, laughter sprinkled in. Maybe the people on this floor are having a party to celebrate Unity Day.