Elysium Read Online Free PDF

disappearing behind the top of the building across the street, then reappearing to turn in a large O again. She had seen such strange things of late. Things she could hardly grasp and hold onto as real.
    “Adrianne?”
    “Hmm.”
    “You okay, hon?”
    “I’m fine.”
    The soup arrived. She tasted it. It was warm and needed salt.
    “How is the soup?”
    “It’s good.”
    “That’s what you needed, something warm in your stomach,” Helen said.
    From the corner of Adrianne’s eye, movement. The creature in the bush rustled the leaves. Then a singular gust of wind from high above. The bird — a hawk? an owl? — graceful wings outstretched. Swooped down. Grabbed the mysterious thing out of the bush. A squeal? A screech? A scream? Then they were gone.
    “Did you see that?”
    “See what?”
    “That … over there.”
    Helen glanced over. “What?”
    “Never mind,” Adrianne said.
    “Are you sure you’re okay?”
    “Yes, I’m fine.” Adrianne forced a smile.
    “We should hurry. The ride up to the stadium can be a bitch, but if we leave right after lunch, we should be there in time.” Helen said, touching Adrianne’s hand.

    The stadium’s archways were tall enough to accommodate giants. They curved high above her head, creating a sense of awe that was surely the designer’s intent. Adrianne felt small against them, diminutive. She looked up and spun in place for a single turn as she took it all in. Her head continued to spin even after she stopped moving. Dizzy, out-of-place, insignificant. Helen grabbed her hand and pulled her into line, bouncing with tickets in hand as giddy as a child about to receive forbidden candy. She reached around and half-hugged Adrianne, rubbing her back. After a few moments of this, Adrianne took hold of Helen’s hand as if in affection, but really to still its movements.
    They stood in the line for those who already had tickets, and still it was very long. There were a surprising number of women among the attendees. Maybe close to half of those waiting were casually dressed females, looking as if ready to go to the market, in mostly blue denim and T-shirts with cheery slogans spread across their chests. A few sported team colors. Some of the more flamboyant ones painted wide swatches of blue, red, and white makeup across their gleeful faces.
    All was orderly for those long moments spent waiting. Then the crowd shifted position like a formless sea and parted. The crush of it pushed Adrianne aside, then moved her back. The swell eventually passed like a shifting tide. She searched for the cause and found it in a woman dressed in perfect white — a white linen summer dress, white sandals , and a white scarf wrapped around her head. A little man walked before her, easing people out of the way. She glided like a white shadow, her back straight and proud, and entered an archway that seemed reserved for her. Her little guardian minded her back as she entered.
     
    Adrianne and Helen sat in seats only twenty rows from the oval space below. Thick glass separated the audience from the field and circled the stadium. Banners blaring team names fluttered in the wind in bold reds and blues and stripes of black bordered on white. The Ravens. The Tridents. The Vulcans.
    On each side of the arena, jumbo screens displayed animated fireworks between the scrolling names of the players in the games. Booming through the loudspeakers, a squeaky, high-pitched voice sang over a raunchy dance beat. Then the music changed to a bombastic marching tune, and the doors on the sides of the field opened and a pair of horses ran free. Some cheered within the shuffles and murmurs and loud conversations of those still searching for their seats.
    “Wait here, I’m going to get us some popcorn,” Helen said and left Adrianne alone to wonder what was in store for her this afternoon.
    The sounds of the horses’ hooves jerked at her heart as they galloped wild with tremendous speed and power. The vibrations