They eat in silence and when the last plate—Zach’s—is cleaned, a young woman enters the room and gathers their dishes before disappearing.

“All right, now that we’re all full, let’s talk.”

Lynell leans forward, meeting the man’s deep brown eyes. Her legs are numb with fear, but the promise of answers keeps her from shaking. Or puking.

“Lynell, I think first it’s time you know my name.” He sits up straighter. “I am Eric Elysian.”

Realization slams into her like an ice waterfall.

That’s why he seemed familiar. She sees him on a poster or on TV or on her phone every single day. How she didn’t recognize him sooner, she’ll never know.

Elysian. She’s sitting at the dining room table of THE Eric Elysian. Eric Elysian knows who she is. Why on earth would Eric Elysian want to Register her, of all people?

She looks to Price as another realization dawns on her. If Eric Elysian is Price’s father, then that means Price is not Price. Price is Elysian.

She gasps.

“My family has given so much to this country since the civil war,” Price’s father, Mr. Elysian she now knows, hums in satisfaction. “You’d be surprised how many people forgot how bad it was before the war ended, when the government controlled everything, and citizens had no power or control and murder and mayhem filled the streets with innocent blood.” He sits back and claps a hand on his son’s shoulder. “The man you know as Zachary Price is my son, Zachary Elysian. Price is the name he uses in public. Even the system knows him as Zachary Price. Though, of course, Zachary Price can no more be Registered than Zachary Elysian can. It’s to keep him safe, to guard his identity.”

Lynell turns to Zach, searching for eye contact, but he’s staring at the table.

The Elysians are practically royals, though technically businessmen. Their Regulators keep order during Registration season. They hold the power everyone craves while staying out of the government. They’re the only people in the country who can’t be Registered. And, of course, they’re filthy rich.

“For almost seventy years, the Registration has been in place, working perfectly. Keeps our population in check and solves dozens of problems, like abortion. Half the country wanted it to be illegal. Imagine that! Forcing women to have a baby no matter the situation, no matter the danger to mom or baby. And the other half wanted it legal. Women free to end any pregnancy at any time, to kill as many unborn babies as they wanted, no repercussions.”

Lynell stares at her plate, her hands gripped tightly together under the table as Elysian’s words wash over her.

“They couldn’t find a middle ground, and that’s just one issue that drove this country to civil war. With the Registration, the issue is solved. End a pregnancy if you want, but after that, take measures to keep from getting pregnant again. All birth control is already free but did you also know that anyone using the Registration on a pregnancy must learn about all other options beforehand?”