“I need a meeting scheduled. I sent you the details.”
She hurried to her desk. “I’ll get to it right away.”
The rest of the morning she spent getting caught up on Kari’s work. Things were busy with this new bill that passed. A committee to investigate VR research was being created. Even Antoine didn’t have time to meet. They tentatively planned time for coffee later in the day.
By the time Ari finished Kari’s work, she took a late lunch while President Higgins was out at a meeting. She didn’t bother with going to the center to eat but headed straight for Ryope Industries. It was a small business compared to the worldwide organizations present inside VLEX.
The building had a basic tall rectangular design, but advertisements covered it completely. Not only for Ryope Industries, but other businesses, products, and vacation services. Unlike some of the more cultural designs for buildings in VLEX, this felt like a hundred-foot tall billboard.
After checking the directory, she traveled up to the tenth floor designated to Ryope. The inside of the building looked similar to the outside. Loud advertisements covered the walls, cheapening the sleek design of the office.
The young man sitting at reception welcomed Ari and informed her that neither Tessa nor her father—Ari had met him once before—were in the office today.
With his manicured hair and nails, along with his pressed bow tie, his perfection appeared robotic. Maybe he was part of the program in here. “Would they have left any files or packages for you?”
“Maybe.” Ari remembered Tessa saying they could pass messages through this office.
“Your name?” he asked.
Ari wasn’t about to give him her real name. “Oya.”
The fact he didn’t even react to that name told Ari he was a program. He had the same stiff no nonsense personality as Ari’s AI. Functional but not fun.
“Tessa did leave you a file.” He glanced up at Ari. “What format do you want it on?”
Ari couldn’t take it back to work. “Do you have a reader I could use?”
“Of course. There is a password to open the file.” He handed her a small screen.
“Thanks.” Internally, Ari cursed Tessa. Now she had to guess at a password. After a few different tries all involving Tessa’s game, Ari finally opened it using a variation of Tessa’s gamer name: VegaRules.
“Figures,” Ari muttered.
The AI glanced up at Ari.
“I’m good. Thanks.”
Tessa left a message at the top of the screen.
Your family is safe. Better than this girl you had me check up on. I hope this isn’t your co-worker.
Scrolling down, Ari found information on Kari’s current address, phone number, position and title. A picture of Kari’s apartment, green and white, rotated on the screen. Next was a picture of a red-haired woman coming out the door. She had a striking similarity to Kari, but for someone who had studied and lived her life, Ari knew it wasn’t her.
Tessa’s message continued.
Kari has been silent online and not in contact with friends. A neighbor claimed that she works long hours and spends even more time in the VR. There is someone living in her apartment, but it’s not her. I picked up a red-haired woman on satellite, but it wasn’t a match. Not sure what happened to her, but something doesn’t sit right. Stay in touch.
Ari slowly sank against the wall. The reader crashed to the floor just as the safety and innocence of Ari’s world did the same. She stared at her hands, Kari’s hands, so petite, so perfect, with the nails painted in a light pink color that matched the floral dress Ari put on today. Was this the only place Kari would be alive in again?
She tried to reassure herself that it could mean several things. Maybe Kari was on vacation. There may not be a dead body, but Ari knew deep down something wasn’t right. They couldn’t have hacked her feed or something. If Kari wasn’t dead yet, she probably would be. Just like Representative Tao. So easily replaceable, these people were to VisionTech. Inside virtual reality for an extended period, it was easy to gain a sense of invincibility. But outside this fabricated world, they were human and weak.
“Can I help you, Oya?” The receptionist extended a hand.
Surprised she jolted upright. “I’m fine, really.” She picked up the screen, and with trembling fingers she deleted the message and handed the screen back to him. “Thank you for your help.”
She clenched her hands as she walked out of the building. She needed to think, not freak out. Her HUB beeped a reminder that she had an appointment to meet Antoine for coffee.
Antoine. Her heart ached for that love-sick fool. How could she break it to him? Should she break it to him?
Chapter 18
In a small Parisian cafe, she greeted Antoine with a kiss on each cheek.
“Just like the Parisians do it,” he said. His musky smell had become familiar which tore at Ari’s heart.
He pulled back, holding her hands. “What’s wrong, my love?”
“Nothing, nothing.” She turned her head as she wiped away a tear that betrayed her. “Just a stressful day at work.”
“Yes,” he lifted her chin with a finger. “But only a couple more weeks until vacation. Imagine you and me in front of a fire. Glass in hand. A fur rug under our bare skin. I can’t wait to meet you in the flesh.”
The excitement on his face rivaled that of a child. She couldn’t help but smile at Antoine. He wore his heart on his sleeve along with everything. Ari was beginning to see why Kari would fall for him. He wrapped sunshine, love, and magic up and presented it to Kari with a bow.
To Kari, Ari reminded herself. Not to you. You might be the cause of her death. She bit down on her lip to push back her emotions while he ordered them both coffees. He carried most of the conversation, which Ari appreciated. She nodded and agreed as he complained about a co-worker and then talked about their plans in the mountains.
“You’ll love it there. The air is so clean, the sky so blue. Like VR blue, but real. I can’t wait for you to meet my brother there.”
“Me either.” The smile came easier for Ari now because she wanted to believe.
Kari and Antoine felt like some type of show or romance novel. These two characters who struggled for true love only to be thwarted by forces beyond their control. If Ari could put this off for a little bit longer, maybe somehow she could give them the happy ending they deserved. Ari wanted to believe in happy endings.
“Damn,” Antoine said checking his HUB. “I have to get back.”
He gave her a deep kiss. Ari felt detached, watching it from a distance. It isn’t her body, it isn’t her life. She hijacked Kari’s world, so at least she could keep those she loved protected.
“Love you.” His gaze penetrated past the charade and Ari shuddered.
“Love you too.”
She watched him leave. Every decision she made had consequences she couldn’t see. She just hoped she made the right one where Antoine was concerned.
Somewhere along the way, Ari had become a pro at hiding. She hid in Kari’s life, even in Tao’s. Now, as she emerged from the VR once again to Niomi and her reports, Ari realized she’d been hiding in her own life. The pain and fear of what VisionTech had done was sealed tight. Moving through the motions, she typed the lies easily from her fingers. The correct words flowed effortless from her mouth.
By the time she walked away from Niomi, with a promise to exercise tonight, she felt as fake as the AI in Ryope Industries. Walking through the motions of life, detached from reality.
“What time is it?” she asked her AI, wondering where Reed would be. Ari didn’t even find humor in tormenting her personal AI anymore, and recently changed his name to just AI.
“4:30 in the afternoon.”
She had stayed late in the VR. Messaging Niomi, Ari told her she was going to visit Reed and workout with him. She stopped asking permission to leave her wing, and Niomi knew better than to bug her about it. She checked out a hoverbike and rode to Reed�
�s work.
It began raining during her ride, but Ari welcomed it. The cleansing coolness of the water gave her hope that she could figure this mess out. She needed Reed, needed to be reminded of home and who she was. Guilt pulled heavy on her shoulders as she remembered Antoine. Would Reed care? She didn’t want to hurt Reed, but she needed to be honest. He needed to know everything, no matter what his security clearance. He needed to know the stakes before getting sucked into VisionTech more than he was.
She pushed strands of wet hair out of her face and parked the bike. She elbowed through the crowd of people leaving work for the day. Not finding him in the hall, she searched through the clear doors and spotted him. She picked out his wavy blondish brown hair. It had grown out more lately.
As she approached, she noticed his face lit up. He was talking with his hands, which he did when he was excited. He radiated joy, something she only glimpsed before coming to the island, and usually with her. Laughing, his body shook, and his eyes sparked to life. One step closer, and Ari found out who he was talking to—Kimmy.
Ari froze, and a realization sunk in. Kimmy was the one who brought joy to Reed. His art, his friends, his life here with VisionTech brought him a happiness. Would Ari be enough to replace all that? She never saw Reed this happy at school. Even with Marco, he always acted a bit reserved.
Reed wanted to do art. He wouldn’t be killing people with his art, but inspiring, creating. And this may be the only opportunity he had to do that. Would Ari really take that away?
Could she crush his happiness the same way she would one day crush Antoine’s? The guilt of Antoine and her fake promises and declarations of love forced her back. One step then another. Reed could find joy here. Not just with his work, but with Kimmy or someone like her. Ari… well, Ari did a better job stealing people’s joy than creating it lately.
After a few steps, she turned and hurried out of the building. Back on the hoverbike she found herself at the outdoor workout facility. Partially covered, it protected Ari from the rain, but not the wind howling through the trees. Howling like Ari wanted to, pushing, fighting forces it couldn’t control. She struck out at the dummy, over and over.
If somehow she was stronger, better, then maybe she could figure this out.
Chapter 19
The rest of the week, Ari kept her head down and worked hard. She needed time to figure out her next step. She kept tabs with Antoine inside VLEX searching for the best way to end his relationship with Kari, but never figuring out how to. Blaming President Higgins for keeping her busy, they messaged more than anything.
Staying occupied with work was also the best way to keep her distance from Reed. If she met with him, she may not be able to keep her distance. She wanted what was best for Reed and giving him that was the hardest thing she ever had to do.
So, when Jewels left a note in her room—a real note on stiff paper—inviting Ari to a party, she replied yes. Granted, it was odd that her maid invited her to the party, but Ari wanted to see more of the island and needed a distraction. Ari replied in pink lipstick, the only thing she could find to write with.
Not only did Ari need a reason to avoid Reed that weekend, but she was beyond curious to see where Jewels lived. With Niomi’s runs, Ari felt like she had traveled the island, but she never saw any sight of homes or islanders on her section. Ari jumped at the chance to see more of this place.
At first Niomi wouldn’t agree for Ari to leave VisionTech property even if she had a chip in the back of her neck reporting her location.
“I can take care of myself,” Ari told Niomi. “You’ve taught me that much. And if VisionTech wants me to keep working for them, they can’t lock me in a cage for the rest of my life.” They probably could, but Ari hoped they wouldn’t.
“Let me see who I can get with cleared to go with you.” Niomi’s anger was evident on her face.
In the end, two security guards were assigned to accompany Ari. Neither one was chatty. Both were way over six feet, with muscles to spare. Their close-cropped hair looked like part of their uniform, which was a navy Fit Suit. Ari had always known VisionTech had to have some type of security or police force on the island. They hid in the shadows though. Now up close, intimidating didn’t begin to describe them.
Jewels had sent Tamar, who Ari recognized from her gambling stint. Next to the guards, he stood a good half foot shorter, but it didn’t seem to bother him. He wore a simple button shirt with dark baggy shorts, island garb.
“Wonderful to see you again, Arianna.”
“No one’s called me that in a while. How did you know it’s my name?”
He winked at her. “I guessed. In my village, names are long and meaningful. Unlike Bob and Joe here.”
The man with darker hair looked down at him. “Not quite.”
“But close, eh?” Tamar raised a brow.
“Let’s go.” Ari thought the less talking the better in this case.
The group filed in a car. The guards sat in front, like adults sitting in a children’s toy set. Tamar gave directions through the jungle. Then at the end of a long road, the trail ended with a large tree standing in their way.
“Where now?” The guard called Mike, not Joe, said.
“We walk.”
Glad she wore decent shoes, Ari opened the door. The guards clamored out, always staying nearby. They had a couple of flashlights to light the path. Tamar didn’t seem to need them though.
He led the way with Ari nearby. “You know if they really want to hide you better, they may want to consider ditching the guards.”
“I don’t think that will happen.” Ari wondered how much Jewels or Tamar knew of her position. The idea that they knew what she did saddened her. Yet her vault of secrets seemed to be bulging at the seams lately.
“Almost there,” Tamar announced as they weaved around a large tree.
Ari heard the people first. The chanting and singing traveled through the jungle blending with the wind as if it always belonged there. Then the light from a fire sparked and snapped through the dark leaves. They emerged from the jungle onto the beach.
Islanders gathered around the blaze, dancing and singing. Children ran wild and careless with squeals of delight. They dressed in a variety of styles from jean shorts, to floral dresses and skirts. Most men went topless, while the women wore long beaded necklaces and flowers in their hair.
Tamar pulled off his top, his physique toned. “It’s time to party.” He headed off in the throng of people, with a high-pitched cry that traveled far through the forest.
She glanced at the two stiff guards. “You heard him.”
Ignoring the nervous looks from the guards, she walked towards the crowd searching for Jewels. The old woman stood in the middle of a circle, dancing to the beat of the drum. The sway of her hips flowed with the foreign words of the song, her long braid swinging behind her. As she turned and noticed Ari, her smile grew.
When the song died down, Jewels pulled in a couple of young men to dance and headed towards Ari.
“I’m glad you made it, dear.”
“Thanks for inviting me,” Ari said. “You were amazing out there.”
“When you’re as old as I, you learn a thing or two about how to turn a head.” Jewels directed them to a pit in the ground, where some animal turned on a spike, hot coals cooking it from beneath. “Hungry?”
“A bit. What is that?” Ari motioned to the fire.
“Wild boar. It should be done soon, and you won’t want to miss it.”
“Sounds great.” Ari had grown up with a grandmother that would cook all sorts of things. Boar was close enough to pig, right?
Jewels looked around them, searching for something. Her gaze fell on a group of young women in floral print dresses tied more than sewed together. “Oliana,” she called, though the rest of the sentence was intelligible.
It took a bit for Ari to recognize the woman that worked with Tamar, urging her to place bets. Her black hair fell in beautiful wav
es around her shoulders and with the fire nearby, her dark eyes appeared electric. Unlike her previously steely gaze, Oliana’s beautiful smile must draw her a lot of attention.
“Take Ari here to dance with you. Show her how the islanders have a good time.”
“Yes, Jewels.” Oliana gave her a small nod of respect.
Jewels headed over to the pit and Oliana turned to her. “You think you can handle partying with us islanders?
“I’m here.” Ari glanced over to the group of young women dancing. “You may find my dancing only good for a laugh though.”
Her face softened as she grabbed Ari’s hand. “I could use a good laugh.”
Oliana didn’t bother with introductions, but had Ari kick off her shoes and taught her the steps to the dance. After a few minutes Ari caught on. She was not as smooth or natural as the others, but they didn’t seem to mind. Sweat trickled down her neck as she got lost in the steady beating of the drums. There was something not only peaceful but contemplative to dancing under the night sky. Something relaxing as the women moved in unison, creating beauty in its own right.
With the dinner bell, Ari was jarred out of her trance. Oliana grabbed her hand, her cheeks red with warmth. “Let’s eat.”
The familiarity the islanders had with one another took a bit to get used too. With hand holding and random touches on the shoulder, even with the men, they appeared as one big family. Being alone, with only seeing Reed occasionally, it felt nice to be included. Even if only for one night.
After being stuffed with food until she thought she might explode, Ari escaped to find a bit of peace and quiet. Of course, her two security guards weren’t too far away. She sat in the damp sand, the ocean in front of her, watching the tide disappear into a starry night. Sitting on this island, so far away from the rest of the world, just a speck smaller than the stars themselves, it made her feel small. Not in a bad way, but just as one who realizes how big the whole world is.
It was easy to get caught up in the VLEX, in the fabricated world that dictated rules and regulations to the rest of the others. But the majority of the world wasn’t in VLEX. After tonight she glimpsed a whole village of people who didn’t rely on VR for fun. Maybe there was hope for their little speck of earth.
Hard Wired Trilogy Page 40