Hooked

by DeAnna Browne

  “Your brother was at a VR bar in the city. They called us when they couldn’t wake him. He’s resting but still hasn’t woken up.”

  “Are you going to feed him?” Fear coursed through Ari. Her brother could starve to death and neither Ari nor her mother had the money to feed him. They would have to find money somewhere.

  The nurse placed a heavy hand on her shoulder. “Of course, we will.”

  Ari searched for the tubes, the plastic lines that Marco would need to survive. When she was unable to find them, the nurse showed her the tubes tucked neatly under his blanket.

  “Ms. Mendez,” Advisor William’s harsh voice spoke behind them. “I have been unable to contact your mother, and we have some information to go over now that his placement is in question.”

  The nurse stood straight with her hand on her hip. “Really, Advisor Williams? She is in no state to go over any of that. And there is a chance he could wake up in the morning.”

  Of course, Ari knew this. Seventy percent of people that didn’t wake up after being unplugged would wake up after their body went through its normal sleep rhythm. It had happened often with Ari’s father, until one day it didn’t. Like her father, some people subconsciously created their own VR, not willing to come back to reality.

  “Fine,” Advisor William said with an indignant huff. “But with this sort, things never work out in the long run.” And with those uplifting words, he left.

  Ari moved closer, sitting on Marco’s bed. She grasped his hand through the light blankets, as if she could pull him back to reality. But she knew all too well that it didn’t work that way.

  CHAPTER 25

  Ari woke to someone shaking her shoulder. She’d fallen asleep sitting in a chair with her head on Marco’s bed. She blinked several times, clearing her vision of the scratchy code that filled her dream. With all the studying and stress, she wouldn’t be surprised if she bled in code.

  “Ariana, dear, it’s your mother,” said Nurse Carey.

  Ari wiped the sleep from her eyes. For a few blissful moments of unconsciousness, she had forgotten about Marco being stuck in a virtual. Reality lay heavily on her shoulders as she stood and headed towards the nurse’s station.

  Nurse Carey led her to her desk. Ari’s mother was on the screen, eyes red and puffy.

  “I told your mother the situation,” Nurse Carey said softly. “I’ll leave you two alone for a moment.” Her shoes squeaked against the floor and with the whoosh of the door, a silence entered the room, threatening Ari’s sanity.

  Ari swallowed. There was so much she wanted to say—wanted to scream really—but she held it in. If she opened the flood gates, they might never close.

  Her mother broke the silence first. “They are going to send Marco home if he isn’t awake by the end of the week.”

  “How?” Ari said. “You can’t afford to pay for both Marco and Dad.”

  “Nurse Carey told me I can take a loan out against your education. You’ll have to pay it back once you graduate.”

  Ari bit her lip and nodded. “Okay.” She would do whatever it took to save Marco, which sparked her next decision. “I’m going in.” Often when people were in VR comas, loved ones would go in to help convince them to return to reality. It didn’t work with their father, but it might with Marco.

  Ari’s mother shoulders sagged. “I hoped you would. It might even be free compared to doing it in the clinic. But be prepared, Ari, that he might not want out.”

  “I don’t care. I’ll drag his lazy—”

  “That won’t help. Remember you play by Marco’s rules in there not yours. I’ve tried enough times with your father, God knows, to no avail.”

  Ari knew that was true, and it cost more than a normal VR since they had to pay the medical staff to hook her father up to a VR. After missing Christmas for a couple years, her mother finally decided to spend the money on the living.

  The hatred she had for her father resurfaced like a wave of heat through her body. She wanted to punch something, or someone. Something to make this fair. But that was the wish of a child. Life was never fair.

  “I’ll see if they can let me do it today.” Ari glanced at the time and realized it was six in the morning.

  “Call me after, okay? You can wake me. I don’t think I’ll be sleeping much anyway.”

  “I’ll call or message you soon.”

  “Thanks, Ari. For being there and taking care of this. I can’t leave work.”

  “I know.” Ari clicked off the screen before the sob stuck in her throat escaped.

  Her HUB soon vibrated with another message. There were several from Reed and one from Tessa. She started to message them back, but her fingers hovered over the keyboard, unsure of what to say. My brother is hooked just like my loser dad? Reed might not care, but it wasn’t any less embarrassing. She finally settled on messaging Reed: Marco’s sick. I’ll be with him for a while.

  A heaviness settled into her bones as Nurse Carrey changed out his feeding bag. Ari wondered if the nurse had slept at all. Her short brown hair was perfectly curled, and her lips colored pink. Her hands were quick and experienced as she hooked up the new feeding tube before she turned to Ari. “Now that he is fed, how about getting something for you?”

  “I want to be hooked up with my brother.”

  If Nurse Carey was surprised she didn’t show it. “That may be a possibility, but it won’t happen until after breakfast. You already missed dinner. What kind of medical personnel would I be if I let you starve?”

  “Can I go in if I eat?”

  Before Nurse Carey could answer, Advisor Williams walked in the door.

  “Go in where?”

  “I want to go in the VR with my brother.”

  “Why would the school do that? It’s a waste of precious time and resources.”

  “To wake him up, of course.” Ari’s hands clenched at her side. She couldn’t believe this man’s indifference. She was grateful Nurse Carey interrupted before she really told him how she felt.

  “It would save on costs in the long run, Advisor. I’m willing to set it up in here.”

  “Has his mother signed the paperwork?”

  “I sent it over. She will sign it before she leaves for work in a few hours.”

  Irritation was written all over his face as he knew Nurse Carey had the upper hand. “Fine, but only after we receive the paperwork. And after Ari’s classes.”

  “What? I’m not going to class.”

  “We pay for them, so yes you are. Only medically excused absences will not be marked as demerits in your record. Or are you more like your brother than we thought? He didn’t care much for attendance either.”

  Nurse Carey put a hand on Ari’s shoulder, her touch steady and warm. “She will be fed first, and then she’ll go to her class. It will take me a bit to get a VR unit in here, anyway.”

  Advisor Williams gave a curt nod then left the room.

  Ari wasn’t sure if she wanted to hit him or scream. Instead she sunk down on the foot of Marco’s bed in exhaustion.

  “Ignore that old crow, dear, and let me get you some coffee.”

  “I wish I could,” Ari said. Williams held the key to her future in more ways than one. He would find her placement after her schooling was done. And so far, it wasn’t looking good. He also had the power to kick her out and make her life a mountain of student debt with no way of getting out of it. Schooling was free as long as you finished with a passing grade and worked at a government assigned position afterwards.

  She could only focus on Marco. He had to be okay. She needed him. And somehow, she would find a way to let him know.

  The nurse pushed a warm cup of coffee into her hands. “Drink up. You have a long day ahead of you.”

  Ari nodded, numbly. She savored the bitter taste of the coffee warming her. “Do you think he will wake up?”

  “Probably. He’s young with a lot to live for. Though you may have to remind him of that.”

  “Tha
t’s what I worry about.” Ari stared into Marco’s innocent face with his hair sticking up all over. She hoped she could offer enough of the real world to lure him out of his virtual one. As much as Ari detested it, maybe living in a virtual was easier, a carefree escape she almost wished she could enjoy.

  “Take the coffee with you so you can make it to breakfast. You have to have something besides caffeine.”

  Ari didn’t want to eat, but she needed out of there, especially if she had to go to class. She picked up her bag with her tablet that had been periodically beeping inside since she had silenced the HUB on her wrist hours ago. Not ready to talk to anyone, she silenced the noise, swung the bag over her shoulder, and headed to the door.

  As the door swooshed open, Nurse Carey said, “Answer your interface, Ariana. Your friends are worried about you.”

  Ari just kept walking.

  She grabbed a breakfast shake and headed to her dorm room in hopes of a shower before her first class at eight.

  “Are you going to ignore me all day?” Reed’s biting words came from behind. She wasn’t exactly sure why she’d ignored his other messages. Embarrassment, maybe. Denial and the hope her brother would wake up this morning was more likely.

  “So, you know?” Ari turned around, and once she glimpsed his hurt face, guilt punched her in the gut. “I’m sorry.”

  “Nurse Carey told me.” His eyes, dark and heavy, spoke of his own restless night. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

  “I ...” She dropped her gaze. She was tired, and not ready to answer. Anger, guilt, and hurt overflowed, and she couldn’t keep it in any longer. “What was I supposed to say? My loser brother got hooked like my deadbeat dad. Who knows, maybe I’ll be next?” Ari yelled, not caring who heard.

  Reed paused for a moment, shock perhaps. His face softened, and he stepped forward closing the distance between them. His presence warmed away her frustration—a relief that she didn’t deserve.

  “Do you honestly believe I would think that? Because my dad took off and yours is in a VR coma, does that make any difference? I have lived for the past two years with Marco. He’s like a brother to me.”

  Tears pooled in her eyes. She dabbed at her eyes, knowing he was right. He understood in a way no one else would. She kicked herself for doubting him, again. She lifted her chin. “So, what does that make us?”

  A grin slowly crept on Reed’s face. “A very twisted family?” He encompassed her with his arms, and she melted into them.

  She didn’t realize how tired and alone she had felt until he held her.

  “Don’t worry, though, I never thought of you as a sister,” Reed whispered into her neck.

  She reluctantly stepped back. “I better shower and get ready for class.”

  “Are you going?”

  “Williams didn’t give me much of a choice.”

  “That guy’s a moron.” Reed grabbed her hand, and they walked to her dorm.

  “It’s okay. Hopefully it will keep my mind off things. I can’t go in until this afternoon.”

  Reed stopped, abruptly pulling Ari back to face him. “You’re going in?”

  “Of course. They’ll let me do it here for free before they send him to a center where my mom will have to pay.”

  “Why doesn’t your mom come and do it?”

  “She can’t get off work.” Ari lowered her eyes only briefly. She wasn’t sure why her family situation bothered her. Reed had been to her house enough to know, and it’s wasn’t like his family was a whole lot better off. But his mom only had to work one job, and it was enough so that they didn’t ever go hungry.

  “Then I’ll do it,” Reed offered.

  “Williams barely approved of me going in. Why does it matter?” Being tired, it took Ari a minute to connect the dots.

  “I’m worried with your new abilities, that you’ll be tempted.”

  “If you’re telling me to hide my abilities and leave my brother in there, I can’t do it.” Ari had to admit she was thankful Reed had suggested it. She hated to tell him that she hadn’t thought of it before. Maybe there was some way to change Marco’s virtual to help him come out.

  Reed must have sensed her thoughts. “Can you help him when he gets out if you get shipped out of here?”

  “We’re not even sure if changing the VR will help him.”

  “I mean it, Ari. I don’t think Marco or I want to finish the year without you. Please don’t.”

  “It’ll be fine,” Ari said and placed another quick peck on his lips.

  “You don’t know that,” he said. “I have a lab today during your lunch, but I’ll meet you in the wellness clinic after classes.”

  “You don’t have to—”

  “I’ll meet you there.” Reed cut her off before she could finish and then headed to class.

  She watched his tall, slim frame walk away through the crowd. A cold breeze made Ari shiver, sending her inside.

  Ari made it to her dorm to find Tessa pulling her purple hair into a high pony tail. She threw her bag on a chair and headed to the closet. She probably should at least change before she headed to class.

  “Where have you been?” Tessa turned to face Ari. “I thought if you had a wild night you’d be in a better mood.”

  “No wild night.”

  Tessa grabbed her hand and made Ari sit down on her bed. “What happened? You’re still in the same clothes, and you look like a walking zombie.”

  “Thanks,” Ari said, sarcastically.

  Tessa shrugged.

  “It’s Marco,” Ari said. She swallowed, not sure the words wanted to come out of her mouth. But after the episode with Reed, she realized she didn’t need to do this alone. “He’s in a virtual coma.”

  Tessa pulled back for a moment, surprise painted her face. “Really? I’m sorry.”

  “Thanks.” Ari rubbed a hand over her face, wishing she could wake up from the nightmare. “I’m going in this afternoon, to try to get him out.”

  Tessa’s brows rose, acknowledging what exactly that meant without saying it. They both knew their room wasn’t secure. “You sure?”

  Ari nodded.

  Tessa paused for a moment before continuing. “I can ask around and see if anyone knows anything, even do some research for the project we talked about.”

  Ari read between the lines and realized Tessa referred to Ari using her newfound abilities in the VR. “Aren’t you worried about people listening in?”

  “We’ve had our own code for communicating in games,” Tessa said with a wink. “I gotta head out, but I’ll let you know what I find.”

  “Thanks.”

  With no time for a shower, she grabbed a new shirt and noticed something sticking out, Dave’s business card. Someone who knew more about her abilities than she did. Calling him might not be a great idea, but she’d passed great ideas hours ago.

  She called Garrett on the way to class to ask him about a safe way to call Dave. She would have asked Reed, but he hadn’t wanted her to use her abilities in the VR. Garrett didn’t answer, so she clicked off her ear piece and wrapped it around her finger.

  Ari made it to class as the last bell rang. Her teacher, who Ari and Tessa secretly referred to as Dr. Toadstool, was at his podium, already lecturing with the notes projecting behind him.

  She opened her tablet and started recording her professor’s lecture. Her concentration was shot, and she knew she needed a backup. Still thinking about her brother, she messaged Garrett.

  I need to talk to you on break.

  She struggled to follow the lecture on plotting with multiple story lines. She was surprised that she received a return message so soon.

  Last time we talked I ended up getting a demerit on my transcript.

  Reed and Garrett had gotten into a lot of trouble when the school busted their VR party. It would probably affect their placement at graduation the following year. Reed said they both knew what they were getting into, but that was Reed. She didn’t think Garrett had taken it
as well, and she hadn’t talked to him since. Determined to save her brother, she refused to feel guilty, and messaged Garrett.

  I wouldn’t ask if it wasn’t important. Marco is in a VR coma.

  And I should care why?

  Ari bit her lip in frustration. I’ll owe you.

  You already owe me.

  He was right. She did owe him already and didn’t have any way to pay him back. She pulled her hair into a pony tail, trying to figure out her next move. She would call Dave at lunch. Maybe Tessa would let her use her phone. The school couldn’t be watching every student’s phone, could they?

  Before she could close her messaging interface, another message flew across her screen.

  Meet me for lunch. I’ll figure out some way you can pay me.

  Ari wasn’t sure if she should worry but figured anything Garrett could come up with couldn’t be as bad as things were already. She hoped at least.

  Before class was done, Tessa texted that she’d hit a dead end with her research on warpers and VR comas. As Ari exited her class for their lunch break, she realized that moment would be her only chance to talk to Dave. Wrapped in her jacket, she made her way to the student center to meet Garrett. Waiting near a bench, she pulled out the card. Maybe if she called Dave they could talk without giving too much away. She turned the ring around her finger, considering it.

  With her distracted thoughts, she didn’t see Garrett approach, soda in hand. “You wanted to talk?” Annoyance and disdain colored every word. “This better be good. I’m dreaming up complex and morally reprehensible ways you can pay me for this favor.”

  This so wasn’t worth it. Ari would just borrow someone else’s phone. “I can’t play your games anymore.”

  “My game? Really?” He stepped closer. “You dump me, then hook up with a friend and continue calling me for help. Remind me, whose game is this?”

  “That’s not how I meant for this to happen.” Ari had to admit, it looked bad.

  “But here we are.” He gave her a condescending smile. Ari wondered how she’d ever found that cute.

  “I don’t need your help anymore. It’s not worth it.” Ari turned to leave, but Garrett grabbed her arm.