The Human Experiment

Not What it Seems

Chapter 7

           She nearly jumped out of her skin when someone tapped on her shoulder to gain her attention. Spinning she prepared to yell at whomever had startled her. Her thoughts came to a halt however when she saw the man and woman standing beside Ian. They were unnaturally tall leaving her staring right above their navels. Glancing upwards her cheeks heated as her gaze landed on the still wet top of the woman. Not know what to do she frantically dropped her eyes intent to stare at the ground. Unfortunately, her eyes met with the lower half of the man who was wearing the same gauzy material draped upon him. Just as alarming was the fact that his was drenched and utterly see through. Her eyes kept jumping everywhere to avoid looking at the bodies of the two but no matter where her gaze landed, she could still see it. 

           Ian stood to the side snickering at her reaction apparently not as affected by the lack of modesty of the other two. She was certain that she hated him in that moment. She didn’t know how anyone could be so unfazed with nudity. Not that they were nude but because of the material they may as well have been. The woman’s eyes widened in surprise as she herself glanced down to try and figure out where her distress was coming from. 

           “Oh my! Well, that is a little embarrassing.” She admitted lifting her arm to activate the band on her wrist. Her partner was chuckling at Scarlett’s reaction right along with Ian which only made her not like him either. “Why isn’t this working?” The distress in her words drew the attention of all three of them. She was trying to do something with the band. Whether it was to end the construct or something else was unclear.

           “Why are you using that to change clothing? We have powers you know.” The woman’s male companion seemed genuinely confused over his lover’s actions. Though clearly his response had the opposite effect on her. She blew out a sigh while sending a glare his way.

           “I suppose I should have expected as much from a system avatar.” 

           “I hate to sound like a goodie, but you do know that what you were doing is forbidden in the fantasy system right?” The woman rolled her dark green eyes at Scarlett before she addressed the question.

           “It wasn’t supposed to be that kind of construct. I’ve been happily married for eight years with three wonderful children. Since I stay home and take care of the family and house it was agreed upon that I would take a day when needed to unwind. When all the interaction I get every day is children you begin to crave grownup interactions. I started coming to the fantasy system to have a little adventure. A mystery to solve. This time was no different. A fae court has intrigue, danger, and magic. The construct began as all the other construct scenarios have before. Usually, I choose something a little more human to try but I was feeling adventurous this time around. Anyway, the construct changed. I have no idea when it went from puzzle solving to erotica, but that part doesn’t really matter.” She hoped Ian’s mouth was hanging just as far down as hers was at the woman’s explanation. When she glanced at him from the corner of her eye though, she noticed him looking at the male avatar. There seemed to be something off there. Whatever it was that had caught Ian’s attention she simply didn’t see it. Choosing to ignore him she continued to engage in conversation with the woman.

           “So, you’ve never done that before?” The woman let out a giggle that sounded like tiny bells tinkling in the wind.

           “Goodness no. If I wanted to do that I would stay home with my husband.”

           “You wouldn’t go to the company that run the desire system?”

           “I wouldn’t say that exactly. My husband and I have partaken in some of their programs before. I would never go without him, however. That would be cheating and that is something neither I nor my husband would do.” She gave the man beside her a side eye before returning her attention back to Scarlett. Sighing a sadness spread across her exotic features. “I’m going to have to tell him what I have done. I just can’t explain my actions. It’s never happened before.”

           “It’s the system. That’s why Ian and I are here. There’s a problem with the fantasy system. Apparently, some of us are stuck within the constructs and the constructs themselves are going haywire.” A thoughtful look filled the woman’s eyes with the information she was just given. One bit seemed to capture her attention more than the rest.

           “Ian?” At the sound of his name, he came forward to introduce himself.

           “I’ve been dispatched into the system to gather up everyone who is stuck inside until we can figure out what’s going on.”

           “We?” He looked a little sheepish over having forgotten that he wasn’t working alone. Apparently, he wasn’t as unaffected by the couple and Scarlett had initially assumed.

           “My partner Everly and I.” The woman turned to Scarlett with a smile.

           “It’s nice to meet you Everly.” Before Scarlett could correct her misunderstanding the disembodied voice stepped in.

           “Well thank you.” Both the man and they woman began searching the area for Ian’s partner. There had been amusement in Everly’s voice as if she could already guess the couple’s reaction. Scarlett sighed while holding out her hand.

           “I’m Scarlett. A user that has been trapped inside the system too.”

           “Oh, I’m sorry! I didn’t mean to assume.” Scarlett waved her apology away knowing how disconcerting Ian’s partner could be. Especially the first time you meet her.

           “Believe me I understand. I wasn’t expecting her either.”

           “Oh, my where are my manners? I’m Lydia.” The woman finally introduced while shaking Scarlett’s outstretched hand in greeting. Ian nodded his hello before turning to the other man.

           “And you are?” The question seemed to startle the guy as he took a step back from Ian. 

           “I told you already. He’s a part of the construct. His avatar was first created when I went through a sherlock phase, and I needed a Watson as my partner.” Scarlett was impressed that someone else appeared to like the older eras as well. Although the Sherlock mysteries predated the genre she herself tended to write. It was no less a fascinating series. Before she could draw Lydia into a discussion over historical books Ian cleared his throat to regain their attention. Reaching out he took hold of the man’s wrist bringing it up for everyone to see. Once the band revealed itself it was clear what Ian had been after. 

           “Who are you?” There was a growl in his voice that had the other man taken aback before he cleared his face of the emotion. Instead of answering right away he posed an inquiry of his own.

           “I could ask you the same thing. You say you’re here to help and yet you carry a sword of Eldon.”

           “This thing?” Ian asked while lifting the sword in his hand. The man moved away from the group putting a distance between him and the sword. What was surprising was that Lydia did the same.

           “What he means is that it is a deadly weapon you have. It hungers for blood and has been known to turn on whoever wields it.” Ian dropped the sword from his hand as if it had burned him. He moved away from it quickly as it lay on the dead ground inanimately. They all breathed a sigh of relief. 

           “How was I supposed to know that? This isn’t my construct. It is yours however, so I want to know if you somehow managed to invite another person into it. Which I will remind you is against the contract you agreed to when you signed up.” Everyone turned their attention back to Lydia waiting for an answer.

           “I would never have done such a thing. He wasn’t there from the start of my interface experience. It was only within the last six months that he appeared.” Lydia was clearly distraught over the violation of her trust. Scarlett knew she would be too if it happened to her. It was lucky that the one time someone jumped into her construct they didn’t hide behind a character persona to fool her. The man held his hands up as if to ward off Lydia from physically attacking him.

           “My name is Luca. While I shouldn’t have invaded your constructs Lydia, I will not apologize for meeting you.” Both women huffed at his audacity. Before Lydia had the chance to begin tearing into Luca, Ian took the lead.

           “How exactly did you manage to enter her construct? Are you a hacker?” It would be great if the culprit was found that easily and they could all get out of the system. As an author though Scarlett didn’t trust that the solution would come that easily. 

           “I know very little about the workings of programs. I wouldn’t be able to hack even if I wanted too. I am from a rather wealthy and prominent family.” He shrugged his shoulders in nonchalance.

           “So what? You used your families influence to gain access to my private sessions?” Lydia was fuming but she remained in place. Scarlett admired the other woman for her ability to keep herself from using physical violence on him. 

           “No, I didn’t use their influence. I didn’t need to when money does all the talking, I’ll ever need.” He was spoiled and entitled there was no other reason he would act that way otherwise. Scarlett had to deal with his type all the time in her receptionist job. It was maddening when people acted like the world owes them whatever they want, and you must give it to them no matter what rules you would be breaking to do so. She kind of wanted to slug him herself just to get the secondhand resentment out of her system.

           Before anything else could be said a wave of vibrations pushed against the group. Lydia and Luca seemed the only ones who knew what was happening. The alarm on their faces set Scarlett’s own nerves on edge. The two of them looked two the where the sword had been carelessly tossed earlier. Lydia screamed in horror moving back behind Ian and Scarlett. Scarlett found she couldn’t move as her feet remained rooted in place. Her eyes were latched onto the body. Ian and Luca moved forward with care. Neither wanted to come into contact with the sword that was lodged into the woman’s torso.

           “I’ve seen her before.” 

           “Someone else you hijacked the construct of?” It seemed not even a gruesome death could fully keep Lydia from spewing venomous words at him. Luca rolled his eyes turning back to the body.

           “There was a glitch or something earlier when I was in one of the acclimation rooms with other people. She was one of them.” Scarlett stepped a few inches closer allowing herself a better view. The woman didn’t look familiar to her at all. While she only got a brief look at the others in the acclimation room she had been in, she knew that this wasn’t one of them. 

           “Now is not the right time to hash this out. We need to leave. It’s not safe here.” Rising to his feet he took hold of Luca’s arm guiding him back to the group. “Everly, we need to leave. Find another construct and get us all out of here.” Turning to Luca he gave him a stern scowl while addressing him. “I’ll deal with you later. Congratulations on costing someone their job.” There was no time for Luca to respond as the world around them went black. Scarlett vaguely wondered where they would end up this time.