Whoever said money can't buy happiness clearly hasn't been invited to one of Jaxon Wan's epic house parties. If they'd taken one glance inside the Wan's mansion they'd know there's nothing money can't buy. My one and only aspiration in life was for my modeling career to make me half as rich as Jaxon Wan. I happened to be at one of Jaxon's infamous parties on the night my life got irrevocably mucked up. I lounged in his pool surrounded by dolphins. Yes, Jaxon Wan has a dolphin in his pool. At least I'm pretty sure he does. I've never been anything short of completely wasted at one of his parties. I was chatting with a wannabe film director and some girl who I think was on Dancing with the Stars season 129 when my best friend, Mason, came running up to meet me. "Hey, you made it! I thought you weren't coming because you were working on your boring movie."
534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3v1yFaQpTa
He rolled his eyes. "We wrapped up early, and it isn't a boring movie it's a profound and relevant documentary about corporate corruption. You're just too obtuse to understand its significance."
534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv9pPT8ZHFu
"Hmm, what?" I was falling asleep listening to him talk about it. "Did you need something or—?"
534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNPjjdSexnJ
"You left your Holowatch in the upstairs bathroom, I came to return it."
534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLuMrJWAVvG
"That's impossible, my watch never leaves my wrist." I glance down at my arm for confirmation but sure enough, it was gone.
534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdNCQ4bMSKs
Mason handed me my missing Holowatch.
534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8jxWNIQ6BQ
I slapped it back onto my wrist and let out a relieved sigh. "You're the best, Mason."
534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡejaRGWrxfh
"I'm really not." He gave a humble shrug. "By the way, someone's been sending you creepy messages. I would have blocked them for you, but I don't know your password."
534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX85JDrtbAT
I clumsily dragged myself out of the pool. I plopped down on the ledge and scrolled through my messages.
534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCeuVj30rIS
Chase Huxley, I can't get into the details, but you are in imminent danger. Go somewhere private and we can discuss further. —A friend.
534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEh1EzBz2N8
I turned towards Mason. "Do you think there's any chance of a real threat?"
534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiYXaOXu3qg
"I don't know, this sounds sketchy, like one of those spam messages when a Martian Prince asks you to send all of your credits to his bank account." He shrugged."On the other hand, we are celebrities, and it's not unheard of for us to be targeted for some reason or another."
534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHKklCXveSY
"I don't know if I call myself a celebrity," I said, feigning modesty.
534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLW9fWfb26b
Mason patted my shoulder. "Then you shouldn't have anything to worry about."
534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHDSDEzGnDJ
He was probably right. Mason was a lot smarter than me, though I'd never tell him that. I tried to enjoy the party, but the messages haunted me. I went to the open bar and tried every single glow-in-the-dark cocktail on the menu, and it didn't help. Now I'm drunk and distressed and the same time. I thought alcohol was supposed to fix all your problems. Didn't Socrates say something like that? Or was it Mother Theresa?
534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDgMx3NsEi4
I reached my breaking point around midnight. I had to know what the messages were talking about. I snuck out of the party and found my car. Without hesitation, I called the number. "Listen up buckaroo, I came here to have a good time, and your creepy messages are making me paranoid, so this had better be a serious threat or else, I'll call the FBI or something on your ass."
534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡms6sMryQwr
There was nothing but the sound of breathing on the other end.
534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzLYg3SwIjH
"Hello?"
534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA0RVI0OFOc
A message popped up on my Holowatch. Are you drunk?
534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0MT0QAI596
"Maybe."
534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtFQoccCvyd
Your chances of surviving the night just dropped exponentially. At this point, you not getting killed would require a miracle. Go drink some water, then follow my directions to the letter. Okay?
534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmGM8hOkrsk
"Did you know Jesus' first miracle was turning water into wine? Maybe I should drink wine instead of water, that might help us get a miracle.
534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYzwrNevXdO
I'm certain Jesus would not condone you giving yourself alcohol poisoning. I swear your own stupidity will kill you before Bionic Corp does.
534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJqbuHqlyOA
"Bionic Corp? Isn't that company that sells toasters?"
534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6FqjVjXOg9
Amongst other things. Including your car. Which is why your first instruction is to walk home, don't stop, don't talk to anyone, and leave your Holowatch and any other devices behind.
534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM27nqzfH2f
"So you're telling me a bunch of toasters are coming to kill me?"
534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWQLmYJ4yFt
I don't know why I've spent this long trying to help you. You obviously aren't smart enough to steal those maps. I must have the wrong person.
534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzccJ3XZgPh
"Pfft maps? Why would I steal maps? I can download them for free on my Holowatch. The only thing I steal is hearts."
534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfuHjpbYYqg
Cybernetic hearts?
534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtNVL4efmnv
"No, human ones, I'm a massive flirt, ask anyone. What would I even do with a cybernetic heart?
534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv39DlfAoTg
I clearly have the wrong person. Sorry for ruining your night. There was a deep sigh on the other end of the call, and then he hung up.
534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFNYdmWIP7c
Good riddance. What a freak! Everything he said made no sense. I can't believe he had the audacity to act like I was wasting his time! I'm the real victim here.
534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd6iUhBT3kV
Mason jogged up to me.
534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYdhJw8HA39
I dove behind my car.
534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1iwNcCzOPr
"What are you doing, Chase?"
534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH1OAA3PSOQ
I poked my head out from behind the vehicle. "I replied to the weird messages even though you told me not to."
534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwwjhc3bwNV
He raised an eyebrow. "What happened?"
534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsSFzRlGZQt
"You were right that guy is crazy!"
534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBwbaWUcbOt
"Did you happen to catch the guy's name?"
534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBi4U8BAXan
"No. I'm not even sure if it was a guy. They refused to talk they would only send written messages."
534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD67NmzCI9F
"That's weird." He frowned. "Why were you hiding out here?"
534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxOR2zKRdVw
"He told me not to talk to anyone." I gripped the hood of my car to try to stop myself from falling over. Maybe, I had a few too many drinks."I know it's silly, but he's gotten into my head."
534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPlXNjbpqOS
"It's okay. I understand. I'd freak out too if I were in your position." He looked down at the ground. "I wanted to say goodbye before I left."
534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXcHFVfmSHU
"Where are you going?"
534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsrFXbKPSNn
He smiled. "Sara asked me to walk her home."
534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbGGW98Qvg9
"Eww, the cyborg girl! You can do better than that, man.
534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡabU41SZfE5
His hands balled into fists. "There's nothing wrong with being a cyborg and Sara is beautiful no matter what."
534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ36OJUyPHbS
I gag. "Maybe, if you find wires and transistors attractive."
534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsRxzqk8wZN
"You're an asshole, Chase. Has anyone ever told you that?" He stormed off.
534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3woFxDYY6G
"It was just a joke!" I called after him but he didn't respond. What's his deal? I've never seen him that angry.
534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡph2Wxj48U5
I chose not to walk home that night. Can you blame me? I was so wasted I couldn't even stand up straight and, I didn't buy a self-driving car, so I could walk home from parties. I turned up the radio loud in an attempt to drown out my feelings from the night. I looked up and noticed smoke emanating from the engine. I gave my car the command to pull over, but it sped up instead. I'm going to die tonight. That was the last thought I had before my car burst into flames.
ns216.73.216.82da2
→ Request update
and then Add to home screen.