Aeiris Sweven

Perfection Hotel
Old 80’s rock blared through the worn-down Ford Ikon speakers, making it impossible to hear anything but the 50th replay of “Don’t Stop Believin’”. The vehicle bumped along the pot-hole burdened road out of tune with the beat. It didn’t stop the front seat passengers from screaming their lungs out as they sang along.

“Just a small-town girl, livin’ in a lonely worldddd.” Lottie started, reaching over the console for her boyfriend’s hand. Alister took his eyes off the road for a second to grin at his girlfriend. He leaned forward, messily kissing her and drawing a groan from the backseat passengers.

“Get a room!” Lettie rolled her eyes, shoving her twin and showy boyfriend away from each other. “Katya and I don’t wanna watch you and him get it up, Charlotte. Right, Katya?” She turned to look down at the dark-haired woman, ignoring her twin’s annoyance.

“Close your eyes. Remember this is my car, Scarlet.” Charlotte, known only as Lottie to anyone that isn’t her twin, sent a smug look back to her twin. Katya faintly remembered the last time she called Lottie by her full name. It ended in Lettie having to pull her twin away before she broke Katya’s hand. Katya burst into laughter at the memory, Lettie grabbing at her waist to keep her from rolling off her lap where she rested.

“Someone drank a bit too much, lightweight.” Katya looked up, taking every inch of Lettie’s face into account as the woman brushed her hair away from her face with an amused grin.

“Scarletttt. Have I ever told you how much you glowww?” Unlike Lottie, Lettie made an exception for the darker-haired woman to call her by her full name and any other nicknames she wanted. Scarlet preferred the nickname Lettie, but she’d make an exception for Katya every time. Katya reached up; her giggling fit forgotten in favor of focusing on the woman above her. “Your hair is so shiny…” She murmured, winding a hand along thick golden waves.

“Katya-” The Ford hit a deep pothole, sending the vehicle swerving off to the side of the road.

“Sh*t!” Alister slammed on the brakes, sending everyone forwards in their seats. Lettie held on to Katya, keeping her from crashing into the back of the driver’s seat. Alister cut the engine when the car came to a stop, pushing his door open to check the outside. Lottie turned around in her seat, scanning the other two for any injuries.

She seemed satisfied with what she saw, turning back to leave the car and help Alister. Lettie and Katya stayed in the car. Lettie looked down at Katya with pursed lips, studying the other woman closely. She was dazed, the shock of the crash startling her enough to bring some of her awareness back. Lettie opened her mouth, shutting it as the trunk slammed closed.

“We’ve got a flat,” Alister grunted, opening the back car door to speak to the others.

“Didn’t you take a class on this s**t? Fix it so we can get home. Me and Katya would like to sleep in an actual bed tonight and I’m sure Lottie would agree.”

Alister glowered at Lettie. “If we had a spare, I’d fix it. I’m sure the princesses can manage one night in a car.” Lottie whacked his arm, shoving past him to stand in the doorway.

“I’m not sleeping out here. The nearest tow truck station is hours away. We’d be stuck here until morning.”

Alister groaned, the Ford creaking as he leaned against the back of it. “Do you want me to build a hut out of nothing?” Lottie turned, hair flicking her twin in the face as she prepared to argue with her boyfriend.

Katya blocked them out, staring at the roof with a faraway gaze. Suddenly, she snapped up, Lettie recoiling back to avoid whacking faces. “Guys.” The couple continued to argue. “Guys.” Lettie gave her a look, motioning for her to stop.

“Shut up before I give you a reason to keep screaming.” The couple paused, Alister glaring and Lottie sighing as she motioned for Katya to continue.

“Li Insoul,” Katya explained.

“The hell is that.” Lettie slapped Alister’s thigh. “Ow! Jesus, it was a question.”

Katya continued, sitting up and leaning over Lettie so they could all hear her. “Li Insoul Hotel. There was a sign for it that we passed not too long ago. The hotel should only be a short walk away!”

“I don’t care if the hotel is a mile away, I’ll take that over sleeping in a car.” Lettie kicked at her sister so they could get out. “I’ll carry you if you get tired, Katya.” She helped her out, steadying Katya. It had been a few hours since she was out of the car. They started ahead, leaving the couple to lock the car up and bicker.

“You never offer to carry me.” Alister groaned, locked the vehicle, and began to trudge ahead, his girlfriend’s complaints behind him.

—

The Li Insoul Hotel was closer than they all expected. It wasn’t hard to miss either, the looming hotel decorated by golden swirls and beaming lights. The parking lot only contained a few fancy cars, including a stretch Hummer limousine parked at the forefront of the hotel.

Alister whistled, knocking his head back to stare impressed at the grandness. “You sure we can afford this place?”

Lottie frowned, crossing her arms. “This place looks like it’s made of real gold.”

Katya stayed silent, staring vacantly at the hotel. She moved forwards without her friends, pushing past the revolving doors. “Katya!” Lettie called, hurrying after her. The others followed, exchanging a confused look.

Katya stopped at the front desk, the grand room void of any guests or workers. A chandelier spun above the front desk, a silver bell resting next to an open sign-in book. She didn’t check to see if her friends followed, ringing the bell. A musical chime sounded from it, twinkling through the vast halls. There was movement from the silk curtains blocking the entrance to the pitch-dark room behind the desk.

“Welcome, Starling and friends, to the Li Insoul Hotel.” A woman stepped out from the curtains, the red silk weaving around her form. She approached the desk, ruby red lips curved into a pleasant smile. “I’m Amby, the owner.” Her eyes ran along Katya, lips curling faintly at the mess of her clothes. “This won’t do, Starling. You look like you’ve all had a rough night.”

“We have.” Katya found herself saying, unable to tear her eyes away from the woman. The glittery, silver stars of her dress bounced off the light. She looked like a goddess with her sweeping gown, neckline plunged elegantly to her breastbone. Every time Amby moved there was a faint tink of a bell.

“We just really need a place to stay for the night. Our car broke down and we have no way to get home this late.” Alister explained, pushing past Katya to reach the front desk. “We need two rooms.”

Amby hummed, spreading her arms open. “Lucky for you all, I have four rooms. Free of charge.” She pulled her hands to her chest, swooning. “I would never dare think to let those in need sleep outside when I have perfectly put together rooms here.”

“But we only need-”

Amby waved Lottie off, moving around the counter. She smirked down at Amby before tossing the others a glance. “Come. I’ll bring you to your room, Starling. My assistants shall help your friends to theirs.” Amby rang the silver bell with a manicured nail, the sound echoing in the entryway. “Now come, come! Your friends will be fine.” The woman hooked a sleeveless arm through Katya’s elbow, dragging her along. Katya looked back as Amby pulled her into an elevator, catching one last glimpse of her friends before the steel doors shut.

—

The elevator reached one of the higher floors, a soft chime indicating their arrival. Amby pulled Katya out and towards a looming door at the end of the hall. The woman kept Katya moving even as they passed by a patron of the hotel. Something felt off about the man heading to the elevator. He had the same unnatural smile as Amby. The only difference was his eyes, devoid of any emotion. Katya shuddered. She thought Amby’s expression was unnerving enough.

“Here we are!” Amby announced, opening the dark wood door with a flourish. Katya gasped stepping into the room. “Lovely, isn’t it? Only the best for my Starling.”

Katya spun around slowly, taking in the giant room. Though it was on a floor filled with other rooms her space was large. Crème colors decorated the whole area, including a large plush chair that sat by the open bay window. “It’s beautiful.” She instantly went to the chair, giving a loud laugh at the softness. Amby followed her, sweeping an out-of-place loose end of a blanket away from the chair with a flick of her wrist.

“Starling? I do have one teensy request before I leave.” Amby’s smile twitched, taking a hold of Katya’s hands before she could respond. “Don’t. Leave. This. Room.” Her silver eyes glowered, Katya instinctively pulling away only to fail. Amby’s hold was turning her fingertips blue.

“Amby- let go, it hurts!” Amby’s grip loosened. It wasn’t enough for Katya to pull away, but her hands slowly returned to their natural peachy tone.
Amby’s lips formed a pout, releasing one of Katya’s hands to caress her cheek. “My apologies, Starling. It’s dangerous for you to be out of your room at night; I’m only concerned for you.” Her gaze went right through Katya, giving a gentle pat to her cheek before she drew away. “Promise you’ll stay. For me, Starling?”

Katya wet her lips, leaning back into the plush chair. “…I promise.” She echoed, forcing a small, reassuring smile. Amby clapped her hands together, her smile returning.

“Lovely! Rest well, Starling. You’ll need it for the morning.” Amby spun on her heels, the click-clacking of her silver stilettos and her cryptic farewell leaving behind an ominous feeling. Katya watched her leave, sinking back into her seat when the door clicked shut.

“Such a strange woman…” She murmured, closing her eyes. She may as well try to rest.

—

There was a booming bang! bang! against the door. The digital clock on the bedside table blinded Katya in her haze of post-wake-up. Only 4 AM. She had stayed in her room as Amby requested, having been too exhausted to explore. She ran a hand through her tangled curls, blearily glancing towards the door. It was too late for any kind of room service. Katya pushed the deep satin covers away, stumbling towards the door. She pulled it open as the banging continued, falling back as Lettie crashed into the room.

Katya caught Lettie, steadying her with wide eyes. “Lettie! What are you doing here?!” Katya helped her over to the plush chair by the window, settling her down.

“Kat..ya.” Lettie took a deep breath. “It’s Lottie and Alister. They aren’t in their rooms.”

“But the rule-”

“Rule?” Lettie raised a brow. “What rule?”

“About leaving our rooms. Weren’t you told that?”

Lettie shook her head. “I wasn’t told any rule, Katya. I was just led to my room.”

“But-” Katya paused, Lettie grabbing her hand as she stood.

“That’s not important right now. Lottie and Alister are missing! Are you going to help me find them or what?”

Katya’s gaze wandered to the door, still ajar from Lettie’s dramatic entrance. She promised Amby she’d stay, but if her friends were missing… Katya dragged Lettie towards the door, quickening her pace once Lettie realized they were going to search. They could start on the main floor where the entrance and dining hall were. Katya hoped the other two just had a late-night craving and went for food.

—

“There they are!” Katya called, spotting the back of Lottie’s golden head. She dragged Lettie towards the table she spotted them at. “Lettie! Alister!”

Alister turned in his seat. “Katya! Scarlet! Come join us. Amby has been telling us so much about the hotel.”

Katya froze. Alister was smiling. The same unnatural, too wide smile all the patrons had held his lips up. Lottie turned, holding a hand to Katya and Lettie. “Why don’t you sit?” She had the same unnerving grin.

“Are you two okay..?” Katya approached, dragging a chair out across from Lottie. She and Lettie sat down in unison, Lettie resting a reassuring hand on her shoulder. Katya glanced around the foyer while Alister poured them some tea. “Where’s Amby?”

“She had some business to handle.” Alister hummed, sliding two porcelain teacups across the table to Lettie. She accepted them, dropping a few sugar cubes and a dash of a honey-like substance into one of the teacups. Katya took the sweetened tea, rubbing her thumb over the smooth jade green polish.

“It’s like your eyes.” Katya heard Lettie murmur. The honey blonde watched her beneath her lashes, gesturing towards her cup. “It’s safe to drink. Not too hot.”

Katya took her word, giving a courtesy blow over the lip of the cup. She took a long sip, sighing as the warm liquid traveled down her parched throat. She cleared her throat, setting her teacup down. It had an oddly earthy taste.

“Did Amby help find a towing company?”

“Why would she do that, Katya?” Lottie tilted her head, teacup held just below her smile. “Amby promised we could stay in the hotel for as long as we wish. Isn’t that great? We never have to leave!”

Katya recoiled. “Never- Lottie we never wanted to come here. What about your pets? You didn’t get anyone to watch Melister.”

Lottie stared impassively at her. “Who?”

“Your cat!”

“Alister, dear, do you remember having a cat?”

He hummed. “I don’t, love.”

Lottie clapped her hands together. “Then I see no reason to leave. I’d love staying here forever with my honey bear, sweet twin, and our dear Katya.”
Katya’s head swiveled back and forth between the two, looking to Lettie for help. She was looking away, seemingly unbothered by the other’s wish to stay. Katya couldn’t take it.

“We need to leave.” Katya snapped, hands slamming on the table as she stood.

“Stay.” The couple spoke in unison, eyes going blank. Their mouths turned down an inch when Katya knocked her chair back. Katya felt a hand settle on her shoulder, pushing her down into her seat. When she looked back, no one was there. It was like a light switched; the couple’s faces returned to being eerily upbeat.

Lottie took Katya’s hands across the table. “Just think! We have everything we could ever need here. Why should we leave?” Lottie’s unnatural smile never left her face.

“But we said-”

“I’m sorry, Katya.” Lettie murmured suddenly. It was the last thing she heard before dizziness overtook her, holding onto the table’s edge. Her vision blurred, hardly able to recognize Lettie through the spots. She silently gaped at her, slipping from her chair into a boneless pile. Voice hoarse and tongue feeling like wet sand, Katya managed to speak before her world went dark.

“Scar… why?”

Pressure
Horror ; A Debut ; A Baton
Challenge One for NYCMidnight Flash Fiction

“You’re up, Miss Blake.”
Ophelia Blake locked eyes with the attendant through the oily vanity mirror she got ready at. The reflection made everything blurry; appearances distorted past the glass. For a moment, she mistook her for someone else.
“I’ll be right there, Andi.”
Andi sighed, giving Ophelia an unimpressed look through the mirror. “Don’t be late. Everyone’s waiting.” She left the room without an answer, the curtain posing as a door fluttering closed.
Alone again, Ophelia clenched her fists around the soft wood of the vanity. Her hazel left eye staring back at her did nothing to soothe her. Seeing half all the time never helped.
She took a steadying breath, releasing the wood to pick up a well-used contact helper. Ophelia opened the contact case, moving the matching hazel contact to her dulled, gray right eye with the tool. With the contact, nothing looked amis. With one last look in the mirror, a ragged red line of stray makeup across her right eye in the mirror’s vision, she stood.
Her blonde waves, contained to a single ponytail, brushed her arm as she picked up her violin and bow. The touch sent goosebumps down her skin, making her muscles tense.
“I’m still alone.” She murmured. “Not for much longer.” Ophelia had a debut to make.
The walk to the stage flew by. In moments, hair and makeup surrounded Ophelia, multiple hands grabbing and tugging at her to fix every small detail she managed to mess up. Andi appeared around the corner stage right, explaining what Ophelia needed to do during her performance. The violinist didn't hear a word she said, staring at the other side of the stage where a woman stood. Ophelia could see the woman’s thin lips curled in a sickenly sweet smile. Her knuckles went white around the neck of her violin, unable to move her gaze from the woman until Andi stepped in front of her.
“You’re on, let’s go.” Andi rushed Ophelia onto the stage, shooing everyone else away. She wished her a bland good luck, leaving her standing in the middle of the stage. Ophelia found the wish weighing on her as if it were a threat. The silent ‘don’t mess it up’ echoed.
The curtains slowly rose, a flowing wave of crimson swathed with gaudy black ruffles. It was never her choice.
Ophelia could hear the crowds stilted breaths, thousands of eyes focusing on her. Waiting for her to make the first move. With a shaky breath, she raised her violin to her shoulder and readied her bow. She couldn’t form a note before her vision tunneled.
Ophelia felt her heart stutter a beat. The world around her had gone dark, melding into an endless void. The crowd of her adoring fans vanished; maybe they were never there in the first place. Her violin and bow were gone, their invisible weight still weighing her hands down. Opehlia was trapped, her heavy breaths echoing in her ears.
“Help! Is anyone there!?” She screamed, wishing someone would call out.
“I’m still here, my dear. Just like I promised.”
Ophelia’s blood ran cold. She couldn’t be there. The violinist wished for anyone but her.
Her voice shook. “Auntie…”
The woman she saw across the stage stood in front of her. The thin baton clutched in her grip was sharpened, the point dragging with a deafening screech. It was covered in blood and remains of fleshy bits. That sickening smile was still there, her lipstick matching the crimson curtains that started her debut. It looked too fresh.
“Oh, Phia…” She cooed, stepping up to cup her cheek. Her wrinkly hand, frail as it was, dug crecests into her skin. “You know I told you this had to go perfectly. You’re already a mess.” She tsked,running her thumb beneath Ophelia’s right eye. “What would you do without me?”
A dark red stream of blood trickled from Ophelia’s right eye, her auntie coating her thumb in the thick liquid. The violinist, frozen in shock, felt no pain. She heard nothing her auntie said. The frantic beat of her heart consumed her senses, leaving her voiceless.
The older woman’s rough thumb swiped the blood across Ophelia’s lips, painting them in a matching crimson hue. “Perfect. Remember, you don’t want all we went through to be for nothing, now do we?”
Her voice warbled in and out of hearing for Ophelia, blurry sight and frantic breaths unable to keep up with her thoughts. “Go away…”
“Don’t use that tone with me, Phia. Now come, or next to go will be that tongue of yours.”
“I said go away!” Ophelia snapped. Everything happened within seconds. The baton in her aunt's hand was in hers. Soon enough, it wasn’t just her blood coating her face.
Her auntie gaped at her, blood gushing from her left eye where she had stabbed the baton through. All Ophelia could hear were her ragged breaths, body trembling.
Ophelia’s gaze started shifting, tunneling in and out of two realities. One blink. It wasn’t her aunt in front of her but a fan from the front row, caught in a silent scream. Instead of a baton, her bow string was through his eye. Another blink. It was her aunt again, shoving her away and dislodging the baton from her eye-socket. Her world spun, returning to the stage as screams sounded from the crowd, calling her insane. Yelling in fear because of her.
Ophelia collapsed, her bloody bow slipping from her hand next to her broken violin. She couldn’t remember dropping it. Didn’t recall the quiet murmurs from the crowd when she took unsteady steps towards them. Missed their shock when she raised her bow and ran it right through the man in the front row’s eye.
In the wings her auntie was shouting at Andi, a cane that resembled the baton she imagined thrusting through her eye tight in her grasp. Dimly, Ophelia wondered if the pressure was over.

Never Forgotten

As a toddler, my grandfather would always play dolls with me. Every time I saw him we’d play baby dolls. I’d walk up to him with my old, ratty dolls, their faces lovingly having childish scribbles over their heads. I thought these dolls had been lost growing up.

The dolls are where most of my memories lie with him. Baby dolls or princess dolls, I played them with him for years. My memories of those times are fuzzy.
I recall the silly voices he’d put on, making the dolls jump and talk to make a story. Even as I grew up I remembered the faintest of hints of those times, even if I could never fully put them together.

March 2018, a whole nine months away from Christmas. The date didn’t stop my grandfather and I’s mini midnight holiday concert. The moon lit up the kitchen for us, casting a hazy glow over the table we sat at.

I don’t remember fully how we got to the topic of Christmas songs. I had just gotten off the desktop, ready to call it quits on my current gaming obsession. Before heading upstairs to sleep I had sat out in the kitchen with him, a part of me surprised he was still up. No one was usually up when I retreated from my gaming adventures for the night.

My grandfather was a teaser. Ever since he moved into my dad’s house he would imitate me being on my phone with his flip phone. As we sat there we didn’t start talking at first. I was reading a story on my phone, and he was drinking his Pepsi. He did what he usually did, squinting at his own phone and fiddling with the buttons. I laughed at his display, aware of his purpose. It amused me when he imitated me, pretending to be on the phone with someone or texting. Nine times out of ten, I was just searching for a new story to find.

It was then we started talking about music and old tv shows. At one point, I started singing, which progressed us into The 12 Days of Christmas. I remember laughing about The Muppets version of the song, how dramatic the five golden rings line was sung. My grandfather beat their dramatics out of the park.

His voice was loud despite the time, a boom over my unsure singing. I had to stop myself from laughing each time he sang the part. There was no bad time to sing a Christmas song when it was done with someone who made it so fun.

After that night he would continue to tease me about how often I used my phone. Talking about the dogs and how the old Husky’s breath stank so bad, he could smell it underneath his door.

Even if I was ever home alone, I never truly was alone. He’d rarely leave his room or the front porch where he smoked and smoked. We always talked when he passed into the kitchen when I was at my dad’s. Short and simple, the randomness conversations. I never expected the phone call 2020.

Some time after his funeral, the dolls I thought that had been lost were found. My aunt had found them at her house, giving them to my dad to give to me. The moment I picked up the soft-bodied dolls I sobbed.
They now sit atop my bookshelf, fragile bodies tucked together among my other soft toys.

I had still been having dreams of him at that point, his scruffy white hair and toothless grin making its way into the randomness dreams I had. My dreams always confuse me; often, they’re amazing story ideas that will sit and wait to be written. Even in the nightmares, he’s still there, doing the oddest things. Relaxing in a bathtub in the middle of a hotel room that so many ghoulish creatures inhabited is the on I’ll never forget. No matter what, my grandfather will never be forgotten.

Her Utopian Lies

Hacks wished she’d fallen off the towering neon roofs before she decided to join Hex for a supply run. Neither of them needed any more supplies. Hacks had enough bits and bobs from the alleys to keep her content for another week while Hex came back from a solo run two days prior. Hacks shouldn't have been bounding from one roof to another to meet her friend for supplies she didn’t need.

Her worn-down, black combat boots never let her slip before through countless leaps through the city’s downpour. They were a necessity in Cilok City with its constant downpours. Hacks didn’t want to end up being the poor sod that wound up with hairline fractures on every bone. The weather made the roofs into a slick one-way ticket to Cilok’s half-assed medical station. People left with more injuries than they had before going there.

Still, Hacks didn’t mind how much it rained in her home. In the night, when the blatantly artificial rainbow of neon lights shined brightest, she would sit out on the roof in the rain. The earthy scent overpowered the usual musty grime. It was the freshest air she ever got.

It took only five roof jumps to make it to their usual meeting spot. Hacks never agreed with the low flat being their spot, preferring a higher view. The rain and glare of the all-surrounding lights hitting her made life a blur of bright paths she’d never be able to choose. It was one of few things she’d no longer argue about with Hex.

Her friend was nowhere in sight. She could never miss that shocking navy, chopped hair. Hacks took a deep inhale of the smog air, her dingy but cleaned gas mask making it just bearable. The eyeshield kept any particles from her sea-green calculative gaze, the pale pink glow from inside the mask casting an unusual shadow across her warmed ivory skin. She was ready to leave when there was no movement minutes later.

“Hacks!” A heavy force tackled her from behind, Hacks having to dig her boots into the ground to keep them from falling over the edge. “Finally! Rooftops were a mess getting here.”

Despite the near brush of injury, Hacks quirked a faint smile. “If I wanted to fall off a roof today, I would have jumped myself, mate.” Hacks nudged Hex with her elbow, ducking under the other woman. “Where’s this place?”

Hex slipped right back in her spot beside the pink-tinged woman, leaning with a grin on her. “Old tower over on the Westside. Got word there are some prettyyy interesting bits there.”

Hex always knew how to draw her in. Supplies were the necessities with some added wants for hobbies. Hacks got her spare parts to tinker with while Hex, well, she wasn’t sure what she got. Dangling the reward of mysterious new pieces she could use sealed the deal.

“Lead the way before I toss you for teasing.” It got Hex moving, snagging Hacks by the arm as she led the way with a final quip.

“You love me, shut it.”

***

The Westies weren’t a far trip from their meet up spot. Ten minutes after their departure, Hacks crouched in front of a towering steel-plate door, ear pressed to the cool metal. Hex had a timer she clicked when steel met steel, causing Hacks to back away from the cracked open door.

“8.9 seconds,” Hex flashed the time to her, nodding in approval. “Getting faster.”

“I practice.” Hacks shrugged, ducking into the open entryway. “Woah.”

Hex bumped against her, nudging her towards the booted up ratty computer in the corner of the room. “I’ll collect things, you check the data here.” She didn’t leave much room for arguments before she moved away, picking up items and tossing anything of interest in the pack slung across her back. Hacks hummed, falling back into the swivel chair by the desktop. With a few short clicks she was in.

A chill ran down Hacks’ spine when one of the files opened automatically, text flying across the screen. Knocking over one of many metal sculptures next to the computer, Hacks slammed a transfer card into the drive. Her ruckus got Hex to walk over to her, brows settling a deep line as she stared at the files transferred.

“OPERATION: Utopia? Hell is that?”

Hacks hands curled to fists, knuckles going pale. “None of this is real.” She could feel her tongue grow heavy, her throat feeling like she had cotton stuck in it. She swallowed, head bobbing at the struggle.

Her response made Hex scoff, the golden snake-eyed girl turning Hacks around to face her. “You’re speaking nonsense.”

Hacks felt the bustle of the city outside become drowned out by the roar of disbelief. She yanked Hex’s wrist, fingers pressing just enough to leave faint marks. “This. Isn’t. Real.” She pushed her aside, storming past her friend to pace, boots stomping against deep wood floors. “Hex, bloody hell.”

“What isn’t real?”

Hacks closed her eyes, unable to meet Hex’s hard gaze. “This world, this city, none of it is real.” She held up a hand. “Let me explain it. That file. Cilok City is a simulation. A programmed world meant for virtual reality. It’s a prison pretending to be a game.” Her shoulders trembled, forcing herself to walk past Hex and grab the finished data transfer. “It’s my prison.”

Hex’s face had gone pale, grabbing Hacks’ arm, laughing with a quick glance to the door. “Are you insane?” She hissed. “This is real. I’m real. Isn’t that enough?”

Hacks stared at her, mouth open wide. “But this world isn’t. The Highers. It was the only location in the file. What do you know about it?”

Hex knew any and every building there was in Cilok. She couldn’t lie her way out. “It’s not far.” Hex exhaled. “An hour trip by roof.”

Hacks took a steadying breath, looking over her shoulder at Hex. “We’re going. Now.”

***

“This is a bad idea.” Hex was never nervous for a run. Her hesitance was alarming, but Hacks needed answers.

“Leave then.” Hacks took off from the roof they sized the tower from. If Hex wanted to leave, she could. She trusted her friend, but everything around her was shattering.

Her birth name wasn’t Hacks. The files claimed she was Alice Robin Harls. The only connection she had to the real world. It left a sour taste in her mouth.

She heard Hex spewing curses behind her, jogging to make up the distance. “Do you even know where to go?”

“Not at all.” Hex grabbed her shoulder, pulling her to a stop before she could climb through the misted window. “You had the map, Hex. You said it was right through this window.”

Choppy blue hair swished as the woman scoffed. “How have you not died yet?” Hacks shrugged, pushing her off to pick up a jagged stone. She lugged it at the window, stepping back to avoid the shards of glass raining down. The bits sparkled and crunched beneath her boots as she pulled herself through. Extending a hand to Hex, she tugged her in.

“This should be the right room,” Hex murmured, glancing around with a tight hand on Hacks’ arm. The room they entered was circular, black gauzy walls reaching the ceiling. The only item in the room was a stone, black throne, crooked and falling apart. The deep red of the carpet made Hacks woozy, making the space bun pinkette glad for Hex’s hold.

A single step started a blare of sirens, blinding red lights flashing in second intervals. A loud clap sounded from the opposite side of the room, the sirens and lights pausing.

“Alice, I’ve been expecting you.” A man stepped from the shadows, a bejeweled, shining glass of gold tilted precariously in his left hand. He looked out of place, gangly and lacking the dusty coat of Cilok City on his clothes. The sight of him tugged at something in Hacks’ brain.

“You’re the world creator.”

The man tsked, swiping his free hand through sandy, graying curls. “Seo is preferred for now. World creator is so boorish.”

Hacks’ knuckles went pale, crescent marks digging into her palms.

“This day had to come.” He sighed, shaking his head. His posture was straight, hands tucked behind his back as he gave Hacks a look-over. “You’ve grown so beautifully in this world, daughter. Shame you had to ruin the only happiness you’d have.”

“Daughter? But.” Hacks froze, lips parting as her gaze bore into the man. “Why? Why did you stick me here?” Her voice rose, Hex grabbing her arm to keep her from approaching.

Seo hummed, turning away from the women to approach his mangled throne. He sank in it, stretching his neck. “It was all to protect you, my dear. The world, the true one, is dying. This project had been in the years before you were born. You were so young then, too naïve to see the world for what it was. I had to keep you safe. I found a way to connect your corporal body to the digital world. The rest is history.” He gestures in a wide arc. “Oh. Of course, your body in the real world was kept safe. Through everything, I’ve managed to keep you alive so you could continue living your life here.”

“I kept tabs on you. You’re still my daughter. I can’t exist in this world like you. So, I needed a body to do it for me.” His golden gaze fell on Hex. “She’s done well. If only I programmed her not to forget why she needed to relay to me. Pity. Wouldn’t be here if I had.”

“What..” She took a step away from Hex, a mix of conflicting emotions flashing in her eyes. “Bloody hell, you aren’t real..”

“Hacks. I swear to you I’m with you because I wanted to be. Not due to some programming.” Hex’s voice crackled. “Please.”

“As endearing as this is, we have some business to handle.” Sen took an extended sip from his glass, a trickle of blood-red flowing down his chin. “I can’t have you going around knowing about Operation: Utopia. It defeats the purpose of allowing you to live without worry. Sorry sweetheart, but until I can wipe your memory, you’ll be staying in the cells.”

With a gesture, a current started up in the room, hurling Hacks towards the hall. “Ta-ta, Alice. Soon you’ll be Hacks again.”

“Hex!” Hacks reached out for her as the wind blew her into the hall. Their fingers brushed before Hacks was whisked away down to the cells.

***

“Do you want to stop living a lie or not?”

Hacks had her arms tightly crossed against her chest. She didn’t look at Hex even as metal clanging against metal filled the holding cell. “Did you know?”

The sounds stopped, a faint thump sounding with a deep sigh. “Hacks. I didn’t know all of this. I knew about you but not that you don’t belong here.” With a shaky breath, Hex continued unlocking the door. “This isn’t your reality.”

Hacks stood, raising a brow at Hex. “Why do you care?”

Hex gave a pinched look. “We’re friends. I’m helping you escape. Are you coming or not?”

“You care. Even though you aren’t human, you still care.”

Hex gave a slight nod. “You deserve to know your world just as well as this one.”

Hacks looked around the barren cell. The concrete walls made the room a freezing, bland hell. “You always know what to say to get to me.” She reached for Hex’s hand, her friend pulling her along for one last adventure.

***

“Do you want to leave this all behind?” Hex whispered. Her eyes trained on the hallways for the opening to the server room. Hacks hoped they could stay there for longer. Their destination was just across the hall.

“Not you.”

Hex smiled wistfully. “I can’t leave with you.”
Hacks curled her fingers together, taking a deep breath. “Yeah.” She knew that. Once they did this, she would no longer see Hex. Would no longer be hidden in a utopia. She’d have to do it without Hex, a task that sounded impossible.

There was a tug on Hacks’ hand, drawing her from her thoughts. Her gaze snapped to Hex, trying to memorize her dusty aroma.

“It’s time to go. The server is right there. All I need to do is disconnect your connection to it. No one is expecting us to be there; Seo doesn’t keep guards.”

“I thought I was the hacker here, Hex.” Hacks chuckled. “It's all just a push of a button?”

“Well. I’m inserting my programming into it to shut it down. Perks of being made of code. Let’s go.” She pulled Hacks along into the room.

The server room glowed dimly, blue lights flickering off silver walls. It reminded Hacks of how the neon lights shone against the ominous buildings in the heart of Cilok. It was a dimmer last view, one she appreciated.

Their hands stayed together when they approached the wall of monitors, Hex placing a hand against the pad below them. Her eyes flashed blue, face going blank as code ran across the screens. In a few seconds, a large, black timer started on the center screen, the loudspeakers blaring.

“OPERATION: Utopia disengaged in t-minus 30 seconds.”

Hacks squeezed Hex’s hand, holding on and trying to memorize every dip and curve. She knew she’d never be able to see her again if she left.

“You’ll always be more than just code to me.” Hacks couldn’t see more than Hex’s blurry figure through her tears. Hex never let go of her hand, fingers trembling. Glaring blue lights flashed as the system faded to background noise, their focus on each other in their final seconds.

Hacks grasped Hex’s hand, swallowing a sob as she felt the cool touch flicker away. Before her senses went numb, the world going dark, she heard one last whisper that resonated with her.

“I love you, Hacks.”