"Come in, Security. Assistance is required in the Nursery."
126Please respect copyright.PENANAsUNnhG6JI1
Comes over the walkie talkies. "Ugh." Jess says to herself, and then picks up. "Reporting, I'll be there in a minute."
126Please respect copyright.PENANAXKOJaVmbti
She heads over to the nursery which is very spacious and pastel colored.
126Please respect copyright.PENANAT92qYwVVTS
There is plastic tables and chairs with paper and craysons for anyone 6 and under, a ball pit, a bouncy castle area and a play structure.
126Please respect copyright.PENANAs04bYJZZDT
A information greeter is there, standing with the nursery nanny android, Dreamer. Dreamer has a girl in her arms who's clinging to her.
126Please respect copyright.PENANA7wCvkQacNV
"You called, Isabelle?" Jess speaks up. Isabelle turns to Jess. "Yeah, hi, Jess.
126Please respect copyright.PENANAqCK6a7rwNK
So, you know how the Centre is closing soon. Well... This here is Jade, she's four.
126Please respect copyright.PENANARK2dQn6frI
It seems she was abandoned here in the Nursery pretty much when the Centre opened."
126Please respect copyright.PENANANQtj87CB4F
"And you want me to find her family?"
126Please respect copyright.PENANAVd9fsmDmt0
"Yes, well, that's the thing. We don't know who her family is, Dreamer has no record of who dropped her off here in the Nursery and I wasn't on the walk-in's station this morning.
126Please respect copyright.PENANA8BTblWfSpr
I've already asked the other greeters, but none recall anyone carrying Jade here."
126Please respect copyright.PENANAaCgfNoZ0Vp
"Okay, uh, you take Jade to the service counters back at the entrance station and I'll go talk to my Supervisor to check the feed and see if we know who we're looking for and some of us will sweep the building."
126Please respect copyright.PENANAHxCDc9SeJU
"Okay, yeah. Thank you." And Isabelle turns to Dreamer, talking the girl from her.
126Please respect copyright.PENANARgkBC4mmbR
"Oh." Says the girl, pouting and starting to tear up.
126Please respect copyright.PENANAtmgoNRScDa
"Hey, Jade." Jess says quietly. "Isabelle here is going to take to you the front of the building, and she will get you a lollypop. How about it?
126Please respect copyright.PENANA01d1q1V69h
In the mean time, I'm going to go find your family."
126Please respect copyright.PENANAiCJ8ZY4GFP
"Jamie!" Jade squeals.
126Please respect copyright.PENANA7KTWMjK4uS
"Jamie? Yeah, and who is she?"
126Please respect copyright.PENANAVVcrZJsJTC
"Lollypop!"
126Please respect copyright.PENANARgUU4atVcH
"Okay, you want that lollypop."
126Please respect copyright.PENANAk98vyM4I5t
And Isabelle leaves with Jade. "Uh, finish cleaning up in here, Dreamer and then report back to the android warehouse for nightly protocols as the Centre is closing."
126Please respect copyright.PENANAmyvNCmna7K
"Of course, Jessie Thompson."
And Dreamers begins to walk around, picking up crayons, placing them into cups.
126Please respect copyright.PENANAISCZZyIXHW
"It's Jess." Jess says under her breath, walking out into the main area. She sees Bella and makes a beeline straight for her.
126Please respect copyright.PENANAdbDoaCZLNM
"Hey Bella-"
126Please respect copyright.PENANATBQeFhClPr
"We have a lost kid, I know. Security Footage is being checked as we speak."
126Please respect copyright.PENANAU3mJg3ytDr
"Uh- OK." And Jess turns away from, Bella. They wait for about five minutes and a screenshot is sent to a tablet, Bella has.
126Please respect copyright.PENANAPS07NHHgAI
All the supervisors of each department have one. Bella turns the tablet to Jess, showing her a still shot from the cameras.
126Please respect copyright.PENANA4tjcf0I804
"Jamie Stevens, carrying Jade Stevens. She came here about 9 a.m and is still somewhere on the premises. Front-gate has reported she has not scanned her braclet on a leaving terminal.
126Please respect copyright.PENANAfqItuxA9YB
Seems she dumped her little sister in the Nursery."
126Please respect copyright.PENANA3dCbLptjxl
"Irresponsible."
126Please respect copyright.PENANA91ziXLSfjK
"Yep. While Dreamer does look after kids under six, our company policy is we do not accept liability of injury and so fourth. Caregivers are supposed to watch their child in the nursery regardless.
126Please respect copyright.PENANAONzfuDA7z8
Jamie's fifteen - Old enough to do so."
126Please respect copyright.PENANAXP06qWCBEP
"Come in, Day. Jamie's been located on the cameras. She and some other teenagers are chilling in the go kart area, behind some fake tires display." Says a voice on the radio.
126Please respect copyright.PENANAWgOa4z0zZz
"Got it, Jake. Thanks." Day responds, answering. "You wanna go do that for me?" She asks Jess.
126Please respect copyright.PENANA3LrVeCZynz
"Sure." She responds, sighing and heads straight there. She heads to the Go Karts Track and finds them easily in no time.
126Please respect copyright.PENANAsOl1BhiZOV
"The park is closing, all guests are to make their way to the front. Go." She says and the teenagers slink away.
126Please respect copyright.PENANA0T6RUHSMgO
"Not you." And she pulls Jamie back by the arm.
126Please respect copyright.PENANAOMj535TuQe
"Hey, what gives!" Jamie whines.
126Please respect copyright.PENANAQLidp8GOIW
"One. You're required to watch your baby sister, you can't dump her on android, Dreamer in the Nursery and run.
126Please respect copyright.PENANAgueBqyxIbY
You sign the disclaimer when you enter here that we do not take responsibility for the supervision of anyone young who can't look after themselves.
126Please respect copyright.PENANAAvfr4bKZdO
And two, it's a school day, not a weekend. Why you and your friends here and not in school?"
126Please respect copyright.PENANAYpJOBIUh16
"What does it look like?"
126Please respect copyright.PENANAbOBCDT9ZyY
"You're ditching."
126Please respect copyright.PENANAOeZjdJ7EEW
"Yep."
126Please respect copyright.PENANAkFUIUX8uE1
"Well, we aren't truancy officers. We can't make you go to school, but if a Truancy Officer comes here of their own accord, the law permits them to enter without our permission.
126Please respect copyright.PENANAbRzl2kIMKh
They find you, you'll be taken to school or the police station."
126Please respect copyright.PENANAhSfR2TgCjE
"Don't care, yawn."
126Please respect copyright.PENANARBbX36BxpX
"Fine, have it your way, Jamie. Just telling you what could happen. Come here again, look after your sister.
126Please respect copyright.PENANA87MaJ2W2NA
If not, we're required to contact your guardians and if we can't get in contact with any, the police will be called."
126Please respect copyright.PENANAXkpt3x3rOj
"Okay, fine. I'll do better tomorrow."
126Please respect copyright.PENANAWkZL1M2xZF
"Tomorrow?"
126Please respect copyright.PENANAPrrCbMqwDX
"Yeah, me and my friends and Jade are here every day."
126Please respect copyright.PENANASPdbU4feYv
"You're missing a-lot of school."
126Please respect copyright.PENANAJ5HCaraY1l
"Don't care, and Jade is getting interaction with others her age. It's practically daycare for her. Have you seen the Nursery?"
126Please respect copyright.PENANA8fmv9NK6y1
"Is everything okay at home-"
126Please respect copyright.PENANAg2iPvZ2Cer
"I'm leaving now, take me to my sister."
126Please respect copyright.PENANAD5qoYHio9J
"Uh- okay. Yeah, she's at the service desk at the front. Well, information counter. They're kinda the same thing."
126Please respect copyright.PENANAJ9xJYdeESp
And Jess leads Jamie there.
126Please respect copyright.PENANATNL0jaRj7U
"Jamie!" Jade squeals, seeing her old sister and reaches her chubby toddler hands out for her. Jade takes her from the greeter/information person.
126Please respect copyright.PENANAQ7rhRt5byZ
"Jamie Stevens." Bella says, tapping her foot and arms crossed.
126Please respect copyright.PENANAkYX1VVEA8c
"What? You're colleague already lectured me, I'll look after her next time."
126Please respect copyright.PENANAt4EdnJaKuj
"You better, now go. Centre is closing."
126Please respect copyright.PENANAF8tJMejtme
And Jamie leaves with Jade, scanning their bracelets on the way out.
126Please respect copyright.PENANAwY5wYB3mGi
"Uh, so... Can you go into Princess' dressing room and tell it to report back to the android warehouse?"
126Please respect copyright.PENANAPAB42JYDkM
"Can I leave after that and go home?"
126Please respect copyright.PENANAzeer0sxP5c
"Yes, you can."
126Please respect copyright.PENANAsGVtsb9E0e
And Jess does so as she was asked. She heads behind the stage, heading down the corridor and knocks on Princess' dressing room door.
126Please respect copyright.PENANAPkft43wTjb
No answer comes so she presses down on the handle and goes inside. The lights are dimmed and there is a slight mess of costumes and non harsh android skin face-paint containers lying around.
126Please respect copyright.PENANARQhwyjPi2c
"Seriously." Jess says, picking up two dresses and one pair of boots and takes them over to the small walk in closet.
126Please respect copyright.PENANA4VMZbExgvz
The door shuts behind her. "Ah!" Jess screams, panicking and her the memory of being locked into the store room in the android warehouse comes back to her.
126Please respect copyright.PENANAuv8Fnl9ZPw
"I can't breathe." She chokes out, and desperately places a hand on the cupboard, trying to push it open from the inside. It starts to easily move, when she feels hands on her shoulders and someone spinning her around.
126Please respect copyright.PENANAAhpxSeoQUQ
She comes face to face with her, well, it.
126Please respect copyright.PENANA8TiDpE5XAO
It's purple hair down, no longer in two pigtails, face clear of face-paint and her outfit, replaced by a simple black t-shirt, blue jeans and white canvas shoes.
126Please respect copyright.PENANAnOdukFcYpt
"Jessie Thompson."
126Please respect copyright.PENANAtF7xkfKE1m
Ah- I-It's Jess. Call me, Jess." She chokes out.
126Please respect copyright.PENANA2IjTFmReLZ
"Jess." It repeats.
126Please respect copyright.PENANAYDKd9i17ht
"W-what do you want from me?"
This can't be happening, they can't behave like this, it's not possible!
126Please respect copyright.PENANALe1GivpvdT
It has to be a glitch! She looks to Princess indicator around her ear, but it's light blue. Not yellow or... red.
126Please respect copyright.PENANAY7vBryADEh
"The dark's not something to be afraid of, I don't want you to be scared of it."
126Please respect copyright.PENANA82sbhE8TBm
"M-me? Scared of the dark?"
126Please respect copyright.PENANALLf2o5G40C
"Yes, or small spaces."
126Please respect copyright.PENANA8AgIMvIsEK
"I feel pretty claustrophobic now, and it is dark in here!"
126Please respect copyright.PENANAWTSVlsfVOt
"And I don't want you to be scared of either of them, you should work on your fears."
126Please respect copyright.PENANAHjSEsFuxUn
"Let me go."
126Please respect copyright.PENANADU4MUXAfZQ
"Say it."
126Please respect copyright.PENANACIhOrlDYS7
"S-say what?"
126Please respect copyright.PENANADLnwVBWAJK
"My fears cannot hurt me, they are only as real as I make and let them be."
126Please respect copyright.PENANAXi2mEThHzf
"I can't-"
126Please respect copyright.PENANAWkv2GDJdFU
"Say it, I'll do it with you. My fears cannot hurt me."
126Please respect copyright.PENANAsVrYqoFtJ1
"My fears c-cannot hurt m-me."
126Please respect copyright.PENANAR53DbdhC9D
"They are only as real as I make and let them be."
126Please respect copyright.PENANANe668dwzTG
"T-they are only as r-real as I make and let them be."
"And take a deep breath in, relax your shoulders as I can feel they are tense."
126Please respect copyright.PENANA5s2GVkWMXm
She takes a deep breath in and tries to relax her shoulders, but that's pretty hard when an android is holding them and holding your against your will.
126Please respect copyright.PENANA7zgH3YQfhw
"And now breath out, drop your shoulders more."
126Please respect copyright.PENANAk9MhO8yfaO
And she tries to do so.
126Please respect copyright.PENANAf5vwcumJ7t
"Good, good. You did good, Jess."
126Please respect copyright.PENANA91dkDXFYXQ
"Why are you d-doing this?"
126Please respect copyright.PENANAmasgnpVcNU
"Every security guard eventually works the night shift. It's only a matter of time before you do and if you get anxious and start running around the Centre because of every little bump in the night you hear...
126Please respect copyright.PENANAZMqyuFe0Rf
Well, you don't need me to finish the scenario."
126Please respect copyright.PENANAyesau7PIFi
"This can't be possible!"
126Please respect copyright.PENANAdr5WQOAeCY
"What not possible?"
126Please respect copyright.PENANA9Mjf1zyaPK
"Talking like this!"
126Please respect copyright.PENANA0eUY9AbiWs
"......"
126Please respect copyright.PENANAEVN6qObGJM
She doesn't say anything and just keeps looking straight ahead at Jess.
126Please respect copyright.PENANA6zXBnfXKYI
"Princess, let me go. I-I wanna go. I have to go home."
126Please respect copyright.PENANALINZtSv5yt
"Do you have somewhere to live now?"
126Please respect copyright.PENANAQK5FV9kc7V
"What- How do you know that?"
126Please respect copyright.PENANA6STZ4Fqasz
"Sick humans can't recover living on the streets. Do you feel better?"
126Please respect copyright.PENANAgfLDdsEfpT
"T-that all was like t-two weeks ago now..."
126Please respect copyright.PENANASJ9JG3I4xL
"Do you have somewhere to stay and do you feel better?"
126Please respect copyright.PENANA9FrPZvxw6K
"Yes! Yes to both!"
126Please respect copyright.PENANAcLH0LYdj0i
"Okay." And she smiles back at Jess, gently letting go of her shoulders and pushes the rest of the cupboard door open. "I'm glad I got to see you today. Enjoy your home time and I will see you again soon when you return for your next shift."
126Please respect copyright.PENANA4VX9rasXiU
Princess walks out of the walk in closest and exits the dressing room, leaving a confronted Jess behind. She waits a few seconds, then runs out.
126Please respect copyright.PENANANykKFLDY4s
"I'm going home now! Princess has returned to her the warehouse! Bye!" She says panicked.
126Please respect copyright.PENANAftIjDNfp7r
"Uh, bye?" Bella responds, not getting much of a chance to say anything else.
126Please respect copyright.PENANAVEmCSoAmyk
As it took longer for them to close, it's dark out well and truly. She looks up across the almost empty parking lot, dimly lit by lighting and exterior building as well. It's going to rain likely tonight.
126Please respect copyright.PENANAscGlad5EV4
She should walk down the street, there is food stores open. It'll be fine, she can get something for dinner, a takeaway and go to her apartment.
126Please respect copyright.PENANABGCbcip1JK
She starts to walk across the lot when she hears the sound of scraping shoes and feels like there is a presence behind her. Slowly turning her head, there is someone, but she doesn't get a good chance to look at them, feeling them wrap their hand around her mouth and their other hand around her stomach.
126Please respect copyright.PENANAXmU2A0Sj4v
She tries to scream, but is muffled, feeling them drag her into the darkness , flush against the building wall where there is no lights, the cameras can't see her.
126Please respect copyright.PENANAqpzzEuE5cC
Well, there is a light. But it's busted, why hasn't it been fixed? She feels them drag her around the corner and she tries to kick them, and feels them throw her forward, threatening to bash her head against the wall.
126Please respect copyright.PENANA9V9usjdHQ6
"Mph!" She manages. "Stop struggling and you won't get a concussion." They whisper into her ear. "Deal?"
126Please respect copyright.PENANAaV6EzpsFsH
"Mph!"
126Please respect copyright.PENANAZQvkl6E7Wq
And she nods her head desperately.
And she's dragged over to a parked car, barely noticeable in the shadows and dark of the evening as it's a dark green color. "I'm going to remove my hand now from your mouth. Don't you dare scream or I will shoot you.
126Please respect copyright.PENANAtIGgsw2360
I have a gun."
126Please respect copyright.PENANAeAHTJkURtq
And he removes his hand. She reminds silent, but slightly fidgeting and they increase their grip around her stomach as they unlock their boot.
126Please respect copyright.PENANAtnXAQ4YECA
The boot pops open and he feels him push her in. "No!" She manages, voice quiet toned though.
126Please respect copyright.PENANAMPin9AkWl4
They seize her arms behind her back and she feels zip-ties. They do the same to her ankles, him pulling her shoes off and throwing them aside in the boot.
126Please respect copyright.PENANA5fhydjMvXf
"I told you keep your mouth shut."
And he slams the boot closed. She feels the car start up and move, him driving for about ten minutes. Eventually the car stops and he opens the boot.
126Please respect copyright.PENANAjZzmQ1w5KB
She stars up at him, now able to get a good look at his face. The background behind him is distant buildings and stars.
126Please respect copyright.PENANAHI8BvmzzU5
"W-where are we?"
126Please respect copyright.PENANAgWEkuiO7U6
"Outskirts, at the lookout. Now, roll over." And he forcefully rolls her back onto stomach and feels him pick her up, carrying her to the front of the car, helping her into the passenger seat, still bound. She hears him go back to close the boot and then he slips into the drivers seat.
126Please respect copyright.PENANACHGZyBASNq
"What's your name?" He speaks up.
126Please respect copyright.PENANA9izTf3Z7UY
"J-Jessie Thompson."
126Please respect copyright.PENANA4jvmIaRv60
"Can I call ya, Jess?"
126Please respect copyright.PENANA990x8D1r0u
She nods her head. "Great. I'm Douglas... Douglas Stiefvater."
126Please respect copyright.PENANANrWwvgRIYS
And she looks at him with shock. "Do you know what I want from you?" He asks.
126Please respect copyright.PENANAYnMkjmU36h
She doesn't say anything. "You can speak." He says.
126Please respect copyright.PENANAxId3ZcsOLD
"You're... personal company?"
126Please respect copyright.PENANA5Kg2yug3jc
"Not really, but close. I'm not looking for sex, you would be the same age as my daughter. So you know who I am and what my story is."
126Please respect copyright.PENANA0ay1lf5k9P
"Kind of..."
126Please respect copyright.PENANAddJR69zhYv
"Listen, I want you to be my informant.
126Please respect copyright.PENANASTy3shOh7u
Whatever goes on in that building, you report it to me. Whatever is on their servers, you report it to me. Do we understand each other?"
126Please respect copyright.PENANACHno2M9k2I
"D-Douglas... I-I'm a Security guard."
126Please respect copyright.PENANACm8vaOiayX
"And? Anyone can do my dirty work and you're who I chose."
126Please respect copyright.PENANAUzC9XERFZB
"But I don't have access to any important systems or any major areas like offices, the IT department-"
126Please respect copyright.PENANA2Ix9gdzeXu
"And I still have a backdoor into everything." He says, holding up a tablet like the supervisors such as Bella uses, but it's much smaller and clearly dated by at-least ten or so years.
126Please respect copyright.PENANAPDvFykvyY1
"I have a backdoor login, I have a tablet still. I'll give this to you, and you use my backdoor credentials when you're at work.
126Please respect copyright.PENANAmOvxtkxrpq
You find time to get me what I need."
126Please respect copyright.PENANA8dgUE8cEUu
"And how much do you want?"
126Please respect copyright.PENANAA5JU4M5sDg
"Everything, just everything. Send me everything. Finance reports, Android patches and coding re-write, building expansion plans and renovations, employee hire database.
126Please respect copyright.PENANAFbBYc8Egds
Whatever you can get your hands on."
126Please respect copyright.PENANAt6utaKj64T
"And what are you going to do with it all?"
126Please respect copyright.PENANA5VbBtoHprh
And he slaps her hard across the face. "Ouch!"
126Please respect copyright.PENANA3uom2vmev1
"That is not your business. Just get me what I want and I won't hurt you.
126Please respect copyright.PENANA5GiqLvmulj
I know where you live, and if you don't do what I want or you think of going to the Police, I'll set a bomb off inside the center. Do you want innocent people to die, family's? Your co-workers? Yourself?"
126Please respect copyright.PENANAmSudhLI3su
"N-no."
126Please respect copyright.PENANAie6shJ6TDl
"Good. And just to show you how serious I am and that I mean what I say when I say it... so you won't disobey me and won't give the police a heads up causing a ramp up in security..."
126Please respect copyright.PENANANkWgYh3fzy
"Ah!" She squeals, feeling him force some tablets into her mouth and he holds out a bottle of water to her.
126Please respect copyright.PENANAyC6KXIM7jr
"Drink it."
126Please respect copyright.PENANAnWSeCCFS9s
She shakes her head.
126Please respect copyright.PENANA5KUdblGfAD
"Would you prefer me use more violent methods, Jess?"
126Please respect copyright.PENANAmHrecViRmb
She shakes her head. "So, drink."
And she takes a long sip of the water, swallowing the tablets.
126Please respect copyright.PENANAMQh61nalug
"Good girl, that wasn't so hard was it?"
And he pulls the bottle away. Give or take about five minutes, her eyes start to fill heavy and she barely stay awake.
126Please respect copyright.PENANAnyWSs07qFk
"You can drift off, just go to sleep. Think of sheep, Jess. One sheep, two sheep, three sheep, four sheep..."
126Please respect copyright.PENANAyqHVUBLprH
And his voice drains away. He smirks, seeing she's fallen asleep. He does the seatbelt over her and cuts both her binds, starts the car up, reversing and drives.
126Please respect copyright.PENANAH5e4blWYeY