Forsaken 2027 Read online

  It seemed like the next day, remember this was two years ago. When Jason vanished on the way to work. Even then I had doubts, it was my brother Vince, all over again, but not like Jason though. I, err on the second date I lifted a key for Jason’s apartment. Don't forget I was looking for clues about my brother, not hunting for a man. Once things calmed down, three weeks later I went in after the police left, it was like my brother’s place, spotless and empty. No trace of him ever having lived there. After Jason disappeared, I transferred to the London office from the SPQR, Paris branch, where Jason managed character development.

  I used my background skills, hoping to find something about Jason here in London. Through some former contacts, I further developed how to hack. Skills I was briefly taught for my previous job, using them I looked through company servers, trying to find anything on Jason. Did you notice Jason White appeared on the scene twelve years ago, there was nothing about the man, anywhere. Two months later he worked for Square Projekt Quality Red? I didn’t learn where he came from before he joined SPQR. Do you know, I've had this sense someone has watched me for the last six months. I kept getting calls at all times from private numbers that kept hanging up on me. About two months ago I looked again at my brother's disappearance.

  I started by examining all the correspondence Vince sent me, it was there I came across two references to Forsaken. In reading the letters and messages, I thought somehow he’d be hiding there, in Forsaken. Jason had told his group about the game, three maybe three and a half years ago. I thought if I could get an NL and a harness, then I could join the game and see if my brother was playing it and hiding. If he was, then I could trace him, then help him if he was in trouble. I miss my brother, he’s the only one left of my close family."Toni finished and cried again although not as loud.

  On reading the message, Cain stood and looked around the apartment.

  "Toni Is there anything in the apartment here that you can’t afford to lose?"he asked. "Another team is coming to check on the ones who were observing you.”

  "No, it’s just a front, the few photos you see are fake, they aren’t the originals. Another team coming, how do you know? Are you working for Jason?"Toni sort of blurted out, over some sobs. "Why are they coming for me? What have I done?"Toni added pulling he sobs under control.

  "Are you serious! You think, I work for Jason, never would I work for him. My AI, Enoch, connected to the local LAN, he picked up the messages the other team received. The team is eight minutes away, we need to hurry, or I will kill those people too,"Cain replied.

  "Why?"Toni asked, tears running down her face, her eyes were red and puffy.

  "Well from what I overheard when I was checking out your apartment. The two men over the road were talking, one of them said JW wants you dead. It looks like your digging into your brother's disappearing act has rung warning bells. You've been digging at a past which was best left alone. If we don’t move in three minutes, their team will be on the doorstep. Before you ask I don’t know how many people. Unless you want to stay and fancy your chances at talking your way out of this mess, you’d better come with me," Cain replied.

  Chapter 5

  Time to Go

  Trying to get her emotions under control Toni realised Cain was correct in his assessment. There was no way she could get out of this mess if she stayed. Her mind made up she pulled in a huge shuddering breath, calming her breathing.

  "OK, I have a ready bag with a few essentials, an old 1911 with six full magazines. I can get them from the bedroom, it will take me a minute. Plus, I need a pee, then we can go," Toni said, squeezing her thighs together.

  "If you can give me the gun and magazines, I’ll leave the next team that Jason we think has sent a problem or two to solve," Cain said. Taking the gun, he rigged it to a tripwire on the apartment door. He aimed the gun out of one front window. Using three of his thermite grenades, he placed one on each of the bodies. Running a wire through each ring pull, attaching it to the door handle of the room. One minute later he said,

  "Done. Let’s go, up not down, OK. Can you walk quietly as you go up to the top landing," Cain said then fastened the trip wire to the door as he closed it.

  Toni moved with care, stepping at the edge of each step to reduce any noise the step could make. She winced when once or twice the steps groaned under her foot. It was three flights of stairs and two half landings to the top floor and Ms Wisemans' apartment. Looking up Toni noticed two things, one the skylight was open, undersides of clouds, lit by the ever present street lights drifted by. Second, a thin rope hung through the skylight and rested on the floor, near her feet. She nearly jumped out of her skin when Cain touched her shoulder.

  Listening to Toni ascend the stairs, he caught sight of her three steps from the top. She sure moves well, and has a nice bum, he thought. Touching Toni on the shoulder he said.

  "Hold on," as he pulled her close wrapping his left arm around her waist. Taking the rope in his right hand he bent his knees ready for the rope system to pull them up.

  Accepting the messages, he said yes. Enoch activated the legs, getting a boost from his legs, that lifted them both up and onto the roof; without the rope system being used. Collecting his gear while Toni closed the skylight, they moved over to the other exit point. I'll trust the legs, they have been beyond fantastic, let’s see if I can now push them. Enoch can the legs cope with my drop if I carry Toni in my arms.

  {Yes, but only if you distribute her weight by you carrying her like you would if she were your bride.} Came the reply. Although he would like nothing more than to get Toni close, he knew he needed to ask her before he took her and jumped off the roof. Guiding Toni across the roof to his entry point, he removed the grapple and pulled up the rope, putting them in his small backpack. Turning to Toni who stood looking over the railing to the ground, missing the flashing icon in her lower right field of vision.

  "That’s sure a long way down. What do you have in mind? Are there stairs to use somewhere I can’t see?" she asked.

  "You will need to trust me, can you do that? I can make the drop, and will not be leaving evidence behind for Jason’s people or the police to find. I will carry you too, my AI says my legs can cope with the total weight. Will you trust me?" he asked.

  Do I trust him? Toni thought, I know he came for me and that he’s killed several people just to make me safe. He doesn’t know me, but do I know him. Help what do I do? He’s saved me at least twice. Yeh, I will trust him. Ran her mind while a small nagging voice spoke over her thoughts.

  [If you’d read my prompts I wouldn’t have to interrupt like this.] Came a voice she didn’t recognise. [I’ve read your last few memories, all you want to do is see what Cain would be like in bed. You’ve not had proper sex since pretending to be Jason's girlfriend. Yeah, yeah vibrators don’t count, nor do the two VR sessions. Stop kidding yourself, you want this hunk, legs or not.] Shaking her head to clear the voice before she spoke.

  "OK, I will trust you Let's do this, how exactly?”

  {Bridal carry, remember that's the best way to make the jump.} Said Enoch

  "I'll pick you up in a bridal carry, it will be the easiest way to make the small jump," Cain said.

  Images flashed through Cain's mind as he said bridal carry. Images of dates followed by an engagement then a small service and reception. Arriving at the stone stairs that led to a double door at the top, the stairs lined with staff. At the door, four bridesmaids stood waiting as Cain picked Toni up. The exquisite bridal gown, hugging her figure showing her body off to all watchers. Cain put his foot on the first stone step.

  She replied, after a few seconds thinking about it while trying to ignore the new voice in her head.

  [Ah, he will put his arms around you. A bridal carry no less. Just feel how strong his body is. I sure hope he knows what he’s doing. He could practice for your big day, don't you think? Look mummy, no hands, Geronimo.] Toni shouted to herself to behave as Cain scooped her up. She let out a small g
asp as he took a small step to the roof's edge followed by a larger step, like he leapt off the building dropping towards the ground.

  Maybe Toni should have closed her eyes, but she was looking at Cain’s face. She noticed it was strong but gentle, there was a commitment, fierceness and gentleness written there that she liked.

  "OK, you can let go now," he said, "we’re on the ground.”

  "Oh," was her elegant response as he put her feet down. She was rather pleased that he kept his left arm fastened around her even though her feet were on the ground. They hurried, with his arm still around her, across the memorial garden dodging the shrubs; his vehicle's EI opened the side sliding door as they approached. Be thankful for small mercies Cain, he thought as the vehicle's EI didn’t let the internal lights come on either. He threw his backpack and XM8c into the rear, then he got into the car after Toni, what a nice bum she has. Without thought he hummed the classic tune of Sir Mix-a-lot's hit, Baby Got Back.

  Home for the Night

  The vehicle’s EI voice broke the companionable silence of getting into the car and Cain’s singing in his mind. Taking you home sir, I’ve turned on the auto tint for the windows. Sit safe, we will be home in thirty to thirty-five minutes, dependent on the traffic.

  "Thank you so much," Toni said, much more composed than when she was in her apartment. Cain would have said it’s fine, but Toni leaned into his personal space then gave him a quick peck. She pulled back looked in his eyes again before giving Cain a deep kiss, the type that takes your breath away. Her hand caressed his face as the kiss deepened. Help, fantasy is fine but how do I deal with this? Cain screamed in his mind while Enoch laughed.

  His mind told him in no uncertain ways to just go with the flow. Repeating the kisses, he mirrored Toni’s actions. It was not from lack of practice but fear of not having an erection that was causing Cain his problems. Brushing her hair away from her face, he slid his hand towards her ear, stroking his fingers through her hair massaging her skull. Oh, that is so nice, sooo niceee. Pulling back they broke the kiss, she looked back into his eyes, noticing for the first time how they were a mixture of blues, greens and browns, their hazel you idiot, her mind called out.

  Cain still held her head and rubbed behind her ears again, Toni closed her eyes, as both body and mind enjoyed the massage. Just like my mother’s cat Sandy, she likes to rubbed behind her ears too. Toni leant back into their share personal space and kissed Cain again, this time she ran her right hand over his chest, feeling his pecs tighten under her caress.

  NO, NO, NO, I’ll just pull her closer, no breasts I can’t take this further, while Enoch shouted,

  {Coward, then laughed,} into the turmoil of Cain’s mind.

  His hand moved from her head and slid past the outside of her breast to her back, pulling her into him. They stayed in several variations of kissing with Toni getting more daring while Cain's only option was in holding her close. By the time the vehicle pulled up at his home, his top was open to his waist and his chest was damp from the kisses Toni had given him.

  "Sir," spoke his vehicle's EI, "You are home." Damn, I wanted to continue longer gasped Toni, who was rather flushed as she slid off Cain’s knees. Opening the sliding door so Toni could exit Cain took a deep breath as he zipped his combat suit up.

  Phew, close escape, I enjoy the kissing, but I didn’t know what to do. How can I take it further? Cain picked up the backpack and XM8c after telling Toni where his house was. Locking the car then climbing the slight rise to the house, Toni took the backpack from Cain and held onto his left arm, her head on his shoulder.

  "Nice house," she said, as they went through the side gate. The house EI recognised Cain and opened the house’s side door. Toni went first in entering the kitchen.

  "Do you live here all alone?" She asked over the bleeping of an alarm. Cain was busy turning off the alarm system after closing the door behind them.

  "No, my mother lives here with me. She moved in after my step dad died several years ago," he answered.

  "Sorry to hear that. It was a nice gesture letting her stay with you," Toni added.

  "I bought this house seven years ago, just so mum could move in with me, I didn't want to live in her old house because my step dad was not nice while I was growing up as a young teenager. If he hadn't died, mum would have left him, anyway." Cain told her.

  Bedtime Together

  Listening to her comments, Cain checked the exterior alarm system, ensuring the CCTV was online and recording. Looking at one of him mum's clocks, Cain offered to make Toni a bedtime drink or a snack if she was hungry. Blushing, she shook her head. Seeing her blush made his blood pressure rise, he realised she was unsure of where she was and could be in the house.

  "Mums not in, she’s babysitting for my little sister. If you wait here, I’ll go make up the spare bed, you’ll be OK, safe here," he said and made to leave the room. Grabbing his arm when he passed she said.

  "Don’t take this the wrong way, but I don’t think I can sleep by my self tonight. Can I share your room?" It stunned Cain at her suggestion, but he wouldn’t let her feel afraid, not in his house. Kicking himself he replied.

  "That wouldn’t be practical." Toni stood just looking at him for a few seconds while her mind whirled. Oh, damn I’ve blown it, now he’ll avoid me like the plague. He’ll think I’m a loony tune. He’ll make me sleep in the toilet or garden shed, what am I going to do.

  "as I set my bed up to help me cope without my legs.”

  "Sorry, I missed that my mind stopped listening after you said practical." Said Toni

  "Ah, OK, no problems. My bed is single and set up for when I sleep without my legs," he repeated and tapped them with his knuckles to make a point. But didn’t get the artificial sound he was expecting. Cain missed that though obsessed as he was with and too focused on her.

  "OK, I understand," she replied. Again Cain felt a heel, so he said.

  "We could sleep in the main guest room, it has a king-sized bed for when my sister and her partner stay over. Or we could use the terrible twos room which has bunk beds. Your choice," he finished. Toni felt like celebrating but ended up giving him a quick hug, Toni went with the king-sized bed option.

  "We can keep our clothes on, that way you can sleep in your legs if that’s all right," Toni offered. Agreeing and telling her where the room was, and the en-suite with spare toothbrush he double-checked that downstairs was secure. Using his toilet and brushing his teeth, Cain hoped he had given her enough time to be ready. Turning off the downstairs lights before easily climbing the stairs to join her.

  What an idiot I am. She’ll see how useless I am as a man without my legs. If they run out of charge during the night, she’ll have to jerk my legs off. Idiot, you should have slept downstairs, offering to guard the house, not her virginity. What if they lose power while I’m having a pee or sat on the loo? He turned the landing light off. It surprised Cain when he checked his legs, the control unit showed they still held a full charge. A little squeak came from the spare bedroom,

  "Can you leave the landing light on please," she asked, "I’m still a little jumpy from tonight."It was an easy request,

  To be honest, it makes it easier for me too, Cain thought as he turned on the light and returned to the bedroom about how he previously noticed nothing regarding his legs. Not even moving in them was getting easy. After tonight’s physical exertions, climb on roofs and jumping to the ground, holding Toni, put any issues with the legs becoming more integrated, assimilated aside.

  He thought if he’d checked his interface or spoke to Enoch, he would have noticed not only had he had levelled up again. He also hadn’t charged the legs for over a week, he had slept in them for four nights in a row. The light bleeding into the bedroom from the landing illuminated the bed. Cain noticed Toni was already under the quilt, occupying the right-hand side, nearest the windows. Her hair fanned out artfully on the pillow, like the crest of a wave.

  "I hope your sister doesn’t mind, b
ut I grabbed one of her nighties out of the dresser," Toni said without turning to look at him.

  "No, she would have offered you the use of them, anyway. It’s not like you brought much with you from your flat," Cain replied. Kicking off his shoes, putting his phone on the bedside table, Cain climbed under the quilt. He kept space between them that was until Toni turned to face him.

  "I was so confused, you know. I thought we were getting along that you liked me as much as I liked you. You helped get me the funding for the neural link, set up my operation and other things I don’t know about. So, I’m confused because I didn’t get any calls from you. Then when I get through to you, you come charging in and pull my arse out the fire. So, yeah it confused me but less so after tonight." Toni said.

  Taking a moment to clear the first things that jumped to his mind as he wanted Toni to like him. Toni lifted her arm from under the quilt, touching Cain’s face. Cain tried taking a calming breath then said with a juddering voice,

  "Yes I do, I, like you. I missed you so much this past two weeks, it has been like purgatory. Every sight, sound and thought has all been about you. I didn’t realise until I couldn’t see or talk to you how empty I was. I rang and left you messages and texts every day. Here look at my phone log.” Cain took his phone from the bedside table passing it to Toni.