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."
461Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoFZIuH75uT
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."
461Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOxqMSS5kBq
"Hmm, what?" I was falling asleep listening to him talk about it. "Did you need something or—?"
461Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0uyWVl6da7
"You left your Holowatch in the upstairs bathroom, I came to return it."
461Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkmchG9Jh3F
"That's impossible, my watch never leaves my wrist." I glance down at my arm for confirmation but sure enough, it was gone.
461Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG38vs4aXzo
Mason handed me my missing Holowatch.
461Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXbpcGdduko
I slapped it back onto my wrist and let out a relieved sigh. "You're the best, Mason."
461Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6DjwHCw2ew
"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."
461Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbjzZiPjuYn
I clumsily dragged myself out of the pool. I plopped down on the ledge and scrolled through my messages.
461Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXnVXqymm63
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.
461Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFJWAgZiSKh
I turned towards Mason. "Do you think there's any chance of a real threat?"
461Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgUarJRIpiD
"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."
461Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO7r5Vd14fR
"I don't know if I call myself a celebrity," I said, feigning modesty.
461Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJXnQaazdOx
Mason patted my shoulder. "Then you shouldn't have anything to worry about."
461Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnsXzW4OMjX
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?
461Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI9q7zcFJo6
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."
461Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡswPMwqYXaa
There was nothing but the sound of breathing on the other end.
461Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPv5zHFb7kO
"Hello?"
461Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFbbM5ZsI41
A message popped up on my Holowatch. Are you drunk?
461Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7vGOkGWBem
"Maybe."
461Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUhERcPV8m5
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?
461Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCDKVV8sSwq
"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.
461Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK1r6YmFtJb
I'm certain Jesus would not condone you giving yourself alcohol poisoning. I swear your own stupidity will kill you before Bionic Corp does.
461Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡApxUeADgj8
"Bionic Corp? Isn't that company that sells toasters?"
461Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTW3AiWLgfm
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.
461Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrNJAIz7zi2
"So you're telling me a bunch of toasters are coming to kill me?"
461Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNMYDtW7uih
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.
461Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3psLgS8kmr
"Pfft maps? Why would I steal maps? I can download them for free on my Holowatch. The only thing I steal is hearts."
461Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtaYnu5viow
Cybernetic hearts?
461Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7YJ50W7fGI
"No, human ones, I'm a massive flirt, ask anyone. What would I even do with a cybernetic heart?
461Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqgMq1LInP5
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.
461Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7Eiw5iBbrj
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.
461Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRdqcC6klmp
Mason jogged up to me.
461Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJfRg366D9h
I dove behind my car.
461Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmRDYBvdigY
"What are you doing, Chase?"
461Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0IFpYPPey7
I poked my head out from behind the vehicle. "I replied to the weird messages even though you told me not to."
461Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1dJkNAHESl
He raised an eyebrow. "What happened?"
461Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDkvaNp6ekd
"You were right that guy is crazy!"
461Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe5qImlJOH4
"Did you happen to catch the guy's name?"
461Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuos4p96h3V
"No. I'm not even sure if it was a guy. They refused to talk they would only send written messages."
461Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL1GWzBzrjH
"That's weird." He frowned. "Why were you hiding out here?"
461Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpbHgRRRkCE
"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."
461Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPQANPQZchM
"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."
461Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXSDTOTH21H
"Where are you going?"
461Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtW7vwFsLcT
He smiled. "Sara asked me to walk her home."
461Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD6mbysA5Us
"Eww, the cyborg girl! You can do better than that, man.
461Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiSKhVgxdw0
His hands balled into fists. "There's nothing wrong with being a cyborg and Sara is beautiful no matter what."
461Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8Z0GUw3wHb
I gag. "Maybe, if you find wires and transistors attractive."
461Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEul0gGqBFB
"You're an asshole, Chase. Has anyone ever told you that?" He stormed off.
461Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1ZZ4rsS8j1
"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.
461Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjnNfBmeRIP
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.
ns216.73.216.6da2
