"Come in, Security. Assistance is required in the Nursery."
176Please respect copyright.PENANAGYR3hQWBn8
Comes over the walkie talkies. "Ugh." Jess says to herself, and then picks up. "Reporting, I'll be there in a minute."
176Please respect copyright.PENANAMoF81nbKeZ
She heads over to the nursery which is very spacious and pastel colored.
176Please respect copyright.PENANARxdJRkbP4I
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.
176Please respect copyright.PENANABy6PNeYHmR
A information greeter is there, standing with the nursery nanny android, Dreamer. Dreamer has a girl in her arms who's clinging to her.
176Please respect copyright.PENANAWVYi4bdvZM
"You called, Isabelle?" Jess speaks up. Isabelle turns to Jess. "Yeah, hi, Jess.
176Please respect copyright.PENANA4BrIvTEGTM
So, you know how the Centre is closing soon. Well... This here is Jade, she's four.
176Please respect copyright.PENANAOL5iV7RUtP
It seems she was abandoned here in the Nursery pretty much when the Centre opened."
176Please respect copyright.PENANAllcMr0fblV
"And you want me to find her family?"
176Please respect copyright.PENANAfuzZ3dJxsN
"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.
176Please respect copyright.PENANAVcEztGDMmS
I've already asked the other greeters, but none recall anyone carrying Jade here."
176Please respect copyright.PENANAVVS82lANT2
"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."
176Please respect copyright.PENANAc34Chzo5nc
"Okay, yeah. Thank you." And Isabelle turns to Dreamer, talking the girl from her.
176Please respect copyright.PENANAc48NbnYF5t
"Oh." Says the girl, pouting and starting to tear up.
176Please respect copyright.PENANAuXK3NWGIep
"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?
176Please respect copyright.PENANA7njahmHUaG
In the mean time, I'm going to go find your family."
176Please respect copyright.PENANAZIsdlVP4MN
"Jamie!" Jade squeals.
176Please respect copyright.PENANAyeVAg7dDqg
"Jamie? Yeah, and who is she?"
176Please respect copyright.PENANAmh2OQoPsT6
"Lollypop!"
176Please respect copyright.PENANAHS3JlDfcC5
"Okay, you want that lollypop."
176Please respect copyright.PENANAzdZr8bJUyk
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."
176Please respect copyright.PENANAC4FZzCkK74
"Of course, Jessie Thompson."
And Dreamers begins to walk around, picking up crayons, placing them into cups.
176Please respect copyright.PENANAaHcqR3l6RO
"It's Jess." Jess says under her breath, walking out into the main area. She sees Bella and makes a beeline straight for her.
176Please respect copyright.PENANANu9ugrxqAE
"Hey Bella-"
176Please respect copyright.PENANA4OTPOw8DgN
"We have a lost kid, I know. Security Footage is being checked as we speak."
176Please respect copyright.PENANA2u9ChYpoxH
"Uh- OK." And Jess turns away from, Bella. They wait for about five minutes and a screenshot is sent to a tablet, Bella has.
176Please respect copyright.PENANA9WsGdSnxf0
All the supervisors of each department have one. Bella turns the tablet to Jess, showing her a still shot from the cameras.
176Please respect copyright.PENANAVBKnhR15nZ
"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.
176Please respect copyright.PENANAEa6t00iaxB
Seems she dumped her little sister in the Nursery."
176Please respect copyright.PENANAL2IQOn8o1C
"Irresponsible."
176Please respect copyright.PENANAaUz1R0SUcq
"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.
176Please respect copyright.PENANADXL3wiqDYY
Jamie's fifteen - Old enough to do so."
176Please respect copyright.PENANAH3ly3wTcuo
"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.
176Please respect copyright.PENANAOj1pmUjbPk
"Got it, Jake. Thanks." Day responds, answering. "You wanna go do that for me?" She asks Jess.
176Please respect copyright.PENANAZgH0s2KFt8
"Sure." She responds, sighing and heads straight there. She heads to the Go Karts Track and finds them easily in no time.
176Please respect copyright.PENANA7wJymxzZpF
"The park is closing, all guests are to make their way to the front. Go." She says and the teenagers slink away.
176Please respect copyright.PENANAiHUODNjgmJ
"Not you." And she pulls Jamie back by the arm.
176Please respect copyright.PENANAFnBAfO412K
"Hey, what gives!" Jamie whines.
176Please respect copyright.PENANAFNEKWrBYWM
"One. You're required to watch your baby sister, you can't dump her on android, Dreamer in the Nursery and run.
176Please respect copyright.PENANAvViQzPyoXe
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.
176Please respect copyright.PENANA71F4CPxMSI
And two, it's a school day, not a weekend. Why you and your friends here and not in school?"
176Please respect copyright.PENANA4hX4bVq6At
"What does it look like?"
176Please respect copyright.PENANAplmC5p7SqH
"You're ditching."
176Please respect copyright.PENANAt8xGhTsym5
"Yep."
176Please respect copyright.PENANAE9bO4ugUXD
"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.
176Please respect copyright.PENANAAmBU5fEkJo
They find you, you'll be taken to school or the police station."
176Please respect copyright.PENANAAv4sqVGins
"Don't care, yawn."
176Please respect copyright.PENANAbyQKNweyS0
"Fine, have it your way, Jamie. Just telling you what could happen. Come here again, look after your sister.
176Please respect copyright.PENANAiES0ANI4z6
If not, we're required to contact your guardians and if we can't get in contact with any, the police will be called."
176Please respect copyright.PENANAFGHXnqBTZT
"Okay, fine. I'll do better tomorrow."
176Please respect copyright.PENANAHxjvJjY2ym
"Tomorrow?"
176Please respect copyright.PENANAgonYkmXyk3
"Yeah, me and my friends and Jade are here every day."
176Please respect copyright.PENANAq1p8bwxmyx
"You're missing a-lot of school."
176Please respect copyright.PENANAWh3VUNMSNG
"Don't care, and Jade is getting interaction with others her age. It's practically daycare for her. Have you seen the Nursery?"
176Please respect copyright.PENANAIOfoFiuNtL
"Is everything okay at home-"
176Please respect copyright.PENANA1afqJCefQz
"I'm leaving now, take me to my sister."
176Please respect copyright.PENANAWOfxLRLxdG
"Uh- okay. Yeah, she's at the service desk at the front. Well, information counter. They're kinda the same thing."
176Please respect copyright.PENANAG7mnRLNnZc
And Jess leads Jamie there.
176Please respect copyright.PENANAVSuvEnliRF
"Jamie!" Jade squeals, seeing her old sister and reaches her chubby toddler hands out for her. Jade takes her from the greeter/information person.
176Please respect copyright.PENANAgthQ63sBkv
"Jamie Stevens." Bella says, tapping her foot and arms crossed.
176Please respect copyright.PENANAnZXenNMsRN
"What? You're colleague already lectured me, I'll look after her next time."
176Please respect copyright.PENANAqj3YHgmBcO
"You better, now go. Centre is closing."
176Please respect copyright.PENANAmDtmbMeUi3
And Jamie leaves with Jade, scanning their bracelets on the way out.
176Please respect copyright.PENANASZyssbp4nG
"Uh, so... Can you go into Princess' dressing room and tell it to report back to the android warehouse?"
176Please respect copyright.PENANAx0VuMEigwA
"Can I leave after that and go home?"
176Please respect copyright.PENANAO5BrcoosRx
"Yes, you can."
176Please respect copyright.PENANAEj1hvxriG3
And Jess does so as she was asked. She heads behind the stage, heading down the corridor and knocks on Princess' dressing room door.
176Please respect copyright.PENANAuaXycHBhuD
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.
176Please respect copyright.PENANA8x5pI5ig2D
"Seriously." Jess says, picking up two dresses and one pair of boots and takes them over to the small walk in closet.
176Please respect copyright.PENANAJvZrew454V
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.
176Please respect copyright.PENANAPSRd0VIKWl
"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.
176Please respect copyright.PENANAnwV3bYhFhG
She comes face to face with her, well, it.
176Please respect copyright.PENANA2ncHPWYt9v
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.
176Please respect copyright.PENANAdV6tIp5zJR
"Jessie Thompson."
176Please respect copyright.PENANAUa1kBsubll
Ah- I-It's Jess. Call me, Jess." She chokes out.
176Please respect copyright.PENANAJOWFQItgxJ
"Jess." It repeats.
176Please respect copyright.PENANAfVTeBiMEk4
"W-what do you want from me?"
This can't be happening, they can't behave like this, it's not possible!
176Please respect copyright.PENANAVubHF5OdmJ
It has to be a glitch! She looks to Princess indicator around her ear, but it's light blue. Not yellow or... red.
176Please respect copyright.PENANAVGEqE2tGEU
"The dark's not something to be afraid of, I don't want you to be scared of it."
176Please respect copyright.PENANAXmfCLsF7gD
"M-me? Scared of the dark?"
176Please respect copyright.PENANAWK0TmycAHY
"Yes, or small spaces."
176Please respect copyright.PENANARlUPeHiUPd
"I feel pretty claustrophobic now, and it is dark in here!"
176Please respect copyright.PENANApNtn71dpJk
"And I don't want you to be scared of either of them, you should work on your fears."
176Please respect copyright.PENANAq5wJHR5VTA
"Let me go."
176Please respect copyright.PENANAcw1nmCmvlm
"Say it."
176Please respect copyright.PENANAovSXwBfP6l
"S-say what?"
176Please respect copyright.PENANA8j6GAftpKP
"My fears cannot hurt me, they are only as real as I make and let them be."
176Please respect copyright.PENANARBnJPxSUtJ
"I can't-"
176Please respect copyright.PENANAPtu4JCfHaR
"Say it, I'll do it with you. My fears cannot hurt me."
176Please respect copyright.PENANANjuKC8Qv7C
"My fears c-cannot hurt m-me."
176Please respect copyright.PENANAGihV2pXFvX
"They are only as real as I make and let them be."
176Please respect copyright.PENANAcQTddOVW9P
"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."
176Please respect copyright.PENANAKbHgO4rsaR
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.
176Please respect copyright.PENANAAWCg1yrttw
"And now breath out, drop your shoulders more."
176Please respect copyright.PENANADH3E5TYb0E
And she tries to do so.
176Please respect copyright.PENANAz8sRZqPmPI
"Good, good. You did good, Jess."
176Please respect copyright.PENANAHgfv3N4l5d
"Why are you d-doing this?"
176Please respect copyright.PENANAbpOB4rI52i
"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...
176Please respect copyright.PENANAwuBHshE9io
Well, you don't need me to finish the scenario."
176Please respect copyright.PENANAIxmGCW4RSu
"This can't be possible!"
176Please respect copyright.PENANAuq7jKa1v7C
"What not possible?"
176Please respect copyright.PENANA1lBZlyzJi7
"Talking like this!"
176Please respect copyright.PENANAW7npbLeq62
"......"
176Please respect copyright.PENANAz5KE7KOAYL
She doesn't say anything and just keeps looking straight ahead at Jess.
176Please respect copyright.PENANA6iCcXJ9fww
"Princess, let me go. I-I wanna go. I have to go home."
176Please respect copyright.PENANAu7FqR9FYus
"Do you have somewhere to live now?"
176Please respect copyright.PENANAT1LvzAA18d
"What- How do you know that?"
176Please respect copyright.PENANAgIaZo3uqEy
"Sick humans can't recover living on the streets. Do you feel better?"
176Please respect copyright.PENANAWhwKo8DzvB
"T-that all was like t-two weeks ago now..."
176Please respect copyright.PENANAA6evRW1Y1k
"Do you have somewhere to stay and do you feel better?"
176Please respect copyright.PENANA5Nd5sFGSz3
"Yes! Yes to both!"
176Please respect copyright.PENANAIUtIm7utLz
"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."
176Please respect copyright.PENANAu7izHig7f1
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.
176Please respect copyright.PENANAZTEG6uEEmv
"I'm going home now! Princess has returned to her the warehouse! Bye!" She says panicked.
176Please respect copyright.PENANAI79lAJm5ze
"Uh, bye?" Bella responds, not getting much of a chance to say anything else.
176Please respect copyright.PENANAzJcHhyHlqo
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.
176Please respect copyright.PENANAKdkF3nC2pu
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.
176Please respect copyright.PENANA7Nbrh8fTSB
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.
176Please respect copyright.PENANAxz4oNY49Xn
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.
176Please respect copyright.PENANAxFguJJyUNx
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.
176Please respect copyright.PENANAEKiWuT0w7n
"Mph!" She manages. "Stop struggling and you won't get a concussion." They whisper into her ear. "Deal?"
176Please respect copyright.PENANAn2cSbj7rHZ
"Mph!"
176Please respect copyright.PENANAzRObsr6eJZ
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.
176Please respect copyright.PENANA3ocdaDpFiq
I have a gun."
176Please respect copyright.PENANAExFqBh0Y7g
And he removes his hand. She reminds silent, but slightly fidgeting and they increase their grip around her stomach as they unlock their boot.
176Please respect copyright.PENANAMnR1fN6pOU
The boot pops open and he feels him push her in. "No!" She manages, voice quiet toned though.
176Please respect copyright.PENANAodNQyBbnzG
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.
176Please respect copyright.PENANAgvnjqAI5XV
"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.
176Please respect copyright.PENANAC7v0bl54sf
She stars up at him, now able to get a good look at his face. The background behind him is distant buildings and stars.
176Please respect copyright.PENANA2IQtnAt74k
"W-where are we?"
176Please respect copyright.PENANAbq29NFnVcx
"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.
176Please respect copyright.PENANAiMdIxbNTzg
"What's your name?" He speaks up.
176Please respect copyright.PENANAkFmZKmUdkn
"J-Jessie Thompson."
176Please respect copyright.PENANAF6xzhxbtTP
"Can I call ya, Jess?"
176Please respect copyright.PENANAniFw1yaE5s
She nods her head. "Great. I'm Douglas... Douglas Stiefvater."
176Please respect copyright.PENANAnr4JrbKEg1
And she looks at him with shock. "Do you know what I want from you?" He asks.
176Please respect copyright.PENANAuxBZTBjbeR
She doesn't say anything. "You can speak." He says.
176Please respect copyright.PENANAXUg3Lr9oRe
"You're... personal company?"
176Please respect copyright.PENANAhaWvcgFSmb
"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."
176Please respect copyright.PENANAnV33LuR9Vv
"Kind of..."
176Please respect copyright.PENANA9mo4vNn8hx
"Listen, I want you to be my informant.
176Please respect copyright.PENANAcq4kkl5vfE
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?"
176Please respect copyright.PENANASo9m4srgA9
"D-Douglas... I-I'm a Security guard."
176Please respect copyright.PENANAoFhksgrmBu
"And? Anyone can do my dirty work and you're who I chose."
176Please respect copyright.PENANAZtARHjzTwF
"But I don't have access to any important systems or any major areas like offices, the IT department-"
176Please respect copyright.PENANAMJjpsHaoKL
"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.
176Please respect copyright.PENANAbbI3oLpmEx
"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.
176Please respect copyright.PENANA0zfxJqlBaY
You find time to get me what I need."
176Please respect copyright.PENANAG0Ptoank7p
"And how much do you want?"
176Please respect copyright.PENANA0gicPK8pPR
"Everything, just everything. Send me everything. Finance reports, Android patches and coding re-write, building expansion plans and renovations, employee hire database.
176Please respect copyright.PENANAaUfb6rMiuh
Whatever you can get your hands on."
176Please respect copyright.PENANACM5K14lGyH
"And what are you going to do with it all?"
176Please respect copyright.PENANA5U5tJTucGb
And he slaps her hard across the face. "Ouch!"
176Please respect copyright.PENANAIcy47n59fw
"That is not your business. Just get me what I want and I won't hurt you.
176Please respect copyright.PENANABka4S8qCci
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?"
176Please respect copyright.PENANAdiXUbCPji1
"N-no."
176Please respect copyright.PENANADIe6uX9Woc
"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..."
176Please respect copyright.PENANAKQmmKZG8Np
"Ah!" She squeals, feeling him force some tablets into her mouth and he holds out a bottle of water to her.
176Please respect copyright.PENANAeRsxGKhdDW
"Drink it."
176Please respect copyright.PENANA0BsgM9iN66
She shakes her head.
176Please respect copyright.PENANApKDTbYDfK3
"Would you prefer me use more violent methods, Jess?"
176Please respect copyright.PENANA7QOE39tnhb
She shakes her head. "So, drink."
And she takes a long sip of the water, swallowing the tablets.
176Please respect copyright.PENANAsco7toTD2R
"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.
176Please respect copyright.PENANALVEnMYp9aq
"You can drift off, just go to sleep. Think of sheep, Jess. One sheep, two sheep, three sheep, four sheep..."
176Please respect copyright.PENANAQx9jZS7sMl
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.
176Please respect copyright.PENANAqLBVM5kkVK