Michelle Maddox - Countdown

There was a whirring sound and the door to my right opened, moving from floor to ceiling. It was dark beyond. I approached it cautiously and looked inside.

It looked like a luxury hotel room. Large and grand, with rich fabrics and beautiful artwork. A large four-poster bed was to the right. To the left an archway led into a huge bathroom. A large window looked out to a red, orange, pink, and yellow sunset over a tranquil rippling lake. Trees waved gently in the breeze. I approached closer and touched the window. The image flickered. It wasn't a window at all, but a large display screen. I could see the slot on the right side where the disk containing the image files went. The moving picture it displayed looked just like I'd imagined Offworld would look-absolutely perfect.

Looks so real, I thought absently.

Next to the screen and spread across a table was a feast unlike anything I'd ever seen before. Fruit, breads, meat, lobster, shrimp, cheese. A large bottle of wine sat in a silver bucket surrounded by ice. I reached out, noticing that my hand was shaking, and plucked a green grape from the table and brought it to my mouth, crunching down through the skin. The sweetness burst in my mouth. I felt as if I hadn't eaten in days. And I hadn't. Not really. Not like this.

Level Four is a reward level, Jonathan had said.

This was my reward. Food and a bit of privacy. I hadn't even realized how hungry I was until I saw real food.

Where was Rogan? I wondered, and my stomach twisted again with concern. Was he in a room just like this one?

After another minute of worry, my hunger won out.

I started to shovel the food into my mouth. Cheese, crackers, more grapes. Ignoring the wineglasses I grabbed the bottle and tipped it back, chugging the wine down my throat.

After a few minutes at the feast filled me enough to concentrate on something else, I moved toward the bathroom and gasped. There was a large bathtub, more like a Jacuzzi, filled near to overflowing with bubbles. The scent that filled the warm air was sweet and floral, like roses dipped in honey.

I looked around, trying to see where the cameras were, but I couldn't see any.

Was Jonathan serious that part of my reward was some privacy? It seemed too good to be true. I wouldn't let myself believe it, and my suspicions only worked to make my now-full stomach more upset.

I paced for several more minutes, waiting for the other shoe to drop. Waiting for the cameras to burst out of the walls.

But there was nothing.

I listened carefully to the silence surrounding me and wondered for the eightieth time where Rogan was. My implant wasn't giving off any strange beeping signals. Wherever he was, he was less than ninety feet away.

I slowly became aware of an unpleasant smell and realized that it was me. I'd been running and sweating hard for two days now, and even after being drenched from the rainfall, I felt completely disgusting.

Finally I let the robe drop to the floor and I eased into the tub, letting out an audible sigh. It had been so long since I'd had a real bath. I'd gotten by on quick showers whenever and wherever I got the chance. This was pure ecstasy. Still paranoid, I waited for a silver camera to fly up and catch me naked in the bathtub, but there was only blissful silence.

I thought of Rogan then as I sank down deeper into the calming water. Was he receiving the same treatment?

There were two bottles, one of shampoo and one of conditioner, and I quickly made use of each one, slipping beneath the surface of the water to rinse my hair clean.

When I was finished I got out of the tub, toweling myself dry and putting the robe back on. I went back out to the main room and tried to organize my thoughts.

There was no time for relaxation. Even after the food and the bath, I still felt on edge. I had to use this time to figure out how to get out of this game before it killed me.

The door burst open and Rogan appeared behind it. He stepped inside the room just as the door slammed shut behind him.

My eyes widened at him. He wore a matching robe to mine. His hair was slicked back off his face, which was now grime-free. His eyes stood out like blue-green jewels in the dim lighting.

Damn, I'd been right. He did clean up really well.

He stared at me for a moment and then eyed the room, including the buffet table. He stormed toward me and grabbed my arms.

His expression was intense. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah, I'm … I'm fine. And you?"

"Did you eat any of this food?"

"Yes."

He shook his head. "Didn't it occur to you that it might be drugged?"

I raised my eyebrows. "Actually, now that you mention it-"

He glared at me. "It could have been poisoned."

"I was starving to death. And I'm fine. See?" I turned around. "Not dead yet."

He gave me a look of relief and sat down on the edge of the bed. "No, I guess you aren't."

"Maybe a reward level is simply that. A reward. No poison. And apparently no cameras, either."

"Forgive me if I'm a bit suspicious of anything that happens to us."

God, and I thought I was tense. Rogan seemed to be the definition of the word.

I eyed his white robe. "They gave you a bath, too?"

"More like a hosing off."

"You smell nice for a change."

He looked up at me. "So do you." He moistened his lips with the tip of his tongue and frowned deeply at me. "But you're okay? They didn't hurt you?"

"No. I'm fine."

"I'm very glad to hear it." His expression softened, and he reached up to touch my face and almost seemed surprised that I didn't pull away.

His hand felt warm against my cheek. "About what happened on the platform …" I started.

He pulled his hand away and stood up from the bed. "I guess you have some questions for me, don't you?"

I nodded.

He started to pace the room, his expression darkening. "I didn't kill your family, Kira. You have to believe me."

"I believe you." I tried to meet his gaze but he looked away.

"I don't want there to be any doubt. Not anymore. But I don't know how to prove it to you so you won't doubt it again."

I bit my lip. "Actually, there's a way. If you're willing."

His frown deepened. "If it'll prove to you that I'm innocent then I'm open to anything."

"Are you sure about that?" I finally captured his gaze and took a step closer to him.

He nodded stiffly. "I'm sure."

"You might want to sit down, then."

He eyed me curiously but didn't argue, and sat down in a nearby plush burgundy chair. I walked around to stand behind him.

"Just try to relax," I suggested.

I leaned closer and slid my hands under his robe on either shoulder, and then down to his chest. Full skin on skin. I felt his heartbeat quicken under my touch. His breathing increased. He was so warm and still damp from his shower.

"What are you doing?" he asked, his voice a little gruff.

I moistened my lips and whispered into his ear, "Shh. I need to concentrate."

And I did.

And I flexed.

I heard him gasp softly as I entered his mind.

The sensations flooded over me. The true Rogan was revealed beneath my fingers and into me.

::::::::Alone

Tired::::::::

Angry::::::::

::::::::Revenge

Despair::::::::

::::::: Disappointment

Betrayal::::::::

::::::::Guilt

Sadness::::::::

::::::::Desire

It didn't hurt yet, and I sensed something else inside of him. I slid deeper into his mind.

No… I didn't do it…. She doesn't believe me…. She hates me…. She's so beautiful… so brave … so strong…. I need to kill him…. He needs to be stopped…. I need to stop this once and for all… once and for all… all my fault… all of this is all my fault..

I pulled my hands away from him as the pain suddenly knifed through my brain, and I fell to the floor holding my head and moaning.