"Come in, Security. Assistance is required in the Nursery."
104Please respect copyright.PENANA5Zw2QxTCDq
Comes over the walkie talkies. "Ugh." Jess says to herself, and then picks up. "Reporting, I'll be there in a minute."
104Please respect copyright.PENANA1EJygoeU3z
She heads over to the nursery which is very spacious and pastel colored.
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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.
104Please respect copyright.PENANAPdwhh8EFr0
A information greeter is there, standing with the nursery nanny android, Dreamer. Dreamer has a girl in her arms who's clinging to her.
104Please respect copyright.PENANAVeG9HUMfxC
"You called, Isabelle?" Jess speaks up. Isabelle turns to Jess. "Yeah, hi, Jess.
104Please respect copyright.PENANAX2tpUfE7RG
So, you know how the Centre is closing soon. Well... This here is Jade, she's four.
104Please respect copyright.PENANAfmJ6WJNXcR
It seems she was abandoned here in the Nursery pretty much when the Centre opened."
104Please respect copyright.PENANADCcuElrpPj
"And you want me to find her family?"
104Please respect copyright.PENANAa6AamI7QJX
"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.
104Please respect copyright.PENANAbmTpHiTavL
I've already asked the other greeters, but none recall anyone carrying Jade here."
104Please respect copyright.PENANA6muQEU7El1
"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."
104Please respect copyright.PENANAoHO5uwJvCv
"Okay, yeah. Thank you." And Isabelle turns to Dreamer, talking the girl from her.
104Please respect copyright.PENANAivqlL7vkvn
"Oh." Says the girl, pouting and starting to tear up.
104Please respect copyright.PENANALFiiyOvjeP
"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?
104Please respect copyright.PENANAgxvtbK6jwe
In the mean time, I'm going to go find your family."
104Please respect copyright.PENANAUDP70rFT4D
"Jamie!" Jade squeals.
104Please respect copyright.PENANAN5olxUAsQB
"Jamie? Yeah, and who is she?"
104Please respect copyright.PENANAqATh3oVFlX
"Lollypop!"
104Please respect copyright.PENANACHCGbJd5YW
"Okay, you want that lollypop."
104Please respect copyright.PENANA52iCzdtytw
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."
104Please respect copyright.PENANA28NZAHYNK7
"Of course, Jessie Thompson."
And Dreamers begins to walk around, picking up crayons, placing them into cups.
104Please respect copyright.PENANA6zqA7SW7GD
"It's Jess." Jess says under her breath, walking out into the main area. She sees Bella and makes a beeline straight for her.
104Please respect copyright.PENANAsFSBcYnT2v
"Hey Bella-"
104Please respect copyright.PENANAGRHdj7shJm
"We have a lost kid, I know. Security Footage is being checked as we speak."
104Please respect copyright.PENANAfZyzfeg8qG
"Uh- OK." And Jess turns away from, Bella. They wait for about five minutes and a screenshot is sent to a tablet, Bella has.
104Please respect copyright.PENANAtdwpKwOtXf
All the supervisors of each department have one. Bella turns the tablet to Jess, showing her a still shot from the cameras.
104Please respect copyright.PENANAlRnahRr1ul
"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.
104Please respect copyright.PENANANaVoI3EKtt
Seems she dumped her little sister in the Nursery."
104Please respect copyright.PENANAecZB9tS9n2
"Irresponsible."
104Please respect copyright.PENANAj6VCCVC725
"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.
104Please respect copyright.PENANA0Wp5AxcN3q
Jamie's fifteen - Old enough to do so."
104Please respect copyright.PENANA1p1zcLioZS
"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.
104Please respect copyright.PENANAKWNDLPhcGr
"Got it, Jake. Thanks." Day responds, answering. "You wanna go do that for me?" She asks Jess.
104Please respect copyright.PENANAf7C5dz7yw2
"Sure." She responds, sighing and heads straight there. She heads to the Go Karts Track and finds them easily in no time.
104Please respect copyright.PENANAi1Pb7oF5kH
"The park is closing, all guests are to make their way to the front. Go." She says and the teenagers slink away.
104Please respect copyright.PENANABcvLqs58Xo
"Not you." And she pulls Jamie back by the arm.
104Please respect copyright.PENANAMNsXskaMw2
"Hey, what gives!" Jamie whines.
104Please respect copyright.PENANAfA9qm14jdr
"One. You're required to watch your baby sister, you can't dump her on android, Dreamer in the Nursery and run.
104Please respect copyright.PENANABe38ivDh7V
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.
104Please respect copyright.PENANAqCgSps1ed9
And two, it's a school day, not a weekend. Why you and your friends here and not in school?"
104Please respect copyright.PENANALNSVLosXX5
"What does it look like?"
104Please respect copyright.PENANARftmyE06HP
"You're ditching."
104Please respect copyright.PENANA2SaUuPS4yL
"Yep."
104Please respect copyright.PENANAWphypHKlOl
"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.
104Please respect copyright.PENANALLUL18cT1R
They find you, you'll be taken to school or the police station."
104Please respect copyright.PENANA3sRrMZdgdV
"Don't care, yawn."
104Please respect copyright.PENANAr7QJ3Tv8sB
"Fine, have it your way, Jamie. Just telling you what could happen. Come here again, look after your sister.
104Please respect copyright.PENANANkQ8rhuxw6
If not, we're required to contact your guardians and if we can't get in contact with any, the police will be called."
104Please respect copyright.PENANAA8qPkuEtKb
"Okay, fine. I'll do better tomorrow."
104Please respect copyright.PENANABlyqlbNPM4
"Tomorrow?"
104Please respect copyright.PENANAfiHTVgvFwC
"Yeah, me and my friends and Jade are here every day."
104Please respect copyright.PENANAkZtbeu037B
"You're missing a-lot of school."
104Please respect copyright.PENANAYYMGqKkbmE
"Don't care, and Jade is getting interaction with others her age. It's practically daycare for her. Have you seen the Nursery?"
104Please respect copyright.PENANAcNndPAC29f
"Is everything okay at home-"
104Please respect copyright.PENANAZ79m3kLvGn
"I'm leaving now, take me to my sister."
104Please respect copyright.PENANAH27PQeQf8i
"Uh- okay. Yeah, she's at the service desk at the front. Well, information counter. They're kinda the same thing."
104Please respect copyright.PENANAhOHufkeXet
And Jess leads Jamie there.
104Please respect copyright.PENANAr83Fwm1dZq
"Jamie!" Jade squeals, seeing her old sister and reaches her chubby toddler hands out for her. Jade takes her from the greeter/information person.
104Please respect copyright.PENANAUjz587ONPu
"Jamie Stevens." Bella says, tapping her foot and arms crossed.
104Please respect copyright.PENANA80VlnRJjZF
"What? You're colleague already lectured me, I'll look after her next time."
104Please respect copyright.PENANANTtGPtBmV3
"You better, now go. Centre is closing."
104Please respect copyright.PENANAQKk2BN0Omh
And Jamie leaves with Jade, scanning their bracelets on the way out.
104Please respect copyright.PENANAEO4JfGX11Q
"Uh, so... Can you go into Princess' dressing room and tell it to report back to the android warehouse?"
104Please respect copyright.PENANAOI6c5bjam6
"Can I leave after that and go home?"
104Please respect copyright.PENANAOyhSslh8KO
"Yes, you can."
104Please respect copyright.PENANAnAahhuetZN
And Jess does so as she was asked. She heads behind the stage, heading down the corridor and knocks on Princess' dressing room door.
104Please respect copyright.PENANA5UqTIsFvLU
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.
104Please respect copyright.PENANAFMMxvXh6VC
"Seriously." Jess says, picking up two dresses and one pair of boots and takes them over to the small walk in closet.
104Please respect copyright.PENANAQFlY77ecZt
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.
104Please respect copyright.PENANAdTGUQQ4NZB
"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.
104Please respect copyright.PENANABdWKhTKXU4
She comes face to face with her, well, it.
104Please respect copyright.PENANAE7sX4r883H
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.
104Please respect copyright.PENANAoBOs53Kvsc
"Jessie Thompson."
104Please respect copyright.PENANA3yr4AHAZbF
Ah- I-It's Jess. Call me, Jess." She chokes out.
104Please respect copyright.PENANAyIHXy4bWIp
"Jess." It repeats.
104Please respect copyright.PENANAKV0Cmjfigo
"W-what do you want from me?"
This can't be happening, they can't behave like this, it's not possible!
104Please respect copyright.PENANAq0HTqUfPPK
It has to be a glitch! She looks to Princess indicator around her ear, but it's light blue. Not yellow or... red.
104Please respect copyright.PENANAt9rHguIcaI
"The dark's not something to be afraid of, I don't want you to be scared of it."
104Please respect copyright.PENANAKVRQxoJDrF
"M-me? Scared of the dark?"
104Please respect copyright.PENANAqxqSulZdnD
"Yes, or small spaces."
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"I feel pretty claustrophobic now, and it is dark in here!"
104Please respect copyright.PENANAkorgHo6RbW
"And I don't want you to be scared of either of them, you should work on your fears."
104Please respect copyright.PENANA9OlG4iME0e
"Let me go."
104Please respect copyright.PENANAShquVzo3l7
"Say it."
104Please respect copyright.PENANAILTDmJpTVm
"S-say what?"
104Please respect copyright.PENANAHJLTgCuokc
"My fears cannot hurt me, they are only as real as I make and let them be."
104Please respect copyright.PENANAQf1i1Y42zC
"I can't-"
104Please respect copyright.PENANARdhnksSd5a
"Say it, I'll do it with you. My fears cannot hurt me."
104Please respect copyright.PENANACrYAn1hjTD
"My fears c-cannot hurt m-me."
104Please respect copyright.PENANAtnwc5i2R5v
"They are only as real as I make and let them be."
104Please respect copyright.PENANAdogapTjn9s
"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."
104Please respect copyright.PENANAJ5u6DOir8R
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.
104Please respect copyright.PENANAdtd5fBj3kX
"And now breath out, drop your shoulders more."
104Please respect copyright.PENANAROVfjbnVaz
And she tries to do so.
104Please respect copyright.PENANA7ZwhfL0HRU
"Good, good. You did good, Jess."
104Please respect copyright.PENANAA6YURRa9H4
"Why are you d-doing this?"
104Please respect copyright.PENANAbl5s9LfIp6
"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...
104Please respect copyright.PENANApx4gbsPrsk
Well, you don't need me to finish the scenario."
104Please respect copyright.PENANAklttRCwe5a
"This can't be possible!"
104Please respect copyright.PENANA0QorGicc2S
"What not possible?"
104Please respect copyright.PENANAeCmKPLFiVj
"Talking like this!"
104Please respect copyright.PENANAPsG1whKO1k
"......"
104Please respect copyright.PENANAG23uxlCxqj
She doesn't say anything and just keeps looking straight ahead at Jess.
104Please respect copyright.PENANAsyZ80lNQDb
"Princess, let me go. I-I wanna go. I have to go home."
104Please respect copyright.PENANAM1NY7pQ3DF
"Do you have somewhere to live now?"
104Please respect copyright.PENANAav3auCL7uO
"What- How do you know that?"
104Please respect copyright.PENANAjqLLwHRHOc
"Sick humans can't recover living on the streets. Do you feel better?"
104Please respect copyright.PENANASsJxE8wk0z
"T-that all was like t-two weeks ago now..."
104Please respect copyright.PENANAz8yk4liedH
"Do you have somewhere to stay and do you feel better?"
104Please respect copyright.PENANAJUSai7ZAdC
"Yes! Yes to both!"
104Please respect copyright.PENANAZBEmz0eZgQ
"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."
104Please respect copyright.PENANAM6E7GKh8JS
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.
104Please respect copyright.PENANAw8cw1nt5Q5
"I'm going home now! Princess has returned to her the warehouse! Bye!" She says panicked.
104Please respect copyright.PENANA98KrkGstXC
"Uh, bye?" Bella responds, not getting much of a chance to say anything else.
104Please respect copyright.PENANADqs7jhN08Q
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.
104Please respect copyright.PENANABocEnlWzAq
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.
104Please respect copyright.PENANAwqPGGYaiVt
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.
104Please respect copyright.PENANAuik60t6c6T
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.
104Please respect copyright.PENANAswOxTIt2Kd
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.
104Please respect copyright.PENANA2X0W6oWTxD
"Mph!" She manages. "Stop struggling and you won't get a concussion." They whisper into her ear. "Deal?"
104Please respect copyright.PENANAmm5A0lEL0Q
"Mph!"
104Please respect copyright.PENANAKRR7KupVgU
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.
104Please respect copyright.PENANAHOivi0ZjRv
I have a gun."
104Please respect copyright.PENANAFBzmoKlbw6
And he removes his hand. She reminds silent, but slightly fidgeting and they increase their grip around her stomach as they unlock their boot.
104Please respect copyright.PENANAeTSak6erSW
The boot pops open and he feels him push her in. "No!" She manages, voice quiet toned though.
104Please respect copyright.PENANAcVaPOCUtqT
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.
104Please respect copyright.PENANAZTFB9u8RBo
"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.
104Please respect copyright.PENANAUsTbST3nXK
She stars up at him, now able to get a good look at his face. The background behind him is distant buildings and stars.
104Please respect copyright.PENANAWBJWgGkPBy
"W-where are we?"
104Please respect copyright.PENANAbWRTgOVt5Z
"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.
104Please respect copyright.PENANAdapu2QxHSy
"What's your name?" He speaks up.
104Please respect copyright.PENANAP5ykoarZSF
"J-Jessie Thompson."
104Please respect copyright.PENANA12fJmYJn8G
"Can I call ya, Jess?"
104Please respect copyright.PENANAIG3cWj8zMR
She nods her head. "Great. I'm Douglas... Douglas Stiefvater."
104Please respect copyright.PENANAmRq6cHvLwM
And she looks at him with shock. "Do you know what I want from you?" He asks.
104Please respect copyright.PENANA8a2ud99G3C
She doesn't say anything. "You can speak." He says.
104Please respect copyright.PENANAlAtY1pxDrY
"You're... personal company?"
104Please respect copyright.PENANAPl4TwhNPbO
"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."
104Please respect copyright.PENANAHjmlTnrF9X
"Kind of..."
104Please respect copyright.PENANAIzeZQnsGtK
"Listen, I want you to be my informant.
104Please respect copyright.PENANAszJhv9HIAo
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?"
104Please respect copyright.PENANAI2MXfZqdI4
"D-Douglas... I-I'm a Security guard."
104Please respect copyright.PENANA679jm2W08S
"And? Anyone can do my dirty work and you're who I chose."
104Please respect copyright.PENANAm5iXaSnJef
"But I don't have access to any important systems or any major areas like offices, the IT department-"
104Please respect copyright.PENANAMgVkGT4Uua
"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.
104Please respect copyright.PENANA3iJo1mJz68
"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.
104Please respect copyright.PENANAKtarm5NjZI
You find time to get me what I need."
104Please respect copyright.PENANAGRpot1Mwy8
"And how much do you want?"
104Please respect copyright.PENANAyhfeyAq6Ju
"Everything, just everything. Send me everything. Finance reports, Android patches and coding re-write, building expansion plans and renovations, employee hire database.
104Please respect copyright.PENANAvA2eTFEpUP
Whatever you can get your hands on."
104Please respect copyright.PENANAeUz6OSmba7
"And what are you going to do with it all?"
104Please respect copyright.PENANAfyjBfSy76B
And he slaps her hard across the face. "Ouch!"
104Please respect copyright.PENANAJoxCGCIbkb
"That is not your business. Just get me what I want and I won't hurt you.
104Please respect copyright.PENANAGcj8WNj2OF
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?"
104Please respect copyright.PENANA4SPidEoPvt
"N-no."
104Please respect copyright.PENANAMvpfmpwwdO
"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..."
104Please respect copyright.PENANAXcgc5uVHvy
"Ah!" She squeals, feeling him force some tablets into her mouth and he holds out a bottle of water to her.
104Please respect copyright.PENANAEP4UzfqE6j
"Drink it."
104Please respect copyright.PENANAatKX84aIxJ
She shakes her head.
104Please respect copyright.PENANA5TYWU8cOoH
"Would you prefer me use more violent methods, Jess?"
104Please respect copyright.PENANA54SpOY5suw
She shakes her head. "So, drink."
And she takes a long sip of the water, swallowing the tablets.
104Please respect copyright.PENANAfZo0TildvX
"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.
104Please respect copyright.PENANAuMEmCHDHGx
"You can drift off, just go to sleep. Think of sheep, Jess. One sheep, two sheep, three sheep, four sheep..."
104Please respect copyright.PENANAvdLj9Brxks
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.
104Please respect copyright.PENANAVZK7qSOruw