Chapter 50: Nothing Is Ever What It Seems
Mikayla was up early the next morning. She received a message from Dr. Crane. He was a senior scientist for the Ripe Company. He had undergone several technological modifications to enhance his mental capacity. He could be considered Ripe’s equivalent to Dr. Cortex.
He wanted to speak to Mikayla immediately. Mikayla turned on the video conference feature on her computer.
‘Good morning, Dr. Crane. I’m honoured you took the time to speak to me directly,’ said Mikayla.
‘Don’t be,’ replied Dr. Crane. ‘Within two days of arriving here, you recommended your subject apply for residency in Jeed. Why?’
‘I believe he is ideal for living and working here,’ responded Mikayla.
‘You took him to a party last night. The feedback I have received is not good,’ said Dr. Crane.
‘It was a new experience for him. The next party will be different,’ replied Mikayla.
‘Make sure it is, or I’ll have to get someone else to complete the assessment,’ said Dr. Crane. He ended the call abruptly.
After the call, Mikayla went to check on Darius. He was asleep, lying on top of the bed in just his underpants. She thought she would let him sleep for a bit longer. She did a brief workout. Then she cooked up some pancakes.
She returned to Darius. ‘Wakey, wakey,’ she said as she gently shook him.
‘What do you want?’ Darius grumbled.
‘I made you pancakes for breakfast,’ replied Mikayla.
‘I have a terrible headache,’ grumbled Darius.
‘Here, take these pills. They’ll help,’ said Mikayla as she handed them to Darius. ‘How did you enjoy the party?’ she asked him.
‘I can’t remember much, but what I can remember is awful,’ replied Darius.
‘First times are always a bit weird,’ said Mikayla. ‘You’ll get used to them and eventually enjoy them.’
‘I think we’ll keep to the stuff we know is fun,’ said Darius as he sat up.
‘The main theme of this therapy is taking you out of your comfort zone,’ replied Mikayla in a slightly curt tone.
Darius got off the bed. He quickly put on some clothes and headed to the kitchen to eat pancakes. Mikayla followed Darius into the kitchen.
‘You’re going to let a simple party defeat you,’ said Mikayla.
‘Nothing to do with that. I didn’t enjoy it,’ said Darius angrily. ‘They’re a bunch of degenerates who want to screw each other until they pass out or worse.’
‘If you’re going to live here, you won’t be able to avoid parties completely. It is a party region,’ said Mikayla firmly. ‘Your work will require you to be involved with them in some way.’
‘Maybe I’m better off in Adoy,’ replied Darius.
‘You encounter one obstacle, and then you decide to quit,’ said Mikayla.
‘I’m sick of being played and manipulated,’ shouted Darius. ‘You’re just like everyone else.’
Darius left the kitchen and returned to his room. He slammed the door behind him. In response to the commotion, the neighbours in the block opposite stared into Mikayla’s apartment. Mikayla pulled the blinds closed. She sat on the sofa with her computer to do some work.
Darius remained in his room for a few hours before coming out. ‘I’m feeling better now. Sorry, I shouted at you,’ said Darius as he sat himself down next to Mikayla.
‘Do you want to stay here?’ Mikayla asked firmly.
‘Yes, I do,’ replied Darius. ‘This place is fun, and you’re here.’
‘If you’re going to stay, you will do everything I tell you. Do you understand?’ said Mikayla as she leaned towards him.
‘I understand,’ replied Darius nervously.
‘Tonight, we are going to another party,’ she said. ‘We will spend the rest of the day preparing you for this party.’
‘Sure,’ replied Darius.
They spent the next couple of hours practicing conversations and running through a few possible scenarios. In the early afternoon, they both went out for lunch and shopped for clothes for Darius. They returned to the apartment to get dressed early. They practiced for a few more hours before they needed to leave.
‘I think you’re ready this time,’ Mikayla said to Darius.
‘I know what I’m doing this time,’ replied Darius.
The party was held a few blocks further away than the previous party. It was on a larger rooftop and had more than double the number of guests. There were plenty of snacks and drinks spread across several tables. Darius made sure to drink very slowly to avoid getting drunk. Mikayla introduced Darius as her boyfriend again. The other guests were impressed with the couple. Darius spoke confidently with the other guests.
After spending the first hour together, Mikayla felt confident that Darius could mingle with the other guests by himself. As the night went on, some of the other guests were getting a little drunk. Darius continued to handle himself well. He engaged in some of the antics with the other guests, such as peeing off the side of the building, throwing and being thrown into the swimming pool, and setting off fireworks.
A couple of hours later, Darius rejoined Mikayla. She was in a very good mood.
‘Having fun?’ she asked Darius.
‘Much better this time,’ he replied. ‘How about you?’
‘Amazing,’ she replied.
Darius and Mikayla left the party to return home.
On the walk home, Mikayla asked Darius, ‘Did tonight’s experience change your mind?’
‘Yeah, it did,’ replied Darius. ‘Looks like you were right again.’
‘Well, I’ve lived here longer. So, I should know more about what happens here,’ said Mikayla.
‘You disappeared for a while. What did you get up to?’ asked Darius.
‘As much fun as you had with your hose,’ replied Mikayla.
‘Don’t tell me you cheated on your pretend boyfriend,’ said Darius, pretending to be shocked.
‘No, of course not,’ said Mikayla sternly. ‘I don’t have a pretend boyfriend.’
‘Really, do you mean that?’ asked Darius as he stopped to look at Mikayla.
Mikayla smiled and said, ‘Let’s get you back to the apartment.’
They entered the apartment together. Darius was confused. He was attracted to Mikayla. Mikayla was caring towards him but only intermittently affectionate.
‘Tell me honestly, do you want to be my girlfriend?’ Darius asked.
‘After we finish the programme, we can figure ourselves out,’ said Mikayla. ‘It’s a lot more complicated than you think.’
They both went into their respective bedrooms to change into their nightwear. Darius stripped down to his underpants. He turned off the light and got into bed.
A few minutes later, Mikayla walked into Darius’ room. It was too dark to determine what she was wearing. She climbed onto Darius’ bed. From on top of the blanket, she straddled his body with her legs. Darius felt tense. He could feel the hairs stand up all over his body.
Mikayla leaned forward and said, ‘You need to relax.’
‘Are we about to make love?’ asked Darius.
Mikayla began to giggle. She climbed off him. ‘You can join me in my room if you like,’ she said as she walked out of his room.
Darius could tell from the light in the hall that she was naked or almost naked. Darius lied in bed for a few minutes. He took a few deep breaths. He lied in bed a few minutes longer as he built up the courage to go to Mikayla.
Finally, he got out of bed. He pulled his underpants off. He walked naked from his bedroom to Mikayla’s bedroom. The room was dark. She was under the covers. He climbed under the covers with her.
‘I’m here,’ he whispered.
She did not respond. He looked at her carefully. He realised she was asleep. He put his arm gently around her and fell asleep too.
The next day, when Darius woke up, Mikayla was not there. She had been in the lounge on a video conference with Dr. Crane. She was unhappy with the outcome of the call. She came in to see Darius.
‘You need to leave,’ she said to Darius.
‘Huh, what do you mean?’ Darius replied, sounding confused.
‘They are not going to let you stay,’ said Mikayla. ‘You need to get back to Adoy. I’ve booked a ticket for the next train out of here.’
‘I don’t understand. What happened?’ asked Darius.
‘No time to explain,’ she said. ‘I’ll find you in Adoy in a few days’ time, okay?’
Darius quickly got out of bed. He packed as fast as he could.
‘I’ll accompany you to the train station,’ she said to him as she quickly grabbed her bag.
About fifteen minutes later, they arrived at the train station.
‘It’ll be here soon,’ said Mikayla.
They stood and waited for the train. About ten minutes later, the train arrived. Darius got on the train and made his way to his seat. Mikayla followed along the outside of the train.
‘Message me once you arrive back in Adoy,’ she shouted out to him.
The train left the station. Mikayla sighed in relief as the train disappeared. She headed back to the apartment.
From a distance, she could see two other Ripe Company specialists and two enforcers outside her building. She knew she could not return to her apartment. She wanted to rent a buggy, but she knew she would be stopped. She decided she would go on foot in the Southern Agriculture Zone. She managed to sneak out through the region’s exit point.
Darius was on the train. He was feeling confused and scared. He had no idea what could have happened.
Around thirty minutes later, the train stopped at the next station. Two enforcers entered the carriage. Darius turned to face the window. The enforcers walked past. Darius sighed in relief. Then, there was a tap on the window. It was an enforcer.
Darius got up from his seat. He headed down the carriage in the opposite direction from the enforcers, who had just passed him. Just as he passed the door, an enforcer grabbed him, pulling him from the train. The enforcer pushed Darius to the ground. Two Ripe specialists arrived.
‘We’ll take him from here,’ said one of the specialists to the enforcer. The enforcer handed him over to them.
‘What are you doing with me?’ demanded Darius.
‘Our company has determined that you are mentally unsound and not fit to ever return to society again,’ said one of the specialists.
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