Hard Wired Trilogy by DeAnna Pearce (smart books to read .TXT) 📕

going to say? He was going faster than she was comfortable with? Might as well tell him she was the biggest prude on campus. He tried to sit up, but she pinned him down again. The pained expression on his face warned her that he had a normal response to pain in his stripped condition.

“I ...” She struggled to find the words. “What does it matter? I was just another first-year anyway, Garrett.”

“Yeah, just another first-year I spent hours with. You must think I have all the time in the world.” He spit out the words, muscles tightened and strained under her grasp.

Before Ari could question him further, Torq entered the cave.

“Oh, I see. While I’m getting thrashed by a troll, you’re getting freaky with him.” Torq’s blue patterns on his skin spun, his adrenaline racing. “Nice costume, bud,” he added dismissively.

Torq picked up the jewel. The golden color shimmered against his blue skin. It signaled the end of the game. Before Ari could say another word, the world rapidly dissolved in front of her.

Chapter Sixteen

At a heavy wooden table, Ari nursed a draft of ale. Next to her, Tessa flirted with a tall dark elf. Still reeling from her encounter with Garrett, Ari silently watched this exotic and almost alien world called the Winners’ Circle. Small purple nymphs danced on the open floor, colored ribbons highlighting their magical acrobatics. King and Queen type figures sat on their gold thrones at the front of the room. They appeared more magical than human as they applauded the nymphs’ entertainment. Torq perched on a bar stool, whispering something to a tall fairy of some sort. Her pristine hand landed on his arm, and his tattoos spun wildly.

Tessa’s elf left, and her eyes followed him briefly before turning her attention back to Ari. Tessa’s obvious infatuation surprised Ari. Like a friend getting tipsy for a first time, it opened up a whole new facet to their persona. Who knew, maybe Tessa was drunk? “Do you want to dance or drink the night away, Oya?”

Ari sipped the cold drink in her hand, its earthy flavor flooding her mouth. “Not sure.”

“What is it?”

“What’s what?”

Tessa adjusted her wings tight into her back as she turned to Ari. “What are you thinking about instead of drinking and enjoying this crazy world? There are a lot of people who wish they could be here. It’s my fifth time. Hence, why I pick my second despite Torq’s constant complaining.”

“Is it possible to change code mid-game?” Ari couldn’t shake off the encounter with Garrett. What were the chances that the game made a mistake at the same time she noticed the code in the game?

Tessa took another drink and winked at a large troll across the room. “It depends if you believe in warpers, aliens and all that other stuff. It’s great to dream of super powers though.”

“Sure.” If that was true, then Ari really didn’t know what to think of the game.

She ignored Ari and locked eyes with the elf from before, who was now returning. She leaned towards Ari. “Remember who may be watching before you hook up with an elf or warlock in the most unspeakable manner, as I am about to do.”

Ari shivered. Corporations often watched or sold information from virtuals, but she hated being reminded of it.

The elf stood next to Tessa and reached for her hand. “My lady.” He bent over and kissed her hand. “Our chariot is waiting.”

“Where to?”

“To the ends of the world. Where else?”

Tessa turned back, her features strangely beautiful. “Try to have some fun, will you? Enjoy the fairy folk. Watch out for the green ones though.”

Then Tessa walked out, her black wings shimmering in the candlelight that filled the hall.

Have fun, Ari thought. Not easy with a whirlwind of thoughts bombarding her.

A gorgeous faerie with tall icy features approached her. Before he could open his mouth, she held up her hand and shook her head. Closing her eyes, she willed herself out of the virtual.

Ari awoke in the dark room, the smell of bodies and an odd mixture of perfumes overwhelming her. Hurrying out of the VR room, she continued through the lobby. Glancing at the old code littered around the room in decoration, she wondered if maybe the code in the game was a glitch or product of her imagination. She’d glimpsed those errors before, but she’d figured everyone saw them.

But to change the code? She needed to ask Tessa more about it. Maybe this was in Ari’s head, or maybe this was why she was selected for this school. Either way, Tessa would be in the game for a couple more hours. She scanned the crowd briefly looking for her brother, but with no luck, she headed out into the dark night.

Ari wasn’t about to spend cash on a cab though, so she walked the five blocks or so back to the condo. The sun had fallen long ago, and the neon lights of the businesses colored the night sky. Masses of people blurred past, laughing and talking as they forged in and out of the clubs and hotels. The buzz of their excitement carried her for a couple blocks.

The crowd thinned, and her feet ached. The black heels were as uncomfortable as they were impractical. She assumed Tessa’s stepmother never had to walk more than a block in these. When she stopped to pull off the shoes, she noticed a man behind her. He caught her watching, he quickly turned his attention to an advertisement in a nearby store. He wore a blue baseball cap that hid his face, except for a goatee on his chin. She shook off the uncomfortable feeling creeping along her spine and continued down the street barefoot.

After another block, someone called her name. Turning around, Reed shouted from the back of a cab. He waved her towards him. Since, the cab was already crammed full, Ari shook her head, declining his offer. She didn’t feel like hanging out with a