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  HOOKED

  Hardwired Trilogy Book1

  DeAnna Browne

  This is a work of fiction. Names, places, characters and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to any actual persons, living or dead, businesses, organizations, registered trademarks, and registered service marks are the property of their respective owners and are used herein for identification purposes only.

  HOOKED

  Copyright © 2018 DeAnna Browne

  Cover Art by Bukovero

  All cover art copyright © 2018

  All rights reserved.

  ISBN-13: 978-1-948884-00-6

  All rights reserved under the International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the author.

  Dedication

  To my critique partners

  for their never-ending support

  and motivation to brush off the dust

  and publish this story.

  CHAPTER 1

  This isn’t real.

  Ari stood on a nearby hill above the familiar carnival with her brother, Marco. Rides spun endlessly in the distance, and neon lights flashed, illuminating the dark night. It stole her back to a time when the world was a different place, a place full of laughter. An uneasy sensation crawled along Ari’s skin as she thought of her body tucked back in reality with wires streaming from the port in her neck.

  “Remember how you puked on the Spinning Hammers?” A wide smile lit up Marco’s face. Marco and Ari both took after their mother with their tanned skin, dark wavy hair, and chocolate eyes. Except for the smile—Marco wore their father’s smile.

  She couldn’t figure out how her brother always appeared so put together, in and out of the virtual realm. Ari wore a flannel shirt and beat up jeans, and not on purpose. The VR program let people change their clothes, but Ari never stuck around long enough to bother with fashion.

  She turned back to the carnival, the rides antiquated and shedding their paint even in this computerized replica. The carnival had come around every spring when they were little. People lined up all day and night for rides, an event so popular someone made it into a VR.

  “Please, Marco, I feel like I’m about to lose it.” She dug her nails deep into her palms and welcomed the pain as it grounded her in reality.

  “What? You don’t like it?” Marco acted surprised. “I had to ask them to dig into their storage to find this virtual for you. Come on.”

  Marco grabbed Ari’s hand and pulled her down the hill towards the rides. The cool night air brushed against her face as they raced down the grassy path, and she fought to keep her fear from bubbling over. She had never lasted more than two minutes in one of these programs, but today she needed to. Her future depended on it. Assignments for their continued education were coming soon, and if she couldn’t pass the VR simulation, she might as well sign up for a life of kitchen duty.

  Her breath came in rapid pants as they reached the entrance. A disfigured clown face with exaggerated eyes and teeth welcomed them, his mechanical voice scratchy. Her throat tightened as she tried to breathe. She panicked at the idea of being stuck here forever, trapped in this virtual world, spiraling into a VR coma like her father. The government limited the hours kids could be inside a VR, but people, young and old, still slipped, which left their family paying the bill in hopes they would return.

  The clown image frizzed momentarily into a dark void with specks of light replacing the creepy face. “Marco, what’s going on?” She pointed at the distorted image. There had to be some sort of glitch.

  Marco glanced at the clown. “What are you talking about, Ariana?” He tugged on her arm. “Snap out of it. I told Mom we would have fun.” He yanked her toward the Tilt-a-Whirl.

  An elderly man worked the empty ride, or so her brain told her. He wore a plain blue uniform and a smile that was a touch bigger than necessary. Holding the gate open, he welcomed them inside.

  The virtual showed its age as the computerized character blinked constantly and tilted his head every three seconds like clockwork, but they couldn’t afford anything more sophisticated. Ari wasn’t sure if it was the uncomfortable memory of wires hooked into her unconscious body or this man’s creepy behavior that made her want to run away.

  She froze with fear at the gate. “I can’t do this.”

  “Yes, you can.” Marco’s dark eyes locked onto her with a firmness that didn’t suit him. “You don’t have a choice. Get used to VRs or get used to cleaning toilets while Mom tries to marry you off. Is that what you want?”

  Normally she would have smacked her older brother for talking like that, but the truth hit its mark. Biting her lip, she stepped toward the small compartment built for two. Marco climbed in and slid across the faded blue vinyl bench. She squeezed in beside him and fastened the thick black strap.

  “I thought you loved being here. I always did.”

  Every spring, her father would empty the jar of coins on top of the fridge and treat Ari and Marco to a fun day at the carnival. They would fill up on fried bread and cheese curls, watching the night descend into a blur of neon lights. But, unlike her brother, this reminded Ari of what they didn’t have anymore: a father and a jar full of savings. In a VR coma, their dad was more dead than alive, and the chipped jar now sat empty on top of a rundown fridge.

  Chest tightening, she pushed back the memories. “I’m sorry. I can’t, Marco. I gotta go.” She clawed at the thick black safety belt as the ride surged forward.

  “Are you really going to waste Mom’s money? You know this is your last chance before your tests.” If he saw the fear in her eyes, he ignored it. “Whatever. Go. I’m staying and getting my money’s worth.”

  She bit her lip and faced forward, holding back her rising hysteria. The cart picked up speed and pushed her against Marco, who screamed in delight, arms raised high in the air. She wanted this so badly, wanted to let go of reality, to let go of the gnawing sensation in the back of her neck. As the cart continued to spin, Ari closed her eyes, hoping to endure. By the time her cart approached the aged man a second time, she was gone.

  Her eyes opened to a water-stained ceiling. The stench of old cigarettes and filthy bodies welcomed her back to reality. She strained to turn her head. Her neck pinched from the cords in her port. Disgust tasted sour as she clawed the base of her neck, pulling at the thick cable.

  “Hey, girlie. You’re going to tear your port, and I don’t have the stuff to fix it.” A man’s thick hands turned the cable until a click sounded, and then he gently pulled the wires out. She wanted to scratch at the insertion site, to tear away the mechanical feeling that lingered inside of her. Instead she undid her ponytail and covered the port site with hair, smoothing it down.

  Her brother lay next to her in a reclined chair, a smile pasted on his handsome face. His wavy, thick hair, often kept short, curled around his temple. He always appeared more innocent while unconscious.

  Glad to see he’s enjoying himself. She pushed back the bitterness boiling inside. He had been trying to help.

  The large man, covered in old tattoos and smelling of yesterday’s beer, winked at her. Revulsion rolled around in her gut. Before he could speak, she rushed out of the room. She detested this shop as much as the virtuals themselves. The VR center stood only a few blocks from her house, a permanent fixture in her rundown neighborhood.

  Ari hurried through the metal doors, squinting as she welcomed the sun. The real sun.

  Her sun.

  “Missy, want to catch a trip with a real guy?” A withered man sa
t outside, his dirty clothes hanging off his body. “Trust me. I look a hell of a lot better on the inside.”

  She snapped her head back to the road in front of her, ignoring him.

  “Don’t be like that,” the man said.

  Someone reached for her, grabbing at her arm, but she swatted it away, quickening her step. Please just leave me alone.

  The jeers of the strung-out VR addicts followed her for the rest of the block.

  She tried not to imagine how her father had used to be there, hanging out with the bums to catch a free VR. She tried, but it didn’t work.

  CHAPTER 2

  The next day, Ari’s final exams approached faster than she expected. Leaning back in the vinyl chair, Ari flinched as the examiner slid the cable into her port. She closed her eyes, trying to block out the image of metal claws burrowing in her mind. The cable clicked shut, and she was drawn into another world.

  The empty white room gave off a sterile feel. A lone light in the ceiling illuminated the square space with not a dust mite to be found. In the center of the room, a simple table held three objects. As she moved closer, they each took a distinct and unique shape: a silver pyramid, a black oval, and a red square. They must represent some type of puzzle, like the chains of knots she’d often played with as a child.

  Ari drew a deep breath. I can do this. She had spent hours at home repurposing and reprogramming tech. This wasn’t much different. She reached for the pyramid, or what looked like it could be a pyramid. Yet instead of only flat surfaces, portions were twisted and inverted. It took several minutes for her to solve the puzzle, but eventually she snapped the last piece in place.

  As she completed the puzzle, the image flashed. She jumped, surprised by the bright light. The puzzle slipped through her nervous and clammy fingers. The silver pyramid now morphed into something black with numbers scattered along the surface. An uneasy feeling prickled the hairs on her neck, and her pulse picked up. Was this part of the test? It felt ... off.

  Three doors hissed open in front of her. Three separate voids of darkness, each door standing at a different height. Some psychological reason probably loomed behind this choice, but she couldn’t seem to care. Her purple sneakers felt as heavy as lead. She picked at a cuticle as she inched her way toward the nearest door. Every step pushed her closer to the unknown, not only in the VR but in life. Her eyes burned as she blinked back the tears. Dread and terror snaked up her spine and landed in her weighted limbs. Which step was too far? Which step would push her towards something that she could never escape?

  With a tortured gasp, she snapped back to reality. Ari swiped away at the river of tears on her face. Intentionally or not, she’d done what she always did. She’d fled.

  7 minutes 42 seconds. Yes, a measly 7 minutes and freaking 42 seconds.

  That was how long she’d lasted in the VR final, instead of the normal hour or two. Back in the examiner’s office, Ari tried to explain to the woman that she knew the information, that she’d studied the text just not in the VR. Her perfect grades must count for something.

  Instead the stern examiner just stared at Ari like she was a freak, and then, after checking the computer, the woman offered to allow her to try the VR again. A second chance, something Ari had never heard of before. She declined. Her hands shook just thinking about it.

  By the time lunch was over, the results were in, and the students lined up in the cafeteria-turned-auditorium, awaiting their assignments. The principal stood at the front, along with two testing authorities from the education department. The lone school security guard stood beside them with the usual tired expression on his face. Backed up against the wall, metal chairs were lined up for family members and friends.

  Ari’s mother slipped in late through the side door to join the other families. Her hair wrapped up in a bun, she donned the familiar factory uniform. With two jobs, she had to work through the three-day weekend.

  Clamping down on her emotions, Ari stared at the worn brick wall at the back of the room. The cafeteria had once been a factory, remodeled years ago as a school. They threw white paint on the old brick walls, but the smell of oil and metal still lingered. Ari tried to maintain her composure, not wanting others to see the fragile hold on her control. How could she be the only one troubled with all of this? Their future decided by a machine, controlled by people they didn’t even know.

  The computer announced the first assignment: mechanics. A collective sigh spread through the audience, followed by enthusiastic clapping. Everyone took it as a good sign when the first announcement was non-military. The Never-Ending War took more than its share of young men.

  The assignments continued: health, food management, and avionics, always followed by applause. Someone was assigned to a technical school, and they clapped. Many to military. They still clapped. The announcement could be for obituary sciences, and they would clap. Frustration and anxiety boiled inside of Ari. She wanted to scream at these clapping mindless drones. This was a sentence not a future.

  The principal, old and stoic, made fleeting remarks between assignments, giving congratulations or nods of agreement. Yet, what never came out of his mouth was the truth. He never said, “I’m sorry you guys are all too poor to choose your own assignment.” Instead, he regurgitated the blessings they received from the government: education, the lack of unemployment, and the gift of technology to enhance society.

  Ari’s friend, Taidem, stepped up to receive her assignment, her blonde hair pinned up to perfection. How could Ari be so close to the front already?

  “Education,” the machine announced.

  The crowd applauded, including Ari. Education usually involved plugging kids in or tending the young ones. It was a steady job with decent pay, but not Ari’s first choice. She wanted to go into electro-engineering, a job where she could create and build something worthwhile, something more than the old gears and bots around her house.

  As Ari moved up another space, she tensed and tried to prepare herself for anything, for everything. A life headed towards what the government deemed she was talented for.

  Four more people until her turn.

  She twisted the HUB on her wrist, or as she called it, her electronic brain. It held all her contacts, ID, books ... her life. Too bad it didn’t have the answer for what came next.

  Three students left.

  A gnawing sense of fear climbed up her throat. In the distance stood Marco and his best friend, Reed. Great, more people to witness her humiliation. As much as she loved having her brother around, she wished he didn’t have off school right now.

  Two students left.

  What did it matter anymore? She’d failed her test and would receive a life of janitorial duty either way. Before the rising panic inside of her exploded into something unimaginable, she took off.

  Tears blurred her vision as she shoved through the door of the cafeteria. Shouts rang out behind her, but she couldn’t stop. The hot summer wind warmed her but didn’t relieve the pressure in her chest. She kept running down the corridors, past the concrete sidewalks.

  Finally reaching a group of trees, she stopped. With one hand on a tree, she sucked in mouthfuls of air and tried to calm down. She sank onto the ground, leaning against the trunk. A wave of self-loathing disappointment settled uncomfortably in her stomach.

  The sun beat down on her and warmed her bone-deep chill. She tried her hardest not to think of what she’d just done. The tremors in her hands slowly stopped, and she wiped away the last of her tears. She turned on an audiobook loaded on her HUB, hoping to lose herself in the drama of another life for a few minutes.

  Her solitude didn’t last long. Marco slumped down next to her and clicked off her book. “Thought I’d find you out here.”

  She stared out at the track field, not wanting to talk.

  “I have your assignment.”

  Ari pulled back to look at him. “What? How did you do that?”

  Marco gave one of his winning smiles, the kind t
hat had wooed more than enough girls and now apparently even the principal. “Mom and I talked to the authorities. They let her receive the assignment, but you’ll have to talk to the principal later about accepting it.”

  “Who says that I will?”

  Marco raised an eyebrow. “You really want to stay here, work in the factory, and end up like Mom? No offense to Mom.”

  “Of course not. Doesn’t mean I don’t like the illusion of choice.” She held her hand out for the paper, her gut twisting in response.

  “This one even surprised the principal. I never thought I’d see such shock on that old plastic’s face.” He handed her the paper. “The plus side is you’ll be at the same campus as your endearing brother. I can harass you all year round.”

  She unfolded the crisp white paper. Skimming the small print, she found her assignment:

  Virtual Reality Programming.

  CHAPTER 3

  She shuddered and shoved the paper back at Marco. They would never place her in a VR program. “Nice joke. I knew the principal wouldn’t let you accept for me.”

  Marco’s smile waned, as sadness spotted his eyes. The paper remained in a crumpled heap between them. “Sorry, sis. It’s true. The principal wants your personal confirmation by tomorrow.” He stood and walked off.

  A cold numbness poured over Ari’s body as she realized her brother wasn’t joking. She grabbed at the paper again. How could this be right? She could barely stand being inside VRs, much less designing them. Marco would be great at this. Why not him? She knew computers and coding, but only from this side of reality. She’d much rather read a book and picture her own world than have one provided for her.

  “Marco,” she called for her brother, but he was already gone. She needed to talk to someone. This had to be a mistake.

  When she walked back into the cafeteria, a mass of people encompassed her. Classmates congratulated each other, making plans. Families hugged—a bittersweet reminder of the upcoming farewells. People congratulated her on her assignment, but most had a wary look in their eye. Ari’s fear was known through school—sort of like the girl who was deathly allergic to peanuts. Technology was a coveted position and often led to high-paying jobs with the government. It also wasn’t awarded often, especially to scholarship kids. Ari pushed her way through the mass of bodies and ended up in front of her mom and Marco.