Warning Signs

Chapter 6

"So, this is the bracelet that will make it track automatically."

We were standing in front of a large box shaped like a present. It was on the floor against one of the diner walls and it came up as high as our waists. As we stood there, I was looking down at a green circlet in my hand, shifting it around absentmindedly as I explained what the object was to my business partner.

"Let me see it," William said, reaching for the device and plucking it from my fingers. His hastiness gave off the impression that he was on edge. Which I had expected. Ever since the day of the register error, Will had grown more and more agitated as the days passed by. To my knowledge he had never taken out the aggression on anyone around him, but his emotions had started to leak out in small ways that I doubt even he noticed, such as now when his impatience in grabbing the bracelet cracked through his otherwise interested expression. I recall wondering that night if perhaps it was finally time to ask him what was going on.

For now, though, I simply watched him bring the bracelet up close to his face, his eyes examining it while his brows furrowed.

"If you remember the different designs we came up with for how to make this thing work," I said, talking while he was busy inspecting, "I settled with the idea of adding mini trackers to different bracelets and handing them out to each kid."

William nodded before handing the bracelet back to me. "Sounds reasonable," he said, before crossing his arms and looking at the giant present on the floor. "Have you tested it yet?"

"No, I wanted to wait for you," I answered, crouching down to lean across the present and flip a switch that was hidden in the back. "Let's try it now."

We both stepped back from the gift box and watched it carefully. After a few seconds, the lid of the present started to lift of its own accord. I recall feeling good about witnessing the machine's movements being smooth. The lid had been a tight fit throughout the process of building it, so I was feeling proud that I had solved the warping problem. Once the lid was lifted, William and I stepped back even further as a humanoid figure raised gracefully up from inside the box. The figure was mostly black, with white stripes around its limbs, three white buttons down the front, and a clown-like mask for a face. It paused once it had stood up fully, then we watched as it slid out from the present and stood up.

"Moves right," I said.

"Hm," murmured William. I did not take his small response as a bad thing. It was usual for him to shift into an analytical mindset with assessing projects.

The figure, or the Puppet as we would later call it, did not move. It stood still, seemingly waiting for a command.

"Takes a long time to start its track," William commented. I grumbled slightly. Not from the fact that he was pointing out a potential error, but because I was trying to figure out why it wasn't starting its show right away.

"Oh, wait. I think it's on the security mode, not showtime mode," I realized, stepping forward to look behind the present. Sure enough, I had flipped the switch in the opposite direction I had intended. "Well, we have to test that anyway. Here."

I looked down at the green bracelet and lifted a small hatch inside the inner curve of it, finding a tiny button within and pressing it. A small beep was heard, and in response, the Puppet seemed to perk up. William and I both noticed the small movement, each of us turning our heads to look up at the animatronic as soon as the beep was heard.

"Okay," I said. "So, if I set up the perimeter right, it should try to follow the owner of the bracelet if they exit the building. But only once they exit."