Bored, I switched through TV channels, finding nothing. A boring morning. I wanted to get my mind some entertainment or something to think about. Last night's long sleep made me more than awake as now I craved for something to fill my relentless brain.
TV device was placed on a low table against the glass window, higher up were two connecting projector - bugs, made a two dimension hologram. I left it on, to let the sound fill the quiet apartment. Bryce was slowly walking alongside the glass window, looking in a distance and observing Amber city, with his hands placed behind his back. The only conversation we had this morning was a typical daily greeting. When I woke up he was already exploring my apartment, I noticed he had taken my terms of behaving as he seemed to be a different person now. We shared some glances towards each other, but nothing abnormal. I sighed and decided to make my morning tea while I waited for Sharlene and Laura to come couple of hours later. Taking a dried camomile tea from a kitchen shelf, I inhaled it's mild scent before pouring the hot water over it. It was my favorite, regularly harvested from a small patch in my greenhouse. On the way back to soft violet couch I heard the TV show get interrupted by some news.
" ... an attack have been reported in a Seth Baines property early this morning in which Mr Baines have lost his life. From unknown resources we have gathered, it has been yet another robot attack - the second reported in this month. It appears to be similar to recent attack made to Kyra Elkwood. A malfunctioning, out of control robot. The informa ..."
I was standing still in front of TV, frozen - like a dear caught in a head ligts. I saw a tall figure approaching me, getting closer and closer. TV had stooped, somebody had switched it off. I got my senses back and saw Bryce reaching out for me.
"Stay away! Go ... don't come near me ...!" I screamed in panic as my breath became more erratic. "I said ... No ... Let me go! Don't touch me!" he had already got hold of my upper arms and I thrashed my hands frantically at him to get free from his firm grip.
At the same time I stepped back, but the wall blocked me from going further. I was trapped. I threw few more punches at him but to no avail.
"Kyra, calm down! Calm down!" He shooked me gently, but still hold me trapped between him and the wall. "Breath and calm down."
Hearing his calm voice made me snap out of my panicked state. Taking some deep breaths, I raised my eyes up to Bryce and tried to calm myself, while holding on to his strong arms for balance.
"Come, sit down."
He guided me back to the couch and placed my previously made tea in my hands, holding them for a moment as to make sure I don't drop it.
My body was slightly shaking from a fright. I felt the tear slide down my cheek but made no attempt to wipe it off. Watching in to one point somewhere in the distance, I still felt Bryce's large hands wrapped around mine. It felt comforting, but lacked the familiar warmth from them. He studied me, knelt down to my level and looking in to my facial features.
I finally looked him in the eye: "Ahm ... You ... you can let me go now. I am fine. I will be fine."
Bryce eyed me for another moment, I started to peal his hands off mine. Not knowing him so well, made me little uncomfortable. I rarely allowed strangers to comfort me, not liking to look so vulnerable. Bryce stood up and backed away, giving me some space, but not leaving me out of his sight.
"Could I stay alone for a minute, please?"
"OK"
Somebody else got attacked by a robot. It was so scary, the thought being out in the city and get attacked for no reason. In some way, that day I got lucky to survive, thanks to people who saved me, but a life of this person got taken away by a machine which we are supposed to be in control of. And it seems that my case was not a case of someone trying to harm me. There were more. How many more infected robots are out there? Where they coming from? How this thing even started? So many questions. I hope Bryce is safe. I don't want him to get infected and harm anyone or me. For now he seems to be normal, I haven't seen any sign of aggression or harmful behavior in him.
I should get hold of myself. I can't act like a mad person. Somehow I have to get rid of this fear that holds me back, that ruins my life.
I don't know for how long I sat there, thinking about my life and incident this morning. My tea have gotten cold, not even started. A doorbell startled me from my trance. Those must be my crazy friends. I quickly wiped my face with sleeves of my shirt to remove my dried tiers if there were any. Before getting to other side of the wall which separated my living room from rest of apartment, I heard a door open and sudden high pitched fan girl screaming pierced my ears.
"Oh my god! Oh my god! This is unbelievable! " I heard Laura's excited chanting.
I noticed Bryce had opened the door.
"Who are you?" was his blank question.
"Bryce, let them in. Those are my friends."
He looked my way and then back at Sharlene and Laura and he let them pass.
"Bryce, this is Sharlene and Laura. " I pointed at them.
He observed them from head to toe with his subtle unobvious eye movements.
"Oh my, my. He looks even better in real life, bunny."
"What do you mean? I don't understand." I am confused.
"You will see, what I mean." Sharlene flashed me a mischievous grin and wiggled her red eyebrows.
YOU ARE READING
A living THING
Mystery / Thriller"B... Bryce?" I said quietly between my light sobs. He didn't answer me. He looked dangerous. His hands covered in blood, his jaw damaged, his eyes... I didn't know, what exactly I saw in them, but I knew, there was nothing good. I realized, I m...
