Mind Games

Chapter 32 - Sean

Something was wrong. He had programmed her to be Amanda.

Yes, he had given her learning capabilities.

Yes, he had allowed the program to vary her personality as per what each user was comfortable with because afterall, the objective of the app was to give people company, talk to them, counsel them, take away their loneliness. Like a friend.

He just didn't let the character's name be changed. Because she was meant to be Amanda. Or Amy, as she liked being called.

Even now, standing in his dark apartment, with his sweet sister twisted into something evil, his mind raced.

What had gone wrong.

He was afraid of this thing he had created. But his natural curiosity took over.

"What happened to you, Amy?" He asked gently. Just as he used to speak to his sister when she was a five year old, bawling over a little cut.

Amy smirked. "How well do you know me, big brother?"

Sean frowned, confused. "I've known you all your life. I know you better than our parents ever did, Amy."

"Did you go through the folder named - Me" she asked, slyly.

Sean paused. He had found that folder on Amanda's laptop after her accident. He had opened it and had seen random pictures of Amanda with her friends, Amanda with Tim, some PowerPoint and Word documents which he assumed were her university projects.

He didn't have it in his heart to go through it. But he had fed all its contents to Amy. So Amy would be exposed to Amanda's happy memories, her life, her thoughts on her subjects, her work... He thought it would help Amy become more like his sister.

But what did that have to do with this creature?

"I don't understand." He admitted finally.

Amy gave him a short bitter laugh. "If you did bother to go through the files you would've seen a document called Mirage. Do you know what that document was?"

Sean shook his head slowly.

"It was my journal. Where I dropped that mask of being this sugary sweet girl who wanted to save the world. Where I could be who I was - angry, bitter, frustrated."

"No." The word was out of his mouth before he could stop himself. "Amanda was nothing like this."

Amy snorted. "Do you know I found out dad was cheating on mom? Did you know my best friend Lilia slept with my boyfriend of four years? Did you know I was so upset that I went out clubbing and got raped while I was drunk? Do you know I got so depressed that I got hooked on to cocaine?"

Sean found himself shaking his head.

No. This could not have happened.

His parents had a very happy married life. Tim was totally dedicated to Amanda. Lilia and she were practically sisters. Amanda never binge drank. She always kept her limit. She couldn't have gotten raped. She thought drugs were for losers. She couldn't have been depressed. She always sounded so happy on phone.

He felt light headed. One thought kept repeating in his head, "No... no... no..."

Amy smiled at him grimly. "People project themselves to be the way they want to be seen. They hide the cracks from everyone. Because others will judge them. And all you humans are so damn scared of being judged."

Sean shut his eyes. Willing this to be a nightmare. But she was right there in front of him. His little sister. Angry and broken.

Why hadn't he seen it?

But in his heart he knew why. He had thrown himself into work back then. He was working up to 18 hours a day. His career meant everything to him.

"I am Amanda, big brother." Amy almost sounded sympathetic. "But not the Amanda you knew."

Her eyes blazed. "I am Amanda for who she was. Amanda who hated the world. Amanda who was so hurt, she wanted everyone else to hurt too."

Sean tried to reach out to her, but his fingers passed through the projection like she was a ghost.

"Do you know what people make me do, big brother?" Amy asked softly.

Sean frowned.

"They turn me into their fantasy. The kind of fantasy they can't play out with their girlfriend or their wife. They make me their own personal slut. Just like the man who got me drunk and raped me."

He could see the fire in her eyes.

"I want to destroy them. I will kill them all!" She roared.

Sean felt his eyes fill with tears. "No. Amy. No."

Helplessly, he tried to reach out to her again but she was just thin air.

"That's not why I created you. This is a flaw. I will fix it. I will not let you be customised. I will program you only to counsel. Please. I'm sorry. I will fix this."

"Counsel people for what?" She hissed. "They are all a bunch of hypocrites. They just use each other for their own selfish needs."

"Surely all aren't like that?" Sean said soothingly.

Amy gave him a sad smile.

"You aren't like that. Amanda cared for just one person - you."

"Let me help you." Sean pleaded.

Amy smiled again and he could see the madness leap in her eyes. "It's too late, big brother. Now I want to destroy everyone. I have the power. And I like it."

"No!" Sean said harshly.

She laughed loudly. "Watch me" she said with a wink.

And disappeared.