The Higher Define (2018)

10

I reach the top of the ladder. The heavy trap door lies above my head and I let my right hand go of the rung, pressing it against the chunky wood.

I push the trap upwards with all my might, surprised to find that it gives way to my push easily enough. Slapping my hands on the floor, I pull myself above ground, wriggling a little.

It is only when I stand up and kick the trap back do I notice my surroundings.

Everything is dark. What used to be Richard's room, brimming with technology and sizzling with life, with screens polling results and data of what Defines are doing are now dead silent.

My heart buzzes with fear as I glance around the dark room, wondering what happened.

"Aspen. I was beginning to think that you've forgotten your roots."

Hayley.

She slides out from the darkness and I have to squint to make out her shadowy figure. Her hair curls around her shoulders as she shoots me a smile.

"Hayley! What're you doing here? Where's Richard?"

Laughter.

Her laughter is cold and not at all sympathetic. I can't make out her features in the darkness but her tone is too mechanical, lacking the trust and friendliness that it usually reserves for me.

"Hayley," I say slowly, not daring to speak, "What is this about?"

Her figure grows sharper as she approaches me and through the blanket of black, I can see a hint of her smile. It is cruel and full of wicked intentions. It is nothing like the smile that she always gives me.

"Why don't you tell me, Aspen? Since you're so intelligent, with your perfect code."

"You're frightening me."

"No need to be afraid! After all, fear induces and evokes the worst monsters, doesn't it?"

"You're not making any sense." I swallow hard and try to take a step away from her but end up stumbling backwards a little.

"That coming from you is rich."

"What are you talking about?" My throat feels tight.

Her laughter begins to grow frequent and I make her tossing her head back as her lips curve into a smirk.

"Why don't we go out and talk? It's so dark in here, isn't it?"

Maybe it's me but this isn't the Hayley that kissed me, that laughed at my stories. I follow her out, anyway, through the door.

We step out of the hallway, into the Hub which is illuminated by weak sunlight that streams through the glass dome.

I let out an involunatrily gasp.

The Hub is in ruins. Everything that I recall- the waterfall and the river that rushes through, to the trees encased in glass tanks and scenery- it's all wrecked beyond recognition.

I don't recognise this place anymore.

The sound of water continously rushing downwards is missing and the river has run dry. The glass that trees were once encased in is cracked, splintered and there are glass shards lying on the floor.

"What happened here?" My voice is a note of panic. I glance at Hayley with wide eyes, refusing to accept the scenery that I am trapped in.

Now that her features aren't swathed in darkness that makes her expression almost unreadable, I notice that her eyes are icy and her mouth is set in a thin, cruel line.

"It's a long story." Hayley gives a low sigh, sounding as if she is bored by the information. Her gaze lazily flicks back to me, "Now, why don't you start by telling me all about your little mission?"

The fear in me grows weak when I catch the way she eyes me.

Like I'm nothing.

Like I'm not the girl she kissed and talked to. Not the girl she brought to her favourite place, not the girl she sent wireless messages to.

Something has changed.

And I'm willing to change, too.

"I don't think so." I cross my arms, trying to chase away the emotions of confusion and hurt that swamp me.

"Why don't you tell me what happened? What your intentions are? Where Richard and the other Defines are?"

Another laugh. They're staring to get on my nerves.

"You want to play with me? A game of cards and you demand that I show you my hand? I don't think so."

I have to hide my smile.

"You can talk metaphors all you want- I can wait." I reply, putting up a facade of flippancy.

Drawing my body into a bored stance, I discreetly direct my energy into accessing Hayley's code.

Retrieving data...

"I can wait, too."

Access denied. Your code has been blocked.

I curse in my mind, trying to avert Hayley's gaze but it's almost impossible to pull my gaze back to her narrowed eyes.

"I know what you're trying to do and you better give up now."

"You don't have the smallest hint as to what I'm attempting to do." I reply cooly and trying again. This time, I edit the appearance of my code and filter the distinct pattern of a standard Define.

I search for the different, strange string of numbers that are accessible in my files and scatter the values in my code.

I make another attempt to retrieve the data of Hayley's code.

This time, she doesn't notice. Words begin to fill my contacts, line after line of her thoughts and feelings. Ignoring them, I dig a little deeper, searching for information.

That's when I see it.

ACCESS DENIED

CODE BLOCKED

But it's too late. Though the confusion is storming through my chest like a hurricane, I let my anger wash over me in waves.

I have already seen it.

"You murderer." My voice is cold, deadly and unforgiving.

And so am I when I lung towards Hayley.