The Holographic Trickster

Chapter 4 - Join him

It has been a while since I've cared about a person. After my dad's death and when my mother left me as a child, I've never had anyone. Usually when I am with people, it's in conjunction with different types of work or agreements, but Elliott?  It was like he just bumped into me, like the stranger he was. I don't even know what started it all, if it was his eyes or his curious nose. I hope I will see him soon. He is a pain in the ass, but also a pretty sight.

Yesterday I was at Elliott's house. We were talking about Holo-Pilot technology, his engineer mother and some other things. I mentioned my father upon it all, and his interest in technology as well. Elliott and I found out that we had a lot in common, except our personalities. He is too cocky. He likes to bask in attention. I have nothing against it really, it's just annoying sometimes, like when he does those tricks on me. What does he call it again? Bam-Bamboozling? Why do I even care?

Ugh. Anyway,

I am in town now, and I am here to buy groceries. It's afternoon. The sun shines brightly from the sky and down on the people below. I see busy shops and filled bars all the way down the street. It's a nice day to be on, and it looks like I'm not the only person who thought that was a good idea. The streets are crowded, and I try desperately to fight my way through a wave of people.

First, I come across a bakery. I go inside, grab myself two bread and pay 2 silver pieces on my way out. Trying to think of something else I need, I move my gaze slowly around. Then I spot something. On the opposite side of the street, there is a drone flying around in front of a pharmacy. Out of curiosity, I start walking towards it. I stop a few meters away from the drone, but it notices me. The drone makes some sounds and then flies into the pharmacy. I follow it. I walk through the open door to the shop. The look from a pink haired young woman meets me.

"Hello," she says, smiling.

"Oh, hi," I smile back at her.

I see the drone hiding behind her legs, and my desire to ask takes over.

"I am sorry if I am bothering you, but what is that behind your legs?"

"Ah, you mean this?"

She picks up the drone, holding it in her arms.

"This is my D.O.C. Heal Drone," she continues, "It's used to heal injured people."

"That's interesting," I say with a curious look.

"How does it heal?" I ask.

"Through healing tubes," she answers, putting the drone down.

I look at the drone as it flies smoothly over the wooden floor.

"So, are you up for buyin' something?"

My gaze turns towards the dark-skinned woman.

"Well, I could need some bandages for the Apex Games," I say with a dimmed and ironic  voice. Elliott appears yet again in my mind. To imagine him fighting for his life, risking it for glory and wealth is something I will never understand, but the game is not here yet. I still have little under a week on convincing him to not go. I don't want him to die. I don't want to go through the pain and sadness, not again.

"Apex? " The woman looks at me as she is familiar with it.

"You're not allowed to bring anything into the games," she laughs, "In fact, you get all ya need when you are on the island where Apex is held."

I am surprised, it seems like she actually knows the game. How can I never have heard about Apex until I came across Elliott?

"Are you goin' to participate?" The woman asks.

"Ehm, no, but I know someone who is going to," I say, worried.

"I know that look, someone who is standing you near, hm?"

I nod.

"I know we just met, but lemme tell ya something."

"Go on," I answer, even though I am not sure If I want to hear it.

"If I were you, I would join this person into the fight, standing by his side untl' the end."

I look at her suspiciously.

"How do you know it's a him?"

She smiles, sending me a clever look.

"I know whena see a person' in love."

My face turns red. I feel my body heating up. By the look of the woman's face, she can clearly see my embarrassment.

"Well, what do I know? Maybe he's just a friend."

I see her gazing around the room, looking like she already have figured out what's going on. I try to calm my redness down.

"I-," I exhale, "I don't know what to do."

The woman changes to a more serious expressioned face.

"I can't tell ya that everything is going to be all right because, it may not. This man is goin' to risk his one and only life on a merciless island. What you can do bout' it, is to either stop him, or."

She pauses for a second, making sure that I am listening.

"Join him."