Parasite

Part 12

The taxi slows down to an old garden that is kept neat and tidy. The mall itself is kept in order though the signs of abandonment are the windows that have been blank out with black cloth and areas where electricity or technology removed from places, wires wrap in a tight bright orange covering.

West is leaning against a pillar with Egyptian flowers that shimmer with blue petals, the flowers getting bigger the higher they go.

West walks in small slow steps over "Are you feeling lucky." West smile showing white straight teeth.

Toby spines tighten itself to his head. Muscles stiffen into tight balls of pearls; colour disappearing out of his exoskeleton. West step back, head ducking low, arms going up in an instant. His eyes wide move quickly for any threat. They stand as a frozen scene in a movie. It is over just as the actions appear. West placing a hand over his heart; giving a nervous chuckle.

"What's with the reaction?" West asks.

The muscles relax stretching out if they were rubber bands, Toby chuckle as his hand go over the spines on his head "Just luck have sort of...run out."

A half grin on West "You just worrying, what did you lose three thousand?"

Toby breath in deep "I have a thousand left."

All facial expression disappears, West voice flat "You're Sweet, Car, Race, Engine, Wickedly, Engages, Danger."

The spines on the back of Toby neck rise "huh?"

"Doesn't matter" West said.

West lead to the main doors of the mall, West twist his watch, leaning his shoulder against the door, not opening.

"In two and half month's right" West stated.

Toby looks at his feet "yeah."

"Okay, can you fight?" West rapidly fire.

"What?"

"Look it will the quicker to fight, than bet."

The spines click together.

West sighs, pinching between his eyebrows. "Just think about it" he said.

He pushes through the doors. Toby follows behind as they enter a space that has five cages. Numbers spray painted on the backs of people. The cages themself are painted in solid colour.

"What is this places." Aw in Toby voice, yellow spread out onto the red.

West eyes become predatory as his eyes scan over every person.

"It's where people come to join the fight" tone indifferent "Okay these bets are small, about ten dollars."

Patting Toby shoulder and giving a small grin "Okay I have to meet someone".

Toby walks among the people. Something strong lands on his shoulder, twisting around bring up the arm to break the hold. Stoping short as a girl wearing a McDonald's uniform. Her wavy red hair tied in a plat. The purple eyes have a blue glow.

"Hello Toby" joyful said.

The red starts to go pink and the yellow becoming a light orange across Toby. "Hello." Toby eyes dart around "Do I know you?"

Her smile grew with two more dimples. "It's Casey, I just had an upgrade."

She hugs him "and they have given me Artificial Emotional intelligences."

"Casey!" Excitement quiver in Toby voice.

He held Casey at arm length, the change from a silver face with red light up lips and purple short hair. She now has freckles across the nose and under the eyes, looking almost completely human. It is the fine detail of expose metal that divides the face into three. The rest of the body that is not covered look of frosted glass. Casey frowns at him her hands tighten as she herself still into an unmoveable anchor.