“Yes.” Vee licked her lips. “By a man who claims he’s the real Cypher.”
Mia cocked her head. “Has he approached you? Hurt you?”
“No… it’s all been online. Look.” Vee loaded up her wristcon and projected her site. There, in the corner, eight missed calls. Not an unknown number anymore, but with the name Cypher attached. As if he and Vee were friends…
“Ah. Has he made any mention he’s coming?”
Vee frowned. “Yes.”Strange question.
Mia picked up her tablet and typed something in.
“Why?” Vee asked.
The woman didn’t answer until she set her tablet back down. Vee tried to peer at it, but the screen was shielded for privacy.Figures.
“We need to be sure of the extent of his threat to you.”
“The extent of his threat? He’s done things that shouldn’t be possible on my site and within the boundaries of my IP and network domain. Isn’t this going to cause a rift for the game? If I can’t control what my followers see?”
Mia held up her hand. “Don’t worry. We’re taking care of it. Now, about the announcement, are you ready?”
Vee sat back, confused. It was like no one but her was worried.They didn’t hear his raspy, deep voice…The same voice she heard every time in her sleep now. It was in her dreams.
“Announcement?” she asked slowly.
“The announcement from the Terraform Zero coordinators about this year’s participants. It’s tonight.”
Vee’s eyes widened. How could she have forgotten?Oh, god, maybe that’s why some of the people outside knew my name.My picture is going to be everywhere, everywhere tomorrow!
She surged to her feet. “I’ve gotta go.”
“Are you okay?” Mia rose with her and followed Vee as she started for the elevator.
She hadn’t even told her parents yet. “I’m fine.” The elevator zipped open and she stepped in.
“Vee!” Mia called after her.
Vee pivoted to face her.
“Don’t worry about Cypher. He won’t hurt you,” she said.
Vee’s brow furrowed. “What?” But the doors slipped closed and Mia was gone. The next moment, the foyer was before her.
Wait, what?
Confusion overtook her anxiety.
He won’t hurt me?Vee shook her head as she made her way to the exit, toward the rabble of upset voices outside. They couldn’t see her through the glass, but in the time she’d arrived earlier, more had gathered. Was the animosity that bad?
I need to get home.
I need to prepare.The last place she wanted to be was out in the city when her picture was broadcasted everywhere.
She gazed at the protestors outside blankly, catching a glimpse of Nightheart’s face in the glass reflection behind her. When she turned, he wasn’t there.
A twitch of unease gripped her chest.
Mia said it like she knew him, Cypher.
