Dangerous Reality

by Malorie Blackman

  ‘Come on, Gimpy. Stand up then. Or do you like grovelling on the floor?’

  ‘Leave him alone, Matt,’ Liam said quietly.

  ‘Stay out of this,’ Matt flashed back. ‘This has nothing to do with you.’

  ‘You’re a real hero, aren’t you?’ Liam told him scornfully.

  I struggled to get to my feet. My leg was suddenly aching – the way it always did whenever Matt started in on me. I looked round. Liam was glaring at Matt. Matt knew it and he didn’t care. He wore the same contemptuous smile that he always did when he looked at me. The sort of smile you might wear if an ant or a fly challenged you to a punching contest. I looked at Liam again, wishing as I always did that he would back off and leave me to fight – and lose – my own battles. Matt came towards me. I knew he was going to push me over again.

  ‘Go on then, Einstein,’ I said bitterly. ‘Show everyone how clever you are ’cause you can knock me to the ground. Show everyone how you’ve only got two brain cells – one in each bicep. Ooff!’

  The pavement was my chair again and my shoulder was throbbing from where Matt had just thumped me. I struggled to my feet. Liam tried to help me up but I angrily shrugged him off.

  Matt’s fists were clenched. Then I saw his fingers straighten out as he relaxed. He gave me a bitingly scornful look. ‘I’m not going to hit you again. I’ve changed my mind.’

  ‘Let’s hope your new mind works better than the old one – you pathetic little weasel,’ I hissed.

  It took him a couple of seconds to get it. But get it he did. And then so did I. Matt thumped my other shoulder. I scrambled up again as best I could.

  Stay down, you moron, a voice inside me protested. But I ignored it – the way I always ignored my own good advice. I was going to show Matt that I wasn’t afraid of him. Actually, I was scared of him and we both knew it but that didn’t mean I was going to let him get the better of me. Matt drew back his fist and I knew he was going to punch my face. I tried to step back and my bad leg let me down by choosing then of all moments to stop working. I went down like a skittle – without Matt having to even touch me.

  ‘And stay there,’ Matt said scornfully. ‘It’s where you belong.’

  ‘Come on, Matt,’ Robert, his friend, said. ‘Dominic is a total waste of time and space. I don’t know why you even bother with him.’

  ‘Neither do I.’ That familiar contemptuous smile was back on Matt’s face.

  I wanted to kick his ankles or at least outstare him, but as always I was the first one to look away.

  His point made, Matt swaggered off with his friends.

  ‘Are you OK?’ Liam asked me. He put out a hand to help steady me. I knocked it away.

  ‘Yes, I’m fine. Stop fussing,’ I snapped.

  Of course I wasn’t OK. It wasn’t bad enough that this had to happen, but it had to happen in front of him. I couldn’t have been any more humiliated.

  ‘I’ll see you later,’ I told him and I walked off, aware that my limp was even more pronounced now. I didn’t have to look behind me to know that Liam was watching me go.

  I couldn’t concentrate for the rest of the day and more than one teacher told me off about it. I kept thinking about Matt, and trying, yet again, to figure out why he’d gone off me. I know I’m not the most riveting person in the world. I’m not stupid, but I’m not an egg-head genius either. And any sport that involves running usually doesn’t involve me. I can run, but when I do I reckon I look like a camel in a panic so I don’t tend to do it. I guess what I’m trying to say is that I’m just an average boy who’s maybe a bit more sarcastic than average, but that’s just my way. So why had Matt stopped being my friend? As I remember it, one day we were best mates and the next day we weren’t. No explanations, no accusations, no nothing. Matt started going around with Robert and Ace and that lot and it took me half a term to find a new best friend – Liam. Liam and I drifted together, mainly because we had no one else to talk to. Liam takes himself very seriously, just like Mum. Funny, but when I think about it, deep down I take myself more seriously than either of them. I hadn’t really thought of that before.

  I spent all day trying not to think about Matt because every time I did, I could feel my face set into a plaster-of-Paris scowl. If only there was some way I could get back at him. Some way to show him that he couldn’t push me around because I’d push back. Some way of … And then I had it! A way to get my own back without getting duffed up! It wouldn’t be perfect, but it’d definitely do!

  ‘Liam, can you come back to my house after school this afternoon?’ I whispered.

  ‘You’re meant to come round to my house for tea – remember?’ Liam reminded me.

  ‘But this is important …’

  ‘No, Dominic, you’re coming round for tea. You’ve already put it off three times at the last minute. Mum’s bought cakes and all sorts and I’m not showing up without you again.’

  ‘But, Liam …’

  ‘Whatever it is, it can wait until after you’ve had tea at my house,’ Liam insisted.

  ‘Er, d’you two mind?’ Mr Brent drawled from the front of the class.

  Liam and I instantly shut up. I was burning to go straight home to carry out my idea, but if I did probably neither Liam nor his mum would ever speak to me again. And whilst I didn’t mind about Mrs Greene, I didn’t want to lose Liam as a friend.

  ‘OK! OK! I’ll be there,’ I sighed.

  ‘What’s so all-fired urgent anyway?’ Liam asked, keeping a wary eye on Mr Brent.

  ‘I’ve had an idea,’ I grinned.

  Liam regarded me, a dawning look of suspicion and alarm on his face.

  ‘Oh no! Please, Dominic! Not another of your ideas which is going to get us into all kinds of trouble.’

  ‘This one won’t. Trust me!’

  ‘That’s usually my first mistake,’ Liam sighed.

  ‘Don’t worry. You’ll love it.’

  ‘What is it?’

  ‘You’ll see.’

  ‘Oh dear!’

  I had to bite my lip to stop myself from laughing at Liam’s tone. Today was going to be a great day after all. I was finally going to get my own back on Matt.

  Chapter Ten

  Revenge

  TEA AT LIAM’S house dragged on like an ant carrying a heavy suitcase. Liam’s mum was driving me bonkers – as always.

  ‘And how is your leg, Dom?’

  Did I mention that I hate it when people call me Dom?

  ‘Fine.’

  ‘Does it give you much trouble?’

  ‘No.’

  ‘You were born with a defective leg, weren’t you?’

  ‘Yes.’

  ‘How long were you in hospital for while they tried to fix it?’

  ‘Ages.’

  ‘You poor thing.’

  ‘I’m fine, Mrs Greene, really I am.’

  ‘So brave! You poor thing!’

  That was usually my cue to laser Liam with my ‘please-do-something-about-your-mother!’ look. Liam had the good grace to look embarrassed but he still let his mum witter on about my leg. I wouldn’t mind, but every time I saw her we always had the same old, tired conversation. Is it any wonder I kept bowing out of tea at Liam’s house?

  The moment I thought it wouldn’t be rude to scarper, I was out of there! It was dark and cold as Liam and I walked to my house but it was preferable to listening to Mrs Greene spout on, it really was. Besides, all I had in my head was what I was about to do.

  ‘So what’s your brilliant idea?’ Liam asked. ‘Are you ready to tell me yet?’

  ‘How d’you fancy a trek to Matt’s house?’ I grinned.

  ‘Have you lost your marbles?’ Liam asked seriously. ‘Why on earth would you want to go round there?’

  ‘I’m not going round there,’ I replied.

  Liam’s eyes narrowed. ‘You must be off your trolley if you think I’m going round there when you’re not!’

  ‘No, you’re not going either.’

 
‘But you just said …’

  ‘Come on! I’ll show you.’

  From the expression on his face, I knew I’d intrigued him. I led the way to my house.

  ‘We’re going to visit Matt Viner’s house without leaving my back bedroom,’ I told Liam.

  ‘You’ve lost me.’ Liam shook his head.

  ‘Follow me.’ Opening the front door, I led the way into the house. In the hall, a light beside one of the buttons on our phone was flashing. I glanced down at the display. Seven messages! No way was I going to listen to all of those now. I’d be taking notes for Mum until next Christmas! We went upstairs and into the back bedroom where Mum kept all of her computer equipment.

  ‘I thought you weren’t allowed in here,’ Liam frowned.

  ‘Mum and Jack are working late. And as Mum says, what the eye doesn’t see, the heart can’t grieve about!’

  ‘You’re a real glutton for punishment,’ Liam told me. ‘Suppose your mum finds out?’

  ‘She won’t,’ I insisted. ‘But now for the good stuff. It’s get-my-own-back time!’

  Liam didn’t say a word as we entered the room. He whistled appreciatively but that’s all. I’d never taken him into Mum’s work room before. Strictly speaking, it wasn’t allowed. In fact, Mum would do her nut if she knew I was in her special room! I’m only allowed in it when she’s already in there and usually not even then. But she wasn’t here and I’d make sure nothing happened to her equipment.

  I whipped around the room, switching on the computer, the monitor, the remote link and the virtual reality system.

  ‘Dominic, what’re you up to?’ Liam asked, worried.

  ‘Watch,’ I told him.

  It took three attempts to link up to the VIMS unit at Desica International. I’d seen Mum do it plenty of times but this was the first time I’d done it myself. Once the link had been established, I put my right hand in the VR, or virtual reality, glove. It was warm and slightly scratchy. I assumed that was because of all the sensors on the inside of the glove. I made a fist, then flexed my fingers. The monitor screen blinked on. We could see the VIMS testing area. I considered putting on the VR glasses but then Liam wouldn’t have been able to see on the monitor what I was doing. And I wanted him to see every single thing. He’d been there when Matt had shown me up so it was only right that he should see I wasn’t a complete wimp – that I could fight back.

  ‘Now what?’ Liam asked.

  ‘Now we’re going to have some fun,’ I grinned. ‘Watch! And learn! I’m going to take VIMS for a walk. Here we go!’

  After a sudden lurch, it seemed as if the whole room was moving towards us. I pointed my index finger forward in the direction of the testing area double doors. VIMS started moving forward.

  ‘What’s going on?’ Liam gasped.

  ‘I’m making VIMS move forward. I’m going to make him leave the Desica building and make his way to Matt’s house.’

  ‘No!’ Liam stared. ‘That’s really VIMS moving?’

  ‘That’s right.’

  ‘How come we can’t see him?’

  ‘’Cause we’re seeing through him. We’re seeing everything he sees, looking through his eyes if you like,’ I explained.

  ‘You can’t take him out of Desica,’ Liam said, appalled. ‘You can’t just have him trundle down the street to Matt’s house.’

  ‘Oh, yes, I can,’ I laughed.

  ‘Dominic, see sense,’ Liam urged. ‘Someone’s bound to see him and then they’ll freak out and call the police and all sorts. And when your mum hears about it …’

  ‘Mum and Jack are probably up on the fifth floor in the computer room,’ I said.

  ‘Probably? I don’t like the sound of that.’ Liam shook his head.

  I know I should’ve told him that VIMS was only in simulation mode. That everything he was seeing wasn’t really real. It was just an illusion, like a film being played back through the VIMS unit – but I didn’t want to tell him that. Not yet.

  ‘Don’t worry. I’ll have VIMS back in the testing area before anyone realizes it’s missing,’ I said.

  I pointed my index finger forward again. VIMS’ surroundings appeared to move backwards, creating the illusion that VIMS was moving forwards. When it got to the door, I mimed turning the door handle. I watched on the monitor as the testing door opened. I pointed forward. The surroundings scrolled until VIMS reached the lift. I pointed at the control panel of the lift and said, ‘VIMS, press the button.’

  VIMS did as it was told. The lift doors opened almost immediately. I pointed into the lift and VIMS entered it. I made VIMS press the button to go up to the ground floor. When the lift doors opened, I could see on the monitor a security guard I did not recognize. He was sitting at his desk in the reception area, reading his newspaper. It took me a moment to remember the appropriate command for what I wanted to do next. Keeping my hand level and parallel to the ground, I said, ‘VIMS, low mode, maximum stealth, silent running.’

  Almost immediately, the monitor view changed so that we could only see a few centimetres off the ground. VIMS wheeled right past the security guard’s desk to the exit.

  ‘How’re you going to open the door?’ Liam asked.

  ‘Like this! VIMS, activate Desica main doors and exit. On exit, immediately seek cover and get out of sight.’

  Before our eyes, one of the main exit doors opened and VIMS rolled out.

  ‘VIMS, rear view please.’

  On the monitor we saw the security guard look up from his newspaper, surprise on his face. Mum must’ve updated the tape VIMS was currently playing back. That explained why I didn’t recognize this particular guard, but then I couldn’t know every single person who worked at Desica. With a deep frown, the guard stood up, looking at the exit door which was now swinging shut.

  ‘VIMS, normal view – and get out of sight. Now!’ I ordered.

  I lost sight of the guard as VIMS rolled towards the bushes fringing the entrance to the building – but not for long. VIMS had only just managed to hide when the guard appeared at the door, looking severely puzzled and more than a little nervous. Through the sparse winter shrubbery in front of VIMS I saw the guard look out and around but there was no one to see and nothing to look at. My heart stopped when the guard looked in VIMS’ direction. I was so afraid he’d seen VIMS but the guard turned his head for another look around. Then he went back inside the Desica building. I wasn’t the only one who breathed a huge sigh of relief.

  ‘Are you sure he didn’t see VIMS?’ Liam asked.

  ‘I don’t think so. He would’ve come out or raised the alarm if he had seen him,’ I replied.

  And only then did I remember the truth. VIMS was in simulation mode. This wasn’t real. It was astounding how every little detail looked so believable, right down to the expressions on the security guard’s face. He looked so amazing, so lifelike, that I’d forgotten I was just watching a simulation. No wonder Liam was so completely fooled. But I wasn’t going to tell him the truth – at least, not yet. I was going to have some fun first.

  I pointed my finger forward and VIMS set off again. Whenever anyone approached VIMS, I made it hide out of sight. That was mainly for Liam’s benefit but I reckoned that even if it was just a simulation and all I was seeing were images being played back like playing a DVD on the TV, I should still make VIMS treat the whole thing like it was a serious exercise. I didn’t want to interfere with the way it’d already been programmed or anything.

  ‘Hang on … Why’re you turning into Ellisnore Road?’ Liam asked when ten minutes later we were finally reaching VIMS’ final destination.

  I grinned at him. ‘I told you. We’re visiting Matt Vinyl. He lives in this road. At number forty-five.’

  Liam suddenly became very still. ‘Dominic, what’re you going to do?’

  Chuckling gleefully, I turned back to the monitor. I pointed forward until VIMS reached Matt’s house. I indicated that VIMS should go past the open gate and into the front garden, which was hid
den from the rest of the street by a tall, untidy hedge. I made VIMS look around. Stupidly, I hadn’t made VIMS take anything with it so we were going to have to improvise. There were a number of plant pots lined up behind the hedge, and in the corner of the garden, a large wheelie dustbin sat self-consciously.

  ‘VIMS, pick up that dustbin and empty it on the ground,’ I said.

  ‘Dominic – no! You can’t do that,’ Liam protested at once.

  ‘Oh no? Watch this then.’

  We all watched the monitor as VIMS lifted the huge wheelie bin and flipped it over as if it were a jar of coffee. Boxes, tins, papers, old flowers – they all came tumbling out.

  ‘Dominic, that’s enough,’ Liam told me sternly.

  ‘Oh no, it isn’t,’ I argued. ‘VIMS, pick up one of the potted plants and throw it through the window in front of you, then head back to the testing room at Desica with all possible speed.’

  And that’s just what VIMS did. It picked up the nearest potted plant and hurled it through the downstairs window. Then it wheeled out of the front garden moving like a bat out of hell.

  I turned triumphantly to Liam. ‘Ta-da!’

  He wasn’t smiling. In fact, he was looking at me like he’d never seen me before.

  ‘Not even Matt would stoop so low as to pull a stunt like that,’ he said.

  ‘Of course he would – and worse.’

  ‘I’m going home now.’

  I creased up laughing. ‘You should see the look on your face!’ I was laughing so much, I started to sneeze. ‘Don’t worry. It’s not real. None of it was real.’

  ‘What’re you talking about?’