Restitution (Haunted Series Book 17)

by Alexie Aaron

  Mia kissed him again and ran upstairs to use Cid’s bathroom.

  By the time she returned, Laran and Tauni had set up their monitoring stations. Burt and Mike had carried over some of Murphy’s furniture and had placed a monitor on the workbench if either of them were interested in the progress of the game. All of it was going to be recorded. Laran and Ted would share information. Mia propped the door open between the office and the barn to make it easier.

  “Listen up, bitches,” Mia announced. “Let’s have some fun.”

  She kissed her husband and hugged Audrey. “Keep them in line,” she said. “I’ll be with you in a minute,” she said to Murphy, whom Cid was charging up with two energon cubes, and left.

  Tauni helped Mia into the special gown she had brought. She opened the front and whistled when she saw the tattoo. “If that isn’t a beautiful thing! Native American, I imagine. Papa, it’s two hummingbirds kissing.”

  “The things you children do to your bodies,” Laran said, shaking his head.

  “Tauni, Laran, I must caution you of one thing,” Mia started. “Don’t rub the feather tattoo inside my wrist.”

  “Why? Will it come off?” Tauni asked.

  “No, I’ll sprout feathers.”

  “Really?”

  “And then wings, like Angelo’s but bigger. Someone could get hurt.”

  “Oh my! You have a story to tell me later, child.”

  “Yes, I do.”

  Laran stuck his leads on her chest and temples. Tauni braided Mia’s hair, and her father put a cap on Mia’s head.

  “You’re going to feel a few stings as the needles settle in.”

  Mia bore the discomfort.

  They took an initial set of readings with Mia conscious. When they were done, Mia closed her eyes and bilocated out of her body. She moved quickly to Murphy’s side. He nodded to Cid and Ted. They opened the portal, and holding hands, he and Mia moved towards the portal and let it suck them in.

  Mia didn’t feel anything at first, but as she was drawn deeper, she felt a tingling. She felt Murphy’s hand, and it was sweaty. “Oh crap,” she thought. “We are going to be very aware of everything in this world.”

  Murphy drew her to him and held her tight as a wave of pain moved through them. She did her best not to blackout.

  “Stay with me, Mia,” he whispered. “I know it hurts. It can’t last.”

  He was right. Mia felt the pain move out, and it left them different. Mia looked Murphy in the eye.

  “We’re the same height,” she said.

  “You’re naked,” Murphy said.

  “So are you,” Mia said, pushing away from him. Aside from some kind of loin cloth, Murphy stood naked. His chest was full and muscled, his hair was long and gray, his eyes violet. Mia had on bikini bottoms, and only her long hair, split in two, covered her breasts. “What the ef?” she said. “You, stop leering,” she warned her friend. “You look gorgeous by the way.”

  They were moving along on some kind of conveyor belt. She couldn’t see anything but bright light as clothing and armor were being attached to her body. She was pleased to see that at least her breasts were covered, but they seemed quite a bit larger. “Ted, you pervert.”

  Ted adjusted her clothing. He played with her boob size for a bit.

  “Hey, Martin, she’s got to be able to swing a sword without falling over,” Mike reminded him.

  Ted returned them to normal. As an avatar, Mia’s eyes were leaf green. Her hair was braided in two braids that wrapped around her head and were secured by two icepicks. She had on armguards, an armor bustier, leather pants, leg guards, and boots with six-inch heels.

  “I’m going to kill him,” Mia said.

  “Ted, she’s got to run,” Burt said. “Remember, Mia’s naturally clumsy.”

  He found boots that had a smaller heel and a place to conceal a knife.

  “Now that’s better,” Mia said, admiring her new footwear. She reached out and stole two knives as they passed the armory. Ted picked out a shield similar to what she was used to and a long sword. She moved around with the weapon and the shield and shook her head. The shield was defective.

  “Did you see that?” Burt asked. He pointed to the expression on Mia’s face. “She doesn’t like the shield.”

  Ted gave her a smaller shield and watched as Mia moved it around. She nodded.

  Burt walked over to see Cid outfit Murphy. Murphy, so far, was sporting leather trousers and a cambric shirt. He added an armor chest plate, armor leg and arm protectors, boots, and a helmet. He chose a battle-axe and a short sword that Murphy would keep in a scabbard on his back until needed. He didn’t have a shield. The double-headed axe was heavy enough to carry and to wield.

  “Don’t forget Mia’s helmet,” Cid called over. “A lot of arrows come from above.”

  Ted found a helmet that he thought suited her and put it on her head.

  “What the hell?” Mia said as the metal helmet was squashed down. It had a piece that protected her nose, but it made her cross-eyed. She took it off and threw it.

  “Damn it, Mia,” Ted said, retrieving the helmet. He found a smaller one with a visor she could drop if she wanted to.

  The conveyor belt stopped. Mia walked out and stood on a platform. She saw Murphy walk out from the other side. They stood side by side and waited.

  “Mia, can you hear me?” Ted asked.

  Mia raised her sword.

  “Murphy, this is Cid. If you can hear me nod.”

  Murphy nodded.

  “Hold on for weapon test,” Ted said, and he took control of Mia’s body. She attacked Murphy. Murphy stopped her, and Cid moved him into attack position, and now Mia was under attack. She stopped the blow of the axe with her shield, and she used her leg to push Murphy backwards.

  Mia bent down and offered Murphy a hand. He took it and flipped her over on her back and rolled over her before she could twist. Mia found herself flat on her back, straddled by Murphy.

  “Don’t get used to this, farm boy,” Mia said.

  “It’s not me. It’s Cid.”

  “Remind me to spit in his Cheerios,” Mia said as Murphy got up.

  “Good test. Mia, don’t fight me. It slows the controls,” Ted cautioned. “Trust me.”

  Mia nodded.

  Ted had her spin sideways and take Murphy’s axe as she kicked his feet out from under him.

  “See what we can do?” Ted said.

  Mia smiled and handed Murphy back his axe.

  “Remember, Mia, how competitive Ted and Cid are when they are playing games?” Murphy said.

  “Hopefully, they’ll remember why we’re here in the first place.”

  Chapter Fifteen

  The Road to Angkor Wat

  Mia and Murphy started off in dense forest. They had to hack their way through. They came to a clearing, and sitting by a fire was a monk. He was wearing a robe of red with a brilliant jewel hanging from the cord that closed his robe. They walked over and sat down.

  The monk began to tell them the story of Angkor Wat. “When the earth was young, blah blah blah…”

  Mia looked around them. Just to the right, she saw goons sneaking towards the campfire. She got up, and the monk held his hand up.

  “They will not hurt you because…”

  An arrow split the monk’s skull in two and stopped his story. Mia pulled Murphy behind her. She used the shield to protect them from the arrows. She spied the archer standing on a rock outcropping. She pulled out a knife and threw it at the archer. He fell. Murphy popped out behind Mia and began to mow down the others with his battle-axe. Mia charged in and stabbed and kicked until the five were no more. She stopped and picked their bodies clean of items. She shared them with Murphy who was disgusted with her pillage.

  “Ted said if you come across a dead body, pick it clean. We have to earn enough to get better armor.”

  “Cid’s not talking. He grinds his teeth though.”

  “Maybe he needs a mouth gua
rd,” Mia said as she shook down the monk.

  “Mia, really?” he said as she put the jewel on the hilt of her sword.

  “He’s dead. Oh looky, a potion. Or is it poison?” She took it anyway. “Time to move on.”

  They followed a path. It led to a chasm. Mia took the rope she had taken from around the monk’s waist and sent it across the gorge, entangling it in a tree. She tied off the other end on a convenient tree on their side. She climbed up and began to walk across the rope. Murphy waited until she had crossed before he started across. When he had joined her, Mia pulled out the knife and dropped the rope in the gorge. An arrow hit her hard in the bustier but bounced off. Murphy dragged her to cover until she caught her breath.

  Audrey watched the two techs maneuver Mia and Murphy. She was amazed by the rope bridge. “Was that Mia or Ted?” she asked Burt.

  “Mia took the rope, I figured out the bridge,” Ted said. “Cid, can you take Murphy around to take out the archer? He’s in the tree at eleven o’ clock.”

  “Will do.”

  Murphy worked his way to the tree while Mia put her helmet on her sword and drew fire. Murphy swung his axe and took the tree down with one swipe.

  Mia waited as the archer bounced out. She stuck her sword in his back and put her foot on it to pull the sword out. She looted the body. That was when she found the first sign that Jake had been there. She found a tiny violin. Mia held it up to show Ted and Cid.

  “Jake is definitely in the game,” Ted reported.

  “Do you mean you did all of this on just a suspicion of where he may be?” Mike asked.

  “Yes,” Cid said.

  “You guys are amazing. How did you work out how to get in the game?” Mike asked.

  “Mia did initially. Her friend Billy had a code that got them into that demon spur. She showed me where to stop it and direct it into the game. It was trial and error until we broke through,” Ted said.

  “Billy as in dead Billy?” Mike asked.

  “Yes. We’ll talk about that later. Right now we have to concentrate on getting them out of the jungle by nightfall,” Ted told him.

  “Would you guys like some coffee?” Audrey asked.

  “I’ll take a Code Red,” Cid said.

  “Coffee is fine with me. Four sugars and some milk, please,” Ted said. “Cid, riot squad coming up fast.”

  Audrey supplied them with their beverages and walked into the barn to see if she could get Tauni or her father anything. She saw Mia lying in the heated bed as still as could be. Mia’s chest rose and fell, but beyond that there was no movement.

  “How is she?”

  “She’s holding her own,” Tauni said. “Laran says her brain has divided up its processes. He has some very interesting data.”

  “Can I get either of you a beverage or a snack?”

  “No thank you, Audrey.”

  “I’m fine, young lady.”

  Audrey instantly liked this man. “I’ll be serving Cid’s sloppy joes in two hours,” she said.

  “Thank you. How are they doing?” Tauni asked.

  “Mia found Jake’s little violin.”

  “What?”

  “Jake never answers a question directly. Sometimes he uses props that you would find in a Warner Brothers cartoon. Bugs Bunny played the tiny violin, and so did Jake when any of us was feeling sorry for ourselves.”

  “You have a very interesting friend, Audrey.”

  “Yes I do,” she agreed. “Jake helps me with my research. I miss him.”

  “You have a great team to work with. You are a most fortunate young woman,” Laran told her. “Very few fights.”

  “Ted busted Mike’s nose just last week,” she blurted out.

  “Ah, I have a feeling this young lady here was the cause,” Tauni said. “Passions run high around her.”

  “It’s really not her fault,” Audrey said. “She is just so lovely and funny. She breaks more hearts than she is aware.”

  “I know she loves that skinny boy, but he’s not the one Sabine thought she’d end up with,” Tauni confided.

  “Ah, gossip. I’ll use the washroom while you ladies tell tales,” Laran said, walking by Audrey.

  “Who?” Audrey asked, curious.

  “Angelo. He wants her so bad.”

  “But Mia doesn’t want him. She never encouraged him,” Audrey stressed.

  “I know, but the boy plays dirty. I gave him a piece of my mind the other day. I told him to spend more time with his mistress in Italy, and less moping around our Mia.”

  “He and Orion are friends.”

  “Yes, and Orion is Mia’s grandfather. He is a nice birdman. I think he’s fond of you, Audrey. Ah, you blush. Is the feeling mutual?”

  “I find him fascinating and so sexy.”

  “Oh boy, you’ve got it bad. Orion isn’t attractive.”

  “Yes he is. His mind is so open, and he is so knowledgeable and…

  “He’s hung like a brahma bull.”

  Audrey broke out in giggles.

  “You go ahead and entertain him, but you be careful. He’s a player, Miss Audrey, and he will break your heart.”

  “I’m not looking for forever.”

  “Well, enjoy him then. Ah, here comes my father. I better get back to work.”

  Audrey left her, walked back into the office, and sat down quietly next to Burt. Burt leaned in and reported, “They are almost at the wall. Mia’s racked up a large body count. Murphy is right behind her. She’s looking a bit tired though.”

  “Can they feel inside there?” Audrey asked.

  “I know most of Mia’s expressions, and I suspect Mia can. Murphy is hard to read. I hardly got a look at him here in our world, so I have no basis from which to measure his facial expressions. Cid and Ted see him plain as day, but Murphy is selective of who gets to see him and when.”

  “I wonder, why can’t you see him?” Audrey asked.

  “I think it’s because I disappointed Mia. Murphy is a Mia man.”

  “Is that why he plays tricks on Mike?”

  “I think he likes Mike, but he and Mike stepped off on the wrong foot.”

  “Do you remember what it was?” Audrey asked.

  “I called her a bitch,” Mike said, walking into the room. “I couldn’t understand why she didn’t want to stick around and help us out. Murphy heard us and made up his mind I was persona non grata, even though she defended me.”

  “First impressions…” Audrey sighed.

  “You made a good one with your tangling with the marionette,” Mike teased.

  Audrey laughed at the memory of scaring herself by becoming tangled up in the strings of a large puppet in the attic of the Gruber mansion.

  “Cid, have Murphy tap the walls. We are looking for a secret entrance,” Ted said. He moved Mia under a shade tree to rest. He felt bad; he had over-battled. He had the highest kills, but at what cost? They were in there to find Jake, not win the game.

  Mia looked up at the tree and over at the wall. “Murph, I’ve found a way in.”

  “Cid wants me to tap walls.”

  “I don’t care if he wants you to pound sand, come here,” Mia demanded.

  Cid watched as Murphy moved independently of his controls and followed Mia up the tree. They eased themselves out on a long limb. Mia took Murphy’s hands and swung him to the wall. He extended his axe, she caught hold, and he pulled her over. They climbed down the wall and the screen changed.

  “Dude, did you see that?” Cid asked.

  “Yes,” Ted said, frowning. “I’ve got to walk off a kink in my back,” Ted said. “Mike, stay with Mia. Make sure she watches her back.”

  Mike sat down and, only after a questioning look, started to play Mia.

  Burt followed Ted outside. He saw Ted kick the ground a few times. “What’s going on?”

  “I’m going to get her killed,” Ted said.

  “From what I’m seeing, you may be on a killing spree, but Mia is safe under your control.”


  “No, she isn’t. I didn’t climb the tree, she did. She’s starting to not trust me and is working on her own volition.”

  “The Mia I know needs to have a bit of a lead. Don’t rein her in too much, and watch her left side. She has Murphy on her right, but she’s taken a few brutal blows to her left. I can see she’s in pain.”

  “Pain? They’re avatars,” Ted argued.

  “No, one of them is a human in a game. Believe me Mia is feeling tired, sore and hungry. You see, I know her face. She gives you a dozen expressions of love and lust, but I get ‘I’m hungry Burt, You’re an asshole, Burt,’ and my favorite, ‘Do you know what the fuck you are doing, Burt?’”

  “The expressions of avatar Mia are so slight,” Ted said, amazed by Burt’s revelation.

  “I see Mia a lot through the lens of the camera that I’m holding and the film I’m editing. I can almost tell you what she is thinking. Believe me when I tell you that she is tired, hungry and scared.”

  “Mike we’re coming to an armory. It’s time to get them outfitted for this leg of the journey. We’ve amassed a lot of gold, so buy the most expensive and lightest armor that is available,” Cid suggested.

  Mia stood there once again as her clothing was stripped from her. She bore the humiliation because this outfitting time gave her a chance to rest. She didn’t think she could lift her arms, let alone a sword, at this point. She had seen so much computer generated blood that everything was beginning to look red to her. Her hair was taken down and braided with Mithril strands in a single braid that fell to her left side. Tiny Mithril patches were all that was covering her body. She looked like she had at the beach with the exception that she had a Mithril skirt over a G-string of some kind. “I’m going to kill him.”

  Ted and Burt stood open-mouthed at the armor Mike had chosen.

  “She’s pissed,” Burt said.