Scarlet's Escape

by Katrina Cope

  Jayden turned around to congratulate him, but before he could get the words out, he stopped himself, taking in the look on Aaron’s face.

  He didn’t look excited after his achievement. Instead, he radiated worry. “Did you see that?”

  It was Eva’s turn. “See what?”

  By this time, the lesson was over, and Professor Anna was dismissing the class. Robert had taken his headphones off and joined the conversation. “What did we need to see, Aaron?”

  “Let’s hit the outdoors,” Aaron said, his body tense. “We need to discuss some things.” Without waiting, he turned and exited the room.

  Jayden, Eva, and Robert glanced at each other, puzzled, and then jumped up quickly to catch up with Aaron.

  While exiting the room, Robert stopped abruptly, feeling his shirt pockets as though he had lost something. “Hang on, guys,” he said. “I forgot the glasses. I left them on the computer table. I just need to get them so I can check on Shelly.”

  “You better hurry up.” Eva shook her head. “’Cause you know if we don’t start soon, Aaron will be long gone.”

  “I know.” He jogged to his computer table, grabbed his glasses, and did a quick jog back to them. He panted. “Right, let’s go.”

  By the time they made it to the exit door, which was through the lobby, Aaron was already a couple of hundred feet away on the pathway that headed to the external workshop. He was walking quickly even for him.

  “Jeez! Something must be bothering him,” Jayden said.

  They walked briskly in almost a jog to catch up and were relieved when Aaron plunked on the ground among the trees off to the side of the path. By the time they reached him, Robert was huffing and puffing. He slumped forward and rested his hands on his knees.

  “Man, you can walk fast,” Robert wheezed.

  Aaron ignored him with his eyes unfocused and his face plastered with worry. “I think Dr. Ernest is on to me.”

  “How’s that?” Eva sat beside him.

  “He made a sly comment about Brendan’s last name and what it meant. Did you know that Brendan’s last name is Ersatz?”

  They shook their heads in response, so he continued, “It means substitute, artificial, synthetic. Of all people, Dr. Ernest told me this, and then he looked me straight in the eye and said that perhaps it should also mean ‘surrogate.’”

  Eva let out a shocked gasp.

  “He said it with his eyes boring into me. He made shivers run down my spine as I sat on the edge of my seat. But then he just looked at me and laughed. It was really unnerving.” Aaron fiddled with the sticks in the ground.

  “I’m sure it was,” Jayden said. “It doesn’t make sense, though. If he knew you were a surrogate spy, why would he let you into the underground?”

  Robert and Eva agreed.

  “It really wouldn’t make sense, you know,” Eva said. “Why would he let a spy into his midst and show them the most significant secret he has?”

  Aaron looked slightly relieved.

  Robert’s brows creased together in thought. “Unless he is keeping his enemies close to him.”

  “Gee, thanks, Robert! You know how to put my mind at ease.” Aaron shook his head, the color leaving his cheeks.

  “What? I was just saying!” Robert looked hurt. “It’s better to know what you’re dealing with than be shocked later, when it really counts.” He put on his observation glasses.

  “Yeah, you’re right, man. Of course. I just don’t know which one is true.” Aaron jabbed the end of a stick into the ground.

  “You know what that means,” Jayden said. “Unfortunately, you’re going to have to watch yourself at that school, and we’re going to have to help you.”

  An aggravated sigh came from Robert.

  “What’s wrong with you, Robert? I’m the one under the pump at the school.” Aaron broke the stick in half and threw it away.

  “No, it’s not that, Aaron.” Robert pulled his observation glasses off. “I’m annoyed that I keep losing contact with Shelly. It’s like her system keeps glitching when it comes to sending signals to me from her vision. When it glitches, I don’t know where she is or what she’s doing.”

  “Oh.” Aaron sounded remorseful. “Where did you last see her?”

  “It’s been a while because we have been on observation, remember? She could be anywhere.” He shrugged. “Normally, she wouldn’t be doing anything that interesting. It’s just more frustrating than anything. It’s another thing to fix.” He threw his glasses down to the ground but then thought twice, grabbed them, and tucked them safely into his shirt pocket.

  Jayden returned to the original subject. “Who would give a surrogate a last name that means ‘fake’? That seems really dumb or cocky.”

  “I don’t know.” Aaron sounded frustrated. “I have nothing to do with the name or behind-the-scenes stuff. I just operate him at a consistent level with a reliable personality. Speaking of which, he has also been tampered with, thanks to Damian. I feel as if my safe little surrogate world is falling apart.”

  “Perhaps we should have a big sit-down with Avando and Professor Anna and sort it all out,” Eva said. “Maybe we’re just reading too much into a few sentences. You have to admit that, even though you feel under threat, and Damian made life a little difficult at the school. You have achieved a lot by being accepted into the underground lab. The other students that you’re there with wouldn’t have even found out about it if it wasn’t for you with a little of our help.”

  “Yeah, that place was really well hidden,” Jayden said.

  “Okay.” Aaron nodded. “Maybe I am stressing too much, but let’s make sure we talk to Avando or Professor Anna shortly and see what they think.”

  “Any signs of Shelly yet?” Eva indicated the glasses in Robert’s pocket.

  Robert pulled them out of his pocket to have another look. He shook his head in despair. “Still blank.”

  “Can I have a look?” Jayden reached out a hand.

  “Sure.” Robert passed them over to him. “You won’t be able to see anything, though, other than clear glass.”

  Jayden put them on and fiddled with the sides. He stood and tapped them lightly.

  “Yeah, that’s it.” Robert scoffed, shaking his head in disbelief. “If the electronic equipment doesn’t work, give it a good hit. Works every time.”

  Jayden looked at him briefly and grinned. “Yep, that’s how the experts do it.” He held his hands at both sides of the glasses, still pressing the sides, turning around, and looking in all different directions. “Actually.” He sounded stunned while appearing to be looking out over the mountains. “It does work. There she is now.” He pointed in the direction of the external workshop.

  Robert got up excitedly, looked in the direction Jayden was pointing, and saw Shelly running along the path toward them, heading back to the main building. “She is too, but you don’t see that from the glasses. Or do you see her sight now?”

  Jayden shook his head in answer to Robert’s question as Eva and Aaron stood to see what Shelly was doing.

  “What is she up to?” Eva asked, watching the little robot skip her way to the main building with her pale-blue dress flowing softly around her legs.

  “I don’t know, but I’m going to find out,” Aaron said. He stepped into the path in front of the little robot. “Shelly.”

  She looked up, and innocence flowed from her surprised expression. “Aaron, you startled me.” She smiled an adorable smile at him.

  “What are you doing, Shelly?” Robert had joined Aaron on the path.

  She looked at Robert. “Robbie!” she squealed excitedly. She ran to him and reached up to give him a big hug. “There you are.”

  Robert looked guilty as he realized that she was only looking for him. Coming out to the external workshop would have made sense, as he was there often. “Are you out here looking for me?” he asked. Somehow, he had managed to make the most affectionate robot ever.

  Her big blue doting
eyes looked at him. “Of course I was looking for you.”

  “You keep disappearing off my glasses feed. I seriously have to get that fixed,” he muttered as though talking to himself.

  “You brought Diva and Jayden to look for me as well?” Shelly smiled sweetly at Eva, blowing her a kiss from her hand as Eva shot daggers at her from her eyes.

  “Actually, we hadn’t started looking for you yet. We were having a little chat,” Robert said.

  “Ooo! I like chats.” Shelly sounded intrigued. “What were you chatting about?”

  “Nothing you need to concern your cute little self with,” he said, carrying her in his arms. She put on a pouty face when he wouldn’t tell her. Seeing this, he added, “Now don’t go giving me these sulky looks. You don’t need to know all of what the big people talk about. We were just about to make our way back to the building.”

  “Looks like Robert has found—no, wait, made himself—a girlfriend,” Eva teased, sounding spiteful.

  “What, are you jealous, Diva?” Aaron said.

  “Whatever!” she snapped.

  Jayden shook his head at the two. “She’s a robot, guys. Though I must admit, she is cute.”

  “Speaking of robots—well actually, artificial intelligence—Scarlet seems to have laid off her scaring people again, which is good,” Eva said.

  “She has?” Jayden asked. “I hadn’t noticed.”

  “She must have. I haven’t heard any screaming lately. For a while, it seemed to be on a regular basis, I would hear screams coming out of the girls’ bathrooms, or she would try me again,” Eva said. “I wonder why she did it in the first place?”

  “I don’t know.” Jayden pretended not to know.

  “Perhaps she misses David Schatzville,” Aaron said. “They used to love to annoy each other, but he’s been gone six months now. I don’t think there is anyone at the moment who would give her the same sort of challenge. I certainly don’t want to get on her bad side like David used to.”

  “I guess you’re right,” Eva said.

  “Well, if she starts up again, don’t go breaking any more monitors.” Robert glared at Eva.

  “I shall do my best,” she said sourly.

  ~~~~~

  LIAM WAS RELIEVED. It was finally time for the mid-year break from school, and there was no better way to spend it than stomping around the competition grounds of the skateboarding tournament with his best friends, Hayley, Dryden, and Jarrod. He had missed Jarrod and the average life he held, far from Ernest State College with all its geniuses, secrets, and hidden lives. It had been a weird semester. He had also really missed his big brother, Matt, who was the main reason why he was at the skateboarding tournament. Matt had come first in every competition he had competed in that year, and that day, it was the one for the nation, the big competition to see who the best skateboarder was in the country. They were lucky to have a crisp, clear winter’s day and were fortunate that it was still too early for snow.

  Matt was spending a little time with Liam and his friends before his tournament. He was a little taller than last time Liam had seen him, and his muscles were more developed.

  “I’m famished!” Jarrod’s stomach growled as a smell from the food booths wafted their way. “When are we going to eat?”

  “We only just got here, Jarrod,” Hayley said. “Obviously, you still eat everything in sight. It’s a good thing there are no Octopus rides here.” She smirked, teasing Jarrod over his display at the Kensington Youth Festival.

  “You’re never going to let me live that down, are you?” Jarrod’s cheeks flushed slightly.

  Hayley shrugged, and her smirk grew wider. “I’m reminding you so that it will never happen again. I’m sure the people who received your stomach contents on their heads would appreciate my efforts.”

  “Yo, dude. That’s gross!” Matt’s nose screwed up in disgust. “There is no way I’m gonna wait below when you hit some rides after having some chow.” Another waft of food hit their noses as a light breeze passed. It brushed some of Matt’s longish dark hair across his face, and he turned into the wind, flicking it out of his eyes as he lifted his nose to smell the air. “Smellin’ that though, I’m dying for some food.”

  “How can you eat before a big tournament?” Dryden asked. “I get so nervous before doing anything important that my stomach turns into knots, and a big lump forms in my throat, making it impossible to eat.”

  “Not Matt,” Liam said. “He’s always hungry.” He looked at his watch. “It’s only nine thirty, but I could certainly eat something, and that smells like churros.” He followed the smell.

  “Okay, you’ve got me.” Hayley joined him.

  They walked together and were amazed at the selection of different types of churros. There were plain with sugar and cinnamon, chocolate churros, churros cheesecake, jam-filled, plain with chocolate dipping sauce, and many more.

  Liam’s mouth watered. “I’ve missed food like this at the college.” He ordered the chocolate-coated one.

  “Is the food no good, bro?” Matt asked.

  “No, the food is good, just plain. Kind of like camp food, I guess. It would be nice to have a bit more variety.” Liam took a bite of his churro and moaned.

  “Is all going well there, dude?” Matt dipped his churro into chocolate sauce.

  “Yeah,” Liam said.

  “But… You don’t seem too pumped,” Matt said.

  “Yeah, no, I’m happy.” Liam sounded as if he was trying to convince himself.

  “Really?” Matt lifted an eyebrow.

  “No, I am. It’s just been a really full semester.” Liam tried to sound more convincing. “Isn’t that right, guys?” He turned to Hayley and Dryden. They nodded in agreement. He would have loved to tell Matt all that was going on. His big brother was not brainy in the school sense, but he had other kinds of wisdom and had a great ear for listening whenever Liam needed one. Liam didn’t want to be in trouble, not only with the school and Dr. Ernest, but also with the government. “On top of that, Gemma is showing me up at everything.”

  “What? I find that hard to believe, bro.” He turned to Dryden and Hayley. “Is that true?” He took a big bite of churro.

  Hayley shook her head and answered, “It’s only in the physical stuff like Tae Kwon Do. That shouldn’t be a surprise to you, though, as you already know Liam has two left feet.”

  “Is that all, bro?” Matt asked Liam. “You knew that you wouldn’t be great at Tae Kwon Do before ya even went to the school. It’s just unfortunate for you that Gemma is good at it an’ goes to the same school.”

  “Yeah, I know. It’s just annoying being shown up by a little sister.”

  “I’m sure you’ll have stuff you’re better at than her.” Matt patted him on the back. He looked at his watch and said, “Oh, bro, I gotta get prepped for my comp. I’ll see ya in a bit, ‘kay?”

  Liam nodded. “Go knock them dead. You’ll do great!”

  “Good luck!” Hayley and Dryden said at the same time.

  “Go show them how it’s done, dude.” Jarrod cheered him on as Matt turned to leave.

  Matt gave them a wave over his shoulder as he left.

  Liam finished off his churro and turned to the others. “Are you ready to make our way over to the competition stand ready for when he competes?”

  “I wouldn’t miss it for the world,” Jarrod said enthusiastically. “Your brother’s awesome.”

  “I agree. Let’s make our way over now. If we wait, it may be hard to find a spot where we can see,” Hayley said.

  When they reached the competition area, they saw that Hayley was right. There were people everywhere, and it was difficult to see the skateboarding ramps. This didn’t stop Hayley or Jarrod, though, for they elbowed their way through the crowd. Many annoyed and unappreciative looks were sent their way, but that didn’t prevent them from making sure they stood at the front. The disapproving looks left Liam feeling uneasy. He hoped that they wouldn’t annoy the people too
much and start a fight.

  When they made it to the front of the crowd, Liam could still feel daggers from people’s eyes landing in his back. He did his best to ignore them, looking forward to seeing his brother perform.

  They had made it in time to see the end of the competitor before Matt. Liam felt worried for Matt because this person was awesome. It seemed every difficult move they executed flawlessly. As he searched the crowd to assess their reactions to the competitor, he spotted Gemma with her friends not far from where they were. She saw him look over, waved, and started to make her way over toward their little group.

  “He’s so good!” A worried look crossed Gemma’s face.

  “He’s pretty amazing,” Liam agreed.

  “Let’s hope Matt’s been practicing heaps.” Her pale-blue eyes were full of concern.

  Liam nodded. “I’m sure he has been, but let’s also hope he has some special moves.”

  The competitor finished, and the crowd cheered loudly. It was Matt’s turn. He stood at the starting position, looking ready and confident. Liam wondered how he did it. If that were him, he would be falling apart. The introduction was made over the loudspeaker, and Matt waved to the crowd when his name was announced. Then he stood with his skateboard ready.

  The buzzer sounded, sparking Matt into action. The board was down, and he was off, skating and showing off his best moves. It had been a while since Liam had seen his brother compete. He knew he was spectacular, but he was still mesmerized by the display Matt was putting on. The crowd cheered as he executed his moves with ease. He threw in three-sixties, a truckstand pogo, a yoho plant, and a smoothie, aka a jaywalk. Then, to top it all off, he added some of his own unique creations that no one had seen or done before.

  “Flippin’ skateboards!” Jarrod’s mouth fell open in awe. “Your brother is so much more rad than last time I saw him. I will have to try to hook up with him some time to get him to teach me some of those moves.”

  “Don’t look at me,” Liam said. “You’ll have to arrange it with him. But yeah, I definitely agree.” A proud smile spread from one ear to the other.