Chapter 9: The Prom.
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So, the new girlfriend turned out to be my late father’s legacy, Josh mused. My late father was a genius and nobody knew it. Apparently, I’m a genius in a negative kind of way and an evil computer programme is coming to kill me because I could end the universe he inhabits. You see, the only way I can think to kill the stupid programme is to shut the Internet down completely. So that’s one possible scenario although right now all I need to do is get to the Prom.
The second possible scenario is I that I am, in fact going slowly insane and talking to my dead father on my laptop and imagining scenarios in which a girl I’m far too low in the pecking order to even dream about is driving me nuts to impress me and get me into her panties.
Third possible scenario: Both me and my girlfriend were infected with a contagion from an MRI machine and are both going insane trying to get in each other's pants. I'm going to the Prom.
Okay diary so no more entries. You will know it was scenario one if there are no more entries. It was scenario three if I write that I got laid on prom night. It was probably scenario two though. Josh‘s thoughts were running amok while he distractedly attempted to prepare himself for the prom date.
Even in his weakened mental condition he scrubbed up best he could for his prom night with the girl of his dreams, who possibly had a little bit of extra personality as well. He decided that it was alright to be insane and that as long as he was okay with that and happy, it was fine. This was the easiest way to deal with the feeling of impending doom he had about his prom night date. Unfortunately his phone, laptop, everything electrical in fact, had stopped functioning since Chloe left the house. He wasn't sure if Chloe had done this to protect him or if it was sheer blind chance. He was longing to talk to her again and had a million questions to ask her. He couldn't begin to understand her life and whether she even liked him as the son of her creator. Was she just like every other sixteen year-old girl who just wanted a bit of fun and maybe a kiss and cuddle at the end of the night. Josh had taken what she said seriously. She had said that she liked him so he got clean and prepared as if for any other date, if he had ever had one that is. His head was spinning with what was, what could be and what was going on with his girlfriend, his father and his life. Josh wondered if he would ever get any real answers. He sort of understood why Chloe hadn't told him before. Initially, Josh initially had thought that she or it had killed Chloe, but she sort of was Chloe. She or it had saved his life and clearly was only trying to protect him and, hopefully, reproduce with him.
When the door bell rang he wasn't quite ready. He ran round frantically grabbing his jacket and checking his hair before grabbing flowers for Chloe and rushing outside. He was very nervous. Josh had spoken to Chloe briefly on his house phone and explained everything electronic was broken but she wouldn't talk and he couldn't as his mum was in the room. His mum came out and told him how nice he looked and wished him a nice evening. He had draped his jacket over his broken arm and thought it made him look a little debonair. The waiting limousine was big and white and the side door was invitingly open. Josh climbed to find it had loads of room even though there were four people already inside; Callan with his date and Kate with hers. They all looked very smart. Both couples were giggly and sat closely together, cuddling. They only had Chloe to pick up. Josh gave the address to the limousine driver and he set off. The journey seemed very quick and after what felt like only minutes Josh found himself knocking on Chloe's door. It opened immediately and as if by magic Chloe was stood in front of him. She looked so beautiful, innocent, clean and just right for him. For a moment they didn't move, just gazed into one another's eyes. They hadn't spoken properly since they had shared their secrets and they both felt insecure. They saw in each other's eyes the pain and loneliness they had felt and the desperate need to embrace but her parents and sister were watching.
"Come on guys, we’ll be late," Callan shouted from the car.
The sound of Callan’s voice shocked the sloppiness out of them and Josh grabbed her hand. Slipping a flower over her wrist he led her into the limousine and introduced Chloe to his friends.
"Hi Chloe, this is Michael," Kate greeted her warmly.
As Michael reached forward to shake Chloe’s hand a static charge crackled between them and they both jolted back in surprise.
"Pleased to meet you," Chloe answered, staring at him.
"This is Cara," Callan introduced his date. The girls shook hands and again static shot across their joined hands.
"Hi, sorry about that, I seem to be a bit charged the wrong way tonight," Chloe said. She looked at the two dates knowingly as she slid her hand into Josh’s and held it very tightly as if to acknowledge he was there. She didn't take her eyes off Cara and Michael for the entire journey which seemed to take forever as there was so much they were waiting to say to each other. At last the limousine pulled into the school parking lot where it instantly drew the attention of the other Prom goers. Everyone stood watching as the six got out. The ball was to be held in the main assembly Hall and a light buffet and some free drinks were being provided. The school talk shop had stayed open for everyone.
Chloe quickly guided Josh away from the others. He looked desperate to talk to her.
"They’re over here, no, that way," Chloe looked worried and unsure of herself.
"Who?" Asked Josh in confusion.
"The evil ones. There’s no English word for them except devils I suppose," Chloe said.
"Right. Devils? Who?" Josh stammered.
"Callum’s and Kate’s dates," Chloe said worriedly.
"How do you know?" Josh asked.
"That static charge told me everything about them."
"Well, they won't start anything here. There are too many people around," Josh wasn’t sure what to say to her. It made no sense to him saying that they were evil. He didn’t think Chloe was being malicious; maybe they scared her.
"I suppose, they won't, but let’s stick together," Chloe said, still gripping his hand tightly.
Still holding hands Josh guided her into the ballroom. It looked very formal and felt like being at court. Every guest or couple’s names were announced as they entered the assembly room. The headmaster called Chloe and Josh’s names has they walked in and everyone turned to stare at them. No one had seen Chloe for a very long time and she was well liked and popular because of her beauty and sociability. The other two couples had entered the room already and a formal dance was taking place on the main floor. The Prom was to take this format for an hour at which point a modern disco would take over. The idea behind this was to prepare for the grown up balls they would attend at University. The girls were given dance cards with a list of dances that were going to occur before the disco. The drama teachers were encouraging everyone to fill out their cards and making sure no-one was left partner less as best they could. Chloe deftly avoided them and dragged Josh over to the food table where she picked up plates up for them both. He got drinks as she grabbed food. They managed to find a quiet corner and sat on an old school gym bench.
"We have to go you know, we can't stay in Nottingham,” Chloe sounded panicky, “they’ll find us anywhere that has technology," Chloe shoved a sausage roll in her mouth quickly before the drama teacher suspected her of loitering in the corner to avoid dancing.
But it wasn't the drama teacher she needed to worry about. Cara and Michael had made their way over to them unnoticed. Cara smiled at them sweetly but Josh noticed her smile didn’t reach her eyes which remained cold.
“I hope you don’t mind,” Cara spoke only to Josh, ignoring Chloe’s presence, “I’ve put you down on my dance card for the next dance. I really want to get to know Callan’s friends.”
Chloe intervened, her smile every bit as sweet and every bit as insincere as Cara’s had been, as she explained Josh was fully booked. Sensing an impending argument the drama teacher intervened. Chloe quickly booked the third dance with Michael. At leas
t she could keep an eye on Josh. Cara and Michael walked away, chatting.
"What are they going to do, or what can do in front of all these people?" asked Josh seeing the anxiety this development had caused her.
"Put your drink and food down," Chloe instructed sternly. She looked appraisingly at him, knowing deep down they still didn’t have complete trust in each other.
Josh knew she meant it and immediately placed his food and drink next to him on the bench. Chloe waved her little finger under Josh’s nose.
"This is my little finger, I really like what I can do with my little finger," Chloe said in an almost playful tone.
"Ahhh," screamed Josh.
They sat still while Josh caught his breath. The pain in his hand had been agonising, pins and needles as sharp as real ones had sliced through his nerve endings whilst a creeping numbness made the whole thing worse.
"Okay, I'm sorry that I didn't believe you. I thought I was going mad," Josh apologised rubbing his hand. Chloe took his hand and the feeling came back. The pain was gone completely.
"Now that pain, frankly, probably won't kill anyone, but how could anyone defend themselves against that," Chloe said, “That’s what they could do in front of all these people to answer your question.”
"We only have ten minutes before we have to dance with them," Josh said worriedly.
Josh looked around and saw the side doors open to the main Hall. They led out onto the main field. A fence surrounded the field but there was a hole in it he knew about that the teachers didn't.
"What about Kate and Callan?" Josh asked.
"They will be fine, they won’t hurt them. Their only interest is me and you," Chloe said.
"We can make it out the door over there,” Josh said “we just need to get past Mr. Banks."
Chloe grabbed his hand and led him across the dance floor to the door. They were intercepted of course by Mr Banks. They weren't allowed out, he told them, because kids always got up to no good while on school premises. Several conceptions were thought to have taken place at the school discos and the school authorities weren't impressed.
“And where did you think you were going?" Mr. Banks continued.
"I'm not feeling well, Mr Banks," Chloe said, holding her belly, “I need some fresh air.”
"That's the oldest trick in the book," Banks tutted.
"I just finished chemotherapy, it happens," Chloe allowed irritation to tinge her voice.
"You have ten minutes before I send out a search party," Mr Lang used his most authoritarian tone.
They scuttled quickly past the teacher and straight across the field to the hole in the fence. Josh wasted no time in small talk as he pulled back the fence revealing their exit. Suddenly He was jolted backwards, falling in agony to the floor on top of a log that made his bruised ribs throb anew coupled with the numbing feeling Chloe had shown him a few moments ago but intensified indescribably as the pain ripped through his whole body. It was agonising and Chloe had been right. He couldn’t fight this, he couldn’t even move. He lay helplessly watching as Cara punched Chloe in the gut, winding her. Clutching her stomach Chloe slumped to the floor. He saw that Michael was on the other side of the fence, guarding the exit. Chloe, seeing Josh’s agony, reached over and touched him which instantly relieved his pain. Josh sprang up saw Cara was on top of Chloe now, sending arcs of static through her head in an attempt to electrocute her. Unthinkingly, his only instinct to save Chloe, Josh charged and hit Cara with the log he had fallen onto as hard as he could. The thick wood splintered and broke with the force of his blow, hard enough to knock her out. Lucky, he thought. He helped Chloe up and began maneuvering away from Michael who was coming through the fence. Chloe seemed to be weakened by the attack and was struggling to stand and Michael was only metres away. He was bigger, stronger and older than Josh who saw that he couldn't get away with Chloe in her weakened state. It was time to fight no matter what. He gently lowered Chloe to the ground and charged Michael as hard as he could, knocking him to the ground. Another shock however stopped him in his tracks and he was unable to move again. Michael climbed on top, pinning Josh’s arms down to his sides.
"I need to know where the laptop is," Michael demanded arcing sparks threateningly between his finger and thumb like a taser gun.
"What? If I tell you, you’ll kill me," Josh said. Michael brought his hand close in to Josh’s face, laughing at his obvious fear. His expression suddenly changed as he let out a roar of pain. Chloe had placed both hands on his head and fried him. Michael toppled from Josh, his hair smoking. Chloe quenched Josh’s pain and dragged him upright, supporting him as they sprinted to the hole in the fence and squeezed through quickly onto the main roads. Chloe flagged a passing taxi down and they gratefully climbed in.
"Where to," asked the driver.
"Town please," Chloe answered.
They sat cuddling together, their breathing still heavy from their exertions. Chloe looked exhausted and Josh felt drained from the running and fighting.
The taxi travelled down Mansfield Road until it reached the edge of the city where Chloe directed the driver to the Broadmarsh Centre. Chloe led Josh straight to a cash machine.
"Where are we going?" asked Josh, now feeling very bemused.
"Get cash, then a bit of shopping and onto the train," Chloe explained.
Chloe rested her hand on the cash machine screen. It immediately whirred into life and started churning out money. There must've been several thousands of pounds Josh thought as the money chute dispensed cash which Chloe quickly hid in her purse into her purse.
"What we shopping for?" asked Josh.
"We need a quick change of clothes, something warm, a laptop and a good printer,” Chloe said, “but we have to be quick."
Chloe crushed to the nearest large store and asked Josh his shoe size. There weren't a lot of shops still open at this time of night. Josh followed her closely as she wandered round a sports shop, cramming things in her arms, far more than they needed. She went into the changing rooms and came out quickly and before paying for the items. The attendant looked shocked at the big one wad cash protruding from Chloe’s purse. They left the shop quickly and hurried towards the train station, stopping only at the chemists to buy toiletries and overnight smellies. Chloe was walking a quite a pace and Josh was surprised when she stopped again at the train station to withdraw some more money.
"Haven't we got enough?"
"Yes, but I'm going to buy Rover tickets, so they can't trace a destination and they’ll be about a grand" Chloe answered calmly.
"I thought we needed a laptop and stuff," queried Josh.
"Yes, we do. We’ll stop off and get one, there's bound to be a wait for a connection somewhere," Chloe said.
They walked into the train station where Josh visited over a bookstore where he happily obtained some reading materials, travel games, sandwiches, drinks and sweets while Chloe bought the tickets and a rail map. She kept hold of his hand whenever she could and kept a careful eye on both him and the layout of the train station.
"We’ll have to be quick, the train’s leaving in five minutes,” explained Chloe, “here’s your ticket."
She quickly led them down the platform where the East Midlands train to Derby had just arrived and they both boarded the train. It was nothing fancy, just a couple of carriages long. As The train set off Chloe took out the rail map and started studying it carefully. She had several timetables in her hand and flicked through them from time to time.
"Where are we going then?" asked Josh, trying to sound cheerful. The night had gone from Prom to Pain so quickly he didn’t really know how he felt except he knew he was scared and worried about his mum who he knew would be devastated when he didn’t go home after the Prom ended.
Chloe looked around. There were a lot of people even for a late-night train and she spotted several cameras mounted around the carriage. She lifted her finger to her mouth to signal him to be silent for a while as she put the rail
timetables and map away. She led Josh to the end of the rail car then slipped into the toilet with him. This made him smile and the two giggled going through the door. He wondered if they were going there to make out and reached towards her hopefully but she stopped him firmly and began to talk, softly and quietly so only he could hear.
"I'm sorry but everything is connected to the Internet. They can hack every camera and they can be anybody. I needed to get you somewhere safe to talk," Chloe whispered, smiling into his eyes.
"They can hack cameras on trains?"
"Yeah, and hack satellites that can track us from the air. I’m taking us completely away from technology," Chloe said showing Josh a point on the map.
"Why there?"
"Because there’s nothing there," Chloe answered.
There was a knock at the door. the rail attendant had spotted the two going in together and, with them being so young, suspected they may be up to no good so he used ‘tickets please’ ploy to get them out of the toilet. Josh came out, apologising that his girlfriend wasn't well before producing their tickets for inspection. Satisfied the guard checked the tickets and went about his business. Back in their seats Josh and Chloe polished off the food and read the papers to kill time. They weren't on the train long however before Chloe was leading Josh onto the platform at Derby station. She checked the departure boards to see what time their next train was due to depart. It wasn't until 10 PM. They would be travelling all night but first they had an hour and a half in Derby. Chloe led him from the station and into a taxi. She was taking them shopping again. She ordered the taxi driver to go to the nearest large supermarket. She knew the evil ones would be tracking their every move on cameras around the city, in the train stations and in the shops. They would be watching what they brought and where they went, looking for an opportunity to send people after them on the attack. This would take time of course. This is why Chloe needed to take Josh and herself off the technology radar for a while. Once she had lost them, it would take a long time for them to find them again. There are thousands of cameras and searching the lot takes time. Chloe and Josh soon found themselves at an Asda store. Chloe led Josh straight to the back of the store and bought a laptop, a top of the range printer, a laminator and several assortments of card and printing accessories. She also brought a camera and memory sticks. Josh looked confused as they were supposed to be running from technology not embracing it. He went with it though and didn't ask for any explanations. He had become uncomfortably aware that there were cameras everywhere and knew better than that now. He did however pickup a sketch toy on the children’s aisle as he thought it could be used to communicate covertly. Chloe looked absolutely done in. She was hungry and had expended too much energy fighting so they shopped for something more to eat, returning with enough food for a small army. Shopping done, they took a taxi and headed for the station. Chloe munched her way through a phenomenal amount of food in the back seat of the taxi. Josh hadn't ever seen anyone eat quite so much. He was aware that they were quite conspicuous. They were considerably overloaded with shopping, and were never going to out run anyone.
They used trolleys to get their swag to the platform. The next train in was going to Crewe, then onto Wales. Chloe and Josh were soon boarded and had found seats. There were very few passengers so they had their pick. Chloe took the sketch toy, looked around at the cameras and wrote a message simply by touching the screen.
Setting up the PC, printer and camera on a table took best part of half an hour. The setup was in full view of the cameras on the train. Chloe, who appeared to have condensed the food into a small pile, set it next to the laptop and printer as she wrote Josh another message on the sketch toy.
Read the papers, play on the laptop or whatever, but follow me to the toilet when I go.
It was about half an hour before Chloe went towards the toilet and Josh, good to his word, followed her into the tiny cubicle. Chloe had taken a clothes bag with her and another small bag containing toiletries.
"So what's the plan?" asked Josh.
"Chloe pulled out some clothes that he hadn't seen it before, and told him to get changed quickly as they were getting off at Crewe. Chloe explained that she had stolen some clothes as well as buying some. They were going to wear the stolen clothes as the cameras hadn't seen her buying them and it should buy them some time. The printer, camera and laptop had been a diversion as had the water and food. Her idea was to give them a few seconds head start when they left the train wearing different outfits and without their luggage. Chloe had stolen hoodies, tracksuits and scarves. They would look like a couple of rude boys hopefully. They changed in the cubicle, quite a challenging feat in itself, and split the remaining money for safety. They now only carried their tickets and had no luggage at all. Josh thought they now both looked a little like muggers. They were not due into the train station for a few minutes so she guessed they must be waiting for the lights to change. They felt the train stop but then shunt slowly into the station. They heard the sound of the tannoy system announcing the trains’ arrival as the train pulled up. The doors opened and they headed for the stations exit, Chloe first looking quickly at the electronic departure board to check which platform the next train would leave from. Once safely outside they looked around and headed for the taxi rank. Chloe asked the driver to take them to a local bowling alley. They had well over an hour to kill. The bowling alley wasn’t far. Chloe timed how long the journey had taken then arranged for the driver to pick them up in an hour or so. She grabbed Josh’s arm and they walked into the arcade part of a complex where they spent the next hour happily playing on games together. Their adrenaline was wearing off and they were both tired but made the most of a chance to hang out together. The hour sped and in what seemed like no time they were in the taxi and off back to the train station. Josh thought about the Prom. He would by now have been reported to the police as a missing person, along with Chloe. No doubt Max would be attempting to trace them both. Journey over, they went straight to the platform and saw there was no security guards, just cameras. The cameras had blind spots and Chloe pulled Josh into one and cuddled up next to him to keep warm. It was freezing cold on the platform. No-one else seemed to be waiting for this train, it was a sleeper and Josh wondered if they might be able to upgrade their seats once they got aboard. Chloe didn't want to risk looking at sleeper cabins though as this would involve standing in front of a camera at Crewe station. While she was moving and not stood around it would take the evil ones longer to locate them. Even disguised in their hoodies and scarves the evil ones might be able to use Iris recognition but Chloe knew this would take longer. They boarded the train, a big one pulling at least fifteen carriages, and headed towards where they saw a conductor. The larger, older and none local trains usually had no cameras on and the pair could relax. There were a few passengers on board, most of them dozing. Only a privileged and richer few had sleeper cabins. The train started to pull off as they bumped into the conductor and negotiated a fare and a sleeper cabin for them both. A buffet car was serving like snacks and they both grabbed a hot chocolate and a muffin to eat in the bed. In the cabin they found bunks made up with fresh bedding and a sink. Chloe booked an early morning call. They were due to arrive at Inverness at about 8.30am and they needed to be on the ball when they got there. Josh jumped on the top bunk and Chloe took the bottom. They were both tired out but Josh needed to ask questions. His exhausted brain wouldn’t let him sleep while he had so many questions bouncing around. Josh asked Chloe where it was she came from and how she knew so much. He didn't know even a fraction of what she did. She explained that she had grown up learning and watching humans. As anyone who uses the Internet knows, there's a lot of information out there. The problem with the Internet however, is that it’s like the Wild West, open and dangerous and with very few effective laws. Porn, child porn, bomb-making, nuclear physics, everything about everyone, every bad thing and every good thing was there. Everything that they wanted hidden or shared
only with like-minded sick ass mother truckers as she put it, was stored for anyone to learn about. The evil minded of the species created from the programme are as sick, twisted and nasty as the information they absorbed. She still had feelings and thoughts and emotions but no sense of touch and no depth of experience compared to normal to human levels. The Internet was kept going by porn mainly, illegal and sick but that type of information is there and never going to go away. They couldn't just close the Internet down and clear everything. The task is too great and all information, including dangerous knowledge, now is open to the world. The were of course beings like her who strove to be better and do good, not harming others, but looking for life, the meaning of the universe and philosophising over where to go and where life is going from here. Josh listened intently and then slowly drifted off to sleep as did Chloe.