Whoever said money can't buy happiness clearly hasn't been invited to one of Jaxon Wan's epic house parties. If they'd taken one glance inside the Wan's mansion they'd know there's nothing money can't buy. My one and only aspiration in life was for my modeling career to make me half as rich as Jaxon Wan. I happened to be at one of Jaxon's infamous parties on the night my life got irrevocably mucked up. I lounged in his pool surrounded by dolphins. Yes, Jaxon Wan has a dolphin in his pool. At least I'm pretty sure he does. I've never been anything short of completely wasted at one of his parties. I was chatting with a wannabe film director and some girl who I think was on Dancing with the Stars season 129 when my best friend, Mason, came running up to meet me. "Hey, you made it! I thought you weren't coming because you were working on your boring movie."
365Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfDaGPzyKri
He rolled his eyes. "We wrapped up early, and it isn't a boring movie it's a profound and relevant documentary about corporate corruption. You're just too obtuse to understand its significance."
365Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUmnU90oq9T
"Hmm, what?" I was falling asleep listening to him talk about it. "Did you need something or—?"
365Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0S3DCvDWCi
"You left your Holowatch in the upstairs bathroom, I came to return it."
365Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH8oQwehyZA
"That's impossible, my watch never leaves my wrist." I glance down at my arm for confirmation but sure enough, it was gone.
365Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLXCxfbwyFg
Mason handed me my missing Holowatch.
365Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiJ1zwt9332
I slapped it back onto my wrist and let out a relieved sigh. "You're the best, Mason."
365Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp3UTqcK3yi
"I'm really not." He gave a humble shrug. "By the way, someone's been sending you creepy messages. I would have blocked them for you, but I don't know your password."
365Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZPPTT7AamG
I clumsily dragged myself out of the pool. I plopped down on the ledge and scrolled through my messages.
365Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3pCdZp2TG2
Chase Huxley, I can't get into the details, but you are in imminent danger. Go somewhere private and we can discuss further. —A friend.
365Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5jLUKn2fTF
I turned towards Mason. "Do you think there's any chance of a real threat?"
365Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkoFJuBjVcD
"I don't know, this sounds sketchy, like one of those spam messages when a Martian Prince asks you to send all of your credits to his bank account." He shrugged."On the other hand, we are celebrities, and it's not unheard of for us to be targeted for some reason or another."
365Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8a86byyDdn
"I don't know if I call myself a celebrity," I said, feigning modesty.
365Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlrX8kz6LOH
Mason patted my shoulder. "Then you shouldn't have anything to worry about."
365Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCZ16S872zO
He was probably right. Mason was a lot smarter than me, though I'd never tell him that. I tried to enjoy the party, but the messages haunted me. I went to the open bar and tried every single glow-in-the-dark cocktail on the menu, and it didn't help. Now I'm drunk and distressed and the same time. I thought alcohol was supposed to fix all your problems. Didn't Socrates say something like that? Or was it Mother Theresa?
365Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡis7PBAbf4F
I reached my breaking point around midnight. I had to know what the messages were talking about. I snuck out of the party and found my car. Without hesitation, I called the number. "Listen up buckaroo, I came here to have a good time, and your creepy messages are making me paranoid, so this had better be a serious threat or else, I'll call the FBI or something on your ass."
365Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmimrVN5dtA
There was nothing but the sound of breathing on the other end.
365Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡePSvTzmjUN
"Hello?"
365Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSAE5LbBf4K
A message popped up on my Holowatch. Are you drunk?
365Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrW8EO4pX84
"Maybe."
365Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡviWXTfkiMC
Your chances of surviving the night just dropped exponentially. At this point, you not getting killed would require a miracle. Go drink some water, then follow my directions to the letter. Okay?
365Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX4CVOPmxRc
"Did you know Jesus' first miracle was turning water into wine? Maybe I should drink wine instead of water, that might help us get a miracle.
365Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzlTFmmoz57
I'm certain Jesus would not condone you giving yourself alcohol poisoning. I swear your own stupidity will kill you before Bionic Corp does.
365Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPqobwNJWSn
"Bionic Corp? Isn't that company that sells toasters?"
365Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEuRvHObYFe
Amongst other things. Including your car. Which is why your first instruction is to walk home, don't stop, don't talk to anyone, and leave your Holowatch and any other devices behind.
365Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGd0HlJRwBK
"So you're telling me a bunch of toasters are coming to kill me?"
365Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2uhQmZyWV3
I don't know why I've spent this long trying to help you. You obviously aren't smart enough to steal those maps. I must have the wrong person.
365Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAwDkoksyy2
"Pfft maps? Why would I steal maps? I can download them for free on my Holowatch. The only thing I steal is hearts."
365Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPL7Ki0WA5d
Cybernetic hearts?
365Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡICW91KnIpk
"No, human ones, I'm a massive flirt, ask anyone. What would I even do with a cybernetic heart?
365Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3tXsERwzjG
I clearly have the wrong person. Sorry for ruining your night. There was a deep sigh on the other end of the call, and then he hung up.
365Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiB8okHHryU
Good riddance. What a freak! Everything he said made no sense. I can't believe he had the audacity to act like I was wasting his time! I'm the real victim here.
365Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ02QdNlh58a
Mason jogged up to me.
365Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRNyYsFHC77
I dove behind my car.
365Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtZWIgqMPOn
"What are you doing, Chase?"
365Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkEPb925rlc
I poked my head out from behind the vehicle. "I replied to the weird messages even though you told me not to."
365Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡddGW8yIC41
He raised an eyebrow. "What happened?"
365Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7UDiUX79w7
"You were right that guy is crazy!"
365Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjGqC591Xwa
"Did you happen to catch the guy's name?"
365Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR5Bq9v0IeW
"No. I'm not even sure if it was a guy. They refused to talk they would only send written messages."
365Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQCHFcJ0Lom
"That's weird." He frowned. "Why were you hiding out here?"
365Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfTDUs6koKf
"He told me not to talk to anyone." I gripped the hood of my car to try to stop myself from falling over. Maybe, I had a few too many drinks."I know it's silly, but he's gotten into my head."
365Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbLmUSZpJIY
"It's okay. I understand. I'd freak out too if I were in your position." He looked down at the ground. "I wanted to say goodbye before I left."
365Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnaKXhZo8Zj
"Where are you going?"
365Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9v2JL7S45H
He smiled. "Sara asked me to walk her home."
365Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOIm2ha9cpm
"Eww, the cyborg girl! You can do better than that, man.
365Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcvv0sBc8kb
His hands balled into fists. "There's nothing wrong with being a cyborg and Sara is beautiful no matter what."
365Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡubbZFKPgcY
I gag. "Maybe, if you find wires and transistors attractive."
365Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ1NhbhuMrI
"You're an asshole, Chase. Has anyone ever told you that?" He stormed off.
365Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzbQMaLTElK
"It was just a joke!" I called after him but he didn't respond. What's his deal? I've never seen him that angry.
365Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMtHS29t7Gn
I chose not to walk home that night. Can you blame me? I was so wasted I couldn't even stand up straight and, I didn't buy a self-driving car, so I could walk home from parties. I turned up the radio loud in an attempt to drown out my feelings from the night. I looked up and noticed smoke emanating from the engine. I gave my car the command to pull over, but it sped up instead. I'm going to die tonight. That was the last thought I had before my car burst into flames.
ns18.224.72.117da2
然後按「加至主畫面」