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  Ryland nodded. “Do you want to tell me what’s going on.”

  Aims dropped her bags and collapsed on Ryland’s bed, looking exhausted. “Yeah,”

  “What did you find out?” Ryland asked.

  Aims held up a hand. “A lot.”

  “You said it was bad?” Ryland sat down on his desk chair.

  Aims nodded. “This whole thing is so messed up, so much bigger than I ever thought.”

  “How did Laran Tech find you?”

  Aims shrugged. “I think they tracked me through my phone, but I’m not sure. They have unlimited resources.”

  “Are they gonna be able to find me?” asked Ryland.

  Aims shook her head. “I don’t think so. They found me because they had information about me from when I was employed by Laran Tech.”

  “Right,” said Ryland.

  “So, I always knew Laran Tech was doing some shady stuff,” said Aims. “That things weren’t quite right. So, I did some digging. I hacked into their server to figure out why they created the beta world and what they were going to do with it.”

  “What’d you find?”

  “The beta world was created to harvest the thoughts, behaviors and preferences of its user for the sole purpose of consumer behavior analysis,” said Aims, looking serious.

  “What does that mean?”

  Aims rolled her eyes. “Laran Tech is a conglomerate company with a bunch of sister companies, manufacturing a wide variety of consumer goods. The beta world is a way for these companies to find out what people really think of their products.”

  Aims watched Ryland’s face to see if he was grasping everything she was telling him.

  “So, they suck people into the beta world without telling them?” said Ryland, putting the pieces together. “Then get them to use their product while in the beta world and then watch their reactions and use that as product feedback?”

  Aims nodded. “It’s a way to create products that are perfectly tailored to a specific audience.”

  “That’s crazy,” said Ryland. “But won’t people be confused by this? Going in and out of a virtual reality that mimics the real world?”

  Aims shook her head. “The program erases all memory of the beta world experience from the user’s mind before they log off and take the headset off.”

  Ryland frowned. “But that doesn’t make sense. I remember everything about my experience in the beta world.”

  “Because what happened to you was an accident,” explained Aims. “You weren’t supposed to get in the beta world, and you definitely weren’t supposed to be made aware of the fact that you were in it. That’s why they wanted to eliminate you. They don’t want anyone outside of the company to know about this.”

  Ryland thought for a minute. “I just don’t understand. If I wasn’t supposed to be able to get into the beta world, how did I get in?”

  Aims shrugged. “I honestly don’t know. It must have had something to do with your VR headset. Where did you get your headset?”

  “My aunt sent it to me,” said Ryland.

  “Not your dad?” Aims asked.

  Ryland looked at Aims. “No. Why?”

  Aims looked uncomfortable. “Look, Ryland, when I hacked into Laran Tech’s server, I came across some documents.” Aims stopped.

  “Yeah?” said Ryland. He could tell that Aims didn’t want to tell him whatever it was she found.

  “I came across the name Richard Quippe,” said Aims.

  Ryland wasn’t sure what he had been expecting Aims to say, but it wasn’t this.

  “What do you mean?” he asked, unable to put the pieces together.

  “Richard Quippe is your dad, isn’t he?” said Aims.

  “Well yeah, but—-” Ryland stopped. “That doesn’t make any sense. My dad works for a company called Intervals Inc.”

  Aims nodded. “Intervals is a sister company of Laran Tech.”

  Ryland was silent, processing the information. Aims watched him, her brow furrowed with apology.

  “He was the project manager for the beta world project,” Aims whispered.

  Ryland look at Aims. “That’s not possible.”

  “Ryland—"

  “No,” Ryland snapped. “You don’t know my dad. He’s like, he’s a normal dad. He’s not a—he didn’t do this.”

  “Ryland, there’s more,” whispered Aims. She figured she might as well just get everything out.

  “What?”

  “I also came across the name Marina Quippe.” Aims bit her lip, knowing her words would upset Ryland. Aims had read the file. She knew what had happened.

  Ryland stood abruptly, shoving his desk chair away from him. The chair tipped over and hit the floor with a loud thud. Ryland opened the door to his room and walked out into the hall.

  “Ryland,” Aims tried to say, but he was already gone, walking down the hall.

  Ryland walked quickly, not knowing where he was going, just knowing he needed to move. He needed to get out of his small dorm room with the suffocating cinder block walls. He needed to be away from Aims and any conversations about Laran Tech, Inhabit and the beta world. He wasn’t angry with Aims. He knew she was just telling him what she had found, or thought she found. Ryland took the elevator down to the lobby of his dorm building and wandered into the dorm convenient store. He bought some chips and a bag of candy.

  Aims was still sitting on his bed when he came back into the room. She had her computer open and she was furiously taping away at the keys. She stopped when Ryland came back into the room.

  Ryland held up the chips and the candy. “Which one do you want?”

  “I’ll take the sour patch kids.”

  Ryland tossed Aims the bag of candy, then sat back down in his desk chair. He noticed that Aims had picked it up from where it had fallen.

  “You okay?” Aims asked.

  Ryland nodded. “Yeah, I just don’t really know what to think.”

  Aims nodded. “Understandable.”

  “What exactly were the files you found?” asked Ryland. “What did they say?”

  Aims’ brow furrowed. “Some personnel files. A memo. Honestly, I only know bits and pieces.”

  “So, you could have made a mistake?”

  Aims looked doubtful. “I found personnel files that clearly showed Richard Quippe as the project manager for the beta world project.”

  Ryland nodded. “And my mom?”

  Aims frowned. “Her name came up in an incident report that someone had tried to get rid of.”

  Ryland thought back to a time when his mom had been alive. She was dressed in slacks and a loose blouse, laptop bag slung over her shoulder as she kissed Ryland on the top of the head before heading to work. Ryland began to realize how little he knew about the work either of his parents did. Or had done.

  “I have it here,” said Aims. “If you want to see it.”

  Ryland nodded and came over to the bed where Aims had her laptop open.

  “I downloaded everything I could to an external hard drive.” She said.

  Ryland looked at the document that Aims had pulled up on the screen. “Network engineer, Marina Quippe, violated code 374,” Ryland read aloud from the document. “Implementing necessary procedures to ensure there is no loss or leak of sensitive information.”

  Ryland looked at Aims. Aims was chewing her lip nervously.

  “What is this saying?” Ryland asked.

  Aims didn’t answer for a minute, didn’t know how.

  “Ryland, what happened to your mom?” she said finally.

  Ryland shook his head. “She was in an accident. It was nobody’s fault. Just an accident.”

  Aims was still chewing her lip, watching Ryland digest the information, putting the pieces together.

  “You think it wasn’t an accident?” Ryland asked.

  “I mean,” Aims gestured toward her computer screen and the memo still pulled up. “Look at the date.”

  Ryland glanced at the date in the co
rner of the memo. Two days before the accident that killed his mom. Ryland sat back away from the computer. “What could she have possibly known that would make someone want to—" Ryland stopped, unable to complete the thought.

  “The people that work for Laran Tech are ruthless, inhuman,” said Aims. “They care about money and selling their products to make more money, that’s all.”

  “Didn’t you work for Laran Tech?” snapped Ryland. “Didn’t you just tell me my dad works for Laran Tech?”

  Aims was silent. She knew Ryland didn’t want her to answer. Ryland read the memo on Aims’ computer again, then closed the computer and sat back.

  “I don’t know what I’m supposed to do with this information,” said Ryland. “My mom’s still dead.”

  “What about your dad?” Aims asked cautiously. “Do you think you could talk to him?”

  “Why?” Ryland’s voice was harsh. “What does it matter?”

  “Ryland, we have to do something about this,” said Aims. “Laran Tech can’t get away with this. We have to expose them. We have to tell people what’s happening. Otherwise, they’ll just continue to do what they’re doing, hurting anyone who gets in their way.”

  Ryland looked at Aims. “Are you kidding me? What are we supposed to do?”

  “I have an idea,” said Aims.

  “Aims,” Ryland snapped. “This is real life. This isn’t a game anymore.”

  “I know,” said Aims evenly. “That’s why this matters more.”

  They were both silent. The moment might have stretched on forever if the door of the room hadn’t swung open. Adam came lumbering into the room. He stopped when he saw there was someone other than Ryland in the room.

  “Hey,” said Adam.

  “Hey,” said Aims and Ryland without enthusiasm.

  Adam seemed to sense the tension in the room. He looked from Aims to Ryland. Ryland knew Adam probably thought Aims was an ex-girlfriend or something, but he didn’t care, and he didn’t bother explaining who Aims really was. He didn’t even know what he would have said.

  “Well, I just needed to grab some books,” said Adam, clearly making this excuse on the spot to escape the situation. “I’m gonna go to the library to study. Got an exam tomorrow.”

  Ryland nodded.

  After Adam left, Aims said, “I can do this on my own, if that’s what you want.”

  “Why do you have to do anything?” asked Ryland.

  “You don’t get it,” Aims’ voice was taking on an edge. “I am not safe. Laran Tech is after me, and I can’t live my life running from them. This has to end.”

  “Okay.” Ryland nodded. “I want to help.”

  “Are you sure?”

  “Yeah,” said Ryland. “I need to know the truth.”

  Chapter 3

  It was easy to say that he wanted to know the truth. It was harder to act on this desire. After the initial shock of the information that Aims had shared with Ryland, Ryland seemed to calm down and come to his senses. The more he thought about Aims’ proposed plan, the more Ryland felt that it just wasn’t possible.

  “You don’t get it,” Ryland told Aims. “I’m in school. I have classes. I can’t just up and go try to take down a major corporation.”

  It felt like he was looking for reasons to back out, excuses to avoid taking the action that was needed.

  “Like I said,” said Aims the next day. “I can do this on my own if that’s what you want.”

  Ryland rolled his eyes. They were sitting across from each other at a table in a coffee shop on Ryland’s college campus.

  “But you said you needed my help,” said Ryland.

  “I mean, it would be nice to have some backup,” said Aims. “But if you’re not all in, then I don’t want you to help me.”

  Ryland thought for a minute. “How long do you think it will be until Laran Tech tracks you here?”

  Aims shrugged. “If I had to guess, not long.”

  Ryland nodded his understanding. “I want to help. I’m just freaking out a little bit.”

  “That’s okay,” said Aims.

  “This just feels a lot bigger than us,” said Ryland.

  “That’s because it is,” said Aims.

  “But bigger than something we can handle,” said Ryland.

  “I’m not going to say it’s going to be easy,” said Aims. “It probably won’t be, but we don’t have a choice. We have to do something. And you’re really the only person I can trust right now.”

  “So, what’s the plan?” asked Ryland.

  “Well to start, get some bus tickets and go talk to your dad,” said Aims. “That is, if you still want to involve him.”

  Ryland stared down at the table in front of him. “I have to know.”

  “I would too,” said Aims.

  Ryland and Aims bought bus tickets the next morning. The ride to Miami, where Ryland was from, would take almost 24 hours.

  “Are you sure we don’t want to fly?” asked Ryland.

  “Buses are safer at this point,” said Aims.

  “Okay.”

  As Ryland was packing up a duffle bag, Aims said “You should probably bring Inhabit and your VR headset.”

  “Why?” asked Ryland.

  “Just bring it, you know, just in case.”

  As they settled into their seats on the bus, Ryland couldn’t help the feelings of guilt that overwhelmed him. This went way beyond just skipping class. He had emailed his professors with a vague excuse about a family emergency. All of his professors had responded with concern and understanding, which made Ryland feel even worse. He had packed his assigned class reading, thinking he might have time to work on it. Aims had rolled her eyes when she saw that Ryland was bringing homework.

  “Did you go to college?” Ryland asked Aims.

  “I dropped out,” said Aims shortly.

  “Where did you go?”

  “MIT,” said Aims. “But it was boring. Too easy.”

  Ryland laughed. “How’d you get the job with Laran Tech?”

  “They recruited me,” said Aims. “I told you, I’m good.”

  “I guess so.”

  When the bus arrived in Miami, Ryland and Aims were both exhausted, sore and hungry. They hired an Uber to drive them from the bus station to Ryland’s house. Ryland hadn’t let his dad know that he was coming. He hadn’t wanted to try and explain anything until they were face-to-face. It was early in the morning and when the Uber dropped them off, Ryland noticed that his dad had already left for work, his car not in the driveway.

  “Nice house,” commented Aims, taking in Ryland’s home.

  It was a big house, Spanish-style tiles on the roof, palm trees in the yard, a pool out back. Ryland unlocked the front door and let them in. The house was still and quiet. The smell in the house was familiar and nostalgic to Ryland, reminding him of his childhood, thought he had lived in the house until very recently. The house had an open floor plan, with lots of windows that let in sunlight. The house was impossibly clean, almost as if no one lived in it. It seemed like a model home that might be used to show off the latest in architectural designs. Ryland led Aims into the kitchen. They both let their bags and backpacks slip to the floor in a heap. Ryland opened the refrigerator, looking for food. They found and cooked a frozen pizza. Aims used the bathroom and took a shower. They waited.

  An anxious kind of dread had been moving inside of Ryland ever since Aims had shared the information she had found. Ryland was playing words over and over in his head, trying to figure out how he was supposed to confront his dad about the truths he had discovered. More than anything he wanted his dad to deny it, to convince Ryland, prove to Ryland, that Aims was mistaken. That must be a different Richard Quippe. As much as he wished this and willed this to be the outcome, Ryland knew what he was going to face. He knew that what Aims had found was probably true.

  The day seemed to drag on, the sun moving to shine through different windows in the house. Aims had wandered the rooms, giving h
erself a tour. They had watched some television. Aims had tried to talk to Ryland about what he would say to his dad, but Ryland did not want to discuss it. He wanted to pretend like it doesn’t happened until he couldn’t anymore. He wanted to exist in this state of not knowing for sure. In this state, there was still a chance Aims was wrong. When they heard the car pull into the driveway, Ryland and Aims moved into the kitchen, and stood, waiting for Ryland’s dad.

  Ryland’s dad was dressed in office attire, button down shirt, tie, slacks, dress shoes. He carried a briefcase. The image of his dad dressed for work was so familiar to Ryland, it was almost comforting.

  “Ryland?” Ryland’s dad’s face was a mixture of concern and confusion. “What’s going on?” Ryland’s dad noticed Aims, arms crossed over her chest, looking serious. “And who’s this? Aren’t you supposed to be in school?” His voice was slowly moving from concerned to angry.

  “This is Aims,” said Ryland. “She used to work for a company called Laran Tech.

  Ryland watched his dad’s face. His dad stopped, his face frozen, his jaw clenched.

  “Ryland, what’s going on?”

  “Dad, I know,” Ryland couldn’t maintain eye contact with his dad. He looked away. “I know you work for Laran Tech.”

  Ryland’s dad slowly walked over to the island in the kitchen. He set his briefcase down.

  “You know Aunt Kim sent me Inhabit a couple weeks ago,” said Ryland.

  Ryland’s dad looked at Ryland sharply. “She did what?”

  “Yeah, she mailed it to me,” said Ryland. “And I’ve been playing.”

  Ryland saw his dad’s jaw tighten even more. “She wasn’t supposed to do that.”

  “I activated the beta world,” said Ryland.

  Ryland’s dad sank down onto a barstool and rubbed his forehead.

  “Dad, there were people after me,” said Ryland. “Chasing me.”

  “Oh god,” Ryland’s dad muttered, hands still rubbing his face.

  “Look,” Aims finally spoke. Her voice was even, but cold, focused. “We know you were the project manager for the beta world project.”

  Ryland’s dad was silence for a moment, still rubbing his forehead. “How did you find out?” When Ryland’s dad asked this, it sounded like his voice was being scraped out of his throat.