The lift’s cylindrical interior was bathed in a soft, blue light. It dropped without sensation, the cacophony of the street-level performers replaced by a silken silence.
When the lift stopped, its doors opened onto the centre of what looked like a large food court that once served as the bustling hub of early virtual commerce. Now, it pulsed with a different kind of energy, one born of defiance and nostalgia.
The place was an artifact, a remnant of the earliest virtual reality shopping centre, the foundation upon which the glittering, sanitised spires of Infinity NexUs had later been built. Dolphin’s now was something of an underground enclave, a cybernetic catacomb or museum.
The central court buzzed with activity, filled with mismatched tables and chairs where patrons huddled over glowing screens or gathered around shimmering glasses of Bliss or Neon Bloom. Some digital drinks cast eerie halos around their drinkers, their faces appearing as something half-dreamed. Around this nucleus, virtual storefronts advertised chip-infusions and avatar-enhancements, their wares and services catering to the fringes of society - hackers, data buskers and digital renegades.
Some shops seemed to be empty shells or portals to darker, more secretive enclaves. Once, these courtside locations would have been claimed by cutting-edge establishments, the pride of the virtual world. Now, they exuded a seedy charm, thriving on counterculture movements and shadowy dealings.
The central lift, gleaming and incongruous, stood as a reminder of the connection to the world above, a lifeline to the surface where virtual life was more rigorously monitored and the mistakes of Dolphin’s were not to be repeated. Inhabitants of Dolphin’s entered at their own risk.
As Rosa and Selina stepped out of the lift, Rosa for the first time realised she wasn’t sure if she wanted to be here.
Jonas was nowhere in sight.
They took a table to one side of the court where they could easily see the lift tube doors, Rosa scanning the room while Selina took in the surrounding premises. This open area seemed relatively safe, but that didn’t mean it was.
A bar stood at one edge of the court bathed in the cool glow of neon signs, casting shifting light over polished steel surfaces. Above the bar counter, a holographic dolphin glided gracefully through a virtual tank, its movements fluid and mesmerizing, a gentle reminder of the space's unique charm. The subdued murmur of quiet conversations blended with the soft, rhythmic pulse of electronic music, creating a serene ambiance that bled into the underlying buzz of the bustling court.
While Rosa and Selina thought about placing orders, the cylindrical glass lift in the centre of the court descended again, its glowing walls casting faint reflections on the polished steel tables below. As the lift doors slid open, Jonas emerged, immediately recognisable by the same black waistcoat and red tie from their previous encounter. His eyes swept the room with practiced caution, scanning for any signs of trouble.
Behind him, a couple, presumably Roan and Mist, followed him out of the lift. Their avatars were understated compared to the extravagant and eccentric appearances of the other patrons in Dolphin's. Roan's avatar was dressed in a simple, dark jacket, his short hair neat and sharp, his features devoid of embellishment. There was an intentional blandness to him, the kind that made him easy to overlook. Mist's avatar had a similarly minimalist design, wearing a black blouse and trousers, her features smooth and attractive but subtly artificial, as if sculpted with just enough precision to be uncanny.
Jonas spotted Rosa and Selina and led the way to the table, his steps deliberate, the tension in his posture palpable.
He reached the table and dropped into an empty seat, his gaze locking first onto Rosa and then Selina. Roan and Mist took places on either side of him, observing the scene with measured curiosity.
Jonas leaned forward, his expression hard. “You’ve got two minutes to convince me this isn’t a colossal waste of time,” he said flatly.
Selina glanced around, her eyes lingering on the holographic dolphin. “This place is interesting.”
“Yeah, good team,” Jonas nodded. “Not that the place has got anything to do with them.”
“We’re not here about your work or personal life,” Rosa pressed. “We’re here about the Yorkshire police station and what happened with the macaques there.”
Jonas scowled, his carefully constructed composure hardening for a fraction of a second before he forced a smile. “I’m sorry, but I think you’ve confused me with someone else. I don’t know anything about macaques, nor do I have any connection to the police.”
Selina crossed her arms. “No, but there were monkeys, Jonas. We know they were released during your criminal case.”
Jonas’ face darkened, and he leaned back, his gaze shifting as though considering an escape route. “You’re mistaken. Some macaques were released twenty years ago and had nothing to do with me. I wasn’t even involved in anything related to them. And the ones last year…” He hesitated, clearly reluctant to continue. “The capuchins, you'll need to ask the animal rights activists who were behind it.”
"Twice?" Selina asked. "Monkeys were released twice into the same police station?"
Rosa pressed. “Are you suggesting that's a coincidence?”
Jonas’ smile turned brittle. “Coincidence or not, my case has nothing to do with monkeys. And I’ve been expressly told not to discuss it with anyone.”
“You might want to reconsider,” Rosa said, her voice low and steady. “Because the capuchins were taken to the same research facility where Gum and the other macaques ended up. We know some of what’s being done to them. And we know someone’s been orchestrating this. If you’re involved - or even if you’re not - they're being tormented.”
Jonas stared at them, his jaw tightening. For a moment, it seemed he might up and leave again. Spotting his expression, Roan said, “Don't go all parkour on the ladies again, Gum, will you?”
If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.
Jonas exhaled sharply, his shoulders slumping. “Look, I don’t know what you think you know, but I had nothing to do with those releases. I’ve spent months trying to separate reality from… other… stuff.” He gestured vaguely at the virtual space around them. “This virtuality, this technology - it messes with your head. Makes you question what’s real. I don’t want any part of it anymore.”
Selina tilted her head. “If that’s true, why are you still here? Why not leave Infinity NexUs behind?”
Jonas gave a bitter laugh. “Do you think it’s that easy? There’s always something pulling you back in. A presentation, a digital product, a client that prefers A-to-A interaction. And people like you - poking around, stirring up things that should stay buried.”
“A-to-A - avatar-to-avatar,” Mist cut in helpfully.
“Then help us understand,” Rosa said. “Tell us what you know about Gum, about the monkeys, about Ananth Van Der Lekh.”
At the mention of the author’s name, Jonas looked genuinely puzzled. “Van Der Lekh? Who is he? What does he have to do with anything?”
“We’re trying to figure that out,” Rosa said. “But it’s clear from his books that he knows all about you, your virtual personas and your criminal case. Gum pointed us to you for a reason. And so we’re here, asking for your help.”
“Gum?” Jonas asked, perplexed. “The monkey? And there's no criminal case, I wasn't charged.”
Jonas’ gaze flicked between them, his expression lost. Finally, he muttered, “You see this is why I hate it all - virtual unreality, so-called AI. I don't know what you're talking about and you don’t understand what you’re asking for.”
“Then explain it to us,” Rosa insisted. “Because if we don’t figure this out…”
Again the man looked like he was about to give up. Selina glanced around, desperate for something to keep him with them. Her eyes landed on the ring of near-dystopian-looking businesses surrounding the seating court. “Why here?” she asked. “Why choose this place to meet?”
“That’s why I chose it,” Jonas said, pointing out the holographic dolphin sign over the bar. “Associations.”
Rosa was out of her seat, wandering toward the tank with the mesmerizing, eternally swimming creature, her face tilted up to take it in.
Jonas continued, his voice softening as he glanced at Rosa. “Is she alright?”
Selina waved a hand. “She’s fine. Go on.”
“He's a Dolphin's fan.” Roan explained, trying to lighten the mood. “American football. You still recording all the games, Gum?”
Selina raised an eyebrow, unimpressed. “This is hardly a sports bar.”
“Dolphins,” Jonas muttered with a shrug. “Agile, intelligent. Like the early system was supposed to be before the place got upgraded. Then, they didn't know what to do with this,” he gestured expansively about him. “ So they just built on top.”
“Yeah,” Roan added. “They called this place the Barncar. You know - like an old wreck abandoned in a barn and forgotten. No one bothered to maintain it.”
Rosa was struggling to keep her breathing steady. ‘Never lay bare your breast secret to joy a Jonas in the Dolphin's Barncar.’ It was a warning! They were telling him more than they were learning.
“So, it’s not just a quirky name. It’s a philosophy,” Selina said, trying to keep Jonas and his associates talking.
Jonas gave a tight smile. “If you’re into that kind of thing. But you didn’t come here for an online history lecture.”
Selina leaned forward, her voice sharp with urgency. “Jonas, listen. Some of Ananth Van Der Lekh’s books describe events, situations, that sound a lot like what you’ve been through. There’s a chapter that describes a police interrogation, with comatose victims and virtual reality tech. It’s like he’s writing about you.”
Jonas froze, his face draining of colour as his eyes darted around the room, searching for unseen threats. “This - this is exactly what I mean!” he stammered, rising abruptly. “You poke at this stuff, and it pokes back. I can’t - I won’t do this again.”
Jonas’ virtual face had gone pale. He leaned forward, hands gripping the edge of the table so tightly his knuckles whitened. “Do you think it’s a coincidence? It’s all there - hidden, distorted, but there! Every time I think I’m out, something pulls me back in. And now you’re telling me some books - some author I’ve never heard of - are selling my story?”
He abruptly stood, pacing around the tables in the space of the virtual court. The luminous dolphin swam behind him, its serene smile a sharp contrast to his unraveling composure. “I told you. Loose ends. Always a loose end. And people like you poking around, stirring up things that should stay buried.”
Selina watched Rosa walk thoughtfully back to the table as Jonas stalked back and forth, his irritation mounting. “If this bothers you so much, won't you help us? We’re all caught in the same web here. If this Ananth Van Der Lekh knows something about you - or about Gum - don’t you want answers?”
Jonas pushed past Roan and slammed his palms onto the table. He leaned in, eyes locked onto Selina with a fierce intensity.
“You think I wanted this?” His voice cut through the hum of the bar, sharp and raw. “You think I chose to be tangled up in some mad story I can’t escape?” He let out a bark of laughter - bitter, hollow. “I’ve spent months trying to claw my way out, but this - this whole system, this virtual insanity - pulls you back in. You think you're in control, but you’re not. It rewrites you. It watches you. It feeds on you.”
He raked a hand through his hair, his eyes darting between them as if daring one of them to argue. No one did.
“I don’t know who this Van Der Lekh is. You lot can chase ghosts if you want. But I’m done. Don't contact me again.”
He turned on his heel and paced away, cutting through the crowd with a single-minded determination.
“Jonas…” Rosa started, but he didn’t slow.
“Don’t,” Mist murmured.
Rosa shot Roan a look, but he was watching Jonas, his expression unreadable.
The lift at the centre of the court gaped open, its soft blue glow bleeding into the open space before it. A group of avatars stepped out, their laughter threading through the air, oblivious to the man barging past them.
Jonas didn’t pause. Didn’t look back.
The doors slid shut with a seamless finality, swallowing him whole. The glow flushed - once, twice - then faded.
A hollow stillness settled over the table.
Roan let out a slow breath. “Well. That was fun.”
Mist drummed his fingers on the tabletop. “That’s Gum.”
Rosa sat down and looked at the couple left remaining at the table. Roan shrugged and Mist looked at him as if to say I told you so.
“Look, Gum had a really hard time of it after Yorkshire. He was suspected of collusion with the monkey thing, he had an NDA forced on him and then someone broke into his place and stole a lot of his gear.”
Mist added, “He's quite a sensitive guy despite his appearance.”
“I'm betting you have associates called Elmo, Heather and Holly,” said Selina in a low voice. “Doesn't it bother you that six macaques set loose in a police station twenty years ago have the same names as you and your friends?”
The couple didn't flinch, they obviously knew this already. “I'm not saying it's not weird,” Roan began, but we've left off it for Gum's sake. It was supposed to be just a game. He believes that in the virtual world we created, a monkey cult follows him. He tried to convince us once that the monkeys - the capuchins - I don't know about the macaques - followed him out of virtual reality. He says that's why they just appeared in the police station with no sign of any actual activists.”
“Look, we should go,” Mist interrupted, her hand resting firmly on Roan's arm. “You nearly died in there.” She shot her husband a pointed look, as if to say he was oversharing.
Selina stared at couple. “Well, what now? Hunt down an author who steals people's stories?”
Rosa sat back, her thoughts racing. “Ananth Van Der Lekh…” she said. “Sounds Dutch. If Jonas… Gum is right - if he's been watching, then what's to stop this author writing about us?”
“Great,” Selina muttered. “A stalker author who somehow knows everything. We need to find him without drawing attention to ourselves. Sounds totally doable.” But even as she spoke, confusion pulled at her face. “Still… how would Van Der Lekh know about what happened with Jonas in a police interrogation?”
“I don’t know,” Roan admitted. “Corrupt officials? Internal leak?”
Rosa added, “But if this author is part of the pattern, we need to find him. Before the pattern finds us.”