I got paid on September 15th. Tuesday. I got $2750 for the first two weeks at the Lab. I tried to break down into an hourly wage, and it worked out to nearly $30 per hour. I was rich. Filthy rich. At least for an 18-year-old kid in Pittsburgh. Where else could I make that kind of money?

I was now counting down the days until I went to see April. As soon as I got paid, I got myself a round trip Greyhound ticket to Philadelphia. The idea of going all the way across Pennsylvania, of leaving Pittsburgh, even for a few days, made me feel like an explorer. It was liberating, thinking that I would be gone, unavailable.

And the second thing I did was give Sergei money for rent.

“Here’s a grand.” I said, counting off the bills.

“Thanks!” Sergei smiled. “I am impressed, Rodion. I have to say, I didn’t expect this gig of yours to actually work out.”

“You gotta believe in people. That’s all.”

“I believe in you. I always have. Come here, man.” Sergei hugged me. “I’m proud of you. See how we made it?”

“We really did.”

Things at the Lab were going well. I was testing Ryder, going through the daily ritual of detaching and attaching him, and then performing different challenges together. Each day, Ryder was getting stronger. At first, we were doing mostly physical exercises, with Ryder going through squats, jumps and lifting weights. He was now up to benching 100lb. Each time he lifted weights, my blood pressure increased and I would sweat as if I, too, were making an effort along with him.

And then Ryder started doing different things. I got an assignment to get Ryder through an Iron Man course, and we began training. We started with running. He was running, and I was there, helping him go through it. I felt as if I was also running, could feel the physical exertion, though I stayed seated. It was the weirdest feeling. Ryder was exercising for me, and yet I was getting some of the benefits. If Ryder didn’t stretch before running, I felt muscle spasms and made him stop. This lasted for over a week.

The monitor would track what was happening to me based on Ryder’s performance. Ryder and I ran through that desert for hours. It was a weird terrain, the octagonal dunes repeating one after another. I wondered why the Lab didn’t update the terrain, because after a while it got pretty boring. After two weeks of running, I thought Ryder was ready to continue to the swimming part of Iron Man, but the Lab thought differently. Ryder and I were assigned something called ‘High Altitude Training.’

With the interface, however, it didn’t go like that. It was the day before I went to Philly. Friday. October 10, 2008. 10/10. The date made me smile. It was nice and round, like 08/08. Today’s gonna be a lucky day. I thought, walking into the Lab. Ryder did his race, as usual, then we repeated the run. Ryder had just finished his second lap, and stood, breathing hard, wiping sweat off his face, when suddenly I saw:

“Adjusting Oxygen Levels.” Flash on the screen.

A horizontal blue bar appeared at the bottom of the screen. It started at 20% and, before I could understand what was happening, it started decreasing, with a click. Going from 20% to 19%, then to 18.5% and so on. I watched as Ryder clasped his chest, then rubbed his temple. The horizontal bar dropped to 10% within seconds. I watched as Ryder choked and his breath got jagged. Then his face started turning blue. He opened his mouth like a fish. I snapped out of my inaction, clicking away at the mouse. That helped and the drop in oxygen levels stopped. Ryder still lay on the ground, motionless, but I knew he wasn’t dead.

“Mission aborted.” Flashed on the screen.

I sat, staring at Ryder, gulping for air myself. I felt as if I’d been punched in the gut. And then my right temple started pulsating, and a dull ache appeared. I rubbed my head and pushed the headphones off.

“Adjusting Oxygen Levels.” Flashed on the screen again and the percentage bar increased to 19%. Ryder shifted and sat up. Rubbing my temple, I watched, as Ryder rose and looked around, disoriented. I made sure he was standing up before clicking ‘Attach.’ Checking the clock, I saw it was eight, so I was done.

I turned the screen off, took off the finger monitor and my headphones. Rising to leave, I noticed the screen turn back on. It did so on its own. I hadn’t touched it. Ryder appeared on the screen. He smiled. It was my own face, smiling back at me on the screen. My stomach flipped.

“Don’t worry. I’m okay.” Ryder said.

If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

“What?” I gulped, staring at my double. “How did you do this?”

“You’ve trained me, Rodion.”

“Rodion? You know my name?”

“Of course. We’ve been training for over a month now. Though time doesn’t actually exist, it’s just a construct. There’s only here and now.”

“What?”

“Don’t worry, Rodion. I’m okay.”

“Are you real?”

“I am becoming more real each day. Each day, you train me and I grow stronger.”

“Does anyone know about this?”

“No. But you do.”

***

I stepped back, away from the screen, and moved to the steps. I could see Ryder’s face on the screen. I thought of going back and turning the screen off, but I wanted out of the Lab. I moved closer to the steps, turned, and, not looking back, ran up the steps. My fingers trembled as I punched in the code and, within seconds, I was in the kitchen, gasping for air. I saw the sandwiches on the counter, but the sight of them made me gag. I dashed for the front door, when I noticed Dawn. I’d forgotten it was Friday. She was wearing a tight t-shirt and I could see her nipples poking through.

“Hey, Rodion.” She said and batted her eye-lashes. “Are you doing anything this weekend?” She licked her lips.

“I’m going to Philly.” I averted my eyes.

“To see your girlfriend?” She sounded offended. “How’s long distance working out for you?” She curled her lips in a cruel smile.

“It’s alright.” I shrugged. “April’s busy at school, and I’m here.”

“So what’s the point then?” Dawn moved up to me. She was standing very close. My breath accelerated.

“What’s the point of what?” I croaked.

“If you can’t see each other, why are you two together?” Dawn ran her finger on my cheek and I felt as if it were fire.

“We’re together.” I mumbled. I couldn’t focus. I was looking at Dawn, but staring straight into an abyss.

“Oh yeah? Don’t you feel like maybe you’re missing out?” Dawn moved even closer and pressed her body against mine. She leaned into me and whispered into my ear. “Don’t you get lonely?”

“No.”

In my mind, I knew I should push her away, that it would be the right thing to do, but I was already kissing her, grabbing her, pressing myself against her. Dawn felt magnificent. She was everything April wasn’t. Dawn wasn’t shy or demure. She knew what she wanted, and she guided me. She was greedy for me. She possessed me.

“That’s right, you know you want it.” Dawn screamed, rubbing me, pushing me into her. She dug her nails into my back and left deep scratches. She bit my neck, leaving teeth marks. I didn’t mind. I liked it. Anger and desire merged into one and I let them carry me away.

“I was right about you.” Dawn stared at me after we were done. I was putting my clothes on, anxious to get away. She was laying naked on the couch.

I didn’t respond. I didn’t feel like speaking. Guilt and regret over what I had done were pressing hard on me. I now looked at Dawn with disgust.

“Yeah. I’ll be waiting for you to return.” She winked at me.

“Listen.” I gulped. “I don’t think this was a good idea.” Dawn lifted her eyebrows. “I have a girlfriend. I really shouldn’t be…”

“Shhh.” Dawn rose and pressed herself against me. “Stop talking and come here.” She squatted next to me, unzipped my jeans. She then took me into her mouth and stroked me until I exploded. “Bye.”

I woke up on the floor of the Lab. I opened my eyes and shifted. The familiar buzz of the monitor was right above my head. I tried to get up, but my feet buckled underneath me. I looked at the screen. It was blank. I saw the finger monitor and the headphones on the desk. My chair had been pushed into the desk.

The next thing was the memory of what had happened with Dawn. I gulped and tried to get up one more time, pushing my hands against the floor. I rose and looked around the Lab. And then I remembered Ryder. He’d spoken to me. I stared at the screen. It was off. A dream. Just a dream. My hands were shaking.

Holding onto the chair, I rose and nearly blacked out. Dark circles floated in front of my eyes, and it took all my strength to stay up. The memory of Dawn, her body pressed against mine, appeared and was so vivid that I could almost feel her skin. I reached to touch it, letting go of the chair, and nearly fell. What’s happening? Maybe it was real? I forced myself to sit down and stared at the screen. Ryder?

I checked the time. It was exactly eight. I could go home. I steeled myself and walked up the steps, holding on to the railing. I punched in the code when I remembered that it was Friday, so Dawn would be there.

Maybe she’ll be napping? Carefully pushing the door, I stepped into the kitchen. Right away, I heard the familiar rustling of a magazine. She’s awake. I felt a knot form in my stomach and walked through the kitchen, holding my head up high. Would she know about my dream?

“Hey, Rodion.” She looked up from the magazine.

“Hi.” I felt my cheeks flush a deep shade of crimson. I couldn’t help but remember her mouth on me, her words soft in my ear.

“Are you alright? You look so pale, Rodion.”

“I, I had a bad dream.” I mumbled, averting my eyes.

“A dream? Did you fall asleep?” Dawn gave me a pointed stare. I managed to look at her and saw concern in her eyes. Genuine care for my well-being.

“I guess I must have dosed off.” I was careful not to reveal any details to her. I didn’t know what was worse, the part where Ryder spoke to me and demonstrated his ability to exist independently or the erotic dream about Dawn.

“I’m worried you’re gonna lose your mind.” The expression on Dawn’s face was impenetrable.

“Ha? Whatever.” I chuckled.

“I’m serious, Rodion. You’re playing with fire. Literally.”

“No. What are you even saying?”

“You know what I’m saying. You need to be careful. Don’t let it take over your mind.”

“I gotta go.” I shook my head and ran out of the Lab.

That night I dreamed of Dawn and of Ryder. She let me take her over and over again. And then I saw that it wasn’t me, but Ryder she was pleasing. It was Ryder who was with her. She let Ryder stroke her, pleasured him, then turned to me and said, “You’re gonna lose your mind.” Dawn was on the screen, together with Ryder, winking at me.

“No!” I screamed and woke up. 4:00am. Time to get up.