Clone by Todd Young

Author:Todd Young [Young, Todd]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Mercurial Avenue
Published: 2017-09-08T22:00:00+00:00

13

When Riley came in, the 3TV was playing, the living room a menagerie of color and deafening sound. He peered down the short hall as he closed the apartment door, and saw Theo flash through the air. He had one leg extended and was three feet off the ground. His foot connected with something out of view. A “thock,” and then a deep, warped voice said, “Ohhh, nooo!”

One of Creig’s fantasy games. Theo must have worked out how to play it.

Then he heard Creig’s voice. “Wow, Theo! That was just … Wow!”

What the hell was Creig doing home?

Riley stepped forward hesitantly. The living room widened into view. It was a medieval fantasy scene, a banquet hall in a castle. The furniture was back against the walls, and a maiden was standing by the window. She was dressed in a white gown, her hands clasped in supplication.

Theo had his hands on his hips and one foot on the chest of a warrior. He was dressed in nothing but the white boxer briefs, and his chest was heaving. The warrior was dead, by the looks of it, his sword out flung, his armor no match for Theo, apparently.

“Riley!” Creig’s face was bright, his eyes wide. He was standing with his back against the wall, his hands splayed as though he’d been in danger himself.

The maiden turned to Riley, stared at him for a moment, and then crossed the room to Theo. “Thank you, kind sir,” she said, and curtseyed.

Theo nodded, his eyes flitting over her.

“Kiss her!” Creig said.

Theo glanced at Riley, and then kissed her.

Riley had to shout over the music. “Can you turn it off?”

Creig nodded, gulped a breath, and then crossed to the 3TV. There was another warrior, dead by the wall, and a third near the kitchen door. Creig hit the button and the hologramatic display dissolved with a dramatic “whoosh,” sucking into the player as though it were a vacuum.

Now it was dark.

Riley fumbled for the light switch, flicked it on, and then turned to Theo. He couldn’t believe he was wearing underpants. Why the hell wasn’t he dressed? And why on earth was Creig home?

“I got the afternoon off,” Creig said, turning from the 3TV. He looked at Theo as though he was a real-life hero. “Your brother! He’s some sort of MMA champion. He was on Level Thirteen. Level Thirteen!”

Riley felt a little stunned, but he nodded. If Creig was impressed by Level Thirteen, then it was no doubt remarkable.

“He was jumping, kicking, spinning, feinting, punching, ducking. Hell, you should have seen it!”

“I’ve seen him play before.”

Creig nodded. He caught his breath and then cast a second admiring look at Theo. Things like this excited him for some reason. He was like a big kid. But was he checking Theo out in his underwear now? No? Surely not.

Riley stepped into his bedroom, stood where he couldn’t be seen, and ran his fingers through his hair. What the hell?

Out on the street, he’d had a shock. He’d run into a demonstration, a throng of Taylor supporters complete with placards.

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