Free Come and Find Me by Hallie Ephron Page A

switch. It was the only way she could think of to make it stop.
    She could barely hear GROB’s voice over the sound effects. “I’m sorry . . . never should have . . . let’s get . . .” GROB extended his hand toward Nadia. “Let’s go now!”
    Diana recoiled, standing and knocking over her desk chair. Was there anywhere safe? She had to turn the computer off. Press the power switch and hold it down until the system surrendered.
    “Come on!” GROB moved closer to Nadia, his hand overlapping hers. For the moment, at least, the explosions had stopped. “I can get us out of here. Trust me.”
    Could she trust anyone? Her breath came in gasps as she steadied herself against the desk and stared at the monitor.
    “Give me your hand!” GROB said.
    It felt as if the sound still echoed as the empty voice balloon over GROB’s head faded and disappeared.
    She reached for the keyboard and watched her fingers as they typed link/, almost as if someone else were in control of them. Why would that work when nothing else she’d typed had made a difference? But Nadia’s hand connected with GROB’s, and instantly new surroundings materialized around them—the ocean and beach littered with phalluses became an old-fashioned town green with a pergola and trees.
    With a click Diana had Nadia release GROB’s hand and she could breathe again.
    “I’m sorry,” GROB said. “I’m so sorry. Did that freak you out? I thought it was safe to go there, but OtherWorld has become infested with griefers.”
    “I know,” Diana said, wiping a skim of sweat from her upper lip. “I’ve run into them before.”
    “I shouldn’t have taken you there. Are you okay? I’m really, really sorry.”
    “I’m okay,” Diana said, even though she wasn’t. “I have to go.”
    There was a pause. “Okay, okay. I understand. Can I see you again?”
    Diana didn’t answer. She could still feel lingering shock waves from the explosions.
    “We might be safer in the real world,” GROB said with a laugh.
    “If only,” Diana said. She watched the clock in the corner of her screen pulsing, pulsing, like a tiny beating heart until the minute was updated. “I really have to go.” She clicked in the transporter window.
    “Wait! Listen, if your sister doesn’t show up soon, I might be able to help. I have connections.”
    That stopped her. “You don’t think she’s going to show up?”
    “Me? You sounded worried that she wouldn’t.”
    Diana had to admit, she was worried. “What kind of connections?”
    “Access. I can check hospitals. Jails. Passenger lists of transatlantic flights. Reservations at fancy restaurants. Parking tickets. All I need is your sister’s real name, DOB, stuff like that, and I’m on it.”
    REAL name? Alarms went off in Diana’s head. Suddenly she was acutely aware that GROB’s voice was synthesized. “I . . .” She managed a weak, “I’ll let you know.”
    Before he could respond, she transported Nadia home.
    Diana sat at her desk, still shaking, feeling as if someone had reached out in a dark alley, clamped his icy grip around her bare shoulder, slammed her against a wall, and pinned her there. She knew the griefers weren’t his fault. And his assumption that she’d used a fake name for her sister was just common sense. The guy was just trying to help. But Ashley had said she’d be back to get her computer during the weekend, and the weekend wasn’t yet over.
    She pulled over Daniel’s walking stick and cradled it in her arms. Eyes closed, she concentrated on her breathing. In, out. In, out. Moving the inhalations deeper and deeper, feeling as if healing pine resin, Daniel’s essence, were flowing off the walking stick and coating her throat, being drawn deep into her lungs and opening the tiniest alveoli. Her breathing slowed.
    Being with GROB, or whatever his name was, scraped up memories, not to mention sensations that Diana thought had been smothered. The good news was that she could still