Free Hybrid: Project Vigil by Samuel Bohovic Page B

outside. Suddenly a door at the top of stairs opened, Caroline yelled at him.
    “Come out from that damn cellar John! We have guests.”
    Then a softer female voice said.
    “I can just go down, no need to yell at someone.”
    Soft footsteps on the stairs helped John remember one thing...he has all his weapons on a table behind him. There was no time to hide them and there was nothing to cover them with.
    “Hi, you must be John.” The soft voice said from behind him.
    He turned around.
    “Obviously. And you are?”
    He faced a black haired girl about his age. She smiled, he couldn't see much more in dim light of computer screens.
    “I'm Emily Stonebridge, I'm your neighbor. Why are you holed up in this dark basement anyway?”
     
    John thought of a lie that would explain why he has to wear gloves and long sleeve clothes.
    “I prefer darkness over sunlight.”
    “Why?” She looked confused.
    “I'm allergic to sunlight, it affects arms and legs. I can be out for some time but not too long. That's why I'm down here.” He was a good liar, years back C.I.A. agents taught him in case he is interrogated by enemy. Shock in her face changed to surprise.
    “I didn't know that.”
    “I don't blame you for that. Let's go upstairs it's complete mess down here.”
     
    She looked around.
    “You're right. Let's go.”
    John hoped that she couldn't see the guns.
    “Good. You can help me get UV filters on the windows.”
    He wanted to put screen foil they used back in facility on the windows so he can have bigger screens for computers. Now he had someone to help with that. While they worked she asked a lot of questions.
    “What do you like to do in your free time John?” Questions like this. Questions he didn't have answers to.
    “I like to read, run, computer stuff and sometimes I went shooting with my father. What about you.” Lies, lies, lies except running.
    “I prefer hiking over running, I can take you with me if you want. Mountains around here are so beautiful. I also like to take photos.” She had sw eet voice, Gillian would hate her.
    “That would be nice. I could use seeing some trees after so many years in desert.” That was truth. He saw almost every terrain during training, but spent last year in desert.
    “I've always wanted to see desert.”
    “It's overrated .”
     
    Like this it went on for about thirty minutes until all second floor windows had screen foils on them. They stood in front of the big window on front side of house.
    “Why those UV filters have wires in left upper corners?” She asked after installing last one.
    “Check if laptop in my bedroom is turned on and I'll show you.”
    
    
     
    Emily came back from his bedroom. “It's turned on.”
    “Now watch this.” John watched lines of code on his HUD.
    
    All screens lit up with data from John's memory drives. Photo of Gillian was on the biggest part of screen.
    “It works.” He knew it will, but didn't really believe it.
     
    “Who is that? Your girlfriend?”
    For once John rather decided not to lie. “Yes, she is. I miss her.”
    “What is her name?” Damn it, she'll never stop asking.
    “Gillian.” The more he was thinking about her the more pictures appeared. He just raised his hand and swept them away from screens. He really missed her, after less that 24 hours.
    “Will you ever see her again?”
    “One day maybe.” And anyone in my way will die a horrible death. John added for himself. His thoughts summoned pictures of fighting.
    “What's that?”
    “Just some games.”
     
    When their guests left the house it was late afternoon and John was hungry. When he came down to the kitchen Caroline was expecting him.
    “How much you told her?” She asked with interrogative face.
    “She has no clue who I am, thinks I have sun allergy. What about the other one, Miranda it was?” John inspected contents of fridge.
    “Good, I hope you behaved nicely. Anyway what were