Free ODDILY by Linda Pohring Page B

sprees. This virtual game was more realistic and exciting—an unfamiliar new way for her to dream.
    “ I won’t tell you.” She crossed her arms over her chest, fearing any shared information would somehow jeopardize her use of the game.
    “ Why won’t you?” Maxim tried to view her face beneath the wild head of hair.
    Oddily answered his question with a question. “Haven’t you ever played make-believe games before?”
    Maxim took notice of her closed off body language while picking his words carefully. “Sure I have. The stores are filled with games that create pretend worlds.”
    Oddily frowned because he didn’t mention the glasses she found in his car—the same glasses that were now hidden in her underwear. If he kept secrets, so could she.
    “ Please speak to me, Oddily.”
    “ I’m keeping my mouth shut!”
    Maxim grimaced when she pretended to zip her mouth closed and throw away an imaginary key.
    “ I’ll admit,” he began warily after releasing her face, “there are more advanced, ‘State-of-the-Art’ games in existence that, unfortunately slip into inexperienced hands. These games are not intentionally created for mainstream entertainment. They are so intricate, they adjust to the tone of the player’s voice. This gives the player the ability to control the game with personal commands such as start, menu, pause, stop, or exit.”
    His information seemed to strike a chord with Oddily, because her eyes grew wide with interest, right before she squeezed them shut and mumbled the word, exit. A moment later, her eyes fluttered open and glanced around.
    “ Your instructions didn’t work. I’m still here!”
    Maxim grabbed his head, as though he were going to pull his hair out. He didn’t know what to do, but his decision was becoming more and more evident.  He needed to erase Oddily’s memory again; however, the process would be risky when so much had happened. At this point, he would have to remove the whole experience of himself and the game glasses from her memory, which surprisingly bothered him. Alternatively, he had the option of telling her the truth—which was out of the question. But if he didn’t do something soon, Oddily was going to die, and he would be to blame.
    “ This is not a game.” Maxim growled in frustration through gritted teeth as if his firmness would snap her back to reality.
    “ It is too, and I’ll prove it,” she smiled. “Lower your head.”
    Maxim did as asked, and she gave him a hard knock on his head with her knuckles.
    “ Hey,” he dodged her fist as she attempted to hit him again.
    Oddily looked surprised by his reaction. “You felt pain?”
    “ Yes, I felt pain!”
    At first, Oddily believed him because he was rubbing his noggin, but then came up with an explanation. “Maybe you’re just programmed to think it hurts so this game will appear more convincing to the player.”
    Oddily’s comment gave Maxim an idea—another attempt to get through to her. “You say you can do anything you want and you won’t get hurt, right?”
    “ Yes, I’m positive.” She remembered her pain free grooming from Bobbitt, the giant.
    “ Then, you won’t mind if I try an experiment on you.”
    “ No, that’s fine with me.”
    The way Oddily gazed so innocently into Maxim’s eyes reminded him of a curious child. He hated to wipe that look away, but he had to for her sake. He reached over and pinched her forearm.
    “ Ow,” she stepped back, grabbing her arm. “You hurt me!”
    Maxim regretted his stunt, but grabbed his chance while he could. “Tell me—how was I able to hurt you if you can’t experience physical pain while in a game?”
    “ I don’t understand,” she frowned, torn between two possibilities. Was it true she wasn’t in a game? Oddily shook her head in disbelief. No, that was impossible. Kip’s truck was toilet papered with no problem; and, she took Starla’s Mini Cooper to the shopping village without being pulled over. What about