The Immortality Game

He joined her at the table and made the connection to his own slot. Most people could establish a connection on their own, but Marcus needed his father’s help; Javier served as a buffer between Marcus and the Web, in order to protect him from his Mesh addiction. «Father, can you allow the connection please?»

«Done.»

Zoya looked indecisive.

“What’s the matter?” Marcus asked.

“Not sure who to call first. I’d call my Uncle Vasya, but he’s let his Web subscription lapse. I’m not certain who else Tavik knows about.”

“Tavik?”

“He’s the gang leader. I know he’s met my friend Oksana. I don’t remember if he knows Ira or not.”

“So call Oksana first, then Ira.”

She nodded and her face took on the look of concentration that most people got when they used the Web. Normally Marcus wouldn’t be able to listen in on such a call, but with his father serving as a bridge, he could hear the ring go through. It chimed four times before there was an answer. It was the auto-message service from Oksana’s apartment.

«Oksana!» Zoya said. «If you get this message, please get out of there quickly. You’re in danger. I’ll explain later. Remember where we used to meet for lunch during school? Go there and I’ll meet you when I can. Okay? Sorry to be so mysterious, but I have to warn other people, too. I…‌I’ll see you soon, I hope!»

Zoya severed the connection and whispered, “Damn, she’s either not at home or they already have her.”

“Call your other friend,” Marcus said.

This time the connection was picked up immediately.

«Ira, this is Zoya.»

«Zoya! What happened? You sound terrible. What’s—»

«Listen. Georgy’s friends are looking for me, so they’ll probably show up at your apartment, too.»

«Georgy’s friends?»

Zoya’s mental voice cracked even over the interface. «They murdered Georgy and Mama already. They—»

«No! Oh, Zoya, I can’t—»

«Please, Ira, there’s no time. They can show up any moment. Take your family someplace safe for a few days, somewhere they won’t find you.» She considered who knew Ira that wouldn’t likely be bothered by the mobsters, and the only person she could think of was her boss. «Leave a message with Pyotr at the morgue so I can find you when this is over. Okay? Just go…‌go now!»

Zoya closed the connection without waiting for a response. Tears ran down her cheeks. Marcus sat silently, unsure what to do. After a minute, Zoya wiped her face with her hands and unhooked the zip-cable.

“No more calls?” Marcus said.

Zoya shook her head. “I need to check on Uncle Vasya and Oksana.”

“I can help.”

Again Zoya shook her head. “You’re not involved with this. It’s not safe. Go back to your embassy.”

Not involved? thought Marcus. How am I not involved? “I have a car. And my father has ways of helping.”

Zoya sighed. “I don’t want anyone else hurt. Just—”

There was a loud groan from the bathroom.

“Oh, Christ!” Zoya whispered.

Marcus looked at the nightstand blocking the door and knew it wouldn’t hold for long against such a big man.

“We’ve gotta go!” he cried, jumping up from the chair.

The bathroom door creaked and they heard a growled curse.

Zoya picked up the gun and held it out to Marcus. “Shoot him in the leg or something.”

“Are you crazy?” he said. “I don’t know how to use it.”

“You’re supposed to be the man, aren’t you!” Zoya jammed a hand into her pocket and fished out the card.

The bathroom door crashed open, the nightstand tumbling across the entrance hall. The large man stumbled out of the bathroom, a hand held to the back of his head.

«Father, what do I do?» Marcus said, sending a snapshot of the scene to his father. He felt his heart might burst at any moment.

«I don’t know, Son.» Hearing this was somehow nearly as frightening to Marcus as the sight of the angry gangster. His father always had answers.

The big man saw Marcus and Zoya and grinned like a shark Marcus had seen in a cartoon sim once. He took a step toward them and stopped. “You point that at me, little girl, you better know how to use it.”

Now Marcus noticed that Zoya was standing calmly, feet spread apart, gun held in both hands and pointed steadily at the gangster.

“That’s my gun,” the man said and held out a hand. “Give it here.”

Other than a slight flaring of the nostrils, Zoya didn’t move or make a sound.

“That’s enough!” said the gangster. “This isn’t a playground.”

He began walking across the room toward Zoya.

The shot rang from the concrete walls, and Marcus clapped his hands to his suddenly ringing ears. The gangster had halted, and Marcus was horrified to see a hole where his left eye had been. The man swayed as blood began flowing down his face and pattering onto the carpet.

A second shot rang out. The man’s other eye disappeared and he crumpled to the floor. The wall behind him was covered with a fine spray of dark red.

Hands still clamped to his painful ears, Marcus tore his eyes away from the dead man and looked at Zoya. She still hadn’t moved from her shooting stance, and her mouth was a grim line.

«Marcus, get out of there now!» yelled his father.