Avatara

The following evening, Pixel did not pick up her phone, the two times Grace called.

"Maybe she's speaking with someone else," said Jazz. He sat on the edge of Grace's bed at the flat. Grace paced near the window, agitated, scrolling on her phone screen.

"But it's just hanging up immediately," said Grace. "Like it isn't going through. Maybe it's my reception. This is an old phone."

"I can't believe they have that kind of security at Sheldrake Enterprises," said Jazz. "Machine guns in the ceiling to shoot intruders. It's crazy.

"This is England. We're not into violence. And that's a government facility. I've tracked Sheldrake for two years and never known they had arsenal like that."

"Sheldrake has changed since the appearance of Knightmare-Grimm," said Grace. "It looks harrowing in there now."

"You could have been killed," said Jazz.

"But I wasn't," said Grace. "Instead six men were killed, some of them with families. You saw how Pixel reacted? She's only fifteen and she held herself responsible. Byte and Qwerty had to wrestle her to take her home."

Jazz nodded. He didn't comment. He appeared to listen for once, rather than just give another opinion.

"I don't even know where she lives. If she is safe," continued Grace. "I don't think it's right that Snow Globe uses these kids in these ways. Even Yi, that monk who saved me when you kidnapped me was just a boy."

Jazz stood up from the bed and walked around to the chair running his right hand through his hair. Grace noticed his reaction.

"I didn't mean to make it about you just then," she said. "I was talking about Yi."

"I know," said Jazz reticently. "I didn't know he was just a boy."

There was a knock on her front door. Jazz opened it. It was one of Snow Globe's men asking to use the toilet. They stood on constant watch now and there was a security person by her flat door at all times.

"I can't go on living like this," said Grace.

"This has to end."

"But how?" said Jazz. "We can't go into Sheldrake again. We'll just get shot."

"What about contacting the government?" said Grace. "The secret service? Your contacts in the police?"

"I've been fired remember?" said Jazz. "And I wouldn't trust them. My boss didn't want me to investigate Sheldrake properly. As soon as I got close to anything he told me to back off and said it was classified."

"I've got to do something," said Grace.

At that point the phone rang.

"Must be Pixel calling back," Jazz said.

"A facetime request?" said Grace. She picked up.

"Well, hello stranger I must say you are an easy person to find. The website for your flower shop looks magnificent."

That garbled, echoey, foreboding voice. Grace went pale.

It's him.

"Oh Grace, I'll have a dozen red roses please, haha!!"

"Grace?" said Jazz cautiously.

"Ah you're there with lover boy," said the voice from the phone. "Well, talking of love I think we should have a reunion at Sheldrake Enterprises right now."

Grace looked at her phone screen in horror, seeing the armoured face. Though she did not recognise the appearance, she recognised the voice.

She and Jazz were flummoxed, hanging onto what Knightmare-Grimm would say next.

"I thought it wise to get myself a bargaining chip," continued Knightmare-Grimm. "You remember Yi don't you?"

Grace had to cover her mouth to stop herself from gasping. On the screen Knightmare-Grimm brought the young monk into view. He was blindfolded with his face next to Knightmare-Grimm's.

"Look, haha, it's a family photo. All it needs is you next to us to complete it. We could go great things together as a family."

Grace whimpered and from the pattern of her breath, hyperventilated. Jazz put his hand on the phone to take it away from her but she fended him off.

"I don't like to see you like this Grace," said Knightmare-Grimm. "A strong woman like you, it's not right. I remember how you were when you worked for me. So strong and so firm, like your body. That's the Grace I need to see again."

"Just tell us what you want Grimm!" said Jazz.

Snow Globe's henchman, had just finished using the toilet and stood to watch the conversation with concern.

"You know what I want," said Knightmare-Grimm. "But I'm not stupid. I know you would never just give me the kernel codes."

"I will give you the codes," said Grace. Jazz looked at her in disbelief.

"Really?" said Knightmare-Grimm sardonically.

"Yes I will," replied Grace.

"No funny business Miss Shelley," said Knightmare-Grimm. "You don't want the death of a young boy on your conscience."

"Just tell me what you want me to do."

"Oooh I like the sound of that," he said. "Come alone. No 'loverboy' with you and none of Snow Globe's men. If you do, I will kill them immediately. You saw what happened when you tried to invade my home when I was away. And I might kill the boy anyway if you try that again. Of course, if you don't come I will definitely kill him. Sheldrake is my fortress Grace. You cannot defeat me on my home territory, so be smart."

"I will come," Grace said.

"With the kernel codes?" said Knightmare-Grimm.

"Yes," said Grace.

"Good. See you soon." And with that the call was ended.

"I'm going to see him," said Grace to Jazz. "And we are not going to argue about it."