Chapter 41 - Meeting Eve (1/2)

After dinner, they all went to family room for a chat.

Stella was busy making plans for tomorrow, and she was asking her daughters for opinions. Edward was happily chatting with Aiden.

After some time, Stella pulled Edward away. ”Let's leave kids by themselves. We got stuff to do for tomorrow.” Edward was resisting his wife, obviously not interested in anything related to tomorrow's gathering, but Stella was persistent in convincing him that he is necessary to make the event successful. Sisters didn't think that their mother would be able to get their father to cooperate, but to their surprise, he gave in rather quickly, and two of them left.

As soon as their parents exited the room, Sophia and JoAnna fixed their eyes on Aiden with suspicious smiles on their faces.

Aiden looked at Sarah helplessly while thinking: 'Are you sure they are friendly?'

Sarah noticed Aiden's quiet plea and gave a stern look to her sisters. ”If you act like this, we will not stay here.”

”Oh, and where are you going?”, JoAnna was teasing.

”Hmm... I will introduce him to Eve”, Sarah responded while pulling Aiden's hand to follow her.

”Are you sure? After you do it, there is no way to take it back, you know?”, Sophia warned her sister.

”Yes, I know!” Sarah exited the room and Aiden followed curiously.

”Hey, I didn't even get a chance to say anything!”, JoAnna's protest didn't get answered.

As they walked down the hallway, Sarah glanced at Aiden and reluctantly said: ”I hope my dad is not too much.”

”It's not a problem”, he responded.

They took set of stairs down and entered one door leading to the hallway. At the end of the hallway there was another door. These doors are secured with palm reader and a password.

Sarah scanned her palm, entered code and the door opened.

They ended up in another hallway with five doors, each equipped with handprint readers and password panels.

Aiden was curious: 'What is this place?' They are in the basement of Sarah's home, and why such security?

Female voice filled up the space and startled him: ”Good evening, master.”

”Hi, Eve”, Sarah responded.

Aiden could not see source of the voice. It is a pleasant female voice which has a slight echo.

”Eve, this is Aiden White. Give him access level three.”, Sarah said. At that moment, laser beams came from the wall and ceiling, and lasers were going over Aiden's body.

”Eve is getting to know you. After this you can talk to her, with level three privileges.”, Sarah explained.

Aiden was not sure what to ask first. ”Her?”

”Most of the kids who are lonely create imaginary friends for themselves. I created Eve.”, there was hint of shyness in her voice.

Aiden was in awe. The reports he got said that she is a prodigy, but this was beyond his imagination. 'Just what is all this? Looks like I'm in a sci-fi movie.' Lasers that went over his body went off, and female voice was heard again: ”Good evening, Aiden.”

”Is this OK, or do you want her to call you something else?”, Sarah asked him.

”This is fine.”

Sarah chuckled seeing his confused expression. ”I can tell you have many questions. Please be patient a little while longer. Now I want to show off my current work.”

She opened second door on the left, and they entered an expansive room which is dimly lit with rows of light blue LED lights on the floor following edges of the walls. Each of the walls is divided in squares and each square has number of small glass, metallic-looking surfaces and holes. In the middle of the room is a bench. Sarah showed Aiden to sit on the bench, and she sat next to him.

”Close your eyes”, Sarah was excited.

Reluctantly, he closed his eyes.

Few seconds later, Sarah said: ”Eve, start the jungle experience. Full demo.”

Aiden's eyes were closed. In few seconds, he could feel that the temperature and humidity are rising. Room was suddenly filled with a sound of birds and distant water hummed, like a waterfall.

”Open your eyes”, she whispered.

He opened his eyes, and he was amazed to see that they are sitting in a small clearance, and all around them is a jungle. Floor is covered with rocks, moss and low grass. Ceiling is a clear sky, and walls became a thick rainforest. Nothing like a dark gray room they entered. The bench is a rock, perfectly fitting the surrounding. He touched it, and texture is still of the same bench they sat on, but to the eye, it looks like a large rock with small patches of moss on it.

Sarah observed him intently and enjoyed his amazed expression.

”What do you think?”, she was excited and nervous at the same time.

”I'm still absorbing this.”, he admitted. ”Give me a minute.”