SIM CITY
Author: Gillian Slater
Email: When Miss Parker is kidnapped, Sydney appeals to Jarod to perform one of his simulations...
Disclaimer: Whilst I love these characters, I clearly didn't invent them, and am just hijacking them to perform for me... Please don't sue.
Part One - Eventful Morning
7.00 am.
Before an exquisite antique mirror, Miss Parker made a final check of her appearance. Flawless. Impeccable. Of course, she'd never show up for work in any other condition, despite whatever emotional trauma Jarod's latest prank had caused her.
She stepped out of her house confidently and took a deep breath of the crisp Delaware morning. Today's the day, she repeated her daily mantra silently to herself.
Getting into her car, she forced a supercilious smile onto her face. Today the bastard's mine. Truth be known, these affirmations were the only thing that let her move on from all the yesterdays of defeat and humiliation, the only thing which kept her icy determination from melting.
As she drove on autopilot towards Blue Cove, her mind wandered, trying to fathom what job Jarod would be headed to this morning. Rocket scientist? Nanny? Garbage man? Pro snowboarder? God, she envied him, the diversity his genius allowed him. And the worst part was, he knew it. Somehow the smug son of a bitch had her utterly figured out, no matter what face she presented to the world.
A dark blur flashed across her vision, and she stomped on the brake, her mind snapping back to the moment. Did I hit him? There was no impact as the car screeched to a halt. She sat, breathing hard.
A knock on the window. She turned to see the man she thought she'd hit, looking fierce and angry. As she rolled down the window, the ugly stranger shoved a revolver in her face!
"GET OUT!" his order came as a ragged gasp.
"Oh, you have GOT to be joking!"
A carjacking. How original. She scowled contemptuously at the thug as she slowly emerged from her sleek company car. Gesturing with his gun and some inarticulate grunts, he directed her to get in the passenger seat, and got behind the wheel.
"Your mother must be so proud," she sneered at him as they drove away.
End of Part One