A note from the Hime no Argh herself–
Reviews were far and widespread, but good, so here's the second chapter of Genesis. Chapters are going to go up fairly quickly so do keep checking. Thanks for reading!
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## UNAUTHORIZED USER LOGON @ 9:43 PM 9.16.92
SENT MESSAGE @ 12:01 AM 9.17.92
redqueen: I know someone is out there. Help me, please.
SENT MESSAGE @ 3:17 AM 9.17.92
redqueen: I'm dying. Help me to live.
* * *
Hacking circles were dead tonight. No new projects, no one around to appreciate Trinity's skill and prowess. After a while I gave up and let Trinity retreat to a deserted corner of cyberspace.
I hate needles, but everyone knows intravenous injection is the quickest way to achieve the effects. I stabbed myself in the hollow of my elbow harder than was necessary and let the heroin flow through my veins. Almost immediately I began to feel hot; my pale skin developed a rosy glow. I threw off my jacket and blouse and lay on the floor in my skirt and bra, gulping down water in an attempt to relieve my parched mouth and throat. Nausea welled in my throat and I swallowed back a surge of bile, afraid of the possibility of being choked by my own vomit. Then the rush came and heat, dryness and nausea were forgotten in the throes of overwhelming euphoria.
When I woke up the following morning I had a killer headache and couldn't remember anything that had happened after the heroin injection. I supposed I must have passed out when the euphoria wore off. I staggered to my feet and to the bathroom to gulp down six Advils.
Daffodil twined around my legs, mewing piteously. With a surge of guilt I recalled that I hadn't fed or watered her the night before. Cradling the kitty in my arms and murmuring assurances, I made my way to the kitchen. The sight of two fat cockroaches in my cabinet didn't faze me; I reached unhesitatingly for the cat food bag and closed the cabinet door on the bugs. Once Daffodil had food and water in her bowls and was happily munching, I went back to my bedroom and glanced at the computer monitor.
"No!" I shrieked in sudden rage, snatching up my keyboard and flinging it across the room. More words on the screen under my alias, the Red Queen, Trinity! What the hell had I put down in that room in cyberspace for the entire world to see? Trinity, pleading for help; Trinity, made weak by her alter-ego, Eve!
I threw open my desk draw and snatched up the small knife, determined to punish myself for these transgressions, to kill Eve then and there so that she could never screw up Trinity again–but sudden movement caught my attention. Words. There were words, appearing on my screen as if written by an invisible hand. I dropped the knife and read, my face inches away from the monitor.
## UNAUTHORIZED USER LOGON
RECEIVED MESSAGE @ 9:24 AM 9.17.92
godofdreams: Hello Trinity.
God of dreams? This wasn't one of Trinity's disciples, nor a fellow hacker–at least, not any I knew. More words appeared on the screen.
godofdreams: I know you are dying. I want to help you live again.
I retrieved my keyboard–it had landed on the bed, fortunately, and was unharmed–and plugged it in. Sliding into my chair, I began furiously to type.
redqueen: Who are you and how do you know me?
godofdreams: I know all about you, Trinity.
redqueen: What do you want?
godofdreams: To save you.
redqueen: I don't need saving.
For quite some time there was no reply. I sat back in my chair and waited. Probably he'd given up; probably it was some sort of fluke, some idiot's idea of fun. Impulsively I reached for the monitor, intending to shut it off–but then a new message came, the words that would change my life forever.
godofdreams: Meet me at Alice's Mirror at midnight.
I stared at the words, feeling a sudden chill down my spine. This had to be someone I'd met before–otherwise how could he know that I frequented the nightclub called Alice's Mirror? There was only one problem with that idea–if I'd met him before, he wouldn't know about Trinity. Nor would he know of Eve if he'd heard of me in some hacker circle. I kept both of my lives carefully separated.
He could be dangerous. I knew this perfectly well. My curiosity, however, would not allow me to abandon the idea of meeting him for even a moment.
Hell, it was Saturday. There was going to be a party.
* * *
To be continued.