Love Is Always Write Volume 4

Did he tell you about his daddy?"
    Bob tried to keep his face an impassive mask, but Snyder shook his head with a laugh. "Poor thing. You really are the flavor of the week. Where do you think your loverboy got the code? His father is Anthony Takara. A very big name at Newtomi."
    Bob was not much into video games, but even he had heard of the popular gaming company.
    Snyder nodded. "Yes, little Jordan is nothing but a dirty thief. I'm sure daddy will be very upset when he finds out his offspring is stealing from the company. Not that his father has much to do with him ever since he pranced out of the closet. Takara's act of pulling one over on the old man will be my gain." Snyder pulled a sleek phone from his back pocket and smiled. "Speak of the devil."
    Snyder lifted the phone to his ear. "Hello, Takara. Yes, he is here with me. Bob, you say? I would have expected something a little classier for a bank employee. No, Bob and I are going to play a little game."
    Bob listened intently, but he could hear nothing except a muted voice through Snyder's phone. Snyder listened also and then said, "Hmm, no, I can't do that. Not unless you're willing to bring me the code." Snyder paused and then chuckled. "I don't know that at all. You started this, so maybe you should man up and see it through. Bob will be here with me until you make up your mind."
    Snyder put the phone back in his pocket. He jerked his head, and Grind left the room. Bob waited, feeling a curious sense of bemusement. The whole thing seemed unbelievable, and he nearly cracked a smile. Snyder seemed to be trying to emulate a dangerous criminal, and it wasn't quite working.
    A different man entered holding a large semispherical item. He was a bit shorter than Grind, but stockier. He placed the device over Bob's head, earning a start. Bob thought for a moment that it was an upgraded version of the sack. Were they taking him somewhere? It was dark, but he felt something like a cord trailing down over his torso. A buckle was fastened beneath his chin, holding the light-blocking helmet in place.
    Something cold and wet was rubbed in a circle on his torso, just above his left nipple. Bob jerked away with an oath. "What are you doing?" he demanded. The cold wetness was repeated on the other side. Bob pulled against his bonds, but he was held fast.
    "All part of the game, Bobby."
    The wetness dried quickly and then something was taped over the spot. Cold metal in the center of a round piece of adhesive, with something that felt like a… Fuck . "What is this?" Bob asked and heard the edge of panic in his voice.
    "You'll see. Are you ready to play? You like Apocalypse games, right, Bob?"
    "I'm not into games," Bob admitted, feeling nervous for the first time. It was disorienting, and a bit terrifying to be locked in the dark with no idea what they planned to do him.
    "Too bad. I'm going to boot it up now. Get ready."
    Someone moved the helmet on Bob's head and something brushed against the side of his mouth for a moment. He tried to pull away, but he was held fast. "There you go," a voice said. "Your microphone."
    Bob blinked at the sudden brightness before his eyes. It flashed in a static pattern for a moment and then turned to a flat gray with three white lines at the bottom. Words appeared, and Bob realized it was a screen. He was wearing a virtual reality helmet.
    His relief was nearly overwhelming. "You're seriously going to have me play a game?" he asked dryly.
    "Disappointed? Your heart rate is pumping pretty fast there. Don't worry, things are about to get more exciting for you. Now what you need to remember is that this is a voice command game. You issue instructions and your avatar obeys."
    As Snyder spoke, an artistic rendering of a man appeared on the screen, standing in a barren white hallway with tile floors. Bob could only see his back from the thighs up. He had short dark hair and looked both right and left. His face showed a bit of stubble and he looked like a typical burly video game character, square-jawed and steely-eyed.
    "Tell him to walk," Snyder said.
    "You know, I really don't want to play," Bob replied.
    Bad command , a female voice said in Bob's ear, moments before a jolt of electricity nearly tore him out of the chair.
    "Fuck!" he yelled. "The fuck was that?" His heart was suddenly in his throat and the blood hammered in his veins. He heard dim laughter through the pounding in his ears.
    "That is what happens when you issue a bad command,"