Game Alive: A Science Fiction Adventure Novel by Trip Ellington Page A

explain something complicated.
    It didn’t help that Jake couldn’t understand it himself. Kari had been there. It was the real Kari, not some computerized clone of her. But if she really was in a coma, then she couldn’t have been in Xaloria. It wasn’t like they’d have a VR set-up in her hospital room.
    “I get it,” his mother was saying. “So if someone could access our feed, they could have made it look like Kari was there even if she wasn’t.”
    Jake blinked in surprise. His mother had made a very good point, and it was one he hadn’t thought of himself. “You’re right,” he said. Someone else could project Kari’s image…but only if that someone else had access to Xaloria in the first place! Jake groaned.
    The car pulled into their driveway. Jake and his mom climbed out and headed inside. To his surprise, his mother followed him to his room. He stopped just inside the door, looking back at her in puzzlement.
    “Jake,” she said reluctantly with a pained expression. “This might not be the best time for it, but there’s something I have to tell you.”
    Jake felt his body tense up, and he thought back to his mother’s “special dinner.” He had forgotten all about it, worried about Kari instead. Now he knew that more bad news was coming.
    “Honey,” his mother continued, attempting a smile that was not as bright as she meant for it to be. “Gerald has asked me to marry him. I’ve said yes.”
    Jake’s head spun. He retreated across the room, sinking down heavily on his bed without even looking behind him first. “You said yes?” he asked, as breathless as if he’d been kicked in the stomach. “Why?”
    “What do you mean, why? ” his mother snapped. She scowled at him in irritation. “Because I love him, that’s why. Jake, I love Gerald and I want us to be a family.”
    Jake scowled right back at her. “Nobody ever asked me if I want us to be a family,” he said sharply, barely stopping himself from yelling. “Did you even think about that, Mom? Did you even think about asking what I want?”
    His mother’s face flushed, and he could see her making an effort to keep her voice calm. “I know you and Gerald haven’t always gotten along,” she told him firmly. “But I know you two will work your differences out in time. I wouldn’t have said yes if I didn’t think it was the best thing for all of us.”
    Jake was trembling all over. His eyes blurred, and he wasn’t sure if it was from tears or anger. All at once, his fragile self control shattered.
    “You mean the best thing for you! ” he shouted. “You and Gerald! Neither one of you could care less about what’s best for me!” Jumping off the bed, Jake pushed past his mother and ran into the hall. He fled to the familiar safety of the VR room, slamming the door and locking it behind him.
    He could hear his mother’s rushing footsteps, then they stopped just on the other side of the door. She tried to open it. Jake held his breath, stifling tears of fury as he silently prayed that she’d just go away and leave him alone. He was still shaking all over. He should have seen this coming. Why couldn’t his mother understand? Why wouldn’t she just go away? At last, after several long minutes had passed, he heard her footsteps receding and then the door to her bedroom clicked.
    Jake sagged against the door, pounding it once with his fist. Why did it have to be now, on top of everything else? Couldn’t she have waited until later? Who cared about Gerald when Kari was in the hospital? Jake’s mother seemed to think Gerald’s feelings were more important than that, more important than Kari, more important than anything Jake might be worried about. It was all about Gerald, and Jake didn’t get a vote.
    He breathed heavily, squeezing his eyes shut. Jake’s mind whirled with thoughts of Kari, his mother, Gerald, all of them swirling around together in confusion. He wished he could go back somehow, back before yesterday or