(DRAFT) Artificial Terror

Chapter 14: Core Values

    "I'll wait for anyone to get down here," Charlotte said, bored. "I understand a decision like this takes time."

    Time for the scare. I cleared my throat and strolled out from my hiding spot. "Is the offer available for me?"

    She turned her head at me with wide eyes. Blinking a few times, she recoiled. "You're dead! I killed you! How's this happening?"

    "I have a strong core built out of love and morals which helped me survive. The funny part is I've never worked out my core before."

    "Time for another drop to finish you off!"

I backed up as she sat straight. The lights flickered as floor tiles spun around the whole length of the test chamber. Wind generated caused my shirt to whip, and my body struggled to stay put. Keep it together. I've got this. Charlotte gave me a menacing smile.

    "Do your worst, after all it'll entertain me a little before I win again."

    I made a power stance, shifting my weight to my legs. "Let's do it!"

My confidence boosted me as I ran at her. Charlotte threw out her arm, commanding the tiles to fly in attack patterns. Time for more miracles. Three tiles from the left created a wall dodged by collapsing to the floor. I got back up, yet dodged more tiles. They flew everywhere with some diving towards me like a flock of birds; some tried to get under my feet and flip me over or pinwheeled like throwing stars. I had no plan to defeat her, yet Charlotte struggled with new troubles. The last three prototypes fought her on the cyber battlefield. Let's go!

Tiles slowed down and grew disorganized. I didn't dodge as much and jumped on a still tile. From here, I had a better view of Charlotte's twitching and angry yelling.

    "Oh-ah!-I'll get -beep- you!" She twitched before switching to a deep, pirate accent. "Wel-welcome to-to-to the Co-Cove."

I remembered Dr. Reed said some of the code came from old animatronics. I would've laughed if it wasn't frightening. Wisps of smoke floated out of chinks between her plastic plates.

One arm jumped from the armrest, trying to pry one of her chest plates open. It had a mind of its own before Charlotte regained control. Why would the prototypes want to get into there? I continued climbing up the tiles, growing higher and higher. What can I do to stop her? Nothing came to mind as I jumped to a vertical tile right above Charlotte. It turned around and I looked down at her.

    "Having fun, Tim?" She sneered. "I'm going to right now." She snapped her fingers and two tiles aimed towards me.

Desperate, I scanned where to go. There's nothing besides the ground. I found her wires sitting in front of me. Multiple sat ready for me to grasp. I pulled up my legs and launched myself off the tile, hands outstretched. Colliding with one, I held on tight as tiles hit each other. Debris peppered my back. Charlotte gazed up at me, her LED eyes glittering with malice.

    "Get down from there and die!" She yelled with a tone of grief.

You'd like that wouldn't you, but nope. I focused on climbing higher. A chrome latch sat a foot out of reach. If correct, then I had an idea to stop her. I strained with each inch up with life or death fueling me, yet it worsened. The nanobots under Charlotte's control pulled at my shirt, dragging me down inches. My progress reversed, and I'd fall to my death.

    Over the P.A., Gray yelled, "Watch out!"

I turned my head to the right to see another tile flying towards me. It took out the nanobots with a large sound of cloth ripping.