Deadly Pink Read Online Free PDF

Even though she had access to codes to other games, that was the one her team was working on. So it may well be that she chose it because it would have been the easiest for her to modify.”
    So what Ms. Bennett was saying was that Emily had decided to lose herself in that particular game because it was there, like that guy—whoever he was—who said he'd climbed Mount Everest because it was there. But just as he'd have found another mountain to go up if Everest hadn’t been there, it was likely that Emily had made the decision to turn her back on the real world first, and then settled on how.
    “All right,” I said, antsy to get back, though I had no idea how I was supposed to talk sense into Emily. Surely she knew she couldn't stay hooked up to the equipment indefinitely. That she was risking brain injury, or even death. “Well, no insights, but at least now we know the equipment works. So send me back.”
    Ms. Bennett looked for confirmation from Mom, who whispered to me, “Be careful,” which we all took as a go-ahead.
    Sybella said, “Okay, put your head down and close your eyes and count back from one hundred by sevens.”
    Damn it.
    “One hundred,” I said.
    I pretended I'd misheard. “One hundred seven. One hundred fourteen. One hundred twenty-one. One hundred twenty-eight...”
    Oops, I was having trouble going in that direction, too. Uncertainly, I said, “One hundred thirty-two. No, one hundred thirty-five...”
    But I don't think they heard me, because by then I could hear water slapping against the dock.
    Before I even opened my eyes, I thought, Wow, last time I could see the lake from the gazebo, but I don’t think I could hear it.
    Then a voice, a male voice, very close, said, " Buon giorno. Le piacerebbe fare un giro in gondola?”
    That got my eyes open in a hurry.
    Ms. Bennett and Sybella hadn't landed me back in the gazebo; this time I was actually standing on the dock. Too late. Time had continued to pass in the game while I had spent my few minutes back at Rasmussem: Emily was no longer here. The gondolier, looking very handsome in an older-guy Mediterranean sort of way, was standing in his boat, smiling at me. I don't speak Italian, but by the way he had one hand outstretched toward me and the other indicating the seat in the gondola, I guessed he was offering me a ride. I didn't think it was a ride to someplace. When I'd seen Emily in the boat earlier, the singing and the leisurely drifting had given me the impression that she hadn't been headed anywhere in particular; just, it had seemed, taking a pleasant outing on the lake. I didn't have time for that.
    “No, thank you,” I said. In the total immersion games I've played, I've learned it never hurts to be polite, even to virtual characters. I asked, “Where's Emily?”
    The man shook his head and said, " Scusa. Non capisco.”
    “I'm looking for Emily,” I said, realizing—even as I did it—that I was raising my voice, as though he were hard of hearing, not Italian.
    He shrugged and said, " Non ho capito, ma Le potrei cantare una bella canzone. ”
    “Emily,” I practically shouted at him.
    “Emily,” he repeated, and kissed his fingertips. But that was all.
    I turned to leave him and to head back to the house, hoping that she and I had simply traded places and that I would find her in the kitchen watching me. But the gondolier said, " Signorina?”
    I turned back, though if he didn't speak English, it wouldn't do me any good even if he did know where Emily was, because I wouldn't be able to understand his explanation.
    " Delfini,” he said.
    I shook my head.
    He repeated the word and pointed out toward the middle of the lake. A pair of dolphins was leaping in the air.
    “Ah,” I said. “Lake dolphins.” No wonder kids today are confused.
    The gondolier was pointing to his boat again, then the dolphins, obviously telling me he could take me closer.
    Was he saying...? I mean, this was a fantasy game ... Could Emily have