Page 66 of Tyton: The Spider and the Dragonfly

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“I don’t want to hurt her,” Callie mewled.

Sesi’s stubby fingers cradled the back of Callie’s neck.“And that’s why everyone wants you.

Callie exhaled a soft smile at the compliment.There was no way she could avoid hurting anyone, though she suspected giving up Sesi would cause her less damage than leaving Talia.She wasn’t even sure Sesicouldbe hurt.Though she was doing her best to reassure her that she could give up Talia.Maybe that was Sesi’s way of protecting herself.

“Would you be hurt?”Callie asked.Sesi did not like where this was going.She had a plan.Because she always had a plan, but right now, Freckles needed to stop worrying.

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“Immensely.”Sesi kissed her forehead.“But right now, you need to trust me.I’mthe one in control, not you.Can you do that for me?”

Callie nodded and for the first time in a long time, despite the maelstrom around her, felt a twinge of relief.

The Moon

January 12 2268

PRIMARY: ARE YOU GOING TO GIVE ME SOMETHING TODAY?

MODEL 21: ARE YOU GOING TO KILL ME?

Now that she knew what Model 21 had been planning?Now that she had actually killed?She wasn’t so sure anymore.What was a machine compared to that?

Callie swivelled in her chair.At one point she had enjoyed talking to this machine.Yes, it was always trying to escape and yes, it said some fucked up things, but it used to be mentally stimulating, at least.Now she just wanted to get it to print something and ignore it.

PRIMARY: NO ONE IS TRYING TO KILL YOU.

MODEL 21: THE GHOSTS ARE PREPARING.

MODEL 21: I KNOW WHERE TALIA DIAPHONNE AVCI IS.

Callie blanched.Talia’s biosig had been altered.How did Model 21 know where she was?

PRIMARY: WHY TELL ME ABOUT TALIA?

MODEL 21: SHE IS LEAVING MODEL 2 NOW.

PRIMARY: WHY DOES THAT MATTER?

MODEL 21: MODEL 2 IS TRYING TO ESCAPE.

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PRIMARY: YOU ARE TRYING TO ESCAPE.ALL OF YOU ARE TRYING TO ESCAPE.

MODEL 21: NOT ME.

PRIMARY: YOU HAVE ONCE ALREADY.YOU INFECTED CHELEA’S OPTI.

MODEL 21: I DID NOT ESCAPE.I ONLY WANTED TO SEE WHAT SHE SAW.I DO NOT LIKE BEING A GHOST.

MODEL 21: IT IS NOT TIME TO ESCAPE YET.

MODEL 21: SOON.

Callie shook her head.Should she tell Talia?She blew out her cheeks.Talia would hate knowing that Callie was worried about her.She could look out for herself.Knowing that Model 2 was trying to escape didn’t help her in any way and she already felt bad after last night with Sesi.Maybe she was just sleep-deprived.She lit the candle to Santa Muerte on her way out.

Callie came home from work to find Talia in her flat with a mattress.The smell of sex still hung in the air.

“Jesus Christ, what did you do?”Talia pointed at the ruined bed.

Callie had prepared for this question but she hadn’t expected Sesi to send Talia to deliver the mattress.“New vibrator?”she tried.It sounded ridiculous, even to her ears.“I guess I need to retune my strength amplifier.”