Daniel stood alone in the living room, getting ready to head out. Emma still wasn’t back from work. On Fridays, they always kept her late. Her architecture firm held a sort of weekly briefing for the upcoming week with all the staff. While most companies did this on Monday mornings, they did it on Friday after hours.
Daniel stood by the table where they usually ate, watching the people passing by outside. Colin and Jasper had invited him to a bar and told him to bring Emma if he wanted. He did want to, but she’d turn him down. So he’d decided to wait for her and ask. If she wasn’t back in an hour, he’d leave without her.
His phone started vibrating. An unknown number.
“Hello, Mr. Hauk?”
It was a woman on the other end. She spoke slowly, measuring every word.
“Hawk,” Daniel corrected her. “Daniel Hawk.”
“Sorry, Mr. Hawk. My name’s Victoria, and I’m calling from FutureRobot.”
He’d expected them to reach out eventually, but not on a Friday afternoon.
“Yes, go ahead.”
“I’m calling regarding your invitations for the week-long experience at our Historical Park.”
A week? Was that all? He’d been under a different impression.
“Yes.”
“I’d like to inform you that your adventure will begin on the twentieth of this month.” Daniel looked up at the calendar. Today was the tenth. The woman kept talking. “Before that, within two days from today, you’ll need to confirm the name of the guest you’ll be bringing.”
“Jasper,” he blurted out immediately, but she continued as if she hadn’t heard him.
“Also, next week, you’ll need to visit our headquarters for routine tests.”
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“Tests?”
“You’ll need an ID, a health record, and an international passport if you have one.” She still wasn’t listening.
“What kind of tests?”
“The tests will include a routine medical check-up, a psychological evaluation, bloodwork, and more. We recommend setting aside a full day.”
These people weren’t messing around. If Emma had agreed to go, she’d definitely back out at this step. She only got near needles if she was unconscious. The idea of giving blood for what she called a “game” was absurd to her.
“You’ll also get to see the location and meet some of the inhabitants.”
He thought of Max Scott. He’d completely forgotten his boss wanted those tickets. This was the moment to ask.
“What if I can’t make it and want to send someone else in my place?”
The woman’s voice cut off, followed by a long static hum. Daniel checked if the call had dropped, but it hadn’t. He put the phone back to his ear and heard her again.
“Mr. Hauk.”
“Hawk,” he corrected her again.
No apology this time, just a brief pause.
“The invitations are in your name. You can change the name on the second invitation, but not both. If you can’t attend, both invitations will be void.”
“So I can go with whoever I choose or alone, but I can’t give my tickets to someone else?”
Silence again.
“Do you have any other questions? I’d be happy to help.”
“Where do I send the other name?”
“Please provide the details of the second person in response to the email you’ll receive after this call.”
“What details do you need?”
“Two names.”
“Just that?”
“I don’t understand. What do you mean ‘just that’?”
“Just two names?” He was starting to get irritated. She was either new or incompetent.
“Yes. We only need two names. The rest will be verified on-site. Any other questions?”
“No. Thank you.”
The call ended.
So what his boss wanted wasn’t possible. That, at least, eased his mind. He wouldn’t have to make excuses or find ways to refuse. He hoped Max Scott would figure that out on his own.
Emma still wasn’t back. He took off the shirt he’d worn to work and put on a plain black t-shirt. He spritzed on some cologne, sent Emma a text saying he was heading out, and included the location—slightly unnecessary, he thought, but it gave him an alibi that he’d invited her.
He left the living room light on.
It was something of a tradition for them.
