Playback - A short story crime/suspense by Michael Kelso
Rated PG for violence
Chapter 1 preview
The final disk had been pressed. Jacob carefully lifted it out of the machine and placed it in its case. He stuck a ‘demo’ sticker on it and put it in the mailing envelope he had already addressed, along with a letter. It explained that the addressee had been randomly chosen to be in a focus group, testing a popular video game. All they had to do was play the game to the end, then instructions would appear on the screen. Jacob smiled to himself as he picked up the five envelopes and took them to his mailbox, knowing that none of their lives of these unsuspecting people would ever be the same.
Jacob Anderson was a self made millionaire, but he didn’t plan it that way, it was more luck than anything that got him his money. He had two loves in his life. One was video games. Playing, designing, programming, anything about them. His second love was secret, and not nearly as constructive. He had spent years developing and programming his first commercial game, ‘Playback.’ When it was released, it was hailed as groundbreaking. No one had ever played a game where the player is cast in the role of a serial killer, stalking his prey. Jacob didn’t care about the money. He put on a suit and a pleasant face and accepted the awards. But all he really wanted to do was start work on a sequel so he could go do more ‘research.’ his five unwitting victims were going to help him with that. Along with his silent partner.
Kevin slowly crept into the room, trying to be as silent as possible. The sleeping form in the bed didn’t stir. He pulled a large knife from his belt. It glinted in the moonlight shining in through the window, bathing the room in an eerie glow. He was almost within striking distance when he stepped on a creaky floorboard. He looked down and silently cursed the floor. When he looked back up, he was staring down the barrel of a forty caliber pistol held by the woman who was soundly sleeping just a moment ago. She was beautiful. Her flimsy nightgown clung to the curves of her body, distracting him. Instead of running, or ducking, he just stood there. Her trigger finger got impatient and she started pumping round after round into his chest, knocking him to the floor, in a splatter of blood. She leaned over the bed to look at his lifeless body. Her face frozen in his view, as his life ebbed away.
’THE END.’
’CONTINUE ? YES/NO’.
“Dang, I almost had her that time.” Kevin said, as he selected ’NO’ and tossed the controller onto the couch. He yawned, stretched, and walked upstairs. He didn’t notice the little light flash on his game system showing that it had sent information online. He grabbed two sodas from the fridge, plopped on the living room couch, and handed the other soda to his dad.
“What are we watching?” Kevin asked.
“Footage from my last murder investigation.” Bruce said as he took the soda. “Thanks.” He took a swallow, then looked at Kevin.
“Did she beat you again?”
“Yeah, she always seems to get me at the last second.” Kevin said.
Bruce chuckled.
“Is this where a responsible father should say ’I find it very disturbing that you spend so much time playing a game where you pretend to be a serial killer.’ And ‘What kind of sick mind thinks this stuff up anyway?’”
“Yeah, ok.” Kevin said as he motioned to the TV, where they were videotaping entry and exit wounds on a dead body. Bruce laughed.
“Point taken.”
“But aren’t you supposed to stay away from police work during your time off?” Kevin asked.
“Yeah” Bruce said “Something about this last case just doesn’t sit right with me.”
“Isn’t that why you’re off? Because you couldn’t let it go?” Kevin said.
“Now you sound like Don, it’s not as simple as that.” Bruce said. Kevin could feel his dad tense up. He decided to change the subject.
“Well, I think you’re a very responsible dad, and I have enough common sense to realize that playing a game won’t turn me into a serial killer.” Kevin said. “Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m going back to the basement to terrorize and kill a certain lady friend of mine.” Then he looked at his dad and winked.
“Go get her, boy!” Bruce said, smiling as Kevin strode from the room.
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