*** Writers Note ***
This story is from the same series as my other works which involves an alien species that creates pocket dimensions and the people who get involved with them. But you don't need to know any of that to enjoy this. This is pure 90s high school murder mystery - Twin Peaks meets Buffy the Vampire Slayer - with plenty of sexy fun. Enjoy!
***
"Right this way, Mrs. Stevens!" Miranda's shoes click along the tile floor as she leads you through past the immaculate white lobby, and down the hallways of the virtual reality center.
It had been a month since your last visit, and since then, you had endlessly replayed the experience in your head. Immersive does not even begin to cover it - NextGen is a new wave of virtual reality vendors that actually puts you into a pocket dimension. You felt like you lived a whole life inside these pocket worlds they create. Thrilling adventure, sexy side plots, and a fully realized world. NextGen promises to transport you and they deliver. When you received the advertisement for their newest experience - a high school murder mystery - how could you resist?
After all, between your day job as a photographer, and your responsibilities as a mother and wife, the opportunity to live out some other adventure was thrilling. Sure, it costs a pretty penny but considering you will be living out a few weeks inside this created world in the blink of an eye, it definitely counts as a vacation.
Miranda, your technician from last time, gives you a warm smile. You gently smooth your black pleated skirt nervously as she brings you to the same medical appointment room you remember from last time.
"I'm so excited you booked another experience with us!" she said, leading you through the double doors.
"Well, after last time, how could I stay away?" You put your phone and clutch on the tray and hop up on the reclining chair, adjusting your shirt as it bunches up around your substantive chest, and pushing your long brown hair out of the way.
"So, we crunched the numbers from your last time here..." Miranda says and you jerk back to the present. She stooped over the large machine, punching buttons on her tablet.
"... and it looks like you like a healthy mix of all things, right? Plenty of adventure, plenty of romantic opportunities, high scores on exploration and character development." She turns around and smiles. "You really went for the full experience!"
"Is that rare?" You ask. She gives a little shrug.
"We protect our clients' confidentiality here..." she says apologetically.
"But in general?" She nods.
"In general, some folks like to just power through the whole thing - racing ahead to each plot point. Others just spend the whole time having sex with everyone they see. And some go absolutely bananas and just start..." she gives a painful wince.
"Sorry, not really the point. The point is, you got the full experience last time and I think you are really going to enjoy this. Did I mention I was on the design team for Lying Liars?" The cheer in her voice had returned.
"Yes, it's part of what made me want to give it a try." Miranda blushes at the compliment and fusses with her tablet.
"Well, I think you'll like this. It actually has a reactive protocol in the program, so the more you explore a plot thread, the more that theme plays a part in the story."
"Really?" You ask. She nods. How on earth are they pulling that off, you wonder.
"Okay, just a few last minute questions before we get started," she says. "This experience is a high school murder mystery, and we want it to reflect each individual's personal history. We find that leads to a more powerful experience but not everyone had a positive time in high school." She holds up her hand in mock apology, "I know I didn't!"
"No, I'm fine with that. My high school experience was fine. A bit boring but fine." You say.
"Well, this should be anything but boring!" Miranda answers. "Where'd you grow up? We can match the region to your childhood."
"Woah, that's pretty cool!" You say, mind racing. Miranda is looking at you expectantly.
"Sorry, my folks moved around a bit growing up but mostly in the Pacific Northwest."
"Excellent." Miranda clicks around. "How about Mercer Island? Are you familiar with that place? I'm seeing it is near Seattle." You crack a big smile.
"Yes, I know Mercer Island. That works!"
"Okay, and same romantic settings as last time?" You nod.
"Yes, those worked just fine. Although I do have a question," you say hesitantly. "You mention romantic options but it involves high schools..."
"OH! Yes, don't worry about anything underage, we have strict protections against that. This experience is a tribute to 90s movies and television shows, and so all the characters are 'played' by twenty-something actors so you are completely okay. Also, it was the 90s, and HR wasn't really as big a deal as it is now, so some of the adults are options as well. Spoilers, I know but I figured you would want to know."
She pauses looking up from her keyboard. "Is that okay?"
"Oh yes, that all sounds great." You answer as she fits the skullcap onto your head and gives you the NextGen watch. You slip it onto your wrist.
"Remember, tap it three times if you need to end the scenario for any reason. We will be monitoring your vitals and your progress through the experience on our end but hopefully there shouldn't be any disruptions like last time."
She pauses, and gives you an odd look.
"Speaking of which, do you have anything else on your person that might disrupt the equipment? We were running diagnostics last time to see what happened and it appeared that there was some sort of electrical interference."
You shake your head. "Just the wire in my bra, is that a problem?" You laugh. She shakes her head. "I don't think so."
"Well, I think you should be good." She goes over to the big machine in the corner and slowly slides the lever up. "Here we go, off to Leland High..."
A hum fills the room, and the band on your head burns hot. The lights flicker above you and you see Miranda worriedly flipping switches on the big screen and then the whole room fades to white.
###
"Brenna! Excuse me, Brenna?" You look up, blinking. An older woman with thick, red glasses and a rather unflattering sweater is sitting behind a desk holding a large phone.
"Principal Sheffield will see you now." She points to the large office adjacent to her desk. You grab the brightly colored backpack you find leaning against your black tights and pleated orange skirt.
"Oof, these were definitely some fashion choices for the time." you mutter to yourself, adjusting the giant scrunchie on your wrist and pushing open the principal's office door.
Inside, Principal Sheffield, a large black man with a thin mustache, charcoal grey suit jacket and a cautious smile, sits behind a wide desk and beckons you to take the chair across from him.
"Brenna, yes, thank you for coming. I hope I didn't pull you away from anything important?" He asks, glancing at his paperwork. "Ah, Mrs. Dorgan's class. Well, classic literature can wait, I'm afraid. Detective Morris, this is the young woman I was telling you about."
You turn and notice a tall, thin man with bleach blonde hair standing next to the window. He's wearing a long gray coat and has cheekbones that could cut your hands. He doesn't smile and his eyes are piercing.
"Hello Ms. Stevens." he says in a clipped british accent. "I understand you are something of an amateur detective?" Morris asks, a hint of mockery in his voice, but Principal Sheffield answers for you.
"Ms. Stevens actually helped the faculty resolve a rather uncomfortable situation last year involving a bit of blackmail from a community member. I think she can be helpful to you."
Morris gives you a cocky sneer. "And did this 'resolution' involve one of your hallucinations?"
He flips open his notebook. "Brenna Stevens, 18, a senior at Leland High School, claimed that the final location of the documents came to her 'in a flash'. Other students report that Stevens had claimed to have visions before and that it was 'that thing she does'."
Morris gives a disdainful look at you and then back to the principal.
"I have a murder to solve, I don't need to play nancy babysitter for some pretend fortune teller."
Sheffield's face darkens. "And how much progress have you made Detective? Those kids out there just opening up to you when you flash your badge? Especially with that foreign accent? Look, give her a chance."
You look back to Morris. He gives a big sigh and turns back to the two of you.
"Right. Look, if we are going to do this, you are going to follow my rules, got it?" You nod. "I don't need the hassle of trying to fend off a Nancy Drew while I'm trying to close the Jovanovic case. You do as I say, ask around, and report back to me. That's it. No meddling with the other suspects, no sneaking into places, no blabbing to your two little sidekicks..." he snaps his fingers. "...what's their names? The tall girl on the basketball team and the little yearbook dweeb."
"Crystal and Jules." Sheffield says softly.
"Yes, Crystal and Jules. Don't go blabbing to them, okay?" You nod.
"Okay." There's a moment's pause.
"So, you want to tell me what this is all about?" You ask.
Principal Sheffield pulls out a picture from the folder on his desk.
"You know Tom Jovanovic, right? He and his sister, Maribeth, transferred in two years ago." You feel like you should be taking notes. You reach down and unzip your backpack, pulling out a bulk plastic folder. You pull it open with a shockingly loud rip of velcro.
Oh yeah, a trapper keeper. Awesome.
Morris rolls his eyes at you but Sheffield continues.
"Apparently, Tom and Maribeth had a big party at their parent's house on New Year's Eve. Did you go?"
You shake your head. He continues.
"Well, it sounds like half the school was there, and it got pretty wild. It's a big house on a big piece of property next to the water. The next morning Tom's body was found down near the water and we have reason to believe that he was murdered."
He holds up a picture of Tom - a handsome senior, wearing some flannel and squinting into the camera.
"Now we've got a whole high school full of witnesses but Detective Morris has not been able to get any of them to share what happened. Do you think you could ask around and get him a few leads?"
You smile, finishing up your notes.
"Yes, I am happy to help." You turn to Detective Morris. "Any particular places I should start?"
Detective Morris starts ticking off options on his hand.
"We've got the blonde bint, his main squeeze. Her name is Jessica. There's the sister, of course, Maribeth. And then I think he has a few buddies on the swim team, he was close to a couple of blokes there."
"Okay, anything else I need to know?" You ask. "What about how he died - was he strangled or stabbed or drowned or.. "
