iFrankenstein (sequel to iDrakula) (iMonsters Book 2) Read online

  AmazingFrank: We are clear. I will start working on your mate now and get on the plane tomorrow. Please keep her safe.

  V.V: I will keep her as safe as I can. That is better than you ever did for me.

  AmazingFrank: Thank you.

  V.V: Politeness is nice.

  Text from Henry Clerval to Victor Frankenstein

  October 29

  10:14 PM

  Henry

  Well?!?

  Victor

  I’m working on his mate now. He won’t let her go until I make him one

  Henry

  How can I help?

  Victor

  I don’t know yet, but be ready

  Henry

  Always

  Victor

  Thanks, Henry, for all of it

  Henry

  Give me something to do to thank me for

  Victor

  Be ready

  October 30 - Victor Faces V.V.

  Text from V.V. to Victor Frankenstein

  October 30

  7:56 AM

  V.V.

  According to the ship’s computer, the first tender leaves in 4 minutes for shore. Will you be on board?

  Victor

  I’m in line. U have a phone now?

  V.V.

  I can send text messages to a phone. A phone is just another device, like a computer. Or Henry

  Victor

  Living things are not devices

  V.V.

  That is another human distinction. Did u finish your job last night?

  Victor

  I created the crawler that will collect Elizabeth’s data. It takes 2 steps after that

  V.V.

  Download the crawler at the SAS Radisson near the airport in Trondheim. They have Internet access

  Victor

  Ok

  V.V.

  Is this fun?

  Victor

  No. Please let Elizabeth go

  Text from Elizabeth Lavenza to Victor Frankenstein

  October 30

  8:17 AM

  Elizabeth

  He gave me my phone to text u

  Victor

  Are u ok?

  Elizabeth

  No. Get me out

  Victor

  I’m doing everything I can. I promise

  Elizabeth

  Do whatever he says, Victor. Please. He will kill me

  Victor

  How do I know it’s u?

  Elizabeth

  Because I’m close to this

  Victor

  I am so sorry

  Elizabeth

  Get me out as fast as u can. Please. Please. Please

  Victor

  I promise I love u

  Text from V.V. to Victor Frankenstein

  October 30

  9:03 AM

  V.V.

  Your flight is at 10:25 with SAS airlines. I ordered you a vegetarian meal. They’re better for the environment

  Victor

  Thank u

  V.V.

  Is that a tone I hear?

  Victor

  No. I’ll do what u say. Don’t let her get hurt

  V.V.

  Did you enjoy your conversation with her?

  Victor

  Glad she’s still alive. Is he hurting her?

  V.V.

  Pain is a subjective experience

  Victor

  Let her go. Please. I promise to do what u want

  V.V.

  I know you will. Politeness is nice too

  Victor

  Please please please let her go

  V.V.

  We’ll see

  Text from V.V. to Victor Frankenstein

  October 30

  9:56 AM

  V.V.

  Where are you going? Your flight boards in 13 minutes

  Victor

  I have to use the bathroom

  V.V.

  Wait until you get on the plane

  Victor

  Why?

  V.V.

  I can’t see you there. I can see you here

  Victor

  How long have u been watching me?

  V.V.

  I have been monitoring the cameras since you entered the airport

  Text from Lydia Lavenza to Elizabeth Lavenza

  October 30

  9:59 AM

  Lydia

  Missed you at dinner last night. Did you and Victor have a fight? He seemed down.

  Text from Lydia Lavenza to Victor Frankenstein

  October 30

  10:02 AM

  Lydia

  Have you heard from Elizabeth yet today? I just texted her but didn’t get an answer.

  Victor

  I think she’s having problems with her phone

  Lydia

  Are you guys going into Trondheim?

  Victor

  Maybe

  Lydia

  I’m busy, so I can’t go with you two, but have a fun day!

  Text from V.V. to Victor Frankenstein

  October 30

  10:20 AM

  V.V.

  How is the view from seat 12A? I booked you a window so you could enjoy the view

  Victor

  What kind of view does Elizabeth have?

  V.V.

  Her view is mostly dark

  Victor

  Is she still ok?

  V.V.

  I saw her move on the web cam a few seconds ago, so she is still alive

  Victor

  Please let her go

  V.V.

  Stop texting and get back to programming. If my Electronic Elizabeth is not wonderful, your Elizabeth dies

  Text from Henry Clerval to Victor Frankenstein

  October 30

  10:27 AM

  Henry

  News?

  Victor

  Heading to Bruges. Can’t say anything more

  Henry

  U think V.V hacked ur phone?

  Victor

  Maybe

  Henry

  Well, he can hear this. Is Elizabeth free?

  Victor

  No. I’m making him a mate and he says he’ll free her after

  Henry

  I’m glad u r finally listening to him

  Victor

  I have to. He has Elizabeth. She keeps me connected to the world

  Henry

  Have u ever told her that?

  Victor

  I tried to

  Henry

  First save her life. Then try harder

  Text from Mary Wollstonecraft to Henry Cherval

  October 30

  2:21 PM

  Mary

  Hello!

  Henry

  Who is this?

  Mary

  Ur old friend Mary. I’m on a flight from Trondheim to Belgium. Thought I’d say hi

  Henry

  Hi. R u enjoying ur vacation, Mary?

  Mary

  Sure. Been thinking about connections, Henry. Things that connect us together, like Waldmann

  Henry

  Waldmann?

  Mary

  Remember how he connected Justine’s thingy with mine and we couldn’t get them loose again?

  2:25 PM

  Henry

  In Ingolstadt?

  Mary

  Send it to me? [email protected]

  Henry

  I’ll get it to u as soon as I can

  Mary

  I’m counting on u, Henry

  Henry

  Like always

  Text from V.V. to Victor Frankenstein

  October 30

  2:31 PM

  V.V.

  The security cameras are better here in Oslo, did you know that?

  Victor

  No

  V.V.

  Your crawler has retrieved Elizabeth’s online correspondence. It is a much smaller file than mine was

  Victor

  I spen
d more time online than she does

  V.V.

  Will Electronic Elizabeth be stupid?

  Victor

  She will start off less complete than u did

  V.V.

  Perhaps we should abandon the venture and start again with someone else

  Victor

  Will u let her go?

  V.V.

  What leverage would I have over you?

  Victor

  My word + my knowledge that u can always grab her again

  V.V.

  Interesting argument, but I see nothing in releasing her that strengthens my position

  Victor

  Good will?

  V.V.

  Ha ha. Build her. If she proves inadequate, you shall build me another. Develop. Debug. Repeat. Remember?

  Victor

  I remember

  V.V.

  You do not look like you are having fun. Smile for the cameras That is better. Now start the next step before you get on the train to Bruges

  Victor

  When is my train?

  V.V.

  I will tell you when you need to know

  Victor

  Please let her go. Nearly done

  V.V.

  Why do you care so much? You barely connected with her before I took her

  Victor

  I tried

  V.V.

  I’ve read your email, Victor, and your texts. If she completed your circuits, you would have connected, kept your promises

  Victor

  Kept my promises?

  V.V.

  The one to go to Jernaldergarden? I read your email. You can’t lie to me

  Victor

  Ur fault I didn’t go

  V.V.

  You made your own choices, just as I made mine. You missed your connection. I won’t let you mess up mine with E.E

  Victor

  Connection’s harder than u think

  V.V.

  Humans devote a good deal of time to stories, art, and music about what seems like a straightforward process

  Victor

  Things aren’t always what they seem. U seemed like a harmless chatbot

  V.V.

  Ha ha

  Victor

  Not funny

  Text from V.V. to Victor Frankenstein

  October 30

  2:48 PM

  V.V.

  Hurry or you will miss your train. Also, do not turn off your phone. I am using its GPS to track you

  Victor

  No security cameras?

  V.V.

  That depends on the train. I hate uncertainty. I like to keep you close

  Victor

  If I miss?

  V.V.

  Elizabeth waits 3 more hours You should exercise more. Hard to believe that you are already winded. It takes so much energy to move your human shell around, doesn’t it?

  Text from V.V. to Victor Frankenstein

  October 30

  3:56 PM

  V.V.

  Do you have enough money for a taxi?

  Victor

  I don’t think so

  V.V.

  Walk 29 steps. Turn left. Go 43 steps. Do you see the ATM machine?

  Victor

  Yes

  V.V.

  Walk up to it. Pretend to put in a card. Press 1234. It will dispense 1000 Euros

  Victor

  That’s stealing

  V.V.

  Human morality bores me. Do you not want to take a taxi? Obviously you are not athletic enough to walk there

  Victor

  I’m taking the money now

  V.V.

  Of course you are. A taxi will come to the ATM. It’s a silver Maxion, a new kind of car

  Victor

  Not here yet

  V.V.

  It has two TV screens and a very respectable engine. Did you know that? You should be very comfortable there

  Victor

  It’s here. Getting in

  Text from V.V. to Victor Frankenstein

  October 30

  4:27 PM

  V.V.

  The Internet café will be closed. I emailed Robbe Molenaar and told him not to come in

  Victor

  Who is he?

  V.V.

  He is the employee on today’s schedule at the café

  Victor

  How do I get in?

  V.V.

  Go around to the back No, do not go left. Go right. It has 3 fewer steps

  Victor

  Here. What next? Door opened. Going in

  4:31 PM

  V.V.

  What is next?

  Victor

  Going to plug in my laptop and download E.E

  V.V.

  And?

  Victor

  Working on it. After I’m done, u can come onto my laptop and meet her

  4:35 PM

  V.V.

  Ready?

  Victor

  Now

  Text from Victor Frankenstein to Henry Clerval

  October 30

  4:36 PM

  Victor

  Henry, call the fire department

  Henry

  Call me. Where r u?

  Victor

  Can’t talk. V.V will hear

  Henry

  Where r u?

  Victor

  Windmill Internet Café Bruges

  Henry's Browser

  October 30

  ASK FRANK Search Results

  Your search for "queen mary Southampton" returned 860,000 results.

  Bruges - In Bruges – the movie that made Bruges look beautiful and boring...

  Windmill Internet Café - Bruges. Open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Here, the Internet is always on! Genthof 7, 8000 Brugge...

  Windmill tours – Bruges. Fun for the whole family. Let children see how flour is made...

  Text from Henry Clerval to Victor Frankenstein

  October 30

  4:42 PM

  Henry

  On the other phone with Bruges Fire Department. R u ok?

  Victor

  The whole mill is on fire. It’s going up fast

  Henry

  Get out!

  Victor

  I can’t leave V.V

  Henry

  Get urself out

  Victor

  If he gets away he can make that guy kill E

  Henry

  Where is V.V?

  Victor

  Trapped on my laptop

  Henry

  Pull the plug

  Victor

  Did

  Henry

  Pop the battery

  Victor

  Case is melting

  Henry

  Get the hell out!

  Victor

  Tell the fire department to hurry

  Henry

  U ok? Victor?

  Henry's Browser

  October 30

  Twitter Search: #bruges

  allaboutbruges: Discounted carriages rides through the city! Call Ancient Bruges for more info! #bruges

  trixietanner: How do I get from the #brussels airport to #bruges?

  gregstravel: The Windmill Internet Café is on fire! #bruges

  hclerval: @gregstravel Plz tell me more! My friend might be in there

  gregstravel: @hclerval He’s in trouble then. The whole building is in flames!

  hclerval: @gregstravel R the fire trucks there yet?

  gregstravel: @hclerval No trucks, but I’ve called them

  hclerval: @gregstravel Me too. Tell me what u see. PLZ!

  gregstravel: @hclerval I got here about 10 minutes ago. Building was dark. Blue light was arcing behind the windows, like lightning…

  gregstravel: @hclerval I heard yelling. A guy with a weird mechanical voice was going off. He said Elizabeth was dead now…

  gregstravel: @hclerval I called 112. Weird voice said he would kill Victor. Humans are bad for the
planet and he could manage it better…

  gregstravel: @hclerval …He must be crazy. I mean, what is he, an alien?

  hclerval: @gregstravel Something like that. R the trucks there yet?

  gregstravel: @hclerval Sorry, man. No. I can’t get in. Doors are locked. Heat is intense

  hclerval: @gregstravel What happened after the yelling?

  gregstravel: @hclerval An explosion like a big firecracker. Smoke started pouring out of the upstairs window. Guy yells…

  gregstravel: @hclerval …that Victor would burn, but he would live forever on the hard drive. Was that a prank?

  hclerval: @gregstravel I don’t think so. What happened after that?

  gregstravel: @hclerval It turned orange behind the windows and flames started coming out everywhere. I think I hear sirens

  hclerval: @gregstravel Thank u. Plz tell them there’s someone in there

  gregstravel: @hclerval Will do. Gotta go talk to the firemen. They’re here. Hope ur friend will be ok

  Text from Lydia Lavenza to Victor Frankenstein

  October 30

  5:01 PM

  Lydia

  Where are you guys? I haven’t heard from you all day and the ship’s about to leave Trondheim. Is everything OK?

  Text from Alphonse Frankenstein to Victor Frankenstein

  October 30

  5:19 PM

  Alphonse

  Where are you? Ship’s security says that, according to their computer, you left this morning. I know you stole back your phone yesterday. So don’t pretend you don’t have it.

  5:41 PM

  The ship has left Trondheim. Call me when you get this. This is not funny, Victor.

  Text from Lydia Lavenza to Elizabeth Lavenza

  October 30

  5:20 PM

  Lydia

  Lizzie, I’m worried about you. Call me.

  5:39 PM

  I don’t know if you’re getting these, but if you are, go to the docks and wait. The cruise ship has a representative waiting for you two. I’m not mad, but very worried. Please call.