Hong Kong Young Writers Anthologies Fiction 2020complete | Page 269

Hologram Horror (A fugitive fleeing the Pearl River)
Singapore International School, Yao, Yue Seng Ellisha - 11
My name is Robert and I’m 35. I’ve been in prison in Shenzhen, since 2028, for two whole years
and I can’t take it anymore. Don’t get me wrong, if I had stolen that gold chain, I would accept my
sentence. But that a man called Dan slipped it into my pocket and I don’t know why. I’ve got to find out
who did this and clear my name.
The prison clock strikes 8pm and I am ready for my big escape. A band has come to perform at the
prison. If all goes to plan, I will hide in the double base case as Chan arranged. I hope they had time to take
out the lining of the case to fit me in and that the musician was paid enough money and accepted the bribe.
I hear the music. Goosebumps pop up on my skin like popcorn on a pan. This is my chance. A
cold chill runs down my spine as I find the empty double bass case and clamber in. There is just enough
room for me although I can barely breathe. I wait nervously for the band to finish and my unknown saviour
to carry me out. A guard has been paid to “lose” the double bass so as not to rouse suspicion. My saviour
chats to his friends as he smokes a cigarette. They saunter out of the prison. I hope no one can hear my heart
which thumps like a bongo.
I feel the case get unzipped and I can finally breathe. I look around and see that I am on the streets
behind the prison. It will only take a matter of minutes before the guards realise my disappearance and come
looking for me. I stumble my way out and run as fast as my legs can take me, dashing like there is no
tomorrow on the pitch-black streets. It feels like forever since I inhaled fresh air. A black car pulls up and I
immediately go in. I look out the window. There is Mrs Wong petting her robot dog and the doormen
holograms welcoming guests into a luxurious hotel. I am on my way to Zhongshan through the bridge
connecting Shenzhen and Zhongshan. I am going to start a new chapter of my life—finally free from jail. I
see the Pearl River meandering ahead and my jaw gives way to the ground. The Pearl River is as beautiful
as I imagined. The river is tranquil. The moon reflects on the water, glistening like stars in the night sky.
In under an hour, we are in Zhongshan. Although it is late, there are throngs of people, going to
the night market and enjoying steaming cups of tea. The driver hands me 2000 Yuan and a phone. This is a
good place to get out and lose myself in the crowd. I change out of my prison clothes in the car and enter
the market. I whip out my phone and get on the GPS tracker web. I enter Dan’s full name and his location
pops up on my screen. 88 Jordan Road is two streets away. I furtively make my way there, hiding in side
streets and behind dustbins to check no one is following me. I pass stores that sell flying shoes and the latest
pet robot. But where is Dan? I reach number 88. It is an empty, ramshackled warehouse. The warehouse is
eerie. The lights flicker on and off and filthy water drips down the roof. I gingerly creep over to the
window and peer in. I see Dan. He is on his computer. Next to him are holograms with malicious faces and
hands that look like claws of monsters, evoking Halloween. With every swipe of his hand the holograms
change their features slightly. He is not only controlling them—he is creating them. And now I see an exact
replica of him. Maybe his hologram doppelgänger was the one who slipped the chain into my pocket? But
why? Dan sighs. He looks sad and frustrated.
I enter the building. I call his name softly, “Dan, Dan”. Dan jumps up. Then he does something
unexpected. He hugs me and cries.
“I thought you were in jail?”, he enquires disbelievingly.
“I was,” I mutter. “What’s going on?”
“Some bad people commissioned me to make evil holograms. They did not give me enough time
to test them properly. They forced me to publish them straight away. They are out of control.”
“I thought you framed me and put a gold chain in my pocket?”
“No, I would never do that, my friend,” Dan replies, taken aback. “It is the hologram that did that,
the bad people are controlling them and making them do awful things.