Campus Competition

"Get out of my head!" Alex screamed, striking his fist against the bathroom mirror. The glass cracked, sending spiderweb lines across his image. Inside his mind, Reed's voice laughed softly.

You can't fight this, Alex. It's what you were made for.

Three days had passed since Jasmine's capture. Three days of Reed's voice getting stronger in Alex's head. Three days of the blue lines spreading further across his face.

A knock on the bathroom door made him jump. "Alex?" Emily called. "Are you okay in there?"

"Fine," he lied, pulling his sleeve down to hide the bright blue lines. He splashed cold water on his face and opened the door.

Emily looked as tired as he felt. None of them had slept much since Reed took Jasmine. They'd been searching non-stop, following every lead, but Reed and Jasmine had vanished totally.

"Professor Chen thinks she found something," Emily said. "She wants us all in the lab now."

They'd turned Chen's cabin into their base. The professor had built a signal jammer that seemed to slow down the nanobots in Alex's system, giving him brief relief from Reed's voice.

When they arrived, Ethan was already there, studying a school map spread across the table. The sight of him made Alex's heart ache. They hadn't had a moment alone since the confession in the dorm room, and with Reed's presence growing inside him, Alex was afraid to get too close.

"I think I know where Reed is hiding," Chen stated as they gathered around. "The old laboratory beneath the campus library."

"There's a lab under the library?" Alex asked.

Chen nodded. "It was abandoned years ago when they built the new science building. But the university never sealed it properly. And look at this."

She pointed to power usage records on her computer screen. "Something down there is using a massive amount of electricity."

"That has to be where he's keeping Jasmine and the others," Ethan said, hope lighting up his face.

"We need to move fast," Chen warned. "According to my calculations, the nanobot restructuring of Alex's brain will be complete in less than 24 hours."

Alex felt sick. Less than a day before he stopped to exist, replaced by Reed's consciousness.

"There's one more thing," Chen said, looking worried. "To access the old lab, we need keycards. Faculty keycards."

"Can't you use yours?" Emily asked.

"Mine won't work for that section. We need cards with higher clearance." Chen took a deep breath. "Like the ones given to winners of the Dawson Science Internship."

Alex and Ethan looked at each other in surprise. The Dawson Internship was the most prestigious award on campus, giving students access to advanced labs and research opportunities.

"The final selection is today," Chen continued. "Two spots are available. If you both compete and win, we'll have the access we need."

"But the competition takes hours," Alex protested. "We don't have that kind of time."

"It's our best chance," Chen maintained. "The alternative is trying to break in, which would alert campus security immediately."

Reed's voice whispered in Alex's mind: Go ahead. Compete. By the time you win, it will be too late.

"I'll do it," Ethan said definitely. "Alex, you should rest. Stay here where the signal jammer helps."

"No," Alex shook his head. "I'm not sitting this out. It's my sister, my friend, and my body at stake."

The game was being held in the main auditorium. Twenty students were fighting for the two internship spots, including several academic stars Alex recognized from his classes.

"Remember," Chen whispered as they took their seats, "you just need to finish in the top two. Work together if you can."

The competition started with a written exam on advanced scientific concepts. As Alex worked through the problems, he felt Reed's knowledge seeping into his mind, giving answers he shouldn't know.

Use me, Reed's voice urged. With my help, you'll win easily.

Alex refused, pushing the voice away and focused on what he actually knew. Next to him, Ethan was writing rapidly, his face intense with focus.

After the test came a practical demonstration. Each student had to plan and explain a theoretical experiment. When it was Alex's turn, the blue lines on his arm began to glow beneath his jacket.

Let me take control, Reed whispered. Just for a few minutes.

"No," Alex whispered under his breath.

"Excuse me, Mr. Grant?" asked Professor Williams, who was judging the game. "Did you say something?"

"Sorry," Alex said quickly. "Just thinking out loud."

He forced himself to focus, explaining his experiment plan while fighting Reed's influence. By the time he finished, sweat was running down his face, and his hands were shaking.

Ethan did brilliantly when his turn came, impressing the judges with his clear explanations and innovative thinking. Alex felt a rush of pride watching him, mixed with fear that they wouldn't both make the cut.

The final challenge was a debate on ethical scientific methods. Students were paired up to argue different sides. To Alex's surprise, he was paired with Ethan.

"Mr. Grant will argue that genetic modification of humans should be allowed," Professor Williams stated. "Mr. Chen will argue against it."

The irony wasn't lost on Alex. He, a genetic experiment himself, was now expected to defend the practice that had made him.

As the debate started, Reed's voice grew stronger.

This is my skill, Alex. Let me speak through you. We'll win for sure.

"You can go first, Mr. Grant," the judge said, pointing for Alex to begin.

Alex opened his mouth, but no words came out. The battle in his head was becoming overwhelming. Reed was pushing harder than ever, trying to take control.

Ethan noticed his battle. "Actually," he said quickly, "in debate format, the opposition typically presents first. I'm ready to begin."

The judges nodded, giving Ethan the floor while Alex fought for control of his own mind.

You're running out of time, Reed mocked. Feel the change happening? Soon there will be nothing left of you.

When it was finally Alex's turn to speak, he gripped the podium tightly. "Genetic modification," he began, his voice shaking, "has potential benefits..."

Suddenly, one of the judges gasped. Alex looked down and noticed with horror that the blue lines had spread up his neck and were now visible above his collar.

"Mr. Grant, are you ill?" Professor Williams asked with worry.

Before Alex could answer, Reed seized the instant distraction to push harder. Alex felt a terrible sliding sensation, as if he was being shoved away in his own brain.

"I'm fine," he heard himself say in a voice that was slightly different from his own. Reed was speaking through him now. "In fact, I've never felt better."

Ethan's eyes widened in panic. He knew what was happening.

Using Reed's huge knowledge, Alex—or rather, Reed controlling Alex—delivered a brilliant defense of genetic modification. The judges were clearly pleased, nodding and taking notes.

When the debate finished, Alex felt Reed's control slipping as the effort had tired them both. He managed to push back, regaining command of his body long enough to stumble off the stage toward Chen and Emily in the crowd.

"He took over," Alex whispered desperately. "Reed took control. It's happening faster than we thought."

"Just hold on a little longer," Chen begged. "They're announcing the winners now."

Professor Williams stepped up to the microphone. "After calculating all scores, I'm pleased to announce this year's Dawson Internship recipients: Ethan Chen and Alex Grant! Congratulations to both of you."

The crowd applauded as Alex and Ethan were called back to the stage to receive their keycards. As they shook hands with the judges, Alex felt Reed stirring in his mind again.

Well done, the voice purred. Now we have access to everything we need.

They rushed out of the auditorium as soon as they could. Night had fallen, and the college was quiet as they met back up with Chen and Emily.

"The keycards worked," Chen confirmed after trying them. "We can access the underground lab."

"Then let's go now," Alex urged. "Before..."

He didn't finish the sentence. They all knew what was at stake.

As they reached the library, Alex suddenly doubled over in pain. The blue lines flared brightly across his skin, now visible on his face.

"Alex!" Ethan grabbed him as he stumbled.

"Something's wrong," Alex gasped. "Reed is... excited. Like he wanted us to find the lab."

Before anyone could reply, the ground beneath them trembled. The library windows lit up with a strange blue glow from below, the same color as the lines on Alex's face.

"It's a trap," Chen realized too late. "Reed knew we'd come."

The library doors burst open. Standing in the doorway was Jasmine—or rather, a robot version of her, eyes shining blue, a cruel smile on her face.

"Welcome," she said in Reed's voice. "We've been expecting you."

And behind her stood Sophia, Liam, and a dozen other students whose faces Alex knew from the missing persons list—all with the same glowing blue eyes, all moving with the same unnatural precision.

An army of Reed's robots, waiting for them.

"Run," Alex whispered to the others. But as he turned to run, his body locked up completely. Reed had taken control again.

You're mine now, Reed's voice said inside his head. And so are your friends.