Whether Ava liked him or it was just his imagination, Daniel never found out. But by the end of the night, he’d gone back to his room alone. He lay in bed for a long time before falling asleep. At night, it seemed all the robots either recharged or shut down, because the silence was so thick he could hear his own thoughts. The only distraction was the rustling from the rooms next to his.


    He woke up the same way he’d fallen asleep—with Ava on his mind. She’d gotten under his skin. But every time he caught himself going too far, he pictured Emma nearby, watching the foolish things he was about to do, and chased the blonde beauty from his thoughts.


    He got up and quickly found Room 205.


    To his surprise, Jasper opened the door after just two knocks.


    “You look awful,” Daniel said, leaning in to peek past him. “Alone?”


    “Yeah, brother.” Jasper glanced down the hall and let him in.


    Daniel stepped inside. Jasper’s room was, to put it mildly, a mess. Clothes were strewn everywhere. Even his revolver was tossed in a corner, with the holster dumped on top of it.


    “What happened here last night?”


    Jasper stayed quiet, trying to tidy up. Daniel rarely saw him like this.


    “What’s up, Jas?”


    “Brother, I talked to Aria in the stables. I wanted to go somewhere more public, but she wouldn’t. She was scared. Especially after what happened in the bar. Speaking of, how’re those guys I roughed up?”


    “One got up and kept chatting with people inside like nothing happened. The other I dragged outside. I figured the techs would come for him like they did with Bill. He wasn’t moving, and I swear I saw a spark flash from his eyes.”


    “Exactly, brother. Aria was just telling me something about her dead husband. Get this—her old man’s mixed up in it too.”


    “You’re starting to freak me out.”


    “That’s not even the wildest part. So, I’m talking to her, working up the nerve to at least touch her hand.”


    “Oh, the romantic Jasper,” Daniel cut in, interrupting him. Jasper didn’t take it well.


    “It’s not funny, brother. Listen, I heard voices outside. Someone was passing by on the road.”


    “Voices?”


    “I don’t know whose. Didn’t see them either.”


    “What’d you hear?”


    “Two guys. I think they were techs—one had a flashlight, and the other told him to stop using it so they wouldn’t raise suspicion.”


    Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings.


    “A flashlight? That’s it?”


    “Not quite. They passed us and went toward the bar. Probably picking up the guy I beat.


    “Yeah. And I still don’t get why you’re so worked up.”


    “I waited for them to move on and pressed Aria again. Tried to kiss her—she pulled back, but I could tell she wanted me. Second try, she would’ve been mine. You know women—they play hard to get, don’t want to seem easy. Robot or not, she’s picked up those feminine tricks.”


    “Jas, if you’re about to describe how you hooked up with Aria, spare me, please.”


    “No, brother. Listen—these guys were doing something to the robot, then started dragging it back to the jail. They were joking about their dumb tech stuff. I don’t remember it, nothing special. But then…” Jasper sat close to Daniel, glanced around as if someone might overhear, and whispered, “One of them said something about the locals that threw me off. His exact words were, ‘Looks like no one’s given themselves away yet…’”


    “You’re stressing over nothing, Jas. That could mean anything.”


    “Sure. But you know what I thought?” Jasper didn’t wait for an answer. “What if some of the robots are real people? Slap on some gloves, and you’re a robot.”


    “And how do you see that working? What if I pull my revolver and shoot a real person?”


    “Those revolvers aren’t real. I mean, they can’t do the damage a real one would. I don’t know how they’re made, but they can kill a robot and, at worst, hurt a person.”


    “I don’t know, Jas. You’re overthinking this. They’d have to plan it out pretty damn well, and if there are that many…”


    “I didn’t say a lot, brother. Could be five people among all the robots. Or ten, say. It’s a little creepy.”


    “You know, I talked to Ava last night.”


    “Ava?”


    “The blonde from the train. The one with the standoffish guy. You remember.”


    “Oh, the one who’s into you,” Jasper grinned and gave him a light shove on the shoulder.


    “Actually, that Sam guy isn’t her husband, and I didn’t see her liking me.” He hoped that last part wasn’t true. “She was talking about experiments too. Said how you treat a robot might be how you’d treat a person if you weren’t afraid of judgment or retaliation.”


    “Makes some sense. In real life, I’d never go for a woman with a kid. But with Aria here…”


    “Or maybe you would. You’re just scared of what people or your family would think. Here, you’re free. You’ve got the excuse that this is a fake world. Maybe we’re not just here to test the robots. Maybe they’re testing us too—how we’d mesh with them. Think about it.”


    Jasper didn’t think about it. He wasn’t the type.


    “Brother, I’ve spooked you too much. Even if I’m right and there are real people among the robots, it doesn’t stop us from finishing the game.”


    “Jas, you looked shaken when I walked in.”


    “Yeah, but now that I’ve told you, it’s easing up. The other thing I learned is that Reed, Aria’s dad, might be tied to her husband’s murder.”


    “Not surprising. That guy’s nuts.”


    “So Aria blames Jake, Jake blames her, and you blame her dad? Did you question her?”


    “I was going to, brother, but you know me—I think more with my lower head than the upper one. I put my hand on Aria’s thigh. Felt like she liked it. But when I slid it higher, she slapped me so hard my head’s still ringing. Those leather gloves are brutal. Then she ran off.”


    “Even here, you’ve got women troubles, Jas. Nothing new. Colin would be proud.”


    “For sure,” Jasper laughed. “But I’m not giving up on her.”


    Jasper stood and started dressing slowly. It was already light outside. Daniel watched through the window, waiting. It was a shame they didn’t have more time to explore the town’s houses. If there really were real people among the robots, they’d likely live in homes. Like the farmhouses. And if some of the robots they’d met were real, who could they be? Violet, Clara, Aria, Reed?


    Daniel nearly jumped and turned around. Jasper was adjusting his hat.


    “Jas. I think we’ve got someone who can help us.”