Donna sat in front of Georgio’s computer. It was a large Gateway 2000, and over the past few months she had begun to use it occasionally for letters and invoices to do with the businesses. Now, it had taken on a sinister feel. The office too had a dark quality she had never noticed before. She turned the computer on and put in the start-up disc, listening to the familiar whirrs and scrapes with heightened awareness as the computer read the disc’s information.

Dolly stood behind her, her breathing loud in the room. Once the index was displayed, Donna took the disc from her and loaded it.

‘Get us a large scotch, Dolly, I think we might both need one.’

Dolly slipped from the room and Donna stared at the computer screen, flickering eerily in the dim office.

The disc menu was on display and Donna studied it intently.

MESSAGES
GIRLS AND BOYS COME OUT TO PLAY
BABIES IN THE WOODS
BOYS ONLY
GIRLS ONLY

Donna felt a sick sensation in her stomach. Directing the mouse to MESSAGES she pressed Enter. The screen cleared and a letter appeared before her, just as Dolly trotted back into the room.

‘Here’s your drink, love.’

Donna stared at the screen as Dolly placed the whisky beside her on the desk.

‘What’s that all about?’ She read the letter out loud.

Greetings,

All work’s on time and ahead of schedule. Germany is ready, Maldives have received modem line. Can soon distribute to Liverpool, and bypass London altogether.

This new batch is probably best ever.

Getting hang of it all now. New bloke working out fine.

Give my regards to everyone at The Black Dog and tell them I’ll be over soon.

Candy.

Dolly and Donna stared at the screen intently, as if it was going to talk and answer their unasked questions. Donna exited from the letter and the index returned to the screen.

Dolly’s voice was high as she said, ‘BOYS AND GIRLS COME OUT TO PLAY? What the fuck kind of message is that?’

Donna placed the mouse beside the message and pressed Enter. ‘Well, we’ll soon find out, won’t we?’

The screen cleared. The few seconds of whirring as the machine read its memory were agonising and then a large message appeared on screen:

BOYS AND GIRLS COME OUT TO PLAY!

Donna pressed the page-turner and immediately a picture appeared before them. It was in full colour and was also strikingly clear.

It showed a girl of around ten years old in a school uniform, a tight, short-skirted school uniform. The girl was Asian, with thick dark hair in pigtails and grotesque make-up: red lips and heavy blue eye-shadow. She held up the hem of the skirt to display her vagina and belly button. She was smiling out at them and Dolly took a step backwards in shock.

‘Holy Mary, Mother of Christ. I didn’t know you could put pictures on these things!’