By Abigail Falanga
“We here at Sphinx Industries pride ourselves on ensuring that your property and information are secure…”
The pleasant voice of the promotional video drones on for the forty-seventh time—slight exaggeration—since I got here two hours ago. Long enough so that everyone has forgotten I’m here. I’m the kind of person people forget—slim young guy in a nice hoodie, probably delivering something. I’m virtually invisible. One of my more mundane talents.
Past closing time now, the last employees have left the large, modern building, security guards have done the night shift walkthrough, locked doors, and left one in position behind a front desk—and I’m still here. Halfway behind a pillar standing near the TV with the overproduced promo.
At least the ad is easy to ignore. The voice that hisses through my earbuds, not so much.
“It’s time.” My employer’s voice is stiff and nagging. “Are you in position?”
“Have been for the last hour. Quit worrying,” I mutter.
“Not worried. Just want it to go off without a hitch. You know why we brought you in, right?”
“’Cause I’m the best.” I grin, though he can’t see me.
“Yes,” he confirms, a little too quickly. “You might succeed where all the others have failed.”
This part of the job has never sat well with me. All the others? “Might help if you could pass on what they learned.”
The boss doesn’t answer—again—instead saying, “You have five minutes. Going dark now.”
The electricity, phones, internet, everything shuts down. My mind shifts back to my task. The guard at the desk jumps to his feet and frantically tries to get his system to respond, yelling at his coworker through an unresponsive earpiece. I’m free to move through the shadowy lobby, up the stairs, toward the vaults on the third floor.
Sphinx Industries is the best security firm in the world, so they have backups for power outages. But I’m ready. Hacking is my thing, augmented by a knack for understanding the nuances of technology—not that I tell anyone much about that part. It takes me twenty seconds to manipulate the door’s complex locks, first entering a code of my own devising and then tripping a wire, and I’m through into the vast server vault.
I slip into the blue twilight of the gigantic chamber and start toward the server that’s my goal. It’ll take me another minute to find and secure the drive, assuming I don’t encounter more security measures.
“Stop, intruder,” a deep voice purrs from somewhere above.
Like this one, apparently.
AI security system? This must be the advanced tech SI advertised—and what stopped my predecessors.
I advance another cautious step, waiting to see what it’ll do and brainstorming how to respond.
“No farther.” The voice is so close I imagine the hint of a breath.
Next instant, I stagger backward. A huge paw steps out of the shadows, followed by a massive catlike body—a winged one. It towers over me, beautiful, solid, otherworldly.
Dangerous.
“I do not know you.” It bares sharp teeth.
“What are you?” I gasp.
“A sphinx, obviously—the great secret at the heart of this firm’s success,” it replies smugly. “Have you the password, stranger?”
“But… sphinx are myths!”
It bends its head to sniff me. “You ought to believe in myths, with magic like that in your veins. Or do you know nothing more than how to manipulate computer code?”
“Hey, I know things!” I blurt, trying to recall anything I’ve ever half-heard about sphinxes, hoping I can back up the boast. “You do the riddle game, right? If I can answer three riddles correctly, you have to let me get what I want.”
“Sounds more entertaining than passwords.” The sphinx tilts its head, then lies down just in front of me, tail twitching across its legs and wings. “Very well, wizard. Answer three questions correctly and take what you want. Fail to answer, and I shall eat you like I did the others.”
Fear stabs through me. “I don’t have much choice, do I? You’ll eat me if I run.”
“Then don’t run. First question: What do tyrants seek yet lies behind every wall socket?”
“Easy! Power.”
“Easy, was it?” The sphinx’s chuckle is anything but reassuring. “Second question: Why are you here?”
Not so easy. If I answer the truth—that I’m supposed to steal something entrusted to the security-sphinx—I’m in trouble. I start to reply. “I was hired to retrieve something…”
“Why?”
“I never ask. They want. I provide. Was that the third question?”
“Same question, because you are taking so long to answer it. Again—why you?”
“’Cause I’m the best.”
“Are you?” Sharp claws tap on the tiled floor but don’t approach. The sphinx is leading me to the answer.
Which is that I’m not the best. Far from it. I’m competent, but I have no credentials and very little reputation. “They hired me because I’m a nobody who’ll get the job done.” I speak the truth even as I realize it. “I’m expendable.”
The sphinx blinks once—a smile in cat language. “Third question: What fate awaits all, but which all avoid?”
A shiver runs through me as I open my mouth. No words come.
“A hint.” It lowers its head until wide golden eyes are level with mine. “This fate awaits you whether you succeed or fail, whether truth or self-deception comes from your lips, whether you leave this room or I devour you.”
“Death,” I barely whisper.
“You have answered correctly.” The sphinx rises and pads to one side. “Take what you wish.”
I stumble to the server, find what I’ve been sent for, then turn, drive in hand. “They’re gonna kill me, aren’t they?”
“That’s your concern now. I like you, Wizard, so gave you every warning I could.” It gives itself a shake and stretches its wings. “Thank you for doing business with Sphinx Industries.”
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
chilling….
This was amazing! I love the blend of modern and myth and the twist on the Sphinx.
Perfect ending line!
I love the fact that the Sphinx actually has a pretty decent personality… definitely a spin on the archetype!
I like the conversation with the Sphinx they are more than just riddles, but they are mischievous.
Whoa. What a turn of events! This is great!
Awesome story! I was hanging on every word. The sphinx’s entry kicked everything into high-gear!
Terrific story; I love the characters and their interplay, it was creepily suspenseful throughout but the ending was spectacular.
An interesting and incising story. Good work!
Thank you for reading this story!
If you’re intrigued and want to know what happens next, the sequel to this story published in August. It’s currently linked above, or search for “Screenname: Aladdin.”
A little behind-the-scenes: I got the idea for this story from a dream of a very large high-tech server room and a somehow even larger sphinx within it. Naturally, I had to write it down to find out what happened! I love how it turned out, and the main character is very interesting. His adventures will continue in further stories!
Abigail Falanga, aka StorySpinner