AHK2 help

[DaOld Man]

Im trying to run a AHK V2 script in Windows 10.
I load it when PC starts.
When the script detects both left and right key pressed, it sends Escape to exit mala screensaver, or any game being run.
I then send a V to exit Mala.
It then exits Mala, then shutdowns the PC.
All seems to work fine except the Send Esc.
If Im not playing a game, Mala quits and then I get a clean shutdown.
However If I am running a game, when ESC is sent, the game doesnt exit.
It goes straight into PC shutdown.
I have tried
send {Esc}
and
send "{Esc}"
in the script, and neither seems to work.
Im sure its something simple, I have exhausted searching the net for it.