《Island A》 White Room ¡°Huh?¡± That was the first word I had uttered in that place. I scanned my surroundings, confusion filling me. At first glance, I was in a room that was white from top to bottom. So far, I could see no signs of a door, window, or exit of any kind. The only other thing visible in the jarring room of white was a huge black screen. It appeared to be part of the wall as it was at eye-level and seemingly stationary. ¡°Who are you?¡± The voice calling out from behind snatched me from my observations. I jolted slightly in surprise, quickly turning around. The person before me was a girl with blonde hair and deep black eyes. She looked younger, possibly no older than twenty. My guess of her age came from her features, having bright red lipstick and pink eyeliner around her eyes in a long streak. Her choice of clothing was very trendy, consisting of a crop top with a blue jean jacket over it as well as ripped black jeans which accentuated her curvy figure. She was giving me a wary look as she squinted intently. ¡°Oh, my name¡¯s Astrello.¡± I answered, scratching the back of my head slightly. Hopefully she didn¡¯t notice me jumping back in shock. I thought to myself. ¡°Well my name¡¯s Gabriella, you can call me Gabby for short though.¡± She stepped back slightly as she gave her name, not in a cautious way though, she turned, scanning the room. Gabby slowly panned, doing a complete 360 until she was facing me again. This time, a look of confusion was written on her face. ¡°So Astrello... why are we here? Also, how are we supposed to leave? I don¡¯t see a door or exit¡­¡± ¡°Well¡­¡± Blank. My head was completely and utterly blank. ¡°....Well?¡± She gazed at me expectantly, as if she wanted me to continue further. ¡°Sorry. I don¡¯t really know.¡± She sighed, looking slightly disappointed before turning to scan the room once more. As she did so my brow furrowed, as I was thinking intently. Why are we even here? Also, I can¡¯t remember anything now that I think about it. I instinctively gave my name but besides that¡­who am I? Just as the thoughts full of confusion continued to simmer in my brain, a voice, this time new to me emerged. ¡°Hello there my two aliens.¡± The voice caught my attention, and my head turned to the source. The screen which was black previously now displayed a man on it. There was a see through mask over his mouth which revealed a smirk. His eyes had a pitch-black visor covering them. The only other physical detail to glean from the individual was his black hair which was tied in a bun. It appeared long, being draped over his shoulder. The camera only showed from the shoulder up, so from what I could see he had a white button-up on. The background of the room he was broadcasting from was white as well, however, there were some things behind him, such as a desk and even a computer. ¡°Alien?¡± Gabby questioned, walking over until she was standing side by side with me, gazing up at the screen with a curious look. The man chuckled, ¡°Yes. Aliens. Now, my name is L¡¯ Boh and I¡¯ll be telling you very important information so listen up okay?¡± L¡¯ Boh¡¯s voice was very strange. As he spoke his voice fluctuated, going from a high tone to a low tone. Almost reminiscent of a boat going over a wave and down one as a storm was brewing. I couldn¡¯t explain why but listening to it relaxed me, as his tone was very calm and smooth sounding. But still, despite that, I had to ask. ¡°Did you kidnap us?¡± After hearing my question much to my confusion, his lips, which had been in a smirking position, curved upward causing the lower half of his face to wrinkle. The smile was extremely wide, making him almost look like he was holding back a laugh. It gave the impression that his only alternative was to display the widest grin. At that moment, for a reason I couldn¡¯t explain, I felt a chill run down my spine. ¡°Kidnap? Not necessarily¡­ Anyways, I wanted to let you know that the only way you get out of this room is by finding the exit. You won¡¯t be receiving any food or water until then. Also, if you can¡¯t find the exit you will most likely starve to death.¡± ¡°What!?¡± Gabby stepped forward, a glare in her eye. ¡°You expect us to stay in here for who knows how long to find a door in this pure white room!? Not to mention without any kind of place to rest!¡± She then turned towards me, pointing. ¡°Plus I don¡¯t even know this guy! For all I know he could be some creep or even a murderer!¡± ¡°That¡¯s rude, how could you say that!¡± ¡­Is what I wanted to say, but I found myself keeping my lips tightly shut. To be fair she wasn¡¯t incorrect with her line of thinking. She didn¡¯t know me, so to be trapped in a room for who knows how long with a complete stranger would bother anyone. Plus my mind was more occupied with the man¡¯s words. Calling us aliens as well as being put in this odd room¡­ It was too strange and random to comprehend so suddenly. L¡¯ Boh released an almost disappointed sigh. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. Mr. Astrello over there is a good alien. He won¡¯t bite, might go pick your brain though. Ha, get it!? Because you two are aliens!¡± After his joke, which brought nothing but a straight-laced stare from the two of us he started cackling, laughing so hard that he fell out of his chair. Gabby and I glanced at each other. We didn¡¯t even have to speak, it was clear in her eyes that she agreed with my current thought. This man was insane! A couple of seconds of lonesome laughter later, L¡¯ Boh found his way back into the screen, slowly crawling back into his chair. His laughter was quieter as he finally got over his joke, which did nothing but double Gabby¡¯s anger and frustration. Her face looked like it could rival the intensity of an angry buddha¡¯s as she stared at the screen with laser focus. As he reached under his visor, wiping what could only be a tear given his hysteria he spoke, ¡°Alright. So, addressing your other concern Gabby, I will be giving you both beds to sleep in if that is most pleasing. Anyway, good luck. I hope you two advance.¡± His face which had been nothing but smiles the entire time-shifted when he next spoke, becoming serious and hardened. ¡°Also, you should know that your success is paramount. So do your best, okay?¡± And just like that, the screen flashed a bright white before becoming dark once more. His voice which reverberated throughout the room was vacant, leaving a deep and cold silence. Suddenly, before I could question what we should do next, the lights shut off. This sudden shift made Gabby release a yelp. I felt a hard stomp on top of my foot a second later, making me yelp as well. ¡°Sorry.¡± I heard her say through the darkness, her tone genuine. It surprised me that she could be apologetic in this strange and no doubt scary situation. The sound of metal clogs shifting and scuffling came from all around me. The ground then shook, making me stumble slightly, all the while I felt nothing but confusion. Support the creativity of authors by visiting the original site for this novel and more. I felt a hand firmly grasp onto my arm. ¡°Sorry for this. I just need something stable to hold on to.¡± In all honesty, her grabbing of my arm nearly caused the opposite effect of what she wanted. I almost completely lost my footing. I mean, seriously, hasn¡¯t she seen any horror movies? Getting grabbed in the darkness is an experience several side characters in films experience, and for mostly all of them, it was their last scene. All I could do at Gabby¡¯s explanation was force a chuckle; hoping to seem confident or at least unbothered. ¡°Y-yeah that¡¯s fine.¡± I failed. The sound of machinery clinking together lasted a few more moments before suddenly growing silent. Then, the lights of the room slowly raised, illuminating the area once more. The sight the two of us saw was shocking to say the least. The previously empty room suddenly gained two new accessories. Big Queen sized beds were in the room, the two being on opposite sides. ¡°Wow. So that guy was serious about us being stuck here.¡± My only response to Gabby¡¯s statement was a silent nod. I couldn¡¯t muster up a single word. I just stared at the beds, before glancing towards her. Gabby¡¯s face was currently between deciding if it wanted to be shocked, angry, or scared. She let go of my arm, separating. ¡°So, I guess we should start searching.¡± I said, before walking up to one of the walls. ¡°Just like that? You don¡¯t want to try¡­ I dunno, calling out to him again?¡± ¡°You can do that if you want," I retorted without looking back. "Given that conversation just now I don¡¯t get the impression he¡¯d bite." Though hearing an indignant huff of frustration from Gabby behind me, I continued my examination. At first, sliding my hands against the wall seemed to be the natural course of action, however, after a second or two of doing so I came to a realization. Something was off with the wall. Even though I could see that I was touching it, the physical sensation wasn¡¯t there. There was no texture to it. ¡°You gotta be kidding me¡­¡± ¡°What is it?¡± Gabby asked, peering over my shoulder. ¡°This wall doesn¡¯t have any distinct texture or features. It feels like I¡¯m touching nothing, so there¡¯s no way to feel out the door.¡± ¡°The hell is that!?¡± Gabby coughed up, her eyebrows slanted in a mixture of confusion. Without waiting on a response, she moved closer to the wall. She, like myself, placed her hand on it, sliding it across. As I stood, arms crossed watching the scene play out, silence filled the white room. A second later, she turned to face me, her left eye twitching ever so slightly. ¡°So, like, what do we do?¡± she asked. ¡°I dunno¡­ Die?¡± ¡°Die¡­.Die¡­. No way!¡± Gabby suddenly shouted, creating a slight echo in the room. I simply gave an apathetic stare at the vocal display. ¡°I have too much to do, in this week alone¡ªnot even mentioning the rest of this month!¡± ¡°Oh yeah? What¡¯s got you so pressed?¡± I questioned, as I slowly traipsed over to one of the Queen sized beds. I plopped down on it. The feeling was exquisite. It was as if my bodywas being enveloped by clouds¡­ ¡°I model, okay? I have several brand deals that I have to make good on by showing off their products. If I¡¯m trapped in this place, not only will I lose those opportunities but the money I was given for the contracts will be refunded¡­¡± Gabby was now pacing back and forth. I followed her path; her eyes wide as she was staring at the ground. She continued to mumble to herself after her explanation, starting to bite at her nails anxiously. I just released a sigh as I shifted to get more comfortable. With my hands rested behind my head I peered up at the ceiling. It was time to think. So far, there are a couple things I know. It seemed my new friend Gabby, has memories and or knows who she is. The question is why don¡¯t I? I had thought getting kidnapped and brought here came with a side dish of amnesia but it seems I was wrong. Also, what was the deal with that whole alien thing L¡¯ Boh was talking about? ¡°...¡± As I continued to stare at the ceiling, in complete silence the only thing filling my ears were the anxious murmurs of my roommate. The more I tried to rationalize the situation, the harder things became to sort out. If only I could recall what I was doing before this, or at least what I¡¯d done in the past week; I may have been able to feel less frustrated. ¡°Hey, Gabby.¡± I called out, however silence was the only response I was given. I raised from my lax position, my gaze falling on her once more. She, like before, was walking in circles, still biting on her nails. ¡°This is really bad¡­ I haven¡¯t taken any jobs in a couple months anyway so I really needed these new gigs. This is really bad, like uber bad. What to do? What to do? What to do? What to¡ª¡± A pillow thrown with moderate force smacked into the side of Gabby¡¯s face, interrupting her monologue. Her gaze became hostile as it shot toward the direction of the attack, an instantaneous reaction. I jolted back slightly, unable to resist the intimidation a furious woman induced. ¡°What was that for!¡± She growled. I raised my hands in front of me, my attempt at peace-making. ¡°I tried calling out to you many times but you didn¡¯t respond.¡± It was technically one time, but I wasn¡¯t going to tell her that. In truth, I simply felt too lazy to get up from my cloud-like haven that was the queen sized bed. ¡°Ugh, fine, what do you want? I¡¯m kinda busy, trying to figure out how to avoid my entire career going up in smoke.¡± ¡°I was going to suggest that you stop panicking.¡± ¡°And what good would that do?¡± She questioned, tilting her head to the side in an irritated manner. ¡°Well, it¡¯s not like you thinking of how to handle your gigs is going to help you escape. You can¡¯t teleport; so how about you just sit down for a moment and take a breather?¡± My suggestion, while coming out somewhat brash because of my increasingly rising temper, seemed to reach Gabby. She opened her mouth, possibly to spout curses at me but paused. She pursed her lips together before slowly walking across the room. This time however, she wasn¡¯t going in a circle; her path was leading her to the other queen sized bed in the room. She fell onto it, releasing a low grumble. I found myself breathing a silent sigh of relief that she offered no further protests. My first impressions of the girl told me she was one to speak her mind, as well as be somewhat of a hothead. It wasn¡¯t clear if the reason she had become more silent was due to her acceptance of the futility in her actions, or being too tired. Either way though, to my surprise the sound of snoring filled the vast room. Confused, I squinted closely, noticing that Gabby was out cold! ¡°That girl¡­¡± I couldn¡¯t even muster the words of disbelief. She, less than five minutes prior, was going on about how she wouldn¡¯t feel comfortable sleeping in the same room with a stranger, just to do exactly that. I mean, she claimed I could have been a creep or murderer! How rude! It didn¡¯t bother me too much though. After all, now that she wasn¡¯t freaking out I could actually focus and think. So, I started sorting out things that I knew. One, L'' Boh seemed to be the one who brought us here, or at least was somewhat related to the culprit. Second, Gabby, my fellow captee has memories from before being in this place unlike me. Third, L¡¯ Boh called us aliens. And¡­ that was it. Sure, our task was to ¡°find the exit¡± or whatever that meant. Since everything was dressed in white in the room, not a single spot minus the creases in the four corners of the space had any distinction from each other. Also, due to the material it was laced in, no part of it felt like anything in particular. I scanned the room, my eyes focused; utilizing 120% of their ocular capabilities and¡­ nothing. ¡°Argh this is ridiculous!¡± I shouted, falling back onto my bed in frustration. As I stared at the ceiling, a sinking feeling wedged its way into my stomach. I don¡¯t know if the proper term would be panic, it was more than likely despair. I don¡¯t know how long I stared at the ceiling. Seconds? Minutes? Hours? I just couldn¡¯t think of a way out of the situation no matter how hard I tried. The snores of Gabby continued to fill the room as I finally caved in. Okay... Honestly, I would be better off going just going to sleep. After all, you can¡¯t be hungry when you¡¯re in dreamland. Even though I caved in to taking a mental break; I wasn¡¯t giving up. That¡¯s an important distinction, you see. It¡¯s more of a strategic retreat. Yeah! ¡­Or maybe I was just coping. Either way, as I felt my eyes slowly closing and my mind slipping away; I was ready. Upon waking I would crack the code and break out of this cursed white room! White Room (2) My eyes slowly opened and I uncontrollably winced. I hadn''t noticed when I first came to my senses inside the room but it was extremely bright. It made sense that in the morning, when waking it would be especially glaring. Wait, morning? I couldn¡¯t accurately say the time of day now that I thought about it. It seemed the room was this constant state of white, and bright, 24/7. I slowly rose up in bed. At the very least, if nothing else was good, the bed was extremely comfortable. Sure, L¡¯ Boh may have brought us here against our will but at least he had good taste in mattresses. Then again, that might have been a vain attempt at coping with the insanity of the situation I found myself in. I raised my arms over my head, stretching. If I had to rate the stretch it would be a decent 7/10, I didn¡¯t bask in the sensation too long though. There were things to accomplish. I hopped out of bed. ¡°Alright Gabby. I didn¡¯t think of anything before sleeping but I think we could figure something¡­ out?¡± Huh? There was no Gabby. I was looking at the opposite side of the room, where Gabby¡¯s bed had been prior and now it was noticeably gone. Also, the girl¡¯s figure was absent. ¡°Gabby?¡± I repeated, rubbing my eyes before opening again and she still wasn¡¯t there. Before my confusion, which was already sky high, could increase, I heard a familiar voice. ¡°Good afternoon my alien.¡± My head quickly whipped to the right, my eyes raising up to the monitor screen. Once again, L¡¯ Boh was filling it. The background seemed to be the same, being a room of white with a desk and computer; but unlike the previous day he had a black button up on. ¡°What¡¯s going on!?¡± I shouted, a mixture of confusion and anxiousness pouring from my mouth. L¡¯ Boh chuckled, a no-good-smirk dressing his face before he responded. ¡°A lot actually. It seems, while you were sleeping so leisurely, your fellow alien decided to take off.¡± ¡°B-but how? There was no way out.¡± The man scoffed, ¡°Well, there clearly is if she was able to leave.¡± Never before had I wanted to punch someone so bad. If it was his tone or simply the situation to begin with, I was beyond irritated. I couldn¡¯t even blame Gabby for her initial outburst the first day we arrived. When someone treated you like you were stupid; irritation was a natural response. It took all I had to respond calmly. ¡°So, what do I need to do?¡± ¡°Just the same thing as last time. Find the exit.¡± ¡°And¡­ how would I do that?¡± L¡¯ Boh released a genuinely disappointed sigh. ¡°Argh, I¡¯ll give you a hint. Stop trying to see with your eyes.¡± ¡°Huh? What do you mean¡ª¡± ¡°Okay, great awesome talk goodbye!!¡± And then, the screen cut to black. Silence filled the vast white room. He really just left didn¡¯t he¡­. ¡°You gotta be kidding me!¡± I yelled. My voice full of anger reverberated, a bi-product of solitude. I couldn¡¯t really say how long I sat in silence after that. After all, there were no clocks, no natural light to display a passage of time; the only thing I had were my ragged breaths. I may have put on the cool guy act earlier, like I wasn¡¯t really bothered, but that was because I wasn¡¯t alone. The fact Gabby was with me meant figuring out a way to escape wouldn¡¯t be a solo project. It meant I would be able to send words outward, and receive vocal feedback in return. However, now that it was just me, the only thing I could do was receive from myself. From now on anything I would say, anything I thought had nothing to separate it. It would all blur together. After however long I sat in silence, I stood. I traced the walls dozens of times; each go-around I tried a different area. In my mind I split up the space in different rows, going over each part slowly and meticulously. Eventually, when that grew old, I returned to my only place of respite; my precious queen sized bed. I fell onto it back first; bouncing up once before lying still. I stared at the ceiling, having little to no thoughts filling my mind. I simply stared upward. Before I could space out, effectively retiring my brain from further function for the foreseeable future, something stuck out as odd to me. Even though there should have been a ceiling above, due to everything being white; I wasn¡¯t actually sure of the distance of it. Was it close? Super far? Even when I stood on the bed, reaching my hand upward it didn¡¯t seem any closer or further to me. It also didn¡¯t help that as far as I knew, even if I was touching it; the sensation wouldn¡¯t register. Then, L¡¯ Boh¡¯s words seemed to echo in my mind. ¡°Stop trying to see with your eyes.¡± I stepped off the bed, my fleet planting themselves onto the floor. Reflecting on L¡¯ Boh¡¯s words was equally confusing as when I heard them initially, but nonetheless I decided to listen; shutting my eyes. Having them open didn¡¯t bring any results anyway. I took a deep breath in, before letting a long exhale out. I must have been standing still, eyes closed, doing nothing but breathing in and out for about a minute, before I felt something. At first, it was like a gnawing feeling, ebbing in my chest. It wasn¡¯t my heartbeat per say, it was¡­ different. I couldn¡¯t quite place the exact word to describe it, but my chest felt full. A sense of peace overcame me. With my eyes closed, and being all alone, I should have felt vulnerable, anxious even, but neither of those things were my current state. If anything, I felt powerful. As if I was in control. Removing this jarring room of white from my direct focus, helped me to take a step back, and recollect myself. The full feeling in my chest, spread out through my whole body. It rose from my chest to the top of my head, and then sank to the soles of my feet. But, it didn¡¯t stop there. That sensation spread out even beyond my body. Though my eyes were closed, I felt like I could see my surroundings, or to be more specific feel them. It was like I was becoming one with the room. I realized it might have been something similar to what bats or dolphins experience, a form of echolocation. However, unlike those animals, which had to emit sound, I could sense everything just by standing where I was. With my eyes open, the room would have appeared to be pure white, with no differences to be gleamed, but with the observative state I was in, it was much more distinct. Besides the monitor placed higher against the wall, I noticed something else: a long rectangular structure. It took me a few seconds to recognize it as a door. But, there was no handle. It appeared to have a singular button on the right side where a traditional handle would have been. This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings. While still having my eyes closed, I turned to my left, taking step after step until I was in front of the structure. I raised my hand to where the button would be, but before pressing I opened my eyes. In front of me, appeared to be the plain white wall, just as it had seemed before I sensed differently. I shut my eyes again, taking a deep inhale before exhaling once more. Once again, I felt like I could properly see in front of me. The door was in the same place, unmoving; my hand was in the proper place to press should I choose to move it forward. My lips curled into a smirk. ¡°Well this is weird. Maybe I am an alien after all.¡± I joked to myself. Then, without further thought, I pressed the door¡¯s button. Instead of it opening like I expected, under where I stood, a hole suddenly opened up. ¡°Wha¡ªarughtsvudsg!¡± Without warning, I slid down the hole, my eyes opening in a mixture of surprise and fear. I was gliding down what I could only hope was a slide of sorts, going extremely fast. It was a dizzying descent down the slide, the sensation of speed and movement intensified by my inability to see anything in the pitch-black tunnel. The seconds stretched on like an eternity, and I began to wonder if I had made a terrible mistake. Panic bubbled up within me as I hurtled through the darkness, throat sore from my continuous screaming. Then, just as suddenly as it had started, the slide came to an abrupt end, depositing me onto a solid surface with a thud. I groaned, disoriented and sore from the rapid descent. When I opened my eyes, I found myself in a place utterly unlike the sterile, white room I had been in before. First of all, there were dozens of voices filling the space. I appeared to be in¡­ a cafeteria? That was the only way to describe it. From the long rectangular tables to short stool-like seats. It was clearly a cafeteria. People filled each table, as some were walking to their own with trays in hand. Several people shot glances toward me, some mistrusting, others merely curious. I raised my hand, giving the most confident wave I could muster. But given the instant break of eye-contact from all in the room I¡¯m guessing it wasn¡¯t much. I released a sigh. With my introduction falling flat, I turned to look at my surroundings. Behind me, was the exit to a slide. That¡¯s where I came from, I thought. However, a sudden panel appeared from inside it, sealing the open hole. Now, I was truly stuck here. The cafeteria was very plain, with basic beige coloring for the walls and oak-like tables. Besides the lack of windows, once again keeping it vague where we were, it was nothing special¡­ As I was casually admiring the woodwork of the tables, at one table in particular a familiar patch of blonde hair caught my eye. In an instant I started making my way toward the table, walking in between tables and passing by people walking. ¡°Hey!¡± I said, grabbing the woman¡¯s shoulder. Turning her around, I was able to see her clearly¡ªit was Gaby. She was around roughly four people, and given the sudden hush at the table it was likely they had been talking. That wasn¡¯t my concern however. ¡°Oh. Astrello¡­ Hey.¡± She let out an awkward chuckle. It was like she hadn¡¯t expected to see me. ¡°You left me!¡± ¡°Okay¡ªlook, you can¡¯t be mad at me. I discovered the door, and was let out fair and square.¡± ¡°Really?¡± Gaby released an indignant huff. ¡°Yeah. I mean, it¡¯s not my fault you were slow to catch on.¡± ¡°The least you could have done was wake me!¡± ¡°Well, I didn¡¯t, and you¡¯re here now so why does that matter!¡± ¡°You know what¡­¡± I paused. It was clear this conversation was going knowhere. I was hoping to at least get an apology or semblance of the impression she felt guilty but no. It was clear she held no such feelings. Also, I started noticing many eyes fixed on me. I was making a scene. I took a deep breath to calm myself before releasing. ¡°Fine. Whatever.¡± And then, I stormed away from the table, not looking back. I wasn¡¯t going to let my emotions get the better of me. In that situation, I would have alerted my other roommate about the escape hatch, but I couldn¡¯t expect anyone to be like me. After all, I didn¡¯t really know who ¡°me¡± even was. I approached what I could only guess was the food line. I fell into it, and while a few people in this line were talkin to each other, most weren¡¯t: appearing uneasy. It was good to know I wasn¡¯t the only one uncomfortable here. After a while of waiting, I eventually stepped up far enough to scan the options. They were¡­ lackluster to say the least. Rice, a singular piece of some kind of meat and an apple. What were they trying to do, starve us? Regardless, I took each option. The way the food was placed was a sort of conveyor belt. There was a tray that was sent out, each having the same options. So far, from what I could see, besides those of us on the outside who were getting food, there was no kind of kitchen staff. I mean, it was possible there was someone behind the wall, operating the conveyor belt but besides that there was no one. ¡°Do we not have to pay for this¡­?¡± I heard someone mutter from behind me. I turned around, seeing a man. He was scrawny, no wider than a twig. He was shorter as well, having brown hair and freckles. We made eye-contact, and just then I realized I had been staring somewhat. To break up the awkwardness I spoke. ¡°Doesn¡¯t look like it. I¡¯m Astrello, what¡¯s your name?¡± I asked, outstretching my hand. ¡°Archie.¡± He said, returning the shake. He then grabbed his own tray and we continued walking. ¡°Isn¡¯t this crazy?¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± He asked. ¡°This whole situation. I mean, you were brought here against your will¡ªright?¡± ¡°Yeah. I don¡¯t remember how though,¡± he answered. We both arrived at a table, this one was a bit close to the food-pick up area. I noticed Gaby seated a few tables away. She was chatting with people at her table, with a smile on her face. It took a decent amount of effort not to shoot daggers her way. I had resigned to let go of the situation anyway. She didn¡¯t owe me any loyalty but it still sucked. ¡°But you do remember stuff before coming here, right?¡± I asked, turning my attention back to Archie. ¡°Yeah. Why wouldn¡¯t I?¡± He asked, taking a bite of his rice. ¡°I don¡¯t.¡± He blinked. ¡°Really?¡± ¡°Yep. It¡¯s pretty strange. I only remember my name.¡± He gave me a thoughtful look. Surprisingly, it didn''t hold doubt in it, he just seemed curious. ¡°Well... have you tried asking anyone else if they¡¯ve experienced the same?¡± ¡°Not really. I''m still getting my bearings honestly¡ª¡± Suddenly, a pained scream erupted through the air. The cafeteria instantly silenced. I turned toward the source of the sound. There was a man standing over another with a blood-soaked fork in his hands. I instinctively flinched at the sight. ¡°W-why did you do that!?¡± The man who was on the ground cried out, sliding back. He was clutching his neck, which had blood leaking from it. The one holding the fork had bright red hair, which was unique to say the least. It had to be dyed, or at least that¡¯s what I thought. The man didn¡¯t look old, probably not a digit over twenty. A manic smile dressed his face. ¡°I just wanted more food. And thank you for supplyinggg,¡± he said, with a little singing tone. Then, as if nothing happened he sat down at the table, grabbing a tray to his left and sliding it over in front of him. He then proceeded to use the bloody fork to scoop the rice with. The sound of his humming along with his occasional bites filled the room, as he seemed pleased with himself. The wounded man whimpered, as he continued to slide away, a few people rose to their feet to help him. In this situation, it was clear no one knew what to do. I almost wished something would have happened, someone calling the guy out, asking why he did what he did, but instead, conversation simply resmed in the cafeteria. I felt a chill run down my spine. What just happened? It was clear some people were uncomfortable, from the gazes they shot toward him, but others seemed unbothered. I turned my attention back to Archie, to ask him if that was weird to him but his face said all I needed to know. He was horrified. ¡°Right?¡± I said, a slight breath of relief leaving my lips. ¡°What just happened, man?¡± ¡°I¡­ don¡¯t know. But whatever that was, I didn¡¯t like it.¡± ¡°Yeah. Same.¡± The wounded man was patched up now, several napkins were wrapped together then used as a sort of bandage for him. Both Archie and I just sat in silence for a while, deep in our minds. But, eventually we too continued to eat, and talk to each other. However, in the back of my mind I had one thought. I have to get out of here. No matter what. Learning about each other ¡°So, what¡¯s your theory?¡± I asked, taking a bite of my rice. ¡°Theory?¡± Archie repeated, tilting his head in confusion. ¡°On what this place is.¡± I clarified, motioning around me using my fork. Though I was ninety-percent sure this place we were eating in was a cafeteria, since there were no windows or clear exit doors, it wasn¡¯t entirely confirmed we were inside of a school. At the very least though, this room had to be modeled after one. ¡°Hmm¡­¡± Archie paused, looking away, his expression thoughtful. Nearby, I noticed a few people moving about in the room. Some were gravitating toward the slide area, where I presumed everyone else was sent through. They seemed to be inspecting it, curious to find out if they could return. Others continued to eat or talk among themselves. I cast occasional glances at the red-haired man across the room. He hummed to himself as he ate, seemingly without a care in the world. Oddly, he sat mostly alone¡ªafter his dramatic fork-stabbing episode, people had edged away, marking him as the ¡°ugly duckling¡± of our little group¡­ or whatever we were. Archie finally looked back at me. ¡°Well, L¡¯ Boh said I was an alien¡­ So, this is some experiment?¡± I turned back to him, nodding slowly. It seemed he didn¡¯t have much extra information. ¡°He said the same to me and my roommate¡­ Do you believe L¡¯ Boh?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± Archie replied, a conflicted expression on his face. I understood his hesitance. It was a crazy concept to grasp. ¡°What did he have you do? To escape your room, I mean.¡± Archie took a slow breath, setting down his fork as he thought back to his own experience. ¡°Well,¡± he began, ¡°it was¡­ strange. There was this sound, almost like a low humming, coming from somewhere in the room. It started to get louder the more I ignored it. At first, I tried to find the source, but the sound just seemed to come from everywhere, surrounding me. It was only when I really listened, you know¡ªlike, let it sort of fill my mind¡ªthat I realized it wasn¡¯t just noise. It was¡­ guiding me.¡± ¡°Guiding you?¡± I echoed, eyebrows raised. ¡°Like how?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know how to explain it,¡± Archie said, looking embarrassed. ¡°But it was like I just knew where the door was, like my body started moving on its own. And when I reached the door, it just opened. But even now, I can¡¯t remember seeing the door until I was already through it. It was like it¡­ materialized only because I believed it was there.¡± I mulled this over, trying to piece together a pattern. ¡°So it¡¯s almost like L¡¯ Boh is messing with our senses, forcing us to rely on instincts or¡­ intuition?¡± ¡°Yeah, exactly!¡± Archie¡¯s face lit up. ¡°He¡¯s testing us. I think he¡¯s trying to see how far he can push us, what we¡¯re capable of under pressure.¡± ¡°Or maybe even beyond pressure,¡± I said, glancing down at my tray as I processed. ¡°If L¡¯ Boh is telling the truth about us being ¡®aliens¡¯¡­ maybe he thinks we have some kind of ability that hasn¡¯t fully awakened yet.¡± We both fell silent, taking in the murmur of voices and the strange humming buzz of the room. ¡°Well, how did you escape your room?¡± Archie asked, breaking the silence. ¡°I had to see without using my eyes,¡± I replied, the words tasting strange as they left my mouth. ¡°It sounds ridiculous, right? But It was like I could feel everything around me. The vibrations in the floor, the layout of the room. I had to trust that there was more to the room than what my eyes were telling me.¡± Archie frowned, intrigued. ¡°And you just¡­ did it?¡± ¡°More like I had to,¡± I said, shrugging. ¡°It was either that or go crazy. I felt like I was in a sensory deprivation chamber, and the only way out was to feel everything around me.¡± ¡°Maybe we all have to find a different way of seeing things,¡± he mused, glancing around the cafeteria again. ¡°If this is an experiment, it¡¯s all about pushing our boundaries.¡± I nodded, and a contemplative silence followed. I took that brief moment to glance across the room: finding Gabby laughing at something one of her tablemates had said. She looked entirely at ease, as if she wasn¡¯t bothered by the strangeness or the danger around us, or maybe she was just putting up a front. Regardless of the truth, I felt a flash of irritation before turning back to Archie, shaking my head slightly. ¡°So, did you¡­ have any roommates?¡± I continued. ¡°I did,¡± he answered, though his expression grew a bit worried. ¡°When that¡­ ¡°test¡± or whatever started, I lost sight of him though. And since then I haven¡¯t seen him make it here yet.¡± A shadow flickered across Archie¡¯s face as he spoke, a subtle flash of worry that made me feel a pang of empathy. I wanted to reassure him, but I couldn¡¯t even reassure myself that all of this was real¡ªor survivable. Before I could respond, a high-pitched crackle interrupted the murmurs of conversation. A voice came over the intercom, startling everyone into silence. It was L¡¯ Boh, his smooth, patronizing tone ringing through the cafeteria. Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site. ¡°Well, hello again, my dear aliens!¡± His voice had that familiar note of condescension that set my teeth on edge. ¡°I hope you¡¯re enjoying your little¡­ gathering. I thought a bit of social time would be enlightening for all of you. You¡¯ll find that knowing who¡¯s around you can be the difference between survival and, well, something far less pleasant.¡± I exchanged a wary look with Archie, who seemed just as unsettled by L¡¯ Boh¡¯s words as I was. ¡°Now,¡± L¡¯ Boh continued, his slow and easy-going tone implying he relished every word. ¡°It¡¯s time for your next lovely test. You will be returning to your roommates, those lucky individuals who make you just a little more¡­ complete. If you don¡¯t have a partner, do wait behind. You¡¯ll soon be paired with another ¡®leftover,¡¯ as you might say. This time, let¡¯s see how well you can work together. Good luck¡ªand goodbye.¡± Just as sudden as he¡¯d started, L¡¯ Boh stopped speaking just as quickly. A moment of eerie silence filled the hall, before everyone burst into motion. From calling the names of each other¡¯s partners to moving about in the cafeteria, aimlessly searching, everyone was preparing. The room turned chaotic, people scattering in all directions as they called out for their roommates. A low murmur of anxious voices swelled, punctuated by laughter, a few nervous yelps, and more than one frustrated shout. I kept my eyes peeled, scanning the room for Gabby, knowing she was somewhere nearby. Archie gave me a quick, sympathetic nod before disappearing into the crowd, presumably to find his missing roommate. I spotted Gabby across the room, already heading my way. She seemed surprisingly calm, threading through the sea of people with ease. When she reached me, she gave a mock salute. ¡°Ready for round two, partner?¡± Her voice was light, but her eyes betrayed a trace of unease. ¡°Let¡¯s get this over with,¡± I replied begrudgingly. Together, we made our way toward the line forming at a wide door that had silently slid open on the far side of the room. People filtered through in pairs, each duo disappearing into the dimly lit corridor beyond. Gabby and I joined the line, the shuffling steps and murmured voices ahead of us blending into a strange symphony of tension. I could feel Gabby¡¯s nervous energy radiating beside me, but she kept her expression carefully neutral. ¡°You were paying attention to what he said, right?¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Gabby replied, turning to me. I stifled a sigh, ¡°He said we would need to work together. Get it? That means no abandoning me this time.¡± She was silent for a while, just staring at me. I returned the look. ¡°Has anyone told you you can be vindictive?¡± She asked, finally breaking the silence. I shrugged, ¡°Who knows. Don¡¯t have any memories to confirm.¡± She squinted, as if she didn¡¯t believe me. I simply gave her a shrug, once again. She sighed, as if she was at her wits end, ¡°I don¡¯t know what you want from me, honestly. I already apologized.¡± Yeah, ¡°apologized¡±, as she put it, was half-assed at best. But, I forced myself to nod along. ¡°True. But seriously, I don¡¯t want to head into whatever this is not being able to trust you.¡± Gabby tilted her head, a more pondering expression touching her features. It was as if I said something strange. ¡°What?¡± I continued. ¡°Well, I want to leave just as much as you, I¡¯m sure. I wouldn¡¯t sabotage you or anything.¡± ¡°But you literally did earlier!¡± Is what I wanted to say. But, maybe it was foolish or naive, but her words came across as genuine. So, I would trust her, just this once. It was finally our turn to step in front of the strange, slidy door. Once we¡¯d done so, after a second or so of delay, it parted. We stepped inside, finding the contents to be a dark and narrow hallway. The door quickly slid to a close behind us. There was no escape. We could only press on. Inside this hallway, the only illumination came from faint lights along the floor, casting strange shadows on the black walls. There was no sound beyond the hum of machinery embedded somewhere in the walls, and each step seemed to echo louder than the last. ¡°This is¡­ creepy,¡± I muttered, glancing at Gabby. ¡°Agreed.¡± The hallway stretched on and on, feeling almost surreal, until we reached another metal door at the end. When it finally slid open, we found ourselves staring at a familiar white room¡ªthe same one we¡¯d woken up in, the first time we had entered this strange place. ¡°What the¡­¡± I trailed off, disoriented. Gabby¡¯s expression hardened. ¡°No way we just walked back to the same room.¡± We took a few cautious steps inside, scanning the sterile white walls and the familiar beds. I turned, reaching for the door, but it swung shut behind us, clicking into place with an almost mocking finality. ¡°Great,¡± Gabby muttered. ¡°Looks like we¡¯re stuck for now.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s try the ¡®close your eyes¡¯ method again,¡± I suggested, thinking back to our escape from the original rooms. ¡°Maybe there¡¯s another hidden door or¡­ something.¡± Gabby rolled her eyes but joined me, and we stood in silence, searching for any hint of an exit. But there was nothing¡ªno hidden passage, no whispers of an opening. Just a thick, suffocating silence. When we opened our eyes again, I noticed the two beds against one wall. They were exactly like the ones from our original rooms, arranged just so, as though L¡¯ Boh wanted us to feel we¡¯d never left. ¡°Perfect,¡± Gabby muttered sarcastically, taking a seat on one of the beds. ¡°Guess we¡¯re in for the long haul.¡± I sat down on the other bed, my gaze drifting toward the ceiling as the minutes dragged on, blending into an hour¡ªor maybe more. Just as I started wondering if L¡¯ Boh had forgotten about us, the black monitor above flashed, and that familiar irritating face was displayed. ¡°Welcome back, Astrello and Gabby,¡± L¡¯ Boh said, his voice oily and smug. ¡°The next stage of your evolution is about to begin.¡± Gabby¡¯s eyes narrowed, her jaw tightening as she stared up at the screen. ¡°To leave,¡± L¡¯ Boh continued, ¡°is quite simple. You¡¯ll be staying here together¡­ indefinitely. You¡¯ll find your way out only when you truly understand the meaning of ¡®cooperation¡¯ and¡ªlet¡¯s say¡ªmutual appreciation.¡± Gabby let out a long, irritated sigh, flopping back onto the bed. ¡°He really loves his power trips, doesn¡¯t he?¡± ¡°Oh, and one more thing,¡± L¡¯ Boh added, a cold chuckle in his tone. ¡°The longer you take, the¡­ less pleasant this room will become. I suggest you take this very seriously. Good luck.¡± The monitor clicked off, plunging us back into silence. Gabby cast me a sideways look, one eyebrow arched. ¡°So, how do you want to do this?¡± I rubbed my temples, trying to think. ¡°I guess we start by figuring out what he wants us to do. We both know he¡¯s not going to make this easy on us.¡± ¡°No kidding,¡± Gabby replied, folding her arms. ¡°And I have a feeling this is just the beginning.¡± Learning about each other (2) It had been several minutes since L¡¯ Boh gave his initial ¡°instructions¡±, if you could even call it that. During that time, I was laying on my bed, my gaze drifting toward the ceiling. Even though it had been a single time before this that I was inside this strange white room, it wasn¡¯t too bad. Maybe it was that it was a familiar place instead of a foreign one, or it being the first conscious moment I could remember that made it feel comforting. However, that confort was a falsehood. This was essentially a prison, after all. If they didn¡¯t find the condition or way out, they would be stuck here. The only sound in the room was the subtle thump of Gabby¡¯s foot tapping against the floor. She was clearly agitated by the absurdity of our situation, as much as she was trying to rain it in. ¡°We need a plan,¡± she said, ¡°L¡¯ Boh¡¯s not just going to let us sit here until we magically figure out some puzzle. He¡¯s testing us for something specific.¡± I nodded, gaze still fixed toward the ceiling as my mind raced through all the possibilities. ¡°What does cooperation even look like in this twisted place? We barely know each other.¡± ¡°That¡¯s the point, right?¡± Gabby countered. ¡°We¡¯re supposed to learn to work together. Maybe he wants us to understand each other¡¯s strengths or weaknesses.¡± ¡°Okay, but how do we even start?¡± I asked, glancing over to look at her. ¡°There¡¯s nothing here but us.¡± ¡°Maybe we need to share our stories,¡± she suggested, looking at me intently. I rose, sitting upright in my bed now, ¡°You really think that¡¯s it?¡± ¡°Do you have a better idea?¡± ¡°...¡± ¡°Thought so.¡± ¡°Fine,¡± I said. ¡°How about you go first?¡± ¡°Okay. What do you want to know?¡± she replied. I pondered for a moment before saying, ¡°You said you were a model. Why?¡± There was a noticeable pause on her face at the question. ¡°Why?¡± ¡°Yeah. Like what¡¯s your reason. Everyone does things for something, right?¡± Gabby stared at me for a long moment, tapping her foot thoughtfully before letting out a sigh. ¡°I don¡¯t know if it was ever some grand, noble reason,¡± she said slowly. ¡°I think it started out as a way to be seen, to¡­ I don¡¯t know, make people notice me.¡± I raised an eyebrow. ¡°That¡¯s it? Just¡­ to be seen?¡± She shook her head, frowning a little. ¡°It sounds shallow, I know. But it¡¯s not exactly that simple. Being noticed, it¡¯s¡ªit¡¯s not about the attention, exactly. It¡¯s more like... trying to prove something to myself. Like if I could get everyone else to believe in me, I might believe in myself too.¡± I leaned forward, resting my elbows on my knees. ¡°So, modeling was a way to find¡­ validation?¡± ¡°Maybe. Or at least to feel like I had some kind of worth,¡± she admitted, her tone softer. ¡°People always talk about models as if we¡¯re shallow or obsessed with looks. But for me, it was more than that. It was about control, you know? A way to show that I could control how people saw me, even if I couldn¡¯t control how I saw myself.¡± I mulled over her words, surprised by the vulnerability she was revealing. ¡°Interesting,¡± I murmured. ¡°I guess everyone has their reasons for doing what they do.¡± ¡°What about you?¡± she asked, turning the question back on me. ¡°What did you do before¡­ well, before all of this?¡± I opened my mouth to answer, but no words came. I didn¡¯t have an answer¡ªnot really. I had fragments, scattered and incomplete, but nothing solid to cling to. The emptiness settled around me, thick and uncomfortable. ¡°I¡­ don¡¯t know,¡± I finally admitted. ¡°I don¡¯t remember anything about my life before this.¡± Gabby¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly. ¡°You don¡¯t remember anything at all?¡± I shrugged, feeling a twinge of frustration at her skepticism. ¡°I have no reason to lie. I just¡­ don¡¯t remember. It¡¯s all blank, like my mind¡¯s been scrubbed clean or something.¡± Her gaze softened, and she nodded, though her expression remained cautious. ¡°I get it. It¡¯s just hard to imagine not knowing who you were before this. That must be¡­ terrifying.¡± ¡°It¡¯s strange,¡± I replied, surprised by how much that confession eased something inside me. ¡°In a way, it feels like it¡¯s harder to be scared of what you can¡¯t remember. I don¡¯t know if that makes sense.¡± She tilted her head, studying me thoughtfully. ¡°I think it does. You don¡¯t have memories to hold onto or miss, so it¡¯s like you¡¯re just¡­ floating here, without any ties.¡± ¡°Exactly.¡± I let out a breath, glancing around the room. ¡°But that¡¯s also why this feels so¡­ empty. If I don¡¯t even know who I was, how am I supposed to ¡®cooperate¡¯ or be any good at this test he¡¯s putting us through?¡± Gabby let out a sigh of her own, lying back on her bed and staring up at the ceiling. The minutes ticked by in silence, stretching longer and longer as we both stewed in our thoughts. Nothing in the room had changed, no clue or revelation had appeared, and we were no closer to an escape than we¡¯d been when we¡¯d first walked in. ¡°It¡¯s been a while since L¡¯ Boh gave his instructions,¡± I muttered, breaking the quiet. ¡°Do you think this is just part of the test? Waiting?¡± Gabby tapped her foot impatiently. ¡°Maybe, but I doubt we¡¯re supposed to just sit here and meditate. He¡¯s testing us for something specific. Cooperation, right? So, what exactly are we supposed to be doing to prove we can work together?¡± I shifted my gaze back to the ceiling, trying to make sense of it. ¡°That¡¯s the problem, isn¡¯t it? What does cooperation look like in a place like this? We barely know each other.¡± She nodded, her expression hardening with determination. ¡°And that¡¯s probably the point. He wants us to figure each other out, to understand how we work¡ªour strengths, weaknesses, whatever it takes to get us out of here.¡± ¡°So, what, we are supposed to talk about our likes and dislikes?¡± I asked, chuckling. ¡°What is this, a first date?¡± Gabby laughed, a short, dry sound. ¡°Feels more like a really weird therapy session, but yeah, maybe that¡¯s what he wants. For us to spill our guts about every little thing, see if we¡¯re even capable of connecting.¡± She shrugged, her face softening a little. ¡°Maybe that¡¯s what cooperation means here. Not just, you know, working together, but actually understanding each other.¡± Find this and other great novels on the author''s preferred platform. Support original creators! I looked at her, feeling the weight of her words. This wasn¡¯t just a test of cooperation¡ªit was about trust, too. Whatever L¡¯ Boh¡¯s intentions, it was clear he didn¡¯t want us just going through the motions. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll play along,¡± I said, leaning back. ¡°So, let¡¯s see. You asked what I did before this place, but since I don¡¯t have memories, that¡¯s off the table. I guess I¡¯ll tell you what I feel.¡± I paused, running a hand through my hair, surprised at how much it had been bothering me¡ªthe way everything felt intangible, like I wasn¡¯t real without those memories. ¡°Go on,¡± Gabby urged, her tone softer than before. ¡°It¡¯s like¡­ I feel like I should know things. Like, I can talk about concepts, I can tell you about random stuff¡ªphysics, history, whatever comes to mind. But when I try to recall something personal, there¡¯s just this¡­ emptiness. I don¡¯t know what it¡¯s like to miss people, or places, or anything. And that feels wrong. Like I¡¯m not a real person.¡± Gabby watched me intently, her eyes searching my face for something. ¡°It¡¯s like you¡¯re missing your own foundation. You¡¯re here, but there¡¯s nothing behind you, no past to give you a sense of who you are.¡± ¡°Exactly. I can¡¯t imagine what it¡¯s like to know what you¡¯re missing, but not having anything to miss isn¡¯t much better.¡± I shook my head, almost laughing at how strange it all sounded. ¡°It¡¯s kind of funny. I want to remember so I can feel¡­ grounded. But at the same time, I¡¯m terrified of what I¡¯ll find.¡± ¡°Why?¡± she asked. ¡°I don¡¯t know. I guess it¡¯s the fear that whatever I was, whoever I was, won¡¯t live up to the person I want to be,¡± I admitted, my voice barely above a whisper. ¡°And if I turn out to be¡­ unworthy, or cruel, or weak, then maybe it¡¯s better not to remember.¡± Images of the scarlet haired man flashed through my mind. He was cruel. I wondered, who had he been before getting dragged here? It wouldn¡¯t have been a civil servant that was for sure. But, for all I know, I¡¯m not much better. Heck, I could even be worse. It was just too hard to tell at this point¡­ Gabby nodded slowly, her gaze thoughtful. ¡°Maybe that¡¯s why L¡¯ Boh picked you for this. Maybe he wants to see if you¡¯re willing to confront that fear. That would fit his style, from what I¡¯ve seen.¡± We sat there in silence, the weight of our shared vulnerability thickening the air. It was uncomfortable but strangely comforting, too, like we were beginning to break down the walls L¡¯ Boh had put up between us. ¡°So,¡± she said finally, ¡°if this is part of the test, where does that leave us? We¡¯ve talked, we¡¯ve shared some stuff, but we¡¯re still here. What else could he possibly want from us?¡± ¡°Maybe he wants us to prove we can trust each other.¡± I glanced over at her. ¡°You know, actually trust.¡± She tilted her head, considering that. ¡°Maybe. But how do you prove trust in a place with nothing to act on? We¡¯re stuck in a box with no clues and no real stakes¡ªwhat are we supposed to trust each other with?¡± ¡°That¡¯s the problem, isn¡¯t it?¡± I muttered, frustrated. ¡°We don¡¯t know what he wants or what ¡®winning¡¯ looks like. For all we know, there isn¡¯t even an escape. Maybe he¡¯s watching to see what we¡¯ll do if there¡¯s no way out.¡± The room seemed even quieter after that, the sterile white walls closing in around us. Gabby sighed and lay back on her bed, looking up at the ceiling. ¡°Maybe we¡¯re overthinking it,¡± she said, voice barely above a whisper. ¡°Maybe he just wants us to be here, in this exact moment, no pasts or futures. Just¡­ here.¡± A strange thought struck me. ¡°Maybe that¡¯s it. Maybe he wants to see if we can let go of everything and just accept¡­ this.¡± Gabby looked over at me, a slight smile tugging at her lips. ¡°That would be the ultimate irony, wouldn¡¯t it? Testing us on cooperation and connection, only to force us to accept being trapped with ourselves.¡± We shared a quiet laugh, the tension easing for a moment. There was something oddly freeing about admitting we might not have control over the situation¡ªthat we were, in a way, just as helpless as we felt. In the stillness that followed, we both lapsed into silence, waiting for something to happen, for the room to change, for any sign from L¡¯ Boh that we¡¯d passed whatever obscure test he¡¯d set for us. But nothing happened. The walls remained blank, the silence deepening as we sat there, side by side, unsure of what came next. ¡°Alright,¡± Gabby said, breaking the silence. ¡°Let¡¯s play a word game. If we¡¯re stuck here, might as well keep my brain from rotting.¡± ¡°A word game?¡± I raised an eyebrow. ¡°Like¡­ I say a word, then you say a word related to it, and we go back and forth until one of us messes up?¡± ¡°Exactly.¡± She smirked. ¡°Think you can keep up?¡± I shrugged. ¡°Guess we¡¯ll find out.¡± We started slowly, tossing back simple words like ¡°sun¡± and ¡°moon,¡± ¡°fire¡± and ¡°water,¡± ¡°rock¡± and ¡°paper.¡± The game picked up pace, each of us trying to outwit the other with increasingly obscure connections. ¡°Desert,¡± I said, thinking I had her stumped. ¡°Camel,¡± she replied smoothly. ¡°Thirst,¡± I countered, as quickly as I could. ¡°Oasis.¡± ¡°Mirage.¡± She paused, her face scrunching up as she tried to think of a response, but after a few seconds, she groaned in defeat. ¡°Ugh, fine. I can¡¯t believe I just lost to a guy who doesn¡¯t even remember what he had for breakfast last week.¡± I grinned, leaning back in my bed with exaggerated smugness. ¡°Guess I¡¯m sharper than I look, huh?¡± She rolled her eyes, ¡°Don¡¯t get too cocky.¡± We both laughed, and for a moment, I felt something close to normal. Maybe it was the forced simplicity of the game or the ridiculousness of our predicament, but whatever it was, it lightened the atmosphere between us. Time, though¡­ time was impossible to gauge in this room. It could¡¯ve been an hour, or maybe several. The walls gave us no hints, and the sterile light that filled the space never shifted, making everything blur together. We talked more, our conversations drifting between light topics and heavier, more personal ones. Eventually, though, even conversation became exhausting, and the weight of the uncertainty started to pull us under. When we could keep our eyes open no longer, we each lay back, letting the silence take over as we drifted into uneasy sleep. I awoke to Gabby nudging me. ¡°Hey, wake up,¡± she said, a hint of excitement in her voice. ¡°Look.¡± My eyes flickered open, and I saw it¡ªa door, wide open, leading out of the room. We stared at it, almost too stunned to move. ¡°We¡­ we can leave?¡± I asked, half-disbelieving. Gabby looked equally surprised. ¡°Apparently.¡± We both sat there, motionless, just staring at the open doorway as if it were some strange mirage. Minutes ticked by, neither of us moving. It was almost comical, the way we stayed rooted in place, unsure if it was a trick. Then, L¡¯ Boh¡¯s face appeared on the monitor on the wall, his expression uncharacteristically exasperated. ¡°Well? Are you two going to sit there all day, or are you actually going to leave? The door¡¯s open.¡± Gabby shrugged, giving the camera a mischievous grin. ¡°I don¡¯t know. We¡¯ve actually gotten pretty comfortable here. Maybe we¡¯ll stay a little longer.¡± I smirked, joining in on the act. ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s got everything we need: walls, a ceiling, some pretty decent lighting¡­ I could get used to it.¡± L¡¯ Boh¡¯s mouth twitched. ¡°This is not a hotel. The test is over. Go. Walk through the door.¡± We exchanged glances, both of us barely suppressing laughter. Gabby leaned back, folding her arms. ¡°Are you sure, though? Because I feel like you still owe us an explanation. What was the point of all this?¡± L¡¯ Boh let out a heavy sigh, pinching the bridge of his nose. ¡°Fine. If it¡¯ll get you to leave already.¡± He looked back at us with his usual unnerving calm. ¡°The point was simple: I wanted to see if you could actually understand each other. Trust each other, maybe even rely on each other, despite your differences. Cooperation isn¡¯t just about what you can do for each other¡ªit¡¯s about seeing someone else¡¯s truth.¡± Gabby raised an eyebrow. ¡°So, this was all some kind of¡­ team-building exercise?¡± ¡°Of sorts,¡± L¡¯ Boh replied, his voice laced with impatience. ¡°I needed to know that you could find common ground. That you could connect, even when faced with nothing but your own insecurities and unknowns.¡± I glanced at Gabby, who was nodding slowly, taking it all in. She turned back to the monitor, her expression more serious now. ¡°And what about him?¡± She gestured to me. ¡°What about his missing memories?¡± L¡¯ Boh¡¯s expression softened, almost imperceptibly. ¡°That¡­ is something he¡¯ll have to discover in time. But for now, the two of you have proven yourselves. That¡¯s all you need to know.¡± His usual smirk returned, faint but unmistakable. ¡°Now, get out of here before I change my mind.¡± Gabby looked at me, her lips curving into a small smile. ¡°Well, partner, looks like we passed the test.¡± I nodded, feeling a strange mix of relief and trepidation. ¡°Guess we did. Ready to see what¡¯s next?¡± With one last look at the stark white room that had, oddly enough, become familiar, we walked toward the door, stepping out into whatever waited beyond. Learning about each other (3) I squinted down the long, dark hallway, trying to make out what was lurking in the shadows. ¡°You know¡­ we could still turn back,¡± I muttered, my voice barely above a whisper. Gabby shot me an incredulous look. ¡°Sure. I¡¯m sure L¡¯ Boh would just love that.¡± I shrugged, though something about the thick shadows ahead made my stomach twist. The hallway stretched forward like an endless void, and as we moved cautiously toward it, a pair of sharp yellow eyes appeared, glowing like embers against the darkness. The eyes narrowed, and a low, sinister hiss echoed through the air. I took a step back as a dark shape materialized¡ªa hulking, muscular body, low to the ground, slinking closer. A panther. ¡°Oh, come on,¡± Gabby muttered, her voice barely audible over the creature¡¯s deep, rhythmic growl. She backed up instinctively, pressing against the wall. ¡°This has to be payback. I knew we shouldn¡¯t have messed with him. L¡¯ Boh probably thinks this is hilarious.¡± I swallowed hard, stepping between her and the panther¡¯s gaze. ¡°Gabby,¡± I said, voice tense, ¡°try to find a way back inside. Now.¡± She spun around, fingers fumbling along the wall as she searched frantically for any sort of handle or switch. ¡°It¡¯s locked! There¡¯s no way to open it from this side!¡± Her voice cracked with panic. The panther prowled closer, its massive paws landing silently on the cold floor, each step somehow amplifying the chill running down my spine. Its eyes were locked on me now, intense and unblinking. Then, with a low, snarling growl, it lowered its head and prepared to strike. The panther lunged, a powerful, terrifying leap, jaws open wide, aiming right for my neck. I jumped forward, planting myself between it and Gabby, hands raised instinctively as if I could somehow stop it. I barely had time to breathe as its gaping maw rushed toward me¡ª And then¡­ it passed right through. I staggered, blinking in disbelief. The hallway was empty. The panther, the glowing eyes, the teeth¡ªgone. My face burned with embarrassment as I realized what had happened. ¡°You¡¯ve got to be kidding me¡­¡± Gabby¡¯s expression morphed from shock to fury in record time. ¡°A hologram? Seriously? You¡ª¡± She punched my arm, and I winced. ¡°You gave me a heart attack for a hologram!¡± ¡°Hey, I didn¡¯t know either!¡± I protested, rubbing my arm. ¡°How was I supposed to know it wasn¡¯t real?¡± She glared at me, arms crossed tightly over her chest. ¡°I can only imagine L¡¯ Boh sitting in some control room, laughing his head off.¡± I gritted my teeth, picturing it too. ¡°Oh, he¡¯s probably loving this. But if it¡¯s the last thing I do, I¡¯m punching him.¡± We both stood there in a huff, and after a moment, Gabby let out a reluctant chuckle. I couldn¡¯t help but laugh too. We were a mess. We continued down the hallway, sticking close together, both of us still on edge. When we reached a new door at the end, I gestured toward it, giving her a grin. ¡°Ladies first.¡± She raised an eyebrow, folding her arms. ¡°Why do I have to go first?¡± I tried to look smug. ¡°Uh, maybe because I just saved your life?¡± She rolled her eyes. ¡°It was a hologram. There was nothing to ¡®save¡¯ me from.¡± ¡°Yeah, but we didn¡¯t know that,¡± I countered. ¡°So technically, I still risked my life. So¡­ you owe me.¡± She sighed, shaking her head. ¡°Fine,¡± she muttered, reluctantly reaching for the door. She twisted the handle, and together we took a deep breath as we stepped inside. To both of our surprise, the door revealed another hallway. ¡°Great,¡± Gabby said sarcastically. ¡°Just awesome!¡± We reluctantly made our way inside. As we walked, the quiet of the hallway amplified our footsteps. The walls were lined with identical doors, each one shut tight, with small, brass numbers that gave no hint of what lay behind them. It was eerily silent, and I couldn¡¯t shake the feeling that we were being watched¡ªor maybe even judged. ¡°You think this is still part of our ¡®cooperation¡¯ test?¡± Gabby asked, echoing my thoughts. ¡°Could be,¡± I replied. ¡°Or it could just be L¡¯ Boh messing with us. He seems like the type who enjoys watching people squirm.¡± She didn¡¯t respond, and we kept moving, the hallway stretching on longer than seemed possible. There was no sign of an end, no windows, no doors that looked any different from the others. And then, without warning, the lights flickered and went out. I stopped, straining to see anything in the sudden darkness. ¡°Gabby?¡± ¡°I¡¯m here,¡± she said, her voice tense. ¡°Did you¡ª?¡± Before she could finish, a soft, ambient glow began to fill the hallway. It wasn¡¯t coming from the lights above us, but from the doors themselves, as if they were somehow alive, pulsing with a faint, otherworldly energy. One door, a few feet ahead of us, glowed brighter than the others. It stood out, beckoning, and as we approached, the number on it became clearer: Room 13. ¡°Well, that¡¯s not ominous at all,¡± Gabby said, trying to sound flippant, but I could hear the edge in her voice. We both stood there for a moment, and as I turned, to ask if she would kindly open this door as well, as if reading my mind she said¡ª ¡°No way. It¡¯s your turn.¡± I released a defeated sigh. I stepped closer, my hand reaching for the knob. ¡°Ready?¡± ¡°As ready as I¡¯ll ever be.¡± The door opened smoothly, revealing a room bathed in a soft, golden light. It was a stark contrast to the cold, impersonal spaces we¡¯d seen so far. The room was small but cozy, with a plush armchair in the corner, a coffee table with a steaming cup on it, and a large, ornate mirror on the wall opposite the door. We exchanged a glance, and I stepped inside first, half-expecting something to leap out at us. But nothing did. The room was quiet, peaceful even. The only sound was the faint hum of some unseen mechanism. Gabby followed, her eyes scanning the room warily. ¡°This is¡­ nice? I don¡¯t get it.¡± I shrugged, equally puzzled. ¡°Maybe it¡¯s part of the test. Like a safe room or something.¡± I walked over to the coffee table, the cup¡¯s steam curling lazily in the air. ¡°Oh, that¡¯s my favorite coffee.¡± Gabby muttered, a smile creeping onto her face. She walked over, picking up the cup. She took in a deep whiff of the fragrance. I watched her, confused momentarily. As she lifted to take a sip I lunged, slapping it out of her hand. The cup fell, crashing against the ground; its darkneed contents spilling onto the carpet. ¡°What was that for?¡± She hissed, flustered. ¡°You trying to drink that! You don¡¯t know if that¡¯s safe.¡± I replied, not backing down. ¡°What are you¡­¡± Gabby paused. For a moment, her expression told of anger, but the next it was vague confusion. It was as if she¡¯d just realized the error she had made. However, I had the impression she didn¡¯t realize it until now; as if she¡¯d been in a daze. ¡°Why did I blindly try to drink that¡­?¡± It seemed even she thought it was strange. I let out a sigh, running my hand through my hair as I scanned the room. ¡°It¡¯s fine¡­ Just be more aware, next time. ¡°...Okay.¡± She relented. With that handled, I scanned the room myself. I couldn¡¯t find anything of note inside the room. The only thing that seemed remotely interesting was the ornate mirror attached to the wall. So, I walked over to it; Gabby followed from behind. Gabby approached the mirror, peering into it. ¡°There¡¯s something weird about this mirror¡­¡± Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. I joined her, looking into the glass. Our reflections stared back at us, but the room in the reflection was different¡ªdarker, with shadows pooling in the corners. And behind us, in the mirror, the door we had just entered through was gone. ¡°What the¡ª¡± I spun around, but the door was still there, solid and real. Gabby¡¯s breath hitched. ¡°This doesn¡¯t make sense. In the mirror¡­ look.¡± I turned back to the mirror, and my blood ran cold. Our reflections were no longer mimicking our movements. Instead, they were staring directly at us, their eyes dark and unblinking. And then, slowly, my reflection grinned¡ªa wide, unnatural smile that sent a chill down my spine. ¡°What the hell is this?¡± I whispered, backing away from the mirror. Gabby¡¯s reflection followed suit, her mirrored self stepping closer, pressing its hands against the glass as if trying to break through. ¡°We need to get out of here,¡± Gabby said, her voice trembling. But before we could move, the mirror rippled like water, distorting the images until they were barely recognizable. The reflections wavered, and then the glass went black, leaving us staring at our own pale, terrified faces once more. Silence hung in the air as we both stood there, rooted to the spot. Finally, Gabby spoke, her voice barely above a whisper. ¡°What do you think it means?¡± I shook my head, feeling a deep unease settling in my chest. ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡± Unfortunately, that¡¯s all that I could say. That was just too freaky and strange. ¡°Hello my aliens!¡± A voice suddenly rang out. I quickly registered that it belonged to L¡¯ Boh. His voice was very distinct. In the corner of the room was a speaker. That¡¯s where he must have been talking from. ¡°What do you want now?¡± Gabby barked, demanding an answer. ¡°I think you two are quite entertaining folks. So, I wanted to be upfront with you.¡± He answered. As soon as those words left his lips, from vents up above, a red gas-like mist sprayed out. ¡°You will not have the best time,¡± L¡¯ Boh finished. ¡°Good luck,¡± he said, the crackle of the speaker going off. I instinctively covered my mouth, glancing over at Gabby, who was doing the same. The gas was thick and suffocating, and I could feel it seeping into my lungs. Panic shot through me as I stumbled backward, trying to escape the mist. ¡°What is this?¡± I gasped, my heart racing. ¡°I don¡¯t know!¡± Gabby wheezed, her eyes wide with fear. ¡°We have to get out of here!¡± I turned to the door, hoping to escape, but it felt like the gas was closing in on us, pushing against our bodies as if it had a mind of its own. I grabbed a nearby chair, desperate to find a way out, and slammed it against the door with all my strength. The sound echoed in the small room, but the door didn¡¯t budge. I hit it again, adrenaline pumping, my thoughts spiraling into chaos. ¡°Come on!¡± I shouted, frustration boiling over. I could feel the gas wrapping around me, heavy and insistent. ¡°We have to¡ª¡± Suddenly, the chair broke under the pressure of my assault, splintering against the door. The pieces fell around me, and I stumbled backward, gasping for breath as darkness began to close in. Gabby grabbed my arm, trying to pull me away from the mist, but I could feel my consciousness slipping. ¡°We need to get out!¡± she cried, but the words felt far away. My vision blurred, and I felt my knees give out beneath me. The last thing I remembered was the sound of Gabby¡¯s voice fading into silence, then everything went dark. I woke up with a start, my heart pounding in my chest. Panic surged through me as I realized I was bound to a chair, unable to move. I was on some kind of massive platform, high above a crowd of people I didn¡¯t recognize. The room was dimly lit, shadows dancing around me, and my stomach twisted with fear. It was impossibly large now, enough to accommodate a number of people that I couldn¡¯t spot the end of. ¡°Gabby!¡± I shouted, but my voice echoed back at me in the eerie silence. She wasn¡¯t here. I was alone. A figure stepped forward from the shadows, wearing a black hood over their face. ¡°Ah, our bad little alien has finally awakened,¡± they crooned, their voice dripping with mockery. I struggled against my restraints, confused and terrified. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± I demanded, my voice trembling. ¡°Where is Gabby?¡± The executioner leaned closer, their voice a menacing whisper. ¡°You don¡¯t need to worry about her. You¡¯re the star of the show now.¡± My heart raced as the crowd began to murmur, their faces shifting in the dim light. I couldn¡¯t see them clearly, but something felt very wrong. ¡°What do you mean?¡± I asked, panic rising in my throat. ¡°They¡¯re here to see you pay for your sins,¡± the executioner said, gesturing toward the people. ¡°Let the bidding begin!¡± ¡°I want his left eye!¡± ¡°I''ll take his femur! Funny to see him struggle to walk!¡± ¡°I call dibs on his left rib!¡± What? I shook my head in disbelief as the crowd began to chant, their voices rising like a tide, each person calling for a distinct and crucial body part. A wave of terror crashed over me. ¡°No! You can¡¯t do this!¡± I screamed, pulling against my restraints, trying to shake the chair. I could feel sweat dripping down my back, the panic clawing at my insides. As I thrashed, I managed to tip the chair just enough that it fell over, crashing to the ground. The impact jolted through me, and I scrambled to get back on my feet, but my bearings were off. I could hear the footsteps approaching, an impossible number of them, closing in from all sides until they abruptly stopped. ¡°Don¡¯t try to escape!¡± the executioner shouted, their voice booming in the chaos. I looked up, terror flooding my veins as I saw the crowd surrounding me, their faces twisted in grotesque expressions. ¡°What¡¯s happening to me?¡± I gasped, breathless and afraid. ¡°The price for your sins,¡± the executioner said, pointing toward the crowd. ¡°What sins?¡± I shouted, my voice cracking with fear. ¡°What are you talking about?¡± The executioner¡¯s voice turned cold. ¡°The crime of killing all of them.¡± I looked up, confusion flooding my mind. ¡°What? No! I didn¡¯t¡ª¡± But before I could finish my protest, the crowd began to speak, one by one. ¡°You killed me!¡± said a woman with a deep gash across her throat. ¡°I was innocent!¡± shouted a man missing an arm. ¡°You took my life!¡± came the voice of a boy with hollow eyes and a twisted smile. They all echoed the same accusation, their voices blending into a terrifying chorus. I shook my head, unable to grasp the reality unfolding before me. ¡°I didn¡¯t do anything! I don¡¯t even remember! I¡¯m not a killer!¡± ¡°But you killed me, mister,¡± a young girl said. In her hands was a torn up teddy doll. ¡°You killed me too,¡± an older man with a cane stated. Half of his face was missing, revealing his beating brain. ¡°And me!¡± A woman, likely in her late thirties said. She was missing both of her arms and her left eye. ¡°And me!¡± Another voice cut in. At this point, I was surrounded. I couldn¡¯t look at their faces, my chest just hurt too much and there was an impossible ringing in my head. My gaze was lowered to the floor, as I couldn¡¯t look at their faces any longer, but even so I saw endless feet in my vision. I was boxed in. ¡°Oh, he killed you?¡± ¡°Yeah! He killed me as well!¡± ¡°Wow!¡± ¡°And me!¡± ¡°And me!¡± ¡°And me!¡± ¡°And me!¡± The voices sounded like thousands of people, if not millions, as they all chanted together. ¡°And me! And me! And me! And me! And me! And me! And me! And me! And me! And me! And me! And me! And me! And me! And me! And me! And me! And me! And me! And me! And me! And me! And me! And me! And me! And me! And me! And me! And me! And me! And me! And me! And me! And me! And me! And me! And me! And me! And me! And me! And me! And me! And me! And me! And me! And me! And me! And me! And me! And me! And me! And me! And me! And me! And me! And me! And me! And me! And me! And me! And me! And me! And me! And me! And me! And me! And me! And me! And me! And me! And me! And me! And me! And me! And me! And me! And me! And me! And me! And me! And me! And me! And me! And me! And me! And me! And me! And me! And me! And me! And me! And me! And me! And me! And me! And me! And me! And me! And me! And me! And me! And me! And me! And me! And me! And me! And me! And me! And me! And me! And me! And me! And me! And me! And me! And me! And me! And me! And me! And me! And me! And me! And me! And me! And me! And me! And me! And me! And me! And me! And me! And me! And me! And me! And me! And me! And me! And me! And me! And me! And me! And me! And me! And me! And me! And me! And me! And me! And me! And me! And me! And me! And me! And me!¡± In that moment, instinct took over. I turned and bolted, adrenaline flooding my system. I had to escape. I could hear the sound of footsteps behind me, the crowd''s relentless chants morphing into a singular roar, echoing off the walls. ¡°And me! And me! And me!¡± The voices were everywhere, a deafening tide pushing me forward. I ran, my feet pounding against the cold, hard floor, desperation fueling my every step. I had to get away from the executioner, from this place of judgment and pain. I dashed through the dimly lit space, weaving between shadows and fading faces. I could feel their presence closing in behind me, the echo of their cries following me like a shadow. Panic gripped my chest as I pushed myself harder, faster. ¡°Stop!¡± they yelled, their voices blending into one terrifying cacophony. ¡°You can¡¯t escape!¡± But I couldn¡¯t stop. I couldn¡¯t let them catch me. I ran through corridors that twisted and turned, my breath coming in ragged gasps. Each step felt heavier than the last, yet I pushed on, the darkness consuming me but my will to survive propelling me forward. The walls blurred as I sprinted, fear clawing at my insides, the whispers of the crowd echoing in my ears. ¡°You killed us! You killed us!¡± The relentless chants surged, drowning me in guilt, despair, and confusion. I glanced back, the mass of accusing faces closing in, their eyes filled with the weight of their grief. I turned and ran faster, my heart racing. I was slipping, losing myself in this nightmarish chase. As I sprinted, I could feel the air growing thicker, almost tangible with their resentment. I had to find an exit, some way to escape this hell. My lungs burned, but I couldn¡¯t stop. I had to keep running. The corridor ahead suddenly opened up into a vast, endless void. I hesitated for just a moment, uncertainty gripping me, but then I leapt forward into the abyss, the ground falling away beneath me. I was weightless, falling into darkness, the voices trailing behind me, their shouts turning into a distant echo. Then, with a jolt, I awoke with a start, my heart pounding in my chest. I was back in the room, the familiar walls surrounding me. Sweat soaked my clothes, and I gasped for breath, the remnants of fear still clinging to my mind. Beside me, Gabby lay unconscious, her chest rising and falling peacefully, blissfully unaware of the torment I had just escaped. I rubbed my eyes, trying to shake off the remnants of the nightmare, the echoes of those accusing voices fading into the quiet of the room. It was just a dream, I told myself. Just a nightmare. But as I sat there, heart racing, body shaking, the shadows of the crowd lingered in my mind, I couldn¡¯t shake the feeling that something terrible had happened, something I had yet to understand. And most of all, that it was something that was my fault.