(Viewpoint: Roum)
The door slides open behind me in perfect silence.
The sound disappears, as if the room were swallowing even the air.
I remain motionless.
Alpha-1 does not turn around.
She's right there, in the center of the white room.
Her back seems... tense, but stable, as if she weren't even breathing.
I swallow.
— I hope you enjoyed the visit, Roum.
His voice falls like a drop of mercury in water.
A simple sound, but my heart skips a beat.
I don't know what to answer.
I don't even know if I'm supposed to answer.
So I'll stay here.
Like an idiot.
A complete idiot.
Alpha-1 raises its head slightly, but still does not turn around.
- Approach.
My body moves before my will decides anything.
My legs are trembling.
Why am I so scared?
I stayed close but a few steps away from her
one step.
Then another one.
- I am here
The room seems to stretch out around me.
The room becomes colder.
Everything becomes terrifying with her
— Ela showed you the city.
His voice is calm. Too calm.
— That's a good thing. You need to understand where you live now.
I nod my head, even though she's not looking at me.
Alpha-1 finally turns around.
Her eyes pierce me.
They are… empty but brilliant.
Blue like a starless sky.
I froze, filled with admiration.
She approaches.
Each step resonates like a sentence.
The long white strands of hair slid along her body with a soothing harmony
— Roum. Why do you think I asked you here?
– hein!
I'm looking for an answer to a question I hadn't even heard before.
I couldn't find any.
- … I don't know.
She smiled very slightly.
A smile that puts you at ease.
And ran a hand through my hair
— I have a gift for you.
You're cheating on me.
Is it?
What ?
In my opinion ?
A gift
She circles around me, slowly, as if she were studying me.
— You don't like the idea?
— You want to see it.
– we're going down into the real world
I feel the cold sweat sliding down my back.
She stops behind me.
His words almost whispered against the back of my neck:
— It's very beautiful.
A shiver runs through me.
— It's dangerous.
I murmured, but my voice spread out and multiplied throughout the room.
I feel my heart stop for a second.
I can't breathe anymore.
I cover my mouth
— … dangerous for whom?
She responded immediately
— I didn't mean that.
— And what did you mean?
Then she raised her hand
I cover myself, ready to receive a blow, but, beep!
I hear a beep echoing behind her.
A small table lights up.
A translucent rectangle appears: a map.
A map… as Ela mentioned.
Alpha-1 takes it between his fingers.
— This is your unit card.
— Your identity here, your access, your rights, your limits.
She stares at me.
— And your obligations. Now everything is ready, we can leave for the real moment.
I can't move.
She moves the card towards me.
— Take it.
Ma main tremble.
When my fingers touch the material, an electric shock runs through my palm, causing me to drop the card.
It was as if the map was repelling me.
I grit my teeth.
- It's what ?
Alpha-1 tilts its head.
— Your card.
Silence.
— And the first step to no longer being… a problem, everyone goes through it once in their life, grows up, matures and dies.
I feel my stomach churning.
Die .
I lower my eyes.
— Why the real world…?
His voice falls like a blade:
— because it exists.
Alpha-1 continues, more calmly:
– You can leave
She takes a step back.
— Unit 1 is waiting for you in the integration room. Don't be late.
I'm just standing here.
Unable to move.
Alpha-1 is already turning away.
— You may leave.
The door opened behind me.
And I move forward, the map clutched in my hand.
I can no longer hear my own footsteps.
I can no longer hear my heart.
Just one phrase that keeps repeating:
"You're a problem."