-Day one. Inmate 19's day cycle, T+3:00-
There wasn't anything of note in the cell. Other than the light on the ceiling and the screen on the wall, there wasn't much variation. Smooth, unbroken surfaces, which melted into a disorienting blur of gray. If it weren't for the faint shadows at the edges of the cell, I might have mistaken its geometry for a hollow sphere.
Three steps by four and a bit more were its dimensions and roughly the same for its height. With a bit of math, I'd estimate it's around two by three by three meters, which is small for a room. It certainly felt like it. Every now and then, it felt like the walls were creeping toward me, even though I was standing perfectly still.
The mind can play terrifying tricks, much to my dismay.
Dissatisfied with my findings, I gave up the futile search for more and settled myself into a corner of the room.
As I sat on the concrete, I began to wonder what I was here for. Earlier, I was called an inmate, but I can't remember why I should be. Am I dead? Is this what purgatory is like?
"Hey, you, the people watching me, what am I supposed to do to get out of here?"
I halfheartedly called out into the cell. It wouldn't amount to anything, I was already sure of that.
*Beep-beep*
Or maybe not?
Surprised by the response, I jumped to my feet to rush to the screen.
[Answer: Answer pending.]
Are you kidding me? Did this low-res piece of shit just bait me? I had half a mind to drive my fist into the screen, but reconsidered with my fist drawn back for a hefty whack. There wasn't any point in destroying my only source of outside information just for a petty grudge.
"Could you give me a straight answer, please?"
*Beep-beep*
[Answer: When necessary.]
"It's necessary now, isn't it?"
[Answer: Answer pending.]
*Beep-beep*
[Notice: Your daily question allowance of three questions has been used. Please wait for 23 hours and 59 minutes for re-stock.]
"..."
Needless to say, I wasn't too happy about this, though I did learn something important about the little world I found myself in.
Three questions per day. If I could avoid the infuriating "Answer pending" response, and carefully word my questions, there was a chance that some light could be shed on my purpose for being here. But how to go about formulating that strategy was another matter entirely.
*Beep-beep*
[Notice: You have 1 new assignment. Read the following instructions carefully.]
What could this be about?
"Go on then, I'm waiting."
[Initiating assignment 1, please wait...]
[Question 1/3: Given the sum of two angles and the angle of a third, can the unknown angles of a triangle be found? True/False.]
...What? Am I back in middle school again?
"True?"
[Notice: Correct.]
[Question 2/3: What item does not belong? A. Lion, B. Tiger, C. Lynx, D. Elephant?]
"Why the hell are you making me do this?"
[Notice: 23 hours and 55 minutes until next question allotment. Refrain from asking questions until that time.]
"Mmh, you're really trying to mess with me, aren't you?"
[Notice: 23 hours and 54 minutes until restock.]
"D."
[Notice: Correct.]
[Question 3/3: How are you feeling?]
Well, this was a complete one-eighty from how things were going.
"All things considered, fine, I guess?"
[Notice: Correct.]
[Notice: This completes assignment 1. Thank you for your cooperation.]
With that, the screen blanked to gray again.
Befuddled by this course of events, I went back to my corner. There was a lot to go over from just that interaction alone, but my frustration over losing those three questions made it impossible to think clearly. Instead, I stared at the corner opposite of mine, watching the paint dry. Well, there wasn't paint on the walls, but the closeness of the walls gave the disorienting effect of drooping to their surface, as though a liquid were dripping from the ceiling down.
Or maybe I've lost one marble too many.
Come to think of it, I feel a bit dizzy. I might need to lie down for a bit.