——•✧✦ ΔΜΙDS ĐΞCΛΥ IV ✧✦•——
E1 - Day 13.09 Hour 07:50
At this point, I hope you like me...
You know, throughout my life, I've always been alone... Truly alone.
I'm not about to ask you to marry me, don't worry..
Ah, and the headmaster mentioned that he might not pay me this month if I bring up that intro story again, so we must bid it a tragic farewell.
We haven't even started with the interesting stuff, and I'm already being censored by the great powers.
Everyone knows that the 9:1... wait, where are you going...?
8:00
⟹ Creatures, Ehm.. Bringing up these topics out of nowhere seems heavy and embarrassing, so I'll do it anyway.
Solitude isn't merely an absence of company; it's the purest form of communion with oneself.
In the solitude of our silent thoughts, pretense fades, leaving us bare in the sincerity of our existence.
Without an audience, the soul reveals its untainted truth, free from social masks, confronting the depths of our reality with an unyielding gaze.
However, many creatures manage to adapt to this concept, after becoming intoxicated by it, and it is then that I wonder if solitude counts as a drug.
At that point, we begin with lies, pretenses, and mental fabrications to make ourselves feel better.
I cannot tell you, nor do I wish to choose which truth is more fitting; I only know the one that brought me here.
Consider the story of Alaric:
We head towards Durham in the 21st century, in 2004, also known as the Year of the Monkey.
This boy's life is a quiet movie scene where shadows glide, just like people walking down the street, while he's lost in his deep and solitary thoughts.
Even though he has a bunch of "friends," Alaric is performing a solo act on life's big stage.
Coming from humble origins but dressed in elegant clothes that don't truly reflect who he is, he wanders the halls of his school feeling like a complete outsider.
His roots, from a place with entirely different vibes and ways of life, didn't exactly make fitting in easy.
And then there's the bullying, which only pushed him further into a sense of misery.
Sure, up to now I must have bored you, but let's keep going, shall we?
With disdain. ▶ "Oh, Markus look! Alaric has dressed up in the latest fashion trends... From the thrift store!"
Eyes downcast. ▶ "Leave me alone.."
Laughing, he pulls at a frayed sleeve of Alaric's shirt. ▶ "Hey, did you think we wouldn't notice? Are these rags your symbol of nobility? HAH, right, Nicolas?"
Approaching menacingly. ▶ "Maybe he thinks coming from who knows where makes him special. Here, you're just one of us, and a rather pathetic one at that."
Placing a hand around the neck. ▶ "So, Alaric, are you going to tell us about that distant country of yours?"
▶ "There's nothing to tell.."
▶ "Exactly, because there's nothing interesting about you!"
Alaric walks away, holding back tears, while the bullies continue to laugh behind his back.
Thinking. ▶ "I don't like this place.. Why did we have to move countrie? We were fine in our own.."
Damn, someone's walking down the hallway; let's get back to our guys.
˜"°•. ♪ .•°"˜
9:00
As Adam cautiously approached the door, a palpable sense of hesitation gripped him, almost freezing his hand before it could touch the handle.
He hesitated, a foreboding feeling about the secrets beyond the door intensifying with each passing moment.
Surprisingly, the handle yielded effortlessly, swinging the door open to reveal a larger room bathed in an eerie half-light.
▶ "Ah, splendid! The path to the tower's top lies before us.." Adam remarked, seemingly oblivious to the ominous atmosphere that now enveloped the space.
With the door still ajar, a pungent stench assaulted his senses immediately. Putrid breath clung to the walls like an ominous omen, forcing Adam to cover his nose.
Flies buzzed thickly around as if they escaped a paradise in horror.
Desperately trying to stifle his rising nausea. ▶ "Why does this room reek so much? It's... ddisgusting."
Eve, visibly disturbed, replied with a trembling voice.
▶ "II believ.e *cough cough* Tthis stench seems from sommething deccaying. Be *cough cough* carreful."
Adam, turning to Eve, uttered. ▶ "Eve... I'm the one who should be coughing; you don't even breathe."
Confused and with cheeks flushed, she said while smiling. ▶ "I know. But this way, I also experience the scene better!"
The environment unfolded like a nightmare: a room left to itself, succumbing to decay.
With some furniture scattered, a green couch positioned in front of a window on the opposite side of the door, as if peering out to witness a world in ruins or to cast a final gaze upon it.
Eve with a shaky voice, ▶ "Aadam, there'ss... there's a body over there!"
On the couch lay a body, a robust male figure now unrecognizable, reduced to an advanced state of decomposition.
The room was dark; only a faint light seeped through the open window, outlining sinister shadows that danced on the faded walls.
Distressed, Adam looked at Eve and said, ▶ "We need to get closer. Maybe we could discover something about this world by examining that body."
Slowly, Eve replies, ▶ "O..okay then."
With each step Adam took, the stench grew stronger, the flies around multiplied, the noises were louder, dust rose with his movements, cobwebs along with spiders, and the wood creaking didn't help.
In the dark room, they could clearly see only the couch, which stood ominously in front of the window.
They now stood face to face with the remains of the man or at least what was left of him.
On the couch, the man's body lay contorted and desperate, limbs twisted and lifeless. His hand, now cold, clung desperately to the smooth fabric of the couch.
Perhaps some personal items, like a faded photo on the couch, barely visible and comprehensible anymore, or a stopped and rusty pocket watch lying next to the hand, symbolizing the time that has now run out for the man.
With a somber expression and a voice laden with compassion, Adam said, ▶ "What happened to you?"
His face was contorted by suffering, and wide-open eyes stared into emptiness, reflecting the horror of the last moment lived.
A silent expression of anguish emanated from his gaping mouth as if he had tried to scream without making a sound.
From what remained understandable, he had a reasonably large beard, but not too much, his eyebrows were no longer visible, there was little left of his chin, so tiny that the bone could be seen, and the neck was also very narrow and full of holes like the rest of the body, filled with insects and larvae, fat as if they were constantly eating.
His legs were aligned.
He wore brown leather shoes, but they didn't seem too luxurious or elaborate.
▶ "Your whole being has been worn down.." Eve observed next to Adam.
Bloodstains on the couch's surface melded with the fabric, revealing signs of a desperate and violent struggle.
The man's nails were stained with torn flesh, evidence of a frantic attempt to resist fate, to cling to life with the last remnants of strength.
Beneath the nails, fragments of skin and tissue remained, as if he had scratched himself in despair, trying to hold onto the reality slipping away.
The torn and bloodied clothing that covered the body told the story of a tormented soul struggling with its demons.
The objects in the shadowed room seemed like dark witnesses to that extreme act.
An old letter lay alongside a putrid candle and weathered books on a table to the right of the couch.
Torn and folded many times, it served as a testament to the inner turmoil of the person before his death.
As he observed the table, Adam remarked, ▶ "This letter seems ancient and very worn. Who knows what it contained and what contributed to this profound despair.."
Surveying the remnants of the letter, Eve added. ▶ "Could reveal something about what troubled him so deeply?"
On the other side of the room were two wardrobes made of now-aged wood, each about 1.8 meters by 1.5(⁓ 5,9x4,9 feet), standing like silent sentinels.
One housed a dusty mirror with parts broken on the door.
Adam said, his focus fixed on the grimy mirror, adding tension to the surroundings.
▶ "Look at this mirror; it seems to have witnessed more than just a reflected image; It could have captured the descent into the darkness of whoever occupied this space."
▶ "But who has shattered it, time or the man?" Replied Eve, scrutinizing the mirror's cracks and shattered fragments.
Adjacent to the wardrobes, four weathered wooden chairs stood delicately for seating, accompanied by an empty, seemingly sizeable ceramic vase with dry soil.
▶ "Many of these things seem to have weathered with time, as if mirroring the fate of this place, " Adam observed, indicating the vase and the fragile chairs.
▶ "The decay of this environment seems to reflect the descent of the soul that inhabited it." Commented Eve, surveying their surroundings with insightful eyes.
Adam pondered aloud, ▶ "But the real puzzle is... Why does this room, No, this world, seem so desolate? Structures have crumbled for centuries, yet bodies continue to decompose. A body can't remain in decomposition for so long?"
Eve looked into Adam's eyes, but she couldn't respond, having any answers, leaving Adam's inquiry to echo unanswered in the hollow room.
🔺− ☞ ✳ ☜ −🔺
10:30
WATER, WATER, HELP, MY THROAT'S DRYING UP, BREAK, EVERYONE TAKE A BREAK!
11:01
Things took a turn when he switched schools and decided to put on a whole new act, hiding his real self so deep that not even his buddies got to see who he really was.
Alaric was at the cafeteria table, wearing his new but simple clothes, the same ones almost every day, which he washed every evening, listening to his new schoolmates laugh and joke around.
▶ "Hey, Alaric, you're always so... sharp. Do you have a secret for keeping your clothes always so clean?"
He smiles slightly, trying to joke about it. ▶ "Ah, you know, it's all about... nightly discipline haha."
▶ "You should show us how you do it, one day! Why don't we all come over to your place after school? We could study together or do something.."
Visibly nervous at the idea. ▶ "Uh, I don't know if... My house is a bit small for all of us. And then, my mother... often works late. It wouldn't be ideal.."
▶ "Come on, Alaric, don't be shy! We're friends, right? We don't care about what your house is like. We just want to spend some time together."
Trying to keep calm, changing the subject. ▶ "Maybe another day, guys. How about we go to the park this weekend? We could play soccer or just relax."
He was too embarrassed about where he came from and his family.
Alright, time to change places now.
🔺− ☞ ✳ ☜ −🔺
11:30
To the right of the table, stone steps appeared to lead into a darker place.
▶ "The stairs seem to be our only route forward!" Pointed Eve.
Adam, gaze lifted from the letter and turned toward the stairs. ▶ "As much as I'd like to read the letter, it's torn, most likely incomprehensible to us.."
Eve contined. ▶ "And if the man tore it apart so many times, it means it's not meant to be read."
The room's silence echoed louder than any cry of anguish could ever convey.
It spoke of the loneliness that had enveloped the corpse, of the desperate battle fought within his mind, and of the chilling decision to surrender to the relentless darkness.
As Adam and Eve observed, a profound sense of empathy engulfed them, feeling the weight of the man's inner struggle, his battle against the survival instinct, and the agonizing acceptance of his mortality.
Dim light highlighted the surrounding disorder, a sign of the inner struggle.
Some objects were displaced, others had fallen to the ground, mute witnesses of the emotional turmoil that had ravaged the place before everything faded into the definitive darkness.
As if death itself had taken on the face of anguish, painting the final chapter of that man's life in shades of bleak despair.
It was a tragic finale, the culmination of events leading to that ultimate act, leaving only silence and an unfinished tale.
Eve said with slightly furrowed brows, lowering the gaze in a mixture of compassion and sadness.
▶ "It looks like this man fought against his natural instinct to survive, eventually surrendering to the grasp of death. He even had to hurt himself to be able to accept it."
▶ "What can cause this desire?" The girl looked at Adam, wanting answers.
"But the android, even though looking somewhat pained, replied coldly. ▶ "We must proceed towards the stairs cautiously.. We must stay together and watch our every step."
Before departing, Eve advised, ▶ "Adam, take one of those books from the table and see if you understand the language."
Adam approached the table and examined one of the books. Its cover was leather-bound and substantial in size, yet the language of the title remained inscrutable to him.
Taking a small step back, the girl said, ▶ "Eve, I fear I won't comprehend the content, and it's prudent not to carry unnecessary weight as we ascend those stairs!"
Adam conveyed upon returning to Eve's side, stationed before the staircase. He proceeded to scrutinize the stairs, evaluating their stability.
The ascent led to a dark place with no visible end, but the stairs exhibited a reassuring solidity, accompanied by a handrail for added support if required.
Adam smiled at Eve and gestured toward the stairs, ▶ "Ladies first."
Eve began to laugh, and the genuine and engaging sound filled the air.
Adam was struck by the vividness of Eve's laughter, as if, at that moment, she was breathing life into the room with her infectious smile.
He was moved by witnessing that genuine expression of joy, and for a moment, everything seemed brighter around him.
That simple sound of mirth was a rare ray of light in that reality, and Adam couldn't help but feel warmed by the glow of her laughter.
With a smile, he said. ▶ "Thank you for being here with me.."
Eve started ascending the stairs, one by one.
The stairs affixed to one side of the wall didn't stretch too high, approximately 4 meters (⁓14 feet).
Adam followed her, cautiously placing his foot on the first step and then slowly and cautiously taking the second, third, and fourth.
Moving this slowly, his body caused metallic noises, which were amplified in the silent room.
Already on the sixth step, Eve queried, turning towards the android with an irritated expression. ▶ "Well, Adam, how does the structure feel to you, being able to sense it?"
Adam replied uncertainly. ▶ "This far, everything seems quite ordinary.."
At that precise moment, as Adam maneuvered toward the fifth step, it detached from the wall, plunging onto the table below the staircase, nearly causing Adam to lose his footing.
Eve, surprised, exclaimed, leaning slightly forward from her step to get a better view. ▶ "Adam, be careful!"
Thanks to his artificial senses, Adam experienced the scene very slowly, gripping the stair rail and averting a whole tumble, landing awkwardly on one foot.
However, despite this, the metallic noise was heard when he banged against the steps.
He quickly responded upon hearing Eve, ▶ "I'm fine, Eve!! I'll try to get back up now!"
With precision honed by his advanced systems, Adam sought to rise, employing his balance sensors to redistribute weight for leverage carefully.
His motor functions engaged with a faint mechanical hum, the sound of his mechanisms working to regain an upright posture.
With cautious movements, he began to rise slowly.
The metallic sound of his limbs scraping against the steps filled the air as he struggled to regain balance.
Each movement was precise, calculated, and controlled, his mechanical joints moving with millimeter precision.
▶ "Thank godness it didn't turn out worse.." Eve said with a concerned tone.
His hands, firmly grasping the rail, lifted carefully, bearing the weight while his pressure sensors recorded every minute variation.
Balance required delicate synchronization of his technological components, and Adam focused every resource on returning to an upright position.
Slowly, with determination, he managed to stand.
His metallic figure stood once more in the room, a slight tremor in his movements indicating the effort of his systems to maintain stability.
The rough contact with the stairs had scratched some parts of his body.
His hands were covered in grime and dust that filled the air and the room.
With a calm voice, he reassured, looking at Eve, ▶ "I'm back on my feet, Eve.!"
Eve inquired, looking at him with an insecure face, ▶ "Then, shall we continue?"
Adam affirmed, ▶ "Yes, I'll simply skip this step."
Fortunately, the subsequent stairs didn't present similar issues, allowing them to reach the tower's first floor.
The first floor was shrouded in darkness. The only light was the faint glimmer from Adam's eyes. Every inch of the floor was filled with cobwebs, making it difficult to discern details.
▶ "AA, seeing these little spiders crawling all into me is pretty unsettling. Adam, come closer; I can't see anything!! " She said this while waving her hands towards the machine.
Amidst the gloom, they discerned a few pieces of furniture scattered about, their outlines vague and mysterious.
Two doors flanked the corridor on the right and left, offering a choice between unknown paths.
▶ "This structure seems like it was some kind of home." He said while curiously looking around.
As Adam turned his head to survey the space behind him, he noticed something he didn't expect to see.
▶ "Eve, come here, I found something!" Adam said as he turned towards his companion, still agitated amid the cobwebs.
The faint light accentuated tiny dust particles suspended in the air around it.
The object he saw was a blurred and dusty painting hung on the wall.
The girl, now calm, leaning forward and adjusting her hair, said. ▶ "They seemed happy.."
Despite the obscurity, the figures within were discernible: 2 adults and 3 young ones.
A woman and a man were on a green chair while the children sat on the floor.
The depicted place was that of the lower floor.
The painting, though obscured, radiated a poignant sentiment.
The blurred features did little to conceal the love and happiness in the family's expressions, frozen in a moment of timeless joy.
The android, detaching the painting from the wall, said, ▶ "I will scan the picture; perhaps it will be useful in the future!"
As Adam gazed upon it, the room seemed to bridge the gap between past and present, shrouded in a haunting beauty that transcended the decay surrounding them.
Concerned, Eve replied, ▶ "Be careful when you put it back; This is a small but meaningful happy memory of the world.."
Then, without saying a word, the two decided to move forward, not daring to visit the other rooms; they continued to the second floor, which resembled the first floor, except for a window that illuminated the stairs, the same window they had seen from outside.
The third and fourth floors were a bit different, but the darkness was too thick to make out what was there, so they decided to continue their ascent, finally reaching towards the light.
The bright and hopeful beacon, a ray of hope after all the horrors witnessed in that tower. Proceeding on the last steps of the staircase slowly toward the roof.
The roof of the tower lay bare before them.
It was a stark sight, stripped of any adornments or coverings.
The only entities present were the sky above and the sturdy, weathered stones beneath their feet.
Out loud, as if coming back to life, the girl exclaimed, ▶ "Ahh, finally, no more spiders and other bugs!"
Despite its simplicity, it held an undeniable allure, a sanctuary amidst the chaos, a place where one could commune with the unfiltered elements of nature.
Along the tower's perimeter was a parapet to prevent falling.
Eve approached the parapet, her gaze fixated on the panorama.
She turned to Adam, her voice blending wonder and sorrow.
▶ "Adam, look at this... There's still beauty here!!"
Adam joined her, carefully for the ground of the roof and then observing the panorama.
▶ "Yes, it's extraordinary how time and nature can transform everything into something harmonious.. Even amidst this destruction, there's a kind of harmony."
The view from the tower's pinnacle was breathtaking, an expansive, majestic scene.
Below lay the city's ruin, silent witnesses of a bygone civilization.
Fragments of destroyed buildings jutted here and there, while occasional sunbeams managed to pierce through the countless dark clouds, illuminating the desolation below.
The wind whistled through the rubble, carrying a thin layer of dust that settled on everything.
The colors of the ruined city were a palette of grays and faded hues, the indelible mark of time and devastation.
Amongst the debris, fragments of past life could be discerned: remnants of objects, ruins of monuments, and roads now swallowed by the wild nature.
A melancholy pervaded the air, mingling with the scene's grandeur.
Their shadows cast upon the ruins symbolized their presence in a world that now lay in ruin.
Eve absorbed the panorama, allowing the scene to seep into her consciousness, while Adam, with his artificial nature, processed visual and sensory data to better understand the scene before them.
The emotions evoked by the scene were a mix of sadness for the loss and desolation and admiration for the strength of nature and the history etched in the ruins.
The gentle wind weaved through Adams's black hair as he continued to observe.
Looking at the panorama, Eve said, ▶ "Do you think this city's fate was a natural event or human-made?"
Adam pondered the question, processing data and information.
▶ "I can't say for certain, but it seems to have been a combination of both. Perhaps a natural calamity initiated the devastation, but there also appears to have been a human presence, maybe an attempt to rebuild or protect what remained."
He added. ▶"With 25 minutes left for the data download, we might uncover more."
Eve remained silent momentarily, then spoke thoughtfully. ▶ "It's surreal. This city was once alive, full of life and hope. Now, it's just a ghost of the past."
Adam nodded in agreement. ▶ "True, but these ruins here hold stories that shouldn't fade. They're lessons in our history."
Eve looked seriously at Adam ▶ "Adam, do you truly think there's a future? I don't just mean for us but for the human race. I don't think there are any left.."
Adam nodded, a glint of interest in his metallic eyes. ▶ "I don't think there's a future. We don't even know why we're alive.. But it's precisely this that gives me hope!"
Adam and Eve, frustrated, gazed towards the panorama.
The girl asked. ▶ "Consider what we've seen so far; there are so many things we still need to discover.."
Showing 1 finger, she continued. ▶ "One of these is, again― Why we're here, our purpose?"
▶ "The second is why this city seems so ancient?"
▶ "The third is how you said, why, in this place that has been in this state for hundreds of years, are dead bodies still decomposing?"
Now with 4 fingers Eve ended.▶ "And the final question I have is, why do we see only insects and living animals?"
...
Adam turned to Eve, reflecting on the intricate questions they had tackled so far.
His expression was serious, focused on the complexity of the situations encountered.
▶ "Eve, these questions are challenging but crucial for our understanding of this place." HE began, her tone reflecting a determined resolve.
▶ "Our purpose might be linked to something much larger than us, something we may have to uncover. Perhaps we're here to unravel a forgotten mystery, to bring to light something hidden for centuries, waiting for us to uncover it."
▶ "As for the city's ancient nature of this city, it might be connected to an event so profound that time couldn't erase its mark. This city might have remained intact for generations, somehow protected from what happened."
When addressing the issue of bodies still decomposing, Adam hesitated slightly, contemplating the singularity of this situation.
▶ "Decomposition in such an isolated environment might be hindered by specific climatic or environmental conditions. Something in the air or soil here could preserve, or at the very least slowdown the decomposition process."
Lastly, on the absence of human life and the prevalent presence of insects and animals, the android paused.
▶ "It's peculiar, isn't it? It's as if human presence is barred from this place. There might be a deeper reason, a hidden secret waiting to be unveiled."
▶ "Or all could be completely wrong.." Said the girl, laughing sarcasm.
The two stood there for a few minutes, admiring the scenery, feeling the wind of that place, and somewhat less of the stale smell of the bodies strewn across the streets.
Adam turned to Eve, proposing their next move.
▶ "Well, let's visit the other rooms of the tower now that we've reached the top. Maybe the download will be completed by the time we're done."
Eve turned her head towards Adam and replied with a smile. ▶ "Let's go see what's there.."
🔺− ☞ 🎶 ☜ −🔺
12:00
Slowly, they made their way toward the stairs when Adam noticed an ample, peculiar, strange, bright white light emanating from behind some houses a few kilometers away.
Adam, maintaining a note of curiosity in his metallic voice, pointed it out to Eve. ▶ "Look there, behind those houses. There's something strange, not natural. We should investigate!!"
Eve turned in the direction Adam pointed and raised an eyebrow, surprised.
▶ "That glow doesn't seem like sunlight or any typical source. We need to get a closer look!"
With cautious urgency, Adam and Eve descended the tower's stairs, moving swiftly through the floors, passing from the room of the deceased man to the door broken by Adam.
The tower's exterior greeted them with the afternoon's darkness, interrupted only by their quick breaths.
Adam pushed himself, though his damaged android body strained, propelling to an astounding speed of 53 kilometers (⁓33 miles) per hour.
Running amidst the ruins of houses, the strange and lifeless bodies, the wind weaving through his black hair as dark as night, fragments of debris that didn't even scratch his skin, and the sand rising in his wake.
In an instant, the landscape rushed around him as he headed toward the source of the mysterious light.
Eve followed closely behind, flying 1 meter (⁓3 feet) from the ground, with determination and curiosity in her gaze as they traversed the desolate scenery.
Adam, like lightning, had his metallic figure standing out amidst the ruins while the afternoon light accentuated his silhouette.
Every step was an explosion of power, his metallic feet rhythmically pounding the ground, breaking the silence of the surrounding desolation.
The decaying houses and empty streets flew past them, a glimpse of a forgotten world as they neared the source of the glow.
The wind caressed their path, lifting clouds of dust that danced in the air, creating an atmosphere of mystery and tension.
The glow grew brighter, creating a halo around the surrounding ruins.
Adam suddenly stopped, his voice slightly more intense.
▶ "Eve, wait. This light might pose a danger. We need to proceed cautiously.."
Eve nodded, but her curiosity was palpable.
From the light's appearance to their arrival, only 2 minutes had elapsed.
If there were an enemy, the clamor from Adam's rapid approach might have alerted them.
They looked into each other's eyes and hid behind the nearby building, preparing for the light and straining to catch any possible conversation.
And the choice was right. From behind the building, Adam and Eve listened from their concealed position; a solitary voice emanated from the source of the mysterious light, sparking an immediate sense of alarm.
Their eyes met a silent agreement to stay hidden and comprehend the unfolding situation.
The voice emanated from the mysterious light filled the silent air.
▶ "I've reached the precise location!"
▶ "Adam and that smug girl should be around here, I just have to find them using this radar that I bought from that dude."
Buzzing rumors could be heard near the person.
Adam and Eve exchanged a tense glance, realizing the imminent danger lurking around them.
Eve whispered urgently to Adam, ▶ "That's not good. We have to be careful. It sounds like he's trying to find us.."
Adam nodded, his focus sharp. ▶ "We need a plan! Someone's looking for us, and it seems he's armed with something dangerous.."
They stayed hidden, listening intently to the stranger's words, trying to gather as much information as possible.
The strange person said loud. "I don't even know how this thing works, damn it!"
A small object fell, its sound crunching underfoot.
The stranger's voice echoed again, ▶ "This device keeps making this buzzing noise that I don't know the meaning of! AAAAA."
▶ "Perhaps I should have paid better attention to what he told me.."
Eve edged closer to Adam, her voice barely audible, ▶ "It seems like he's having trouble with some kind of device!"
Then, a sudden, unnerving laughter erupted, echoing like a cacophony of madness.
▶ "T–this technology is not for me.."
▶ "I am one for brute force. So, I'll destroy everything nearby until they come to me.. And then I can get that idiot's bounty!"
Eve reflected momentarily, his mind racing, ▶ "We need to act with intelligence!"
In Adam's eyes, a hint of a plan was forming. ▶ "Let's use this to our advantage. We'll remain hidden until he makes the first move. Let's see what powers he possesses; he claims to be able to destroy the city without problems."
...
Once more, the voice pierced the air, sharp and laden with veiled threats. ▶ "̳̿͟͞D̳̿͟͞o̳̿͟͞ ̳̿͟͞y̳̿͟͞o̳̿͟͞u̳̿͟͞ ̳̿͟͞b̳̿͟͞e̳̿͟͞l̳̿͟͞i̳̿͟͞e̳̿͟͞v̳̿͟͞e̳̿͟͞ ̳̿͟͞I̳̿͟͞ ̳̿͟͞a̳̿͟͞m̳̿͟͞ ̳̿͟͞d̳̿͟͞e̳̿͟͞a̳̿͟͞f̳̿͟͞ ̳̿͟͞t̳̿͟͞o̳̿͟͞ ̳̿͟͞y̳̿͟͞o̳̿͟͞u̳̿͟͞r̳̿͟͞ ̳̿͟͞s̳̿͟͞c̳̿͟͞u̳̿͟͞r̳̿͟͞r̳̿͟͞y̳̿͟͞i̳̿͟͞n̳̿͟͞g̳̿͟͞,̳̿͟͞ ̳̿͟͞h̳̿͟͞i̳̿͟͞d̳̿͟͞d̳̿͟͞e̳̿͟͞n̳̿͟͞ ̳̿͟͞r̳̿͟͞a̳̿͟͞t̳̿͟͞s̳̿͟͞?̳̿͟͞ I've known your location from the start.. I enjoyed misleading you, playing a game HAHAH, allowing you to believe in hope!"
Adam and Eve exchanged a glance, tension rising as they realized the true extent of the situation.
▶ "This person is very self-assured!" Eve muttered quietly, trying not to be overheard.
Adam nodded, his determination unwavering. ▶ "We must stay focused. If he wants amusement, we'll catch them off guard, and remember, we can't even run from here; we have to find out what happened."
They decided to come out into the open but with extreme caution. Slowly, they began to move towards the point where the individual stood, ready to exploit any advantage.
As they approached, Adam whispered in Eves's mind, ▶ "Let's not let his words distract us. If possible, we aim to find a solution without engaging in direct conflict."
Her gaze fixed on the target, Eve replied, ▶ "Yes, but if he shows signs of danger, we must be ready to defend ourselves.."
The enigmatic figure whirled around abruptly, a smug sneer etched on his face. ▶ "At last, you emerge."
▶ "Did you assume you'd escape my notice? HAHA"
The voice dripped with disdain. ▶ "Will you then kneel willingly.. Or shall I help you?"
T:12:30
🔺− ☞ 🛐 ☜ −🔺
I'm glad that even after midnight, you didn't make any noise and kept going until 12:30, but now you'll have to endure another half hour because Alaric's story needs to be finished.
Thinking to himself as he prepares his clothes for the next day. ▶ "How much longer can I keep up this facade? What if they find out how I really live? It would be the end of everything..."
The front he put up wasn't about arrogance or malice; it was more like a puzzle he couldn't even solve himself.
"Damn, I'm disgusting."
Sure, he was scared of being alone, but that fear didn't justify keeping his distance from his family, who reminded him of everything he was trying to leave behind—or was he just afraid?
"This whole thing makes me sick… I wonder why people even need a social group."
Alaric couldn't figure out why he was playing this role.
Underneath all the effort to keep up appearances, he was fighting a silent battle.
"I don't feel this way; I don't want to laugh when they make fun of that person, I don't want to smile because otherwise, I'd be seen as weird, I don't want to live just for the sake of living."
When he was alone, the reality of his act hit him square in the face with regret.
As time passed, the entire charade of pretending to be someone else became increasingly difficult, leaving him feeling weak and disconnected from reality.
That mask had become too heavy a burden to bear, especially when he had time to reflect.
"I've been stuck in this for too long now; I don't even know… actually, how the hell is a human being supposed to behave? Everyone seems to know how except me."
Now a bit older, Alaric is still struggling with the need to maintain this disguise every day, tormented by a search for his own truth.
"Why am I human? What makes me like them?"
The mask is practically glued on, not coming off even when he's alone, pushing him further away from finding himself.
"WHAT AM I?"
But when he's with his family, things lighten up a bit.
Their company gives him a break from all the pretending, and he catches glimpses of happiness and his true self.
One time, when the family was gathered around a small dining table, simple but cozy. Laughter filled the room as they served dinner.
▶ "And you, believe it, I put too much salt in the sauce?"
▶ "It's the salt... of life, Mom. It makes everything more flavorful, right Dad?"
With a knowing smile. ▶ "We're lucky to have a chef who knows how to make even the humblest of meals special!"
These moments, though, are short-lived, and Alaric is caught in a tug-of-war with himself, torn between the fake personas and the reality he so desperately wants to embrace.
In the quiet moments of his life, filled with echoes of loneliness, Alaric is out there searching for a way to make peace with all the different parts of himself, hoping to find a balance that doesn't require any masks.
Thinking, almost whispering to himself. ▶ "My emotions are worthless, my choices, my normality, my lifestyle, my appearance, my thoughts, and my essence—everything must be burned and erased."
The kicker, though? He's not even sure what he's looking for—a feeling all too familiar for many young people and, well, pretty much everyone.
If only there were a guide for all our problems, a way to solve them quickly...
(But there is one, s..)
Shut up, voice in my head… Why do you pop up randomly…
Oookay, that doesn't work so well!
A—anyway, I think many of us wear that mask to avoid being hurt, and this stems from our priorities and the value we assign to them, but we'll talk about that again.
Alaric, on January 15, 2026, (22) unable to find meaning in his life and failing to connect with anyone, decided just like I'm going to do now, (don't worry, I mean this lesson) to end it.
13:00