I stare around at the repeating hotel, then back at Mira.
The look in her eyes is excruciating. I've noticed that her emotions keep changing, also seemingly... exasperated.
From what she's said... this is a simulation, but then what's happening to my real body?
And also... what about her? Is this her real body? Or is this a simulation too?
"Has this ever happend before?"
I ask her.
"A few times... but never with another soncept."
She tells me.
I look at her curiously.
"And when did those people escape?"
I ask.
"They didn't escape... usually they starve to death."
She replies, a questionable look of pity in her eyes.
"They taught me a lot about what it means to be human, though."
She adds.
"What do you mean by that?"
I question.
"Not all Soncepts are equal... the ones created by fear get manifested into reality... the ones manifested by actual death rates latch onto existing people."
She explains to me.
So... is she not real at all? Is this just an effect of the concept?
"So you only started existing after people started fearing you...?"
I ask her.
"That's pretty much it..."
She tells me, a little saddened look on her face.
"The fear of the simulation... i'm just as alive as you, Apo. But i'm stuck here. I'm stuck in a place i can't leave, even if i see the outside world with my own eyes, even if i can comprehend the why and the how."
She tells me.
So she is real... but she can't exit her own simulation?
"Are you not sad in here?"
I ask her.
"Surely it gets lonely."
I tell her.
"True... but i'm god here, i can make my own friends... but they usually dont last. They wish to leave me so i erase them."
She tells me.
I look at her purplexed. Can she create people? If she can, i doubt they're real this time...
But to create simulations of people just to get rid of them is insane. It would be twisted as fuck if she was even getting attached to them.
"Hey... can you help me?"
I ask her.
"With what?"
She asks me back confused.
"This room... this simulation... do you like... feel its heartbeat?"
I ask her.
For a second, she looks at me like im insane, but then gets thoughtful.
"Actually... yeah. In a way."
She says slowly.
Any information i can get out of her about this might be useful... if i'm gonna be getting caught in stupid situations like these... i have to break through them.
"How do you control the room? How do you make it do what you want?"
I ask her.
"How do i... huh... i dont really think about it anymore. To me its as natural as moving my arm."
She explains to me.
"Have you heard of the Sonceptes of the four seasons?"
I ask her.
"I've heard that name before."
She tells me.
Okay... so she knows about Tempada... how did that information get in here though?
Whatever... i have to forget about all that. I really have to figure out what these conditions are.
... Nah. Who am i kidding. I know what they were.
I walk over to one of the plants and dig all the dirt out.
"Uhh.. what are you doing?"
Mira asks me.
"You said it should be as natural as moving my hand right?"
I ask her.
"Yeah... i did."
She tells me.
Heartbeat... feel for a heartbeat...
I start covering myself in the dirt, my movements as still as possible, if i can just understand this... i know i'll break the simulation.
"You look stupid right now..."
Mira tells me.
Would i be the asshole if i told her to kill herself? Forget that. Feel the heartbeat...
I see it now... it feels so weird though... that little amount of dirt feels like i added limbs to myself... disgusting is the only way to describe this shit.
The dirt starts moving around my body, its slow, but its happening. I can barely control the damn direction though...
"You're... uh... actually doing it, huh?"
Mira says.
"Is there a problem?"
I ask, still trying to move the dirt around.
"I was... hoping you'd stay a while. It gets... lonely. Not many people stumble here."
She tells me.
I look at her with a neutral expression. I dont make friends with people, i barely associate with anyone, why would i associate with her ass?
"Do you think... we'll get to meet again?"
She asks me hopefully.
"Probably not."
I respond to her truthfully.
She gives me a pained look.
"Yeah... i doubt the same person can even stumble here more than once... not that i'd know."
She tells me, not looking me in the eyes.
"How do you feel about being here?"
I ask her.
Back with the unreadable expression, she stares at me.
"It's like... im a bear in a very long hibernation. I wake up when i feel someones presence, and then i go back to sleep when they leave me."
She tells me.
Shit... now i do feel bad. I hate people but the noise they make keeps me sane. I can't imagine a world where its all quiet... and she lives that everyday, huh?
"Then... if i do end up figuring something out... i guess i could visit."
I tell her doubtfully.