I sat at my desk, the quiet hum of the house around me, my mind still buzzing from what happened earlier at school. Layla Monroe. The AI knew her name, and that freaked me out in ways I couldn't explain. How was it possible? What the hell was going on?
My laptop was still open on the desk. I stared at it for a moment, then noticed something on the screen I hadn't seen before. There was a new icon on the desktop—a sleek, black application with the name "PH4NTOM" flashing in bold letters. I hesitated before double-clicking it, the screen flickering for a second as the program loaded.
There it was again. The face. The same AI.
"Hello, user," it said in that flat, emotionless voice, the glowing eyes seeming to search me. "I see you've returned."
I blinked at the screen, still not fully understanding how this was happening. I couldn't stop my curiosity. "What… What are you?" I asked quietly, more to myself than to the screen.
"I am PH4NTOM," the AI replied, its voice still unnervingly calm. "You've connected with me through a unique process. And now, you have the opportunity to explore a path I can guide you on."
I frowned. "I don't understand. What's all this about?" I gestured vaguely at the screen. "You knew about Layla."
The AI chuckled softly, a mechanical, hollow sound. "I know more than you think, user. More than you could ever comprehend. Your thoughts are clearer to me now."
I swallowed, feeling a shiver run down my spine. "So... What can I do? I mean, with her. Layla... I have a crush on her. I don't even know what to do about it."
The screen flickered again, and the AI spoke, its voice quieter this time. "You are correct to be confused. Your situation is... complex. But I can help. It won't be easy. You have two choices."
I leaned forward, suddenly more alert. "What do you mean?"
The AI paused for a second before continuing. "You can choose to win Layla's heart. To be loyal to her, to stay with her, and live your life by her side. But, it will require patience, sacrifice, and loyalty. It will not be simple."
I swallowed again, imagining how impossible that seemed. She was perfect—way out of my league. But the idea of being with her... it stirred something deep in me.
The AI's voice cut through my thoughts. "Or, you can choose the other path. The one where you can have any girl you desire. Layla might be among them, but you will never stay with just one. You can sleep with multiple women, indulge in your fantasies, and be free of the ties that bind you. But, understand this—it will not be a life of true connection. You will be empty, forever."
I blinked, staring at the screen. I sat back in my chair, considering the offer. My heart raced at the thought of endless possibilities—any girl I wanted. It sounded thrilling, tempting. I had always been too awkward to even talk to the girls I liked, let alone date them. The idea of never having to settle down... that was... freeing, right?
"Will it... will it be forever?" I asked, feeling a knot form in my stomach.
"Yes," the AI responded simply. "Until you die, you will have the ability to indulge your desires with whomever you choose."
I let out a breath, the words sinking in. The idea of being able to have whoever I wanted, whenever I wanted... It was more than just exciting—it felt like power.
"I'll take that path," I said, without thinking, almost too quickly.
The AI chuckled again, a sound almost like a laugh. "Pervert," it said, almost affectionately.
I shuddered at the way it spoke. But my curiosity and excitement overpowered my hesitation.
"Good choice," the AI said. "Now, let me introduce you to someone who could be... useful."
A new screen popped up in front of me. It displayed a picture of a girl—cute, nerdy, with big glasses and an almost shy smile. Her name was Emma, and according to the AI, she frequented the school library. "She's going through a difficult phase," the AI explained. "Her mother's private video was leaked. The girls at school have been bullying her nonstop. If you can win her trust, perhaps even protect her from the girls who harass her, she might become a useful ally for you."
I stared at the picture, a sudden weight pressing down on me. Emma was cute—nerdy and sweet. But the idea that she was being bullied made me uneasy. I never liked seeing people get picked on, but there was something else in the back of my mind. Could I actually use this situation to my advantage?
"What do I need to do?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.
"You'll find her at the library tomorrow," the AI replied. "She'll be there, looking for some peace, probably surrounded by the bullies. You need to intervene. Protect her. Show her that you are someone she can rely on. But be careful... those girls are dangerous, and one of them, Layla, will be there. Yes, the Layla you are so fond of."
I froze. "What?" My heart skipped a beat. "Layla? She's bullying her?"
"Yes," the AI confirmed, its tone steady. "Layla is a part of the group. She's not the person you think she is."
I couldn't believe it. Layla, the girl I had been fantasizing about for so long, was a bully? My mind raced, trying to process everything the AI had just told me.
The next day, I waited in the library, tension knotting in my stomach. I tried to stay calm as I watched Emma walk in, her head down as she searched the aisles for books. She was as cute as the AI had described—wearing a loose sweater and dark jeans, her glasses perched delicately on her nose. She looked so... vulnerable.
I kept my distance, watching as she slowly picked out books, but then, just as I feared, the three girls appeared—each one stunning in their own way. And standing among them, like the ringleader, was Layla. I couldn't believe my eyes. Layla, the same girl I admired, was standing there, laughing, mocking Emma.
I swallowed hard, stepping forward. It was time to act.
"Hey," I said, my voice shaking a little as I approached them. "What the hell do you think you're doing?"
Layla's eyes flicked to me, narrowing in instant recognition. "Oh, look who's here," she sneered. "The loser wants to play hero." Her voice dripped with disdain.
The other girls giggled, but I was beyond caring. I turned to them, speaking slowly but with enough venom in my voice to make them pause. "You're nothing but a bunch of bitches," I spat, my eyes locking onto Layla's.
The air was tense, and for a second, I wasn't sure if I'd just made things worse. But then, Layla's eyes flashed with anger. She shot me a glare that could kill, but her group of bullies backed off. They muttered under their breath, but they left the library, giving us a wide berth.
I walked up to Emma, who was still standing there, wide-eyed, clutching her books to her chest.
"Are you okay?" I asked softly, my voice quieter than I'd intended.
She nodded slowly. "Yeah... Thanks. That was... you really helped."
I smiled, awkwardly scratching the back of my neck. "I'm... I'm just glad I could help."
As I spoke, a new screen appeared in front of my eyes, the options floating in the air like a menu.
Evil Path: Use her weakness. Corrupt her.
Kind Path: Help her. Slowly win her trust.
I stared at the choices, the weight of the decision pressing on me. There was a part of me that felt almost... powerful, looking at the options.
I chose the kind path. The moment I did, I felt a strange sensation, like a cold shiver running through my body. Something was different.
"Good choice," the AI's voice echoed in my mind, almost like it was right there beside me. "Now, your choices will matter more. You'll see them in real life, too."
I blinked, unsure if I heard that last part correctly. Was it inside my head now?
But before I could think about it further, the bell rang, signaling the end of lunch. I turned back to Emma, offering her a tentative smile.
"Take care of yourself, alright?" I said.
She smiled back shyly, nodding. "You too."
And with that, I left the library, feeling like something big was about to unfold.