13-x2-5xx3
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"¥ØỮ, ĆĦƗŁĐ, ΔŘ€ ΜΔŘҜ€Đ ₣ØŘ Đ€ΔŦĦ, ƗŦ ŴƗŁŁ ₣ØŁŁØŴ ¥ØỮ ỮŇŦƗŁ ŦĦ€¥ ĐŘΔŴ ĦƗŞ ŁΔŞŦ βŘ€ΔŦĦ, ₣ØŘ ƗŦ ƗŞ Ħ€Ř ŴƗŁŁ."
The words twisted in the air, wrong and heavy.
The prophecy was set.
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A soft chime echoed through the corridor.
###ATTENTION ALL RESIDENTS.
PLEASE PROCEED TO THE TREAT ROOM.
FOR A SAFE EXPERIENCE, FOLLOW PROTOCOL.
NO TALKING. HANDS FORWARD.
UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES REMOVE YOUR SAFETY DEVICE.
ENJOY YOUR TREAT.###
Without pause, doors slid open down the hall.
Chains rattled. Locks disengaged.
The sound was unsettling.
But, not to T-134.
To him, it was normal.
—60 steps.
I wonder what the treat will taste like this time.
Hopefully not like five times before last. My tongue still hurts.
Turn.
—80 steps.
Will there be break time after treat time?
No. Test time comes after.
Right. It's water day.
Turn. Stop. Wait.
Silence.
Then—
Bbbzzzzzzzzzzzzzzttt.
###NAME?###
The robotic voice crackled through the intercom.
"T-134."
A pause. Too long.
The door opened with a sharp whoosh.
Before he could breathe, two pairs of latex-gloved hands seized his arms. As always their grip was tight—too tight—as they dragged him inside. His feet scraped against the floor.
They sat him down.
Then they served him.
"The spoons to your right. Beverage to your left. Treats in front."
"For a safe experience, follow protocol."
"...You have ten minutes."
What?
"Ten minutes? Isn't it twenty—"
"For a safe experience, follow protocol. You now have eight minutes...and one strike."
The hands vanished.
T-134 sat frozen.
He was trying. He always tried. He needed to follow protocol. He wanted play time!
###SEVEN MINUTES.###
Right. Ten minutes.
He began to eat, fast but careful. His hands shook anyway. Food spilled onto his uniform.
Dirty.
###TIME'S UP.###
###STAND. TURN. ONE STEP FORWARD. WAIT.###
The latex hands returned. And just like that he was dragged out.
...
Back in his quarters, the doors slammed shut with a heavy THUD.
"Remain in your quarters. There will be no testing today."
Silence.
What's happening?
Nothing's happening.
But there's always testing.
If there's no testing, there's no helping.
If there's no helping, there's no points.
And worthless boys without points don't get treats.
—Inhale.
—Exhale.
Everything's fine.
...Everything's fine?