It would be breathtaking if it didn’tfeelso wrong. It’s too quiet. There’s no breeze sifting through the leaves to make them rustle and whisper. And the smell seems off as well. Like you’ve had a bouquet of flowers out on a table and they’ve started to wither and turn, a bit sour and metallic. Even the colors of the flowers seem strange, like you’re looking at them through some intensified filter.
I walk along the path, thinking back on my simulated tour of Earth. It felt just like this, like me walking over this little walkway, observing everything around me. Feeling the ground under my feet like it was really made of rock and dirt and earth, when in reality it’s nothing more than this Caelum armor making me see and smell and hear and feel these things. But, ifthisis a virtual tour too, does that mean it’s not real? I reach out to touch a leaf hanging from a long branch. It has the same veiny textures as the ones on Earth do, it feels just like a leaf, but it’s not really in my hands, is it?
It’s not real.
I’m starting to seriously wonder ifanyof this is real. Is there a botanical garden on this ship, or are the Caelum justprogramedto see things that don’t really exist? What if this ship has no garden? What if all the Caelum are plugged into some main automated computer that floats in space and their reality and everything they know and believe is from a stupid piece of software?
What if they were made to believe in the extinction of humans, but in reality, there was no worldwide pandemic to wipe us all out? What if they were lied to all this time?
A girl could hope, can’t she?
A bright flash of light cuts through my sight. It’s so intense it hurts and I’m momentarily blinded. Is it just the screen—or is it something more? “Tore? Is that you? Did you do something to this thing?” I knock my knuckles along the ridge of the helmet.
“Tore, is it?” A voice cracks out from behind me, sharp and angry. “Interesting, yet so comedic. I thought I had that insignificant maintenance moron expired.”
That’s Pious’s voice.
I whirl around frantically. And there he is, right behind me, less than an arm’s reach away.And way larger than I remember him ever being.
“Shit,” I say, stumbling back and tripping over my feet. I fall back on my bottom with a loud grunt and frustrated screech.
Pious laughs maniacally as he looms over me. “Where are you hiding on my ship, girl? Come out, come out, wherever you are…” He stomps a step closer to me. “Did you forget about my plans for coitus and reproduction of my next generation?”
He’s not real. He’s not really here and neither am I. “You’re not really here,” I say, kicking my feet through the dirt on the ground between us. “Tore!” I yell, scrambling away. “Tore, get me out of here!”
“Tore, get me out of here,”Pious mimics my words in a squeaky squealy voice. “Pathetic, weak little female. Is my brother there with you?”
“Fuck off!” I scream, scrambling to my feet.
He’s suddenly right there, lunging forward, grabbing me by the arm. I feel it. I feel his icy metallic fingers wrap around my wrist and yank me forward.How is that possible? How can this feel so real when I’m hidden, safe in the core with Rune and the others?I’m suddenly paralyzed with shock and confusion.I want out of this stupid suit!
The gears on Pious’s face lift and curl into a sinister smile. “Is that where you are, female? In the core with Rune and the others?”
What the hell? How does he know that?My heart pulses wildly and I shriek and try to twist away, but his metal fingers clench tighter, stabbing spikes of pain up to my shoulder. I think he’s trying to break my bone.But how could he, if we’re both not really here? This is just a simulation!
“Pray tell, who are these others you think of?” he says darkly.
“Let go of me, you asshole!” My voice screams and cracks over the words. “Tore! Tore! Take this fucking mask off my face!”
Again, he laughs in that perverse way of his, and squeezes my arm even tighter.
An explosion of rage barrels through me and I push forward and slam my free hand into his chest, hammer-fisting him over and over. It’s like hitting a brick wall. It doesn’t even faze him. It just makes his stupid metal mouth smile wider.
A whimper slips from my throat and I claw at my faceplate to try to get it off. I can’t reach the lever. I can’t even find it.
Pious thrusts forward, pressing all his weight into me, and my body slams back into the dirt again. This time with him on top of me, straddling my waist and hips. His right forearm immediately flies up my body and pins my throat to the ground. Sharp pain explodes through my collarbone, surging up my neck. I can’t breathe.I can’t fucking breathe.He’s choking me.
I try to scream, but the only sound that comes out of my mouth is a strangled gurgle.Jesus, doesn’t Tore see me struggling? Doesn’t he see me getting choked out on the floor in front of him? Can’t Rune tell something is wrong with me? This can’t be all in my head. It feels too real.The pressure on my throat clenches and my scalp swells and tightens like a balloon ready to pop. I claw at Pious’s faceplate, grasping and tearing at it. Panic bubbles and explodes like fireworks over every inch of my body. My vision blurs to grays and blues, as if I’m looking up while someone is holding my head under water.
I don’t want to die. I can’t. I can’t die like this. Hot sparks of adrenaline rip up my arms, but I continue to flail my fist against his head and face.
If I could just hit him in the right place—somehow shift his weight off me to find some air.
His free hand lifts and I stop hitting him and try to pull my forearms together to cover my face. I don’t know if he’s going to hit me or press down heavier on my neck, but I can’t pull my arms together close enough to block his strike. If he lands a punch to my face, I think I’m certain to die.
I think I’m certain to die here anyway. Even if this is just virtual reality, it feels too real. Pious lifts his body up and brings his hand down to strike, and in this stupid armor I can’t even close my eyes to keep from watching it.
