Maybe I should leave Brooklyn entirely. Maybe I’ll go visit Feather in California earlier than either of us expected.
I put my phone back to sleep and turn to the tub. Maybe a good soak would help.
Pulling off my shirt, I ask the bot to, “Fill the tub, please. Hot, but not… too hot. Thanks.”
“Water use has been restricted.”
I pause with my shorts half off, balancing on one leg. “What? Why?”
“Current actions triggered a safety protocol.”
An ugly thought pops into my head and I ask, “Am I being punished for not going into the booth?”
“Negative. Safety restrictions in place. Mood alteration detected.”
Standing naked next to an empty tub, I’d classify my mood as “highly irritated” but that doesn’t explain why it’s not filling.
“Clarify?”
“Participant behavior indicative of human depression.”
“And you cut off my water…” I take a deep breath and exhale it slowly. “I’m not going to drown myself.”
“Nevertheless, safety protocols are in place until evaluation.”
I wouldn’t say “No” to a free therapy session… or some private time with a punching bag, but I’d like tochoosethem, not have them chosen for me.
“I want to talk to Phantom.”
There’s a brief pause.“Appointment made. Please be at Phantom’s office in ten minutes."
CHAPTER 3
Phantom is a being made of energy. A dark, coalescing creature who takes a vaguely human form every time I see them.
They sit behind a desk that is one-hundred percent set dressing.
I refuse to believe they haven’t made this office as a mockery.
But I sit down and play the game.
“How are you feeling, Jennifer?” Phantom’s voice crackles, like it’s being played over an antique radio.
It’s always strange when they use my real name. It doesn’t feel like Jennifer exists here.
“Frustrated.”
“I understand. I’d like to return you to full privileges, but I need one of two things to make that happen. Either, one of the medical staff needs to sign off… or we need to have a conversation.”
“What do you need to know?”
“Obviously, you’re not in trouble for choosing not to go into the booth today. That is not and never will be something you have to do but when someone comes in and is… absent like you were and they don’t seem to be themselves, I get concerned.”
“Your bots get concerned.”
“I am the bots. They are me… Technically.”
They say it so nonchalantly. “I don’t understand.”
