When I opened my eyes, I was instantly blinded.
A harsh, sterile light seared through my vision. Instinctively, I tried to lift my hands to shield myself—but they didn't move.
Clink.
"…What?"
My wrists were bound. Tight.
Chains wrapped around my ankles too.
Oui… This ain't good.
I blinked rapidly, forcing my eyes to adjust. At first glance, it looked like a hospital. But something felt… off. Too clinical. Too cold.
A monitor beeped beside me, tracking my vitals. But there were also strange vials of glowing liquid, bone saws that looked like they belonged in horror movies, and tools with serrated edges too fine for surgery.
Ugh… Seriously, where am I? This place creeps me out. And where are Isaac, Rona, and Ronald?
I twisted, trying to shake myself free—but the chains rattled louder than I expected. That's when I heard it.
Whispers.
"…Wrong… change… plan…"
My ears perked up. Just outside the glass wall of the room, two people in lab coats spoke in hushed tones.
"What are they saying? I can't hear… If only I had sharper ears," I muttered.
A sigh slipped from my lips.
Normally, I'd be complaining about how sensitive my ears are. Now I'm wishing for it. Hahaha…
When I turned back, I froze.
A woman was standing right in front of me.
What the—? I didn't hear her footsteps… Did she just float in? That's… Coooool~
The woman giggled as if she read my thoughts, her eyes twinkling with amusement.
"Are you not afraid?"
Her hand gently rested on my head. I stared up at her, gauging her expression.
"A bit," I admitted. "But where am I? And where are my friends?"
Her smile faded. Her eyes dropped.
"They're safe… for now," she whispered, scanning the hallway. "As for this place…"
She leaned in, her voice low.
"This is a lab. One of many. We store kidnapped children from Eden here and place them in virtual trials. The one you just passed was one of them."
I felt like the air had been sucked from my lungs. My mind raced.
She reached for the chains and unlatched them one by one.
"Come. I'll show you around."
I sat up slowly, rubbing the soreness from my wrists and ankles. "Aren't you worried I'll run away?"
The woman gave a soft, cold chuckle.
"No one escapes. They can die trying, of course, but escape? No."
She glanced at the table near me. A red stain glistened faintly on the surgical tools.
My eyes widened. I reached up to my head instinctively.
Don't tell me…
"A tracker," she said calmly, "and a bomb. Planted in every child's brain. Try to escape, and we'll know. And we will detonate it."
My face drained of color. My lips parted, but no sound came.
A bomb… in my head…?
She handed me a cup of water like it was nothing.
"You'll get used to it, like all the others."
I stared down into the water, motionless.
The woman gave a knowing smile.
"There's no poison, don't worry. I wouldn't want to get in trouble with the higher-ups."
I analyzed her—tone, expression, body language.
She doesn't seem to be lying… But that doesn't mean she didn't put something else in here.
I tilted the cup. Water spilled onto the floor.
Sizzle.
A soft hiss echoed. A hole began to burn through the tile.
I snapped my gaze back to her.
The woman kept smiling.
"Oops. Wrong cup, I guess."
She pulled a knife from her coat.
The blade gleamed, and she moved fast—too fast.
But before it reached me—
SLAM.
A doctor rushed in, just as the woman turned and dashed out of the room. The door swung shut behind her.
My knees buckled. My body collapsed.
The doctor caught me before I hit the ground and gently laid me on the bed.
"You shouldn't be out of bed. You're still weak from fatigue."
He didn't chain me this time.
He turned away, busying himself with the monitors again.
I pulled the sheets over my head and curled up.
What if everything she said was true? If so… then all four of us—Isaac, Rona, Ronald—we're stuck here. We can't get out.
No.
There had to be a way.
Information. That's what I need. Before anything else—I need more information.
My hands were still trembling.
But first… I need to rest. Then I'll find the others. Somehow.
I exhaled, long and slow.
I wonder… what Master's doing right now?
"Zzz… Hmm…"
Sleep was bliss—until something sharp prodded my cheek.
I groaned, rolled over—another poke in the back.
"Stop it, already!"
I shot upright.
There he was.
Master. Looking pissed.
"How could ya be so rude to your Master, imp?"
I looked down. He was holding a bamboo back scratcher like it was a holy weapon.
"…Do you want me to help you scratch your back, Master?"
Master squinted. "Oh? What with the change of heart, imp? Did the third game make ya pure at heart? Your Master is so pleased."
I reached for the scratcher, but Master yanked it away.
"What do ya think ya doin', imp?"
"Helping you scratch your back?"
Master stared at the bamboo stick. Then at me.
"This? It's a back scratcher? Not an armpit scratcher?"
I recoiled.
"MASTER! You poked me with that thing?! That smelly, useless wood?!"
"Smelly? It ain't!" He sniffed it with pride. "It smells good, like my armpit."
I almost hurled.
"Master, please, put that away!"
"Tsk, tsk, tsk. Imp being so arrogant now that ya passed the third game. Hmph!"
I massaged my temples.
"Oui… My head…"
Master loomed closer, arms crossed.
"So? Where's my story? I'M WAITING~"
I sighed and recounted what happened in the third game.
By the time I finished, Master looked smug.
"Oh, imp! You know what makes me so happy?"
"Having a genius student like me?"
"Sure," he replied flatly.
"They say students always follow their Master. I wonder if that's true."
Master's eyes sparkled.
"Of course that's true, imp. Look at me—I'm a super genius. Under my tender loving care and guidance, ya became a genius, too! Mmhmm! Bow down to my supremacy!"
I rolled my eyes. "Sure, Master." Clap, clap.
"But that's not it. The thing that made ya Master most happy is…"
He paused dramatically. I yawned.
"Hey! Don't just sit there! Ya supposed to throw in some flowers or something!"
I glanced around. "There's nothing here!"
"Then do something!"
I gave a smug nod. "Imagination is more powerful than anything else, Master. It'll satisfy you in the blink of an eye."
He beamed. "OH! YA RIGHT, IMP!"
He closed his eyes and began muttering. "The blossom… the blaze… the food! There's so many!"
I lay back down.
Eventually, Master screamed.
"I GOT IT! The perfect effect! Wake up, imp! Ya need to witness the power of ya Master's imagination! LOOK!"
I sat up and blinked. "…What?"
Master grinned proudly.
I stared blankly. 'As if I can read your mind, fool. But I better play along.'
"WOW, Master! That was AWESOME! It was here and there—bam bam! My mind is blown! Master is the best!"
I threw my arms up like a lunatic.
Master looked so proud. Like a toddler who drew their first stick figure.
"Oh my, imp. Master is so happy now. I've never been this happy…"
Then his tone shifted.
"…Now I'm sad."
"…???"
'What now? Oh right. He's loco.'
"Why are you sad, Master?"
He looked at me, serious.
"Today is the last day together, imp."
My heart skipped.
"…What? You mean… we're no longer Master and student?"
Master nodded. "That's right. Tomorrow, ya'll get a new Master. Someone stronger. Wiser. Less dirty. They'll guide ya better."
… So, he knew that he's dirty…
I lowered my gaze.
"B-but…"
He placed a hand on my shoulder.
"It's alright, imp. Don't 'cha worry a thing. If ya have any trouble, I, ya first Master will assist ya all the way."
I smiled faintly. "Yeah… I know. Thanks, Master. It's been a pleasure."
He hugged me tightly, hand gently patting my head.
"Ya a good imp. Don't lose ya light forever. I've seen too many lights extinguished—never to return. But ya not alone. Ya got people around ya. Friends. Acquaintances. Those ya love. Even if ya lose it… you can rekindle it. Just don't let it go forever. Understand?"
I slowly shook my head.
Master sighed.
"Ya'll know… when the time comes."
…This is the first time Master's ever said something that actually made sense. Wait—don't tell me… is he dying?
Master's eye twitched. "I ain't dying, ya cursed imp!"
Whack!
The back scratcher landed squarely on my head.