I think I've just lost the privilege of being invisible.
– the doll
I remained stuck, frozen in front of the screen, not knowing what to do.
Even though the sentence was written on a simple interface, it produced a far more unpleasant feeling in me than the gunfire that had chased me just minutes before. A bullet could be dodged. An opponent could be lost. But someone who already knew I was there, who even seemed to be waiting for me—that same feeling of being watched.
I looked in all directions, and especially towards the door.
It was open.
Person.
I then looked at the other screens, searching for a camera. Just screens that lit up again, but none showed a camera or a face. Yet the information scrolled by with an almost unsettling regularity, as if the building were functioning perfectly despite its abandoned appearance.
I moved away from the metal table.
TAC
My back hit a cabinet, files scattering across the floor. I picked up the first document and quickly scanned it. Names, numbers, information about both teams, their movements, and their objectives were written on several pages—everything that could help me understand the message.
I put the file back down.
BIP
A second screen lit up behind me.
"ARE YOU DONE?"
that robotic and shrill voice
This time, my heart really started beating faster.
I didn't like it.
I really didn't like voyeurs.
– It's not funny, I don't appreciate this little game.
No response.
The screen remained black for a few seconds before a new sentence appeared.
"YOU SHOULD BE ASKING YOURSELF WHERE YOU ARE, YOU DEAD LITTLE PLAYER."
I exhaled deeply and clutched my neck.
Part of me just wanted to leave this room, return to the outside area, and put as much distance as possible between myself and this installation. This doll is freely mocking me; she's having a field day.
– What do you want from me?
This time, the response was immediate.
"FINALLY, AN INTELLIGENT QUESTION, THE ONLY INTELLIGENT THING YOU'VE EVER SAID"
I remained still.
– you for purposes?
I scratch my throat.
This specimen had suddenly transformed; he assumed an upright posture and crossed his arms in front of him, made an almost reflexive gesture, putting his glasses back in place.
He no longer wore them.
Everything seemed to be getting closer.
– Why did you bring me here?
The characters appeared slowly.
"I DIDN'T REALLY BRING YOU HERE, BUT oh well..."
.
– I hope you didn't bring me back here to laugh at my fate
But she did not want to answer and maintained a long, composed silence.
I approached the table and sat down on it.
– I have all day
The sentence appeared.
"What a spoilsport, couldn't you just play along?"
She was too simple, she sees us as her pawns.
- seriously
I asked him wearily
No response.
– I recognized you, you're clever, it was you too for "the cube"
I kept a neutral expression, and sure of it, I don't know where she's watching from, but if I want to pull a glass out of her nose, there's nothing better than lifting her opponent.
Silence.
– Since the first message?
Still nothing.
I was starting to lose patience.
– you are omnipresent, a true god
– I'm a little jealous
The screen remained black for a few seconds.
Then a final sentence appeared.
"YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE, ONLY YOUR SOUL INTERESTS ME, SIGN WITH ME."
An unpleasant thought crossed my mind.
The doll could lie and deceive me.
– and Why are you talking to me now?
The screen remained silent.
Then all the lights in the building went out at the same time.
It's my fault.
A second later, a faint red light came on at the back of the room.
A door that I hadn't noticed before had just opened.
Behind it was a staircase that led down under the building.
I looked at the screen one last time.
A sentence had just appeared.
« COME. »