EX//MACHINA: EXORDIUM

Chapter XI - Cruel, cruel world

Amy thought that things were already bad, but she didn't expect to have the worst week ever. Six days ago, she was going about her usual routine, with her mind switched off, going from task to task without feeling anything, as usual. And as she moved some boxes just to avoid standing still, she saw him. Her mind went through so many phases in that moment that she couldn't even process everything, dealing with a storm of both good and bad emotions.

She didn't need to think twice before going to him and giving him the tightest hug she could, and if she had the opportunity, she would stay in that moment for days, and maybe even that wouldn't be enough to make up for a year. But, as nothing could go too well for Amy, she looked into his eyes and saw a very different emotion than she would have loved to see: confusion. Heavens, she was so happy, but so happy for the first time in so long, that not only had she forgotten this feeling, but she had also forgotten his last warning before he left.

— If I come back, — she remembered the farewell tone he had, giving that "if" a feeling of almost impossibility. — maybe I won't be me anymore, so be careful.

Initially, she hadn't given it any importance at all. Amy was more preoccupied with trying to stop him from doing something very stupid. However, as the months passed unkindly, she had more than enough time to stew over those words multiple times, and yet she had forgotten them, all thanks to his damned green eyes. She was so lost, staring at the young man, always so handsome even with his longer and messy hair, that when her heart broke again, she had to process thousands of emotions once more.

That's what he was talking about, but she didn't want to accept it, she couldn't accept it. Her mind, entangled in painful and confusing thoughts, barely had time to construct an explanation — which made her feel ashamed of her words — and withdraw, seeking some refuge and distance from it all. Again, thinking that things were bad enough already, she was caught by surprise once more when Laura ordered her to go on a mission with him.

She went, avoiding as much contact as possible, breaking her heart several times when she saw "him" trying to figure out what had happened, and Amy had to hear that voice in his head speak the most painful truth she could hear. Then things escalated, a war between two groups happened, she found herself without time and decided to act much sooner than expected, and that's how it all began.

— Where do you think you're going, Amy Hill? — the last person she wanted to meet at that moment was the one who showed up, and the girl smiled, thinking about how much bad luck a person could endure. — Especially after a day like today.

Once again, Laura seemed to always be one step ahead.

— I gotta investigate some stuff; should be back in a few days.

She forced a smile and tried to sound as innocent as possible, but both of them knew she wasn't telling the complete truth. Amy knew she could lie much better than that; she had done it several times before, but something in her was turned off, a part of her that would have taken the willpower to invent something convincing was already dead.

— Investigate a way to help your boyfriend, I presume.

— He ain't my... — she began to reply without thinking, but then decided it wasn't worth arguing about it; Laura was certainly just trying to destabilize her. The bigger problem was how she knew what she was doing. — Whatever. I'm gonna find a way to help him, and then I'll be back; got no intention of runnin' away.

— Amy, we both know who he is and what's going on; you're not just looking for 'some way,' you already know where to go. — she said, and for a moment, Amy appeared surprised, confirming that Laura was right. — Did you think I wouldn't notice what you did in my office?