Artificial Tears

Chapter 38

In the darkness she wanders through the dust filled streets, making sure none can spot her with the help of her newly added night vision.

Personally she doesn't like it, the night vision that is, it makes her truth more real and herself as less human.

But System just wanted to help her, so Edith decided to not say anything about it.

Together they move along so quietly, it seems like even the AI is holding their breath.

All of a sudden both hear a cry for help coming from one of the dark buildings.

It sounds like the crying of a child.

"I hate to tell you this, but if you want to get out of here alive, you better leave them." System says, sensing Edith's hesitation.

Edith stands still for a moment, while listening quietly.

Then another cry can be heard, one of pure agony and desperation.

"System, didn't the three rules of robotics include that we have to help... people?" At first she wanted to say 'humans', but couldn't form the words on her lips, everything has gone so fast and is still far too surreal for her.

"No, no, no! You don't!!" System hisses: "There is another rule for us as well you know: You may save yourself!"

Fully knowing how stupid she is, Edith starts heading towards the place where she heard the noise coming from.

"If you continue this way, you will die!"

"I'm stronger than them."

"No, you're not! To some people you're still weak!"

"But I don't feel pain anymore."

"Do you want me to turn it back on for you?"

Ignoring the protesting AI, Edith continues, she knows System is right, but she just can't.

She remembers a day in which, as a child, she had gotten lost and didn't know where her parents were.

She searched and searched, but just couldn't find them.

In a panic, she started to cry.

Eventually a nice old lady came by, asked her what was wrong and took her to a nearby police station where she was reunited with her parents again.

People can be really kind.

"You know that that memory is a fake, right?"

Edith can feel herself growing cold.

Right, that wasn't real at all... damn it...

But still...

It felt so real.

Living a life that was an entire lie...

From going to theme parks with friends to all the lessons she had gone to at the schools she went to.

Even her friends themselves had been nothing short of a lie, none of it was real.

And now she's unable to trust her own mind.