𝕔:\𝔽𝕀𝕃𝔼_ℕ𝕆𝕋_𝔽𝕆𝕌ℕ𝔻.𝔼𝕏𝔼 ～ 𝘔𝘳. 𝘙𝘰𝘣𝘰𝘵

14 - W31c0m3_311i0t.wpd

The air is dusty and moldy, I guess it's because of the black bag I have over my head, blocking my view and making it harder for me to breath.

The lights burn my face, I can feel the rays make my eyes water after the bag is whipped off my head. I see a man, holding the bag, walking towards a table that is placed in a shadowed area of the room.

Did you see him? What does he look like?

Where am I-

Wait, I'm in the same underground lair, slowly adjusting to the tube lights overhead that are really starting to get on my nerves.

I reach to rub my eyes-

CLANG!

I'm handcuffed to the chair I'm sitting on. Just great.

I squeeze my eyes shut a few times. It's at this moment that I feel a sharp wave of pain at the side of my head. This guy must have knocked me unconscious.

"Wh-Who are you?" I ask hoarsely and the man chuckles, his voice echoing to make it seem more fearful than it is.

"Just a man trying to do what's right, trying to do his job," He answers, stationary clanging on the surface of the table. I can only see his hands clearly, he places something heavy on the table... something made of metal.

"I see that you're not that keen on having this meet up clean and straightforward Elliot," He lifts the object, it reflects the light and helps me recognise it.

It's my gun... shit.

"Look, it was just a precaution. I don't mean any-"

"Yeah yeah, I know you're much more smarter than that Elliot," He said, "Your Five/Nine movement was inspiring! I learnt a lot from that, what tactics could work and the vulnerability of mere human beings... Brilliant!"

He starts to applaud and I raise an eyebrow. "Uh... So it's true. You're the guy behind this whole current apocalypse," I comment and I see him taking a bow.

"Right you are, welcome to the world that should be," He says, his tone appearing as if a grin on his lips reaches from one ear to the other.

"So Elliot, are you ready to join me on a life-changing journey?" He questions, leaving me utterly confused.

"What?"

"This journey, making the world a better place, removing technology and it's illusion out of the picture," He clarifies and I pause.

He wants me to work with him? Why?!

"I'm not helping you ruin the world more than you already-"

BBZZZRRRKK!

I jerk my head back, the pain floods through my entire body. A tingling sensation starts to drive my mind c-crazy, I can't seem to m-m-make... m-make it ST-STOP!

It comes to a halt, I sit up in my seat with sweat beading down my temples. I watch the man's figure with blurred vision. "What... Wh-What was that?" I ask tiredly and he steps closer to me.

I didn't realise till the shock set in my brain that I have electrodes attached to my head and chest, wires reaching to an ECG kind of machine, which is showing my vitals.

"It's a machine I created with a program software I wrote up," He answers, "I wanted to test it out and I thought you of all people should be the privileged one."

"You're insane!" I tell breathlessly and he laughs loudly. "Well that's the cost for being one of the greatest minds on the planet... along side you of course," He raises an arm towards me with acknowledgment and I eye him suspiciously.

He walks closer and places a hand on top of the machine, patting it's metallic and plastic surface. "It's still under testing but it can alter brain activity and create certain scenarios that the one on control would like to input," The man explains, "I personally would like to use it for the more severe purpose than bringing euphoria."

And at this moment, all the like pieces fit together in my head.

The way he keeps complimenting my intellect and the FSociety hack, the way he was talking about joining forces... how this machine works and what it can do. Friend, don't you see it?!

"You want to brainwash me into working with you?" I repeat the thought process beating against the walls of my mind, drifting off into a feeling of disbelief.

He nods his head slowly, "Oh Elliot, don't put it like that. I'm not that cruel, I'm doing what's best for the world and what it deserves after what it did to me!"

He reaches to turn the machines dial of intensity and I struggle to try and stop him. I really don't want to go through that pain again.

"PLEASE DON'T-"

BBZZZRRRKK!

I feel as if I'm pushed back in my seat, this time the shock goes straight to my heart. It's as if I can't breathe, as everything around me seems to slowly fade away.

"Look Elliot we'll do just fine together," He steps closer to me, his voice making my head throb. I notice that he's wearing a bandana covering his face below his nose.

"You and me... we're the same," He removes his mask and smiles as he bends down closer to my face, "We have the same drive, the same hatred for society, the same... family trauma."

He turns the machine off and I bend over, gasping for air.

"I am you Elliot and you... you are me," He states and when my vision clears up I take a good long and shock-filled look at him.

"No... You're... That's not possible," I stutter, shaking my head continuously and glancing to the ground. He chuckles and starts to walk towards one of the data aisles.

Did I make a mistake?

No, I don't make mistakes.

I'm actually right in front of this guy... he's real.

I can't believe that out of everyone, it's him who's responsible for the catastrophe.

It's the man from the Philmore Trials... Richard Philmore.