The Wheel

75. Kate

That miserable piece of crap! Sure, I told everyone I was fine after Mike's blow, but I could really die!

"Did you know Mike would attack me?" I ask.

"Yes, Ms. Lims," the host answered. "In fact, we planned on turning on our special 'calming' sound before Mike would lash out on you, but there was a technical failure. I apologize!"

What? Is that it?

"I don't believe you!" I resented. "The viewers the situations when shit happens," I flipped off the camera, spectators in masks, Sam, and Max.

"As you wish, Ms. Lims. In any case we provided for you the help you needed."

"And what about Ayama?" I asked. "It sounds like Siri on my phone, but it's still different."

"It's our pride and joy," that jerk Sam declared happily, "Ayama is our artificial intelligence, developed by scientists and programmers of DarkHOLEnet. I can tell you that we call her the one who should be trusted."

"To trust artificial intelligence that's talking trash, turning on the mind-exploding sound, pushes our buttons and other stuff? You have a good sense of humor. Yeah, our life in social networks is a complete and utter fake; we all hide our secrets; we're surrounded by people, whose lives consist of sufferings, sorrows, and inner demons – thanks for the 'enlightenment'," I said sarcastically.

"Oh, Ayama is unique artificial intelligence that is on the verge of self-awareness, Ms. Lims," insisted that damn host of 'The Wheel', "we all hope that one day she'll become alive and will change the world in the ways you can't even imagine."

"You are saying that one day there will be living robots, like in the TV series 'Humans' or in the game Detroit: Become Human?" asked Miguel who is also interested in science fiction.

"It's something more global, Mr. Keep. Way more global," Max answered mysteriously.

Looks like my group mates have run out of questions: what's going to happen with us now? They'll kill us? We know about the existence of DarkSHITnet. Why would they need witnesses? It's weird, but I don't give a crap about that! Just spare me the suffering!

"How are you feeling, Sam?" Max asked that jackass.

"A little tired," he laughed, "it wasn't easy at all to organize all of this."

"I understand you. What do you think about that?"

"I'm of the opinion, everyone should go through this. You and me: we both know what it feels like to spin the wheel and tell all of your secrets."

Have they taken part in 'The Wheel'? Is it some sort of a cult?

"And take off all your masks!" Max looked at the spectators in the hall, "well, your inner masks, to be exact."

The people in the hall started laughing. Ha ha ha! Very 'funny'!

"What's going to happen with us now?" asked Emma.

Seven small envelopes were lowered from above.

"Consider it hush money," Sam explained. "Anyway, if you try and look for us or go to the police, it won't get you anywhere. I suppose you understand that it would be better for you not to mention DarkHOLEnet at all?"

None of us said a word.

"Well, it was nice meeting you," Max was closing up. "And now: one, two, three," he snapped his fingers.

The lights went off. The spectators started clapping again. Before falling asleep, I could hear Sam speaking.

"Good bye, Veronica. I'm so sorry," he said quietly.