Out of the Shell

9 - Amielle Valentine

November 23, 2404

07:00

"M-263? M-263, are you here?" I kept shouting out, but nothing was working. I was at my hiding spot, the place where M-263 had saved me from drowning. I believe it is safe to come to the conclusion that I was set back in time. I'm not sure for what reason, all I know is that everything returned to the way it once was -- or it seems so. Sitting down on the tree stump in the middle of the opening in the grass, I stared at the sunlight glimmering off of the still water in front of me. I thought about Vena and how they helped me. Maybe Vena sought out to help me but hurt me to get me to where I am now. Back in Ixus, I wasn't sure whether to believe Vena or myself.

"Did you forget what you're here for?" someone said. I jumped off the tree stump, startled. It was the same low, metallic voice that I heard on Ixus.

"Vena? W-What are you doing here?" I stammered.

Vena slowly pointed to their left. "The Institute."

I looked over to the direction they pointed. The Institute stood tall, and it was still completely intact. "I thought you destroyed it?"

"We're in the past. The attack will happen eventually," Vena lowered their arm. "The Institute must be destroyed."

"But..." I stopped. "M-263... Brandon... Jason. What about them?"

Vena laughed. "Is it them you really care about? Or is it yourself?"

I didn't answer, still staring at the figure dressed in purple with their face completely masked.

"Tell me, Amielle. What got you caught in this mess in the first place?"

I clenched my fists. The question they asked me a few seconds ago really got me thinking. "You did."

"What?" Vena asked.

"You got me caught in this mess. Instead of asking me if I only care about myself, start by figuring out who you really care about. Is it me, or is it you?"

Vena laughed quietly. "I like you. It's good that you're smart. People like you always want to defend their words, even in the deepest extremities."

"What are you on about?" I became enraged. "Are you going to let me go, or are you going to keep pressuring me about your plan to destroy the Institute?"

"I gave you your life back. I can put it back under my control in an instant."

"Do it, and your life is on the line. You need me, don't you?"

Vena stood in silence. "My life is already on the line. The truth is, without you and M-263, I would have already carried out my plan successfully. You don't realize that I'm giving you a second chance at this. The Institute is controlling people. They literally install a microchip into your head, and they have full control over those microchips. So do I. Citizens are not supposed to have access to all of them, but they don't enforce that law. Doesn't that show a red flag?"

I completely changed the subject. "Who really are you, anyway? The second you take off your hood and show your face is the second I support you."

Vena slowly took off their hood. I expected a completely different outcome of this situation. What I saw underneath the hood was a beautiful girl, no older than ten years old, with long black hair, pale white skin, and eyes with a hue of different shades of purple.

"You're... you're a little girl?" I asked, astonished.

"Yes." Her voice was soft and quiet, with a pleasant high pitch.

"But... how?"

"What were you expecting? A forty-year-old man with intent to murder you?" She smiled.

"I guess so, I mean--"

"Shh," Vena somehow was now standing really close to me. She placed her finger on my lips. I stared into her bright purple eyes. "You really have nothing to worry about. With or without the Institute, you will still remain who you are until the end." She removed her finger from my lips.

"Is that why you gave my memory back? I asked.

Vena smiled. "I didn't give it back. You found it," She walked over to the tree stump in the middle of the ground and stood on it. Vena was shorter than me, so maybe she wanted to seem taller. "I'll admit, I attacked you for my own benefit. There's no doubt about it. But, it's helping you in the long run."

I was at a loss for words. I was attacked by this strange little girl, and here she is standing in front of me, looking worried and caring about both of our lives. Normally, I would immediately catch a bad vibe from someone, but Vena gives me a different sensation. She reminds me of a state of being, showing that there is still much light left in the darkest of places.

"Help me, Amielle Valentine," Vena said. "I really can't do this without you. We share the same mind, therefore we share the same goal." She reached out her hand and hopped off of the tree stump. I grabbed her hand in return. Her hand was like a projector. Once I took told of it, it became very dim like a phone screen turning off after long inactivity.

"Two minds, one goal," I said.