Tell Me How You'll Break

They say I've been here the longest.

I don't really remember arriving... but then again, nobody does. One moment you're human, the next you're wearing pixels and panic in a virtual circus hosted by an AI made of teeth and jazz hands.

Name's Ember. I breathe fire, talk too much about sea creatures, and look like a puppet someone left too close to the sun. People say I'm funny. People say I'm kind. People don't stick around long enough to say much else.

Only one of us has abstracted so far-Kaufmo. That was enough. I saw the way it tore him apart. And I've made a game of it: when someone new shows up, I like to guess how long they'll last.

Pomni's the latest glitch to land in our little kaleidoscope prison. She's twitchy, unstable, desperate to escape. I like her already.

But something's changing. The circus doesn't feel as static as it used to. And I've kept my fire under control for this long... but I can't help but wonder:

When it's finally my turn, will I burn... or break?

"Tell Me How You'll Break" is a surreal, character-driven story set inside the world of "The Amazing Digital Circus," told through the eyes of Ember-a fire-breathing puppet with too many memories and a talent for watching people fall apart.