Despite all my instincts yelling at me to run, I followed the examiner. I know I can't outrun the adult in a building he's familiar with. Never engage the enemy in their own lair. I entered the room, hearing the door seal shut with an ominous hiss behind me.

Mr Byte and I faced each other. We were alone.

"Your name is Noah?" He asked. I nodded. No point denying it.

"Noah, you scored extremely well in the test earlier. I'd like to congratulate you." I nodded again, wary of where this is going.

"You were really good with the computer. Good job."

"Thank you."

Hold on. Did he just say Computer? There was a slight change in the teacher's eyes, and I realized that his choice of words were intentional. A trap. He knows. But does he know that I know he knows? Or am I able to cover this up?

My eyes must have given away my internal turmoil, because the examiner adjusted his posture, confidence exuding from his body language.

"You're one of the reincarnated." Mr Byte announced, head tilted to one side, face blank, eyes poking my face for a reaction.

Not even bothering to hide it, huh. Why would he? He's the experienced adult, and I'm just the six year old with the mind of an otherworlder. In his eyes, I'm not a threat. I'm at his mercy.

"What's that?" I decided to play the innocent kid card. The Examiner's facial expression told me I hadn't played it well enough.

"Come on, it's no use lying to me. I can tell. I was from Earth too, you know."

This piece of information took me by surprise, but I tried to conceal it. "You're from Earth?"

"Finally done with the pretenses, are we? How else do you think I got to know about the computer? Who do you think made the Toxxs in this world?"

This examiner is certainly full of surprises. "You made them? But how? Were you an engineer or something?"

"That's a secret. Now, I'm afraid I'll have to let someone know about this..." So saying, his hand slid to his pockets.

Let someone know?

No. I can't let that happen. No one must find out that I'm one of the reincarnated.

"Can't you keep it a secret between us?" I pleaded.

Mr Byte sighed tiredly. "No can do." He rummaged in his pocket, searching for something.

Worth a try, I guess. But things that are worth a try rarely work out.

Now that it's come to this, there's only one thing left to do. And I only have one chance, so I'd have to do it right. There will be no room for mistakes, or my life in this world would be in jeopardy.

I activated imaginary space.

A flash of white light. The Examiner's eyebrow furrowed, confused. His confusion quickly turned to alarm as a semi-translucent ethereal haze materialized from thin air. A brief shout, and his features disappeared beneath Imaginary Space. I had caught him off guard, but it won't last long. Imaginary Space doesn't affect anything physical and is unable to directly interact with physical matters, hence the possibility of spatial superimposition. It's an ability that interacts solely with the immaterial, and won't be able to cause him direct harm.

An annoying restriction, but control of the immaterial will suffice here. Provided what I'm about to try actually works.

Byte staggered backwards, hands flailing uselessly at the haze. They passed right through. I closed my eyes.

Concentrate.

"Noah, you scored extremely well..."

Remember the voice. Isolate the experience. Uproot the memory.

Three more seconds.

Two.

One.

Right on time, imaginary space deactivated, leaving a perplexed looking Byte frowning with his hands over his head. Had I succeeded? If I failed...

Byte shook his head. "What was I doing? Well, anyway. Noah, you scored extremely well in the test earlier. I'd like to congratulate you." I nodded, knowing what was coming next.

"You were really good with the computer. Good job."

"What's a computer?" I asked with a quizzical stare. Mr Byte stared right back, trying to ascertain what I knew. I stood my ground, and it was the examiner that looked away first.

"Nothing, nothing. I meant the Toxx. My mistake!" He laughed. " Go on and join the other children in that room." He pointed at an area in the wall.

The wall separated, revealing another room. Several heads turned our way. The other children. So they were safe. I'd let my paranoia get the better of me.

Beaming, I joined them in the room, hearing Byte call the name Alexander as the walls sealed.

I'd did it.