08/08/26

“I said, we don’t want you to become a liability, Ryder.” Maria Matucci repeated. My eyes came into focus and I saw her standing, hovering over me.

I rose from the couch and moved my shoulders back. Gone was my fear of her. Gone was the uncertainty. I felt different. We were equals.

Tugging at the sleeves of my hoodie, I expected to feel the same surface, but the fabric felt gentle against my fingers. I rubbed it between my fingers and it was silky and smooth. Expensive. I then noticed that I was wearing black jeans. They weren’t the worn-in pair I usually wore, but were tighter, made from a thick material. The jeans felt practically new. I had nice clothes now.

I am back! At the Lab! My heart leaped at the thought.

“Like I said, this is a situation we have to navigate carefully.” Maria Matucci’s voice sounded husky. She was standing next to me, and I noticed she was a full head shorter than me.

“What situation?” I asked and glanced around the room. It was the same set-up, the couches, the Buddah, the tapestries on the wall.

“Listen, Ryder, I think they’re waiting for you downstairs. We can talk later.”

I looked at her, frowning. Why was she calling me Ryder? Dr. Matucci looked at me expectantly, then smiled.

“Remember? The party? Dawn did such a fantastic job! But remember to look surprised.”

“A party?”

“Yes! Today is August 8! Remember? 8/8?”

“Oh, my birthday!” I said.

“Yes, you could call it that.” She chortled. “You know what I like about you, Ryder? It’s your sense of humor. That’s why I agreed to work with you.”

I gulped, trying to piece together what was happening.

Maria Matucci walked to the desk and picked up her phone. It looked like an iPhone, but from the future. I immediately reached into my pocket, checking for mine, and pulled out the very same model Maria Matucci was holding in her hands. It was thin, with a tiny charging port. In the back, the cameras looked more futuristic, popping out like fish eyes. I turned the phone to face me and the screen came alive before I had a chance to enter my passcode.

How does it do that?

Before I could examine the apps, I heard Maria’s voice.

“Ready?”

She walked over to me, her boots clicking on the floor. I noticed she was wearing platform boots, as she usually did. Looking at my own feet, I saw I was wearing black sneakers with white soles. They looked like expensive leather. I’d never seen these before. I must have money. I thought. The thought pleased me.

I followed Maria out of the office. As soon as she opened the door, I heard voices, clapping and then ‘Shhh, he’s coming.’

I walked to the stairwell, and, as soon as I started descending the steps, with Maria next to me, the lights flashed on. I was in the same mansion, but now there was a large chandelier hanging above the entrance. And to the right of the entrance, there was a wall with greenery. I’d never seen anything like it before. It was as if plants were growing on the wall. I wanted to come to it and feel it, but I heard:

The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.

“Surprise!” The living room was full of people. All smiling and clapping. Balloons, yellow and black. Alright, the Pittsburgh colors. I thought. This was pretty normal, probably the most normal thing so far.

“Happy birthday, Boss!” I heard someone yell out, and then the whole room broke out in a cheer. “Happy birthday! Happy birthday!”

Boss?

I scanned the room, trying to figure out who was the boss, but all eyes were on me. It must be me! I gulped at the realization.

And that’s when I noticed the banner. It was hanging on the side wall and read “AI Assisted Living.”

What is that? Is this what the Lab is called now?

Before I could understand what to do next, I noticed Kate. The very same Kate, except the expression on her normally condescending face looked eager to please.

“Boss! We love you!” Kate bared her teeth.

“Yes! We do!” I heard a man’s voice, and Ben popped into view. “You’re the best, boss!” Ben said, giving me a high-five.

Both of them were dressed the same, gray t-shirts with the ‘AI Assisted Living’ logo on them.

What is this place?

The next moment, I saw Dawn. Her hair was bright red, cut in the trapeze fashion, her skin white, almost translucent. She was wearing the same gray t-shirt with the ‘AI Assisted Living’ t-shirt, except in her case the t-shirt was tight and short, the letters AI stretched over her bust and a white outline of her taut belly revealed.

“Hey there, Ryder,” Dawn purred, her voice almost pornographic.

I darted my eyes left and right, expecting people to be outraged by this outright flirtation, but everyone looked at us in approval, completed unfazed. “Are you ready for dessert?” Dawn winked at me suggestively and I blushed. I mumbled ‘sure,’ in part, hoping whatever dessert Dawn had in mind involved her in some shape and form. “Don’t worry, Ryder, it’s gluten free.” Dawn said matter-of-factly, and I snapped from my fantasy.

“Gluten-free?” I opened my eyes wide. I loved pizza, cakes, bread. Why would I eat anything gluten-free?

“Yes! Don’t worry, it’s made with acheta flour and is sugar free as well, just the way you like it.” Kate nodded.

“Uh, alright.” I frowned. I wanted to ask what acheta flour was, but didn’t want to reveal my ignorance.

“From ‘Rise and Shine’ bakery over in Shadyside,” Ben stepped in, gesticulating enthusiastically. “Your favorite!’

“Oh yeah?” I had no recollection of the place, but I played along, and smiled. Kate and Ben took my smile to heart and said in unison,

“We made you a smoothie.”

“You did?” I opened my eyes wide. This isn’t so bad, I can get used to it.

“Yes, boss, just as you like it, also with cricket flour protein. It’s the very best, top of the line.”

“Wait, cricket flour? Is that what acheta is?” I threw my hands up in protest. I wasn’t about to eat crickets or drink them, for that matter. But before I could do anything, I heard Dawn purr in my ear,

“Ryder, come on, we’re here to celebrate.”

As if on cue, a man wearing a chef’s hat rolled a cart with a giant cake into the room, candles burning. The frosting of the cake was black, and there were three numbers ‘8’, done in gold. One, in the middle, in the upright position, and the other two to the sides, lying horizontally, to represent infinity.

“What are we celebrating here?” I asked, and the room broke out in laughter.

“Make a wish!” Dawn said, and others cheered, ‘Make a wish, make a wish!’

I could only think of one wish and thought to myself ‘I want to avenge Mama’s death.’ Then I blew out the candles.

The chef expertly cut the cake, and Kate brought me the largest slice, the full golden number eight on it. Gold on black.

“Kate, this is too much,” I shook my head, thinking of the crickets, but heard Dawn’s voice whispering into my ear,

“Honey, take it. You don’t have to eat it.”

Honey? Are we together? What about April? Flashed in my mind.

I couldn’t bring myself to eat the cake, and put it on the table.

Right away, Kate reappeared, holding a metal container in her hands.

“This is your smoothie, boss, I figured you might not want the cake.” She said knowingly and gave me an eager look.

“Thanks.” I said and accepted the container. “The one with the crickets?”

“Yes, to keep your blood sugar down.” Kate nodded.

I scanned the room, thinking where to dump the smoothie, when Maria Matucci popped into view, her expression inscrutable. She darted her eyes at Dawn and the two of them exchanged a knowing look. Then Dawn murmured in my ear,

“Let’s go, honey, we need to talk to you.” Feeling her breath on my neck, I felt the urge to sink into her, to take her right there and then.

I turned to face her and saw her eyes. Her icy stare, devoid of any warmth, the calculating gaze that sent shivers down my spine.