Kita is escorted by Dr Monroe and the three masked scientists to a large, circular room with a steel chair isolated in the centre. All of the walls are panels of technology, with small, multicoloured lights flickering like the orbs in the sky.

“What is this place?” Kita asks as she looks up to see the dome-like ceiling arching overhead.

“Initial testing,” Dr Monroe says as he walks to the centre of the room. “Come have a seat,” He adds, unlatching the metallic restraints clawed across the chair.

“I’d rather not,” Kita hesitates, noticing the sense of fear building within.

“Relax- The machine isn't designed to hurt you,” The Dr bargains, patting the seat, “However, you will experience some slight discomfort,”

It’s just a dream. Kita steps towards the chair whilst attempting to calm herself down.

“Your genes are special, Kita. This device will allow us to activate the dormant genes you have,”

“My what?” Kita stammers.

“Basically, you have a lot of untapped potential. It just needs to be turned on,” Dr Monroe explains as he restrains Kita to the chair. “We believe it will unlock several abilities that will make you quite powerful,”

“But, why?”

“Why?” Dr Monroe raises an eyebrow.

“Why do this?”

“Good question, Kita,” He responds, “You’ll get the answers you seek when you're ready,”

Why’s he talking to me like a kid?

With a loud thud, all the ligaments of the seat lock around Kita, converging at her chest where a device automatically tightens the claws around her- Squeezing slightly more than comfortable. As the chair completes its fitting, Dr Monroe and the masked scientists exit the room and close a thick, steel door behind them.

The Dr and his companions all appear on the other end of a glass pane on the wall, in front of Kita. They pass her a quick glance before Kita watches them all talk and press buttons in what she presumes is a control room- She can't hear anything but can see their mouths moving alongside very curious facial expressions.

“Kita, can you hear me?” Dr Monroe’s voice appears in Kita’s mind. Briefly giving her a sense of magic before she realizes there is a small speaker by her chair.

Kita nods.

“You can speak,” He says.

“I can hear you,” Kita responds.

“Excellent, I can hear you too,” He smiles. “We’re going to start the test now,”

All of the multicoloured, flickering lights suddenly stop flashing and simultaneously blink yellow.

“Are you ready?” Dr Monroe asks.

“I think so,” Kita says.

“The correct response is ‘yes’. We cannot start without proper confirmation, Kita,”

“Oh… Then, yes,” Kita stammers uncontrollably. Honestly, that isn't what she wanted to say, but something forced it out of her.

“Excellent,” He smiles, “Let’s begin,”

All of the yellow lights flick to green, Illuminating the room in a discomforting tone of offset nature. Soon after, the chair slowly begins to jostle- starting with slow motions from left to right. After Kita passes by the window a few times, she slowly notices it begin to move further and further away from her as her chair begins to speed up and shorten its movements. It doesn't take long for Kita to realize the entire room is oscillating too.

Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

A loud, grinding sound suddenly pierces the room as the chair and the room itself continue speeding up. Kita feels nauseous as her chair's movements start obscuring her vision, and she can barely see what is in front of her. At this point, the green lights go off, briefly leaving her in darkness before they all begin flickering different colours. Constantly changing and filling her view with a rainbow of lights swirling and passing before her.

Her body is vibrating, and something strange is happening. She can feel it, but she's not sure what it is- A tingly feeling and weightlessness that almost makes her feel as though she is both connected and disconnected to everything around her. The disconnected sensation reminds her of what it’s like to not have her soul. It was never apparent to her, but this is what it feels like to have a soul. She feels full. Heavier- but in a good way.

She closes her eyes to reduce the nausea being induced by the incessant vibrations and flickering lights that still manage to swirl multicoloured clouds beneath her eyelids.

The occasional reminders of disconnect and soullessness flash in her mind and cause moments of panic to spark as she awaits the moment the connection does not return.

Endless tunnels and geometric structures assuming translucent forms of colour form all around the void of Kita’s eyelids, seemingly transporting her… somewhere.

Amongst the formations, arises a set of eyes. Golden in colour with the universe in its pupils, starting directly at Kita’s mind. When she realizes it's looking into her, an uncontrollable fear and curiosity arises in her.

Don't be afraid. A voice penetrates her mind, alongside what feels like a wave of calmness. It's coming from the eyes. But no words are being spoken, nor can Kita find a mouth speaking them.

What are you? Kita wonders.

You. The voice responds.

What is happening?

What's already happened.

I don't understand.

You will. You already did.

The weight and connection Kita feels within her suddenly vanishes as the eyes burst into a sea of gold, with stars glistening amongst the waves.

Kita opens her eyes whilst taking in a panicked breath. Nearly stumbling over as sunlight penetrates her eyes. As her eyes adjust to the light, she feels the sensation of her soul vanishing again. Completely disappearing by the time Reiku's face, along with all of its piercings, comes into vision in front of her- He has a concerned look on his face and his hand on his shoulder.

“Is this a common occurrence for you?” He asks.

Kita glances around her to see the level zero inhabitants in their rags and still marching towards the border. Beyond them is the ever-growing crowd of level one inhabitants, heckling and scowling as they march by.

“What happened?” Kita asks.

“You were walking with your eyes rolled back,” Reiku says, “You looked possessed,”

“You were mumbling a lot of nonsense,” Ms Eeve sighs.

“It was a dream,” Kita says, moving Reiku’s arm and leaning away from his awkwardly close face.

“This one was a little different, but it is common,”

Kita takes notice of how clear the memory is in her mind. How she hasn't had to mesh and adapt back to the present.

“You ought to warn people about that,” Reiku chuckles, “It draws a lot of attention,”

“Sorry. They come out of nowhere,”

“Well you're awake now,” Reiku says, before grabbing Ms Eeve by the arm and turning to keep walking.

Kita looks ahead of her to see the match slowly drawing to a stop. Beyond them, is a large ramp leading up to level two. “Looks like we made it,” She says, “What's step two?”

Reiku points at Ms Eeve before whispering to her, “This is your chance to make more friends than enemies,”

“I have plenty of friends,” Ms Eeve says.

“You have more enemies,” Reiku says, with cold eyes.

“Does that include you?” Ms Eeve chuckles.

“Yes. For the moment,”

“I owe you nothing,” Ms Eeve says.

“Yeah, you're not going to appeal to her heart. She doesn't have one,” Kita chuckles. “She’s almost as soulless as me,”

“I would rather not use violence,” Reiku insists.

“Then I’ll do it,” Kita grins while glaring at Ms Eeve, “I can take each of those souls she has stored up one by one,”

“I have no plan on causing you stress,” Ms Eeve explains, “My intentions are protecting myself,”

“That’s the problem,” Kita grins.