Parker sat in their shared room with their roommate, Jada, a cold space with nothing interesting. Only two plain small beds and concrete walls. They both lounged on their beds across from each other, biding their time and engaging in conversation to pass the seemingly endless hours. Jada suddenly brought up the topic of his recent acquaintance - that intriguing girl Parker had mentioned during the previous day's reality exercise, Alice. Caught off guard, Parker hesitated for a moment before responding with a nonchalant shrug and a slightly bashful smile. Despite the spark that seemed to exist between them, Parker and Alice hadn't yet managed to meet outside of their mind-bending exercises, thanks to the ever-watchful eyes and strict nature of the admin in charge. As they continued their discussion, both Parker and Jada couldn't help but fantasize about escaping the confines of their current world, wondering about the very concept of time itself. When asked about her own reality project, Jada was more reticent, opting to keep that aspect of her life private at the moment.
In an instant, the heavy wooden door creaked open, causing both captives to turn their gaze towards the entrance. Their eyes met the figure of a man, draped entirely in pristine white attire that seemed to stand out against the dimly lit surroundings. Despite the bindings on his eyes only allowing minimal visibility, it bemused them how they'd managed to see anything when their sight was so obscured, yet something forbade them from inquiring further. Although their minds were filled with questions and curiosity about the strange phenomenon, an inexplicable force prevented them from voicing their concerns. They remained silent and continued to watch as the man in white approached them, bearing an air of enigmatic power that sent shivers down their spines. "Get up. Time for lunch."
As the two rose from their beds, they couldn't help but notice the oppressive silence that cloaked the atmosphere. Wordlessly, they followed their guide through the labyrinthine hallways. Stern looks from their overseers reminded them of the dire consequences that would befall anyone who dared to break the unwritten rule – no talking was permitted in these hallowed corridors. The very threat of being punished or assaulted for merely uttering a sound loomed over them like a dark cloud, ensuring their compliance. Each of them walked side by side, allowing the tension to gamely hold hands with the air of anticipation that undeniably crackled between them. When they eventually reached their destination – the cafeteria – they found themselves seated at a table set exclusively for them.
Parker sat at the table in the noisy cafeteria, the clamor of kids and teens conversing and laughing filling the air. His roommate, Jada, sat across from him with her head down, seemingly trying to shut out the world. Suddenly, a girl from across the room shouted angrily, "Why don't you just shut your mouth?! I never said that, so don't put words in my mouth!" The hostile tone caught Parker's attention and he exchanged a quick glance with Jada, who exhaled a heavy sigh. "Why does this always happen?" With a look of concern on his face, Parker reached out and gently placed his hand on Jada's, offering support and comfort.
Just as their moment of connection was taking place, the doors to the cafeteria swung open abruptly. A group of white-suited admin's raced in, brandishing batons in their hands and wearing stern expressions on their mouths. They hurried towards the arguing students, determined to put an end to the dispute by any means necessary. Parker let go of Jada's hand and shifted his gaze downwards as an uncomfortable silence fell upon the room. The only sounds that could be heard were the chilling echoes of admin's disciplining students and the faint cries of those receiving punishment – a distressing mix of yelps and gasps that served as a somber reminder about authority within the walls.
Parker desperately wanted to vanish into thin air, to escape the horrifying scene unfolding before her. The cramped space he and Jada occupied offered no solace as they cowered together, seeking shelter from the relentless onslaught of their surroundings. When the merciless beating ultimately ceased, Parker could scarcely believe his ears as the cruel silence that followed carried with it an eerie sense of foreboding. Their peers had been unceremoniously dragged away by the admin, their cries and sobs echoing throughout the hall. In this grim and desolate setting, Jada tentatively whispered Parker's name, drawing a mournful gaze from her now bloodshot eyes. "Yes?" Spirits crushed and hearts filled with dread, Jada shattered the silence by posing an unsettling yet inevitable question: "Will that be us sometime?"
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Parker's expression turned into a deep frown as he reached out to clasp Jada' hand firmly, her concern evident in her eyes. "Don't think that way, Jada," he reassured his friend, noticing the worn-out and defeated look on Jada' face. Jada sighed heavily, at a loss for words as she pondered the reminder of the constant tension gripping everyone around them. "It happens so often now… I don't know why everyone is so angry all the time." Parker considered this for a moment before offering his own take on the situation. "I think we're all getting sick of being stuck here for so long that we have nothing to do but fester in our own frustrations…" Parker's voice trailed off pensively.
Jada nodded slowly, her gaze lowering to the plate before her which contained nothing but a few crumbs and some untouched morsels. She sighed yet again, feeling another wave of hopelessness wash over her. Knowing there was little else he could do to comfort her friend at this moment, Parker released her hand and forced himself to take a bite of the last remaining piece of their terrible mac and cheese dinner - choosing solidarity with Jada over satisfaction from a delicious meal.
"Do you think we'll ever leave?" Jada nervously questioned, her voice wavering slightly. Parker paused for a moment, thinking of the right words to say before his eyes met Jada'. With a soft tone and renewed conviction, he replied, "I don't know, Jada. I can only hope. But one thing's for sure - we'll leave together." A tinge of concern seeped through in Jada' reply, "Do you promise?" Parker didn't hesitate, assuring his friend with utmost sincerity, "Of course," he continued while maintaining their eye contact. "Why would I ever leave without you?" Feeling overwhelmed, Jada shared, "I'm just scared I might not make it out of here… this place scares me." Noticing the fear in his friend's eyes, Parker reassured her once again, his words instilling an undeniable sense of trust. "I won't leave without you," he declared and smiled softly, letting Jada know that they were in this together - until the very end.
"I'm glad I met you Parker. You're really sweet"
"I'm glad I met you as well. You're the best roommate and friend I could ever ask for. If I had anyone else I think I'd be losing my mind" The tenderness in Parker's words touched Jada' heart, causing a small smile to tug at her lips. It was as if Parker's words wrapped themselves around Jada, enveloping her in warmth and comfort.
Upon the admin's return, both Jada and Parker couldn't help but notice the distinct change in atmosphere as they approached their table. The stern expression on the man's mouth coupled with his rough, authoritative tone left no room for misinterpretation. Since they couldn't see their eyes because of a white cloth over their eyes it made it even more imitating. "Get up. Time to go to the white room, Parker. Jada, you'll go to the room in the meantime," he instructed them without so much as a moment of hesitation. Understandably, neither was inclined to make a fuss or query these orders. With heads held low, they obediently stood from their seats and fell in line behind the two imposing men who had now assumed responsibility for their subsequent movements.
As the two made their way through various corridors and hallways, a palpable tension hung heavy in the air. It wasn't long before their paths diverged: each was silently ushered towards their respective destination by a different escort. Though Parker found himself treading a familiar route to the white room—having been there before—he couldn't quite shake off a strange combination of both anticipation and unease churning within his stomach. This maelstrom of mixed feelings only served to heighten his overall sense of discombobulation as he crossed the threshold into an environment where uncertainty reigned supreme.
Upon entering the sterile, white-colored room. The only piece of furniture was a black chair, positioned at the heart of the immaculate space. Adjacent to the chair stood a solitary silver table that seemed to shimmer under the pristine lights overhead. With a gentle nudge from behind, he was guided towards the enigmatic seat where he carefully lowered himself onto it. No sooner had Parker settled in than the admin – dressed as impeccably as the rest of the room – approached her with a peculiar device in hand: a virtual reality headset. Deftly and diligently, the admin presented it to him and secured it onto Parker's head, blocking out their immediate surroundings and opening his eyes to an entirely new world.