The frigid air of the solitary cell grew sharper, like the slow, deliberate scrape of a beast's claws against my flesh. The corroded, rust-streaked bars of the cell door seemed to press closer, cornering me and allowing my suspicions to prosper. The very walls felt animate, invading the miniscule amount of space I could call my own. Everything felt unnervingly off, and there was only one explanation: the Beric we've been following through this Narrative had committed an act so baffling, so inexplicable, that it defied my understanding. The Beric within this Narrative……..spoke to me………to us.

But how? For one, I have no memory of ever doing anything like this. We’ve already established that this Narrative is directly drawn from my own life, yet it’s riddled with inconsistencies–Inconsistencies that either never happened, or that have been left out. I had assumed that it was due to malfunctions within Sys, but after the revelations of Death and the enigmatic entity known as “Egoros,” it’s clear that the Narrative has been deliberately tampered with. I initially theorized that this might be an "altered" version of my life, though the reasoning behind such manipulation remains unclear. Was it for entertainment? Out of sheer boredom? Or perhaps for a purpose far more sinister? And now, it’s even more puzzling now that…….Beric has acknowledged us.

This raises far more unsettling questions. For instance, there have been moments when both Beric and Sys have spoken to us—albeit in a comedic, fourth-wall-breaking manner. At the time, I deemed these interactions to be off-hand remarks due to the playful nature... but now, I’m not so sure. Even more baffling is why Beric chose this particular moment to act. Could it be tied to the Corrupt Voice?.......This does appear to be the first instance in Beric’s life where the Corrupt Voice is loud and distinct enough to be heard………Yet, in my own life, the Corrupt Voice never manifested with this much intensity after my death on Earth……..

Too many questions, and far too few answers… I suppose it’s up to us to piece this together. I can’t turn to Sys for help since, ironically, one of the few accurate aspects of this Narrative is that my personal Sys is incapable of recognizing anything related to the Corrupt Voice. I’ve tried countless subtle approaches—hinting at the existence of another voice, crafting hypothetical stories about a protagonist with an inner voice……….and a second, malevolent one. Strange……..it feels like I’m forgetting something.

A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

Whatever the case may be, one thing remains certain: I need your help….But… you probably can’t help, can you? You’re just a mute, invisible spectator, forced to listen to me ramble about all this…….There’s truly no real point in asking for your help, is there?.......... Strange, isn’t it? A question only holds meaning when there’s an answer to it. Yet, I still asked, fully aware I’d be met with silence……..However, I can’t shake the hope that there’s something we can do. Something you can do. Maybe you don’t realize it yet, but if we keep listening—keep waiting—maybe, just maybe, an opportunity will arise. I have no idea what form it might take, but when it comes, I need you to act on it……..…Sorry. I’m putting too much on you, aren’t I? Dragging you into all this, and now you’re stuck worrying about some “supposed” chance.

What’s up? Why did you want to pause it?

“Oh yeah uh…..go ahead and start it back up. I just needed a quick breather.”

Oooookay.

Hey. I’m not exaggerating when I say this—it all depends on you. I know you weren’t expecting this, and I know you can’t even respond, but I truly need your help. It doesn’t matter who you are, where you’re from, or why you’ve chosen to keep listening to this. None of that changes the fact that you’re here, hearing this. You found this recording for a reason. A reason that’s likely too significant for you to simply dismiss me outright. Whether that reason stems from good intentions or something darker is beyond my ability to comprehend……..But, to be honest, I have thought about confronting you regarding your true identity for a while now………

Am I wrong to distrust you?........Or are you wrong to trust me?.......Am I the wrong one?.........Or maybe is this suspicion towards myself the true goal of the manipulated Narrative?.........I don’t know…….And, I guess the only way to truly know is to keep listening……..

But, before the Narrative starts up again, I have just one more question, a very simple one……….It’s confirmed that Egoros has some level of influence over this Narration, though the extent remains unclear……….But would it then not be reasonable to consider the possibility that Egoros might also have control over this recording? If that’s the case… then surely, Egoros must know who—or what—this recording is meant to reach, or who might accidentally discover it. Which then leads to my question,

Why are you able to hear my story?

Who are you?