Dark.
Enough to feel it.
I opened my eyes. Or at least, I tried to do.
Something was wrong.
My vision split and blurred.
A sharp pulse ran through my head. I flinched.
''...Where...''
My voice felt distant and dry.
''...Where am I?...''
A pause.
Paper scratched softly nearby.
''You are in the medical ward.''
220's voice was calm as always.
I turned slightly.
It was a bad idea. A sharp pain shot through my skull.
''...What happened?''
Silence.
''They found you on the -2 floor.'' She said.
''You had severe injuries.''
She didn't look at me yet. Still writing.
''One of your eyes was displaced.''
My breath stopped.
''And signs of mild brain trauma.''
...
I stared at nothing. Trying to process.
''Thats not possible.''
My voice sharper now.
''I remember... I was in my room. I was ironing. I swear!"
220 looked at me dirrectly.
"What are you talking about?" She sighed.
"Because of brain trauma, you may have experienced a kind of dream."
She stopped.
"And why were you on the -2 floor anyway?"
My eyes narrowed. I frowned slightly. I almost said it.
''It's nothing important to be honest. I got sick on the way to my room. I might have fallen down because of this.''
A brief silence.
''What day is it?''
''It's still the same day. It's now lunch break.''
''I thought it had been 3 days. My time receptors must be damaged.''
''It might have.''
''By the way, What happened to the committe?''
''I displayed in GSL. It got approved.''
''Good. Let's search for 369 some time.''
''Fine.''
A soft, automated voice floated through the corridors:
''Attention all participants. Your estimated time ran out. Please come to the meeting room and scan your ID cards''
She stood up as she heard this and left.
...
I was alone now. I pushed myself up and moved towards the window.
I glanced at the dresser. A needle and a thread. Bloody cotton soaked in alcohol.
Messy and used.
On the table, the apples she had peeled were still there. Cut into shapes for no reason.
I didn't touch them. I had no interest in them.
The door opened abruptly.
The doctor walked in, holding a thick file.
It said 518 on it. Probably my document.
According to its thickness, it contains everything about me. Probably.
My stomach growled. Perfect timing. Literally.
''Do you have lentil soup with some barley bread?'' I asked.
He didn't even look up.
''Interesting.'' he said. ''You have been eating the same meal for days.''
He paused. Flipped a page.
''For someone who can't taste since birth... it makes sense.''
He placed his hand on his chin.
I frowned. Very bad move.
A sharp sting--
The stitch in my left eye tore slightly.
Warm blood ran down.
''Ah--!''
I leaned forward, grabbed a piece of cotton and poured alcohol on it. Pressed it against my eye.
Pain shot through my head. Worse than before.
''I'm going to the cafeteria,'' I said.
He didn't respond. He kept reading like nothing happened. Like I wasn't even there.
I walked out. The corridor was dark.
My head was pounding.
Each step felt unstable. I leaned my shoulder against the wall as I was moving forward.
There was a massive sign with multiple directions.
I searched for cafe. 400 meters.
I was in the back of the first floor. A place I had never seen before.
...
By the time I reached it, I was shoched.
The cafeteria was almost full.
How?
How is that possible?
The lunch break should have ended.
I glanced at the people.
The faces are wrong. I had never seen them before.
That didn't make sense. There was an announcement.
Everyone should have been in the meeting room.
So what was this? Were more participants invited?
A thousand wasn't enough.
So there was another thousand?
Separated from our group?
I moved forward anyway.
Some eyes followed me. They could tell I was different.
...
The doctor's words came back. They have information about us.
Let's test that.
The woman behind the counter looked at me.
''What do you want?''
I paused. Not because I didn't know what I would choose. Because this mattered.
''The usual.''
A brief silence. She looked suprised.
And then--
a small smile.
''You are correct.''
She handed it over. Lentil soup and barley bread.
so they knew as well. At least this much. That was enough.
I walked away.
I was sure now. I was being watched.
''Brain...'' I muttered.
I sat down and ate slowly.
Disgusting as always.
...
So there were others.
But where?
How big was this place?
How many groups?
How many versions of us?
The dizziness faded slowly as I ate.
Not completely but manageable.
Just then, I realized I was freezing.
I stood up and started walking back to infirmary.
My balance was still off. One eye wasn't enough. I will get used to it. Eventually.
...
After a while, I reached infirmary.
A small stand in front of it caught my attention.
It hadn't been there before.
Items, tools, objects. All laid out.
And behind it, there was a man in black. Checking his watch. He was waiting.
I approached to the stand And looked at the items.
There were coats, pressure meters, thermometers, gas masks, thermal clothings, pins...
and more.
I intended to grab a pin--
And a hand grabbed my wrist almost immediately.
''No touching.'' he said with a firm tone. He looked like a body guard.
''May I ask a question?''
''If it complies with our conditions, I'll answer.'' He said.
''Are you the traveling point store? And what's the purpose of those pins?''
A short silence. He let go my wrist.
''That's correct. For the pin you asked, I can't answer that. Unless you buy it.''
So, 220's statement about it was correct.
I tested it again.
''Even the price?''
''Yeah.''
I was sure now. The man added.
''if I say the price, you need to buy it. Do you accept it?''
I need to buy it. I need a proof for 220.
''Last question, if you say the price and I wasn't able to buy it. What happens?''
The man stopped for a moment.
''Your ranking in the system will drop and you will not be able to purchase the product. You may even lose points.'' He said.
Well, there is nothing to drop. Thats the advantage.
104 said something like this once. I didn't understand back then.
But the outcome could be high. I can lose points.
''Well... I accept. So what's the price?''
He pulled out a notepad and asked.
''What's your number?''
''518.''
I can't lie about this. They can find me.
The man scribbled something.
''The price is 100 points.'' Man reached for the pin and gave me.
''So, the price will automatically withdrawn from my account.''
''That's true. The purpose of this special pin, you can access restricted areas for a short time without violating the rules.''
It was quite usefull. It was worth it.
The man looked at his watch again. Then he took a handle from under the goods and began to pull. They all started to move at once. The man then took out a gas lamp from his pocket.
''Where are you going?'' I asked.
The man stopped. Didn't look at me.
''I am the traveling point store. If you want to buy something, you need to find one. In every level. Every time. I will be traveling. And sitting. Even if nobody comes. There are less than 15 traveling stores like me. Good luck next time.''
The man disappeared into the unknown.
''Strange...'' I murmured.
Then, I headed towards the infirmary.
The first thing I noticed was the rain outside.
I approached towards the dresser and something caught my eye.
There were an eye cover. White and clinical type.
I immediately wore it. And looked at the mirror near me.
The scar wasn't visible now.
I sighed.
I opened the window to see outside clearly.
It was pouring. Then--
A lightning struct far away.
I started counting. 1-2-3-4-5..
SCRAPP
5 kilometers away. Good.
I actually really like rainy and thunderstormy weather. The lightning counting thing seems very interesting.
Besides, The smell of soil. I can smell it from high up here.
Then, I saw a light again.
1-2-3-4-5...
I can do it all day...
...