Looks like I fell asleep in front of the TV. I rub my eyes.
The TV is still on. News.
– Great... – I mutter. – Slept through the whole day.
I glance at the dog. He's lying in his bed.
I want to get up, but that flyer keeps bothering me. And that feeling... like I'm being watched.
– Was it all just a dream?
I look at the coffee table.
The flyers are still there. Spread out.
Something tightens inside me.
My hands start sweating when I see the one about neural implants.
Slowly, I pick it up and read it again.
I'm afraid to turn it over.
– Fuck... please let this be just a bad dream.
I turn it.
Nothing.
No "Status: Participant."
I calm down instantly. My pulse drops.
But something inside me says I need to check what these neural implants really are.
What they actually do.
I slowly stand up, about to sit at the computer—
but I remember my most important friend.
So I put on my shoes and call the dog.
– Come on, furball. Quick walk.
I see him running toward me, tail wagging.
– Yeah, I get it. It's your time.
Outside, the world looks normal...
too normal.
The walk is short.
Too short.
Back inside, I check the time.
– Fuck, it's already 20:30... Did I really sleep the whole day? That's not like me.
– Right... I promised him some good food...
I take out some bones and drop them into his bowl.
I watch how happy he is. In his own world.
– I envy that kind of feast...
– Alright. Now I've got time to check these implants.
I sit down at the computer and open the browser.
I type: "neural implants"
I'm about to hit enter—
but something stops me.
I think.
I remember the situation with the neighbor.
I change it:
"neural implants for hearing enhancement"
Enter.
– Holy shit... there's so much of this...
I start scrolling.
– There's at least twenty companies offering this. And not for cheap.
Half an hour passes.
I keep going through the pages.
Hearing enhancement.
Vision enhancement.
Weight loss support.
– Yeah... probably reduces appetite... not like it matters. I barely eat anyway.
– So you can fix a human... – I whisper.
Or maybe even change one.
Time passes.
And I still don't really know anything.
...then I notice I'm starting to feel weak.
The screen begins to flicker.
Shake.
A ringing in my ears.
And suddenly—
text appears on the screen:
STATUS: PARTICIPANT
CONFIRMED
INSTALLATION
OF DRIVERS
STARTED
And something that looks like a progress bar.
I can't move.
My body feels like cotton.
The last thing I see is the screen.
And the only thing I manage to say:
– ...I didn't agree to this.
Everything fades.
I lose consciousness.
And collapse onto the floor next to the computer.
Next chapter coming soon.Add to library to not miss it.