CHAPTER 17: THE THING ABOUT DYING
753 Words
CHAPTER 17 — The Thing About Dying
The lights came back slowly.
Not all at once.
A low hum filled the room—
then a flicker—
then stillness.
Like nothing had happened.
Like everything had.
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Elara didn’t move.
Her eyes remained fixed on the screen.
PROJECT EREBOS — CORE DIRECTIVE
Still open.
Still there.
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Sebastian exhaled quietly beside her.
“That voice… you heard it too.”
“Yes.”
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But Elara wasn’t thinking about the voice anymore.
She was thinking about something else.
Something that didn’t sit right.
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Termination.
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The word lingered in her mind.
Pressed.
Uncomfortable.
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Her gaze dropped slightly, unfocused.
Not on the screen.
Not on the room.
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On something she couldn’t fully reach.
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A gap.
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“You went quiet,” Sebastian said.
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Elara blinked once.
Slow.
“Define quiet.”
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“You’re not reacting.”
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A faint breath left her.
“Maybe I already did.”
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The screen flickered.
Just enough to pull her back.
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A section expanded.
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Phase I: Subject Selection
Phase II: Identity Fracture
Phase III: Reintegration
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Elara’s fingers hovered near the edge of the terminal.
Not touching.
Just close enough to feel real.
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“Reintegration,” she said quietly.
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Sebastian glanced at her.
“You’re thinking something.”
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“I’m noticing something.”
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Her voice lowered.
Calm.
Precise.
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“They don’t create people.”
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A pause.
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“They reuse them.”
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Sebastian’s expression shifted.
“Say that again.”
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Elara’s eyes lifted—just slightly.
“They take someone who’s already…” she paused.
The word resisted.
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“…gone.”
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Silence settled between them.
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“And then?” he asked.
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Elara swallowed.
Barely noticeable.
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“And then they put them back.”
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Something in the room felt tighter.
Closer.
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Sebastian studied her carefully.
“You’re not guessing.”
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She didn’t answer.
Because she wasn’t.
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A flash—
Cold air.
Darkness.
Impact.
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Her breath caught.
Just once.
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Then it was gone.
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She straightened.
Composed again.
Controlled.
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“You ever feel like something should hurt,” she said quietly,
“but it doesn’t?”
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Sebastian didn’t hesitate.
“Yes.”
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Their eyes met.
And for a moment—
there was something there.
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Not trust.
Not yet.
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Recognition.
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The screen shifted again.
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Subject Integrity Check — In Progress
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Sebastian frowned.
“I don’t like that.”
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“I don’t think it matters,” Elara replied.
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Another flicker.
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Status Conflict Detected
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A pause.
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Previous State: Deceased
Current State: Active
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The word stayed there.
Heavy.
Unavoidable.
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Deceased.
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Elara stepped closer to the screen.
Slow.
Deliberate.
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“When?” she asked.
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Sebastian glanced at her.
“When what?”
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Her voice didn’t change.
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“When did I die?”
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Silence.
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“I don’t know,” he said.
“And I don’t think they want us to know.”
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Her jaw tightened slightly.
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“They don’t get to decide that.”
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A faint click echoed from above.
Subtle.
Almost unnoticeable.
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Sebastian’s eyes shifted upward.
“We’re not alone.”
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“I know.”
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But she didn’t look.
Didn’t react.
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Instead, she leaned slightly closer to the screen.
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“Erebos.”
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The system paused.
Processing.
Watching.
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Then—
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Access: Conditional
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Sebastian exhaled quietly.
“That’s new.”
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“They’re not stopping me,” Elara said.
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“They’re watching you,” he corrected.
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A beat.
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Then Elara looked up.
Directly at the camera.
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Not uncertain.
Not afraid.
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Certain.
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“Then watch.”
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Her voice was quiet.
But it carried.
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“Because whatever this is…”
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A pause.
Something colder settled behind her eyes.
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“You’re too late.”
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Sebastian watched her in silence.
Something unreadable crossed his expression.
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“You really believe that?” he asked.
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Elara didn’t look at him.
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“I don’t need to believe it.”
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A pause.
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“I just need it to be true.”
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The screen flickered once more.
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And somewhere—
beyond the room—
beyond the camera—
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Something shifted.
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Not alarm.
Not yet.
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But attention.
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And now—
they had it.
- Writer
