(Viewpoint: Roum)
I wake up with a strange feeling of warmth.
- hmmmm
Who left the light on?
I keep my eyes closed for a few seconds.
I hear something.
A breath.
Someone is here.
I frown.
Then a voice reached me.
– Rome.
My eyes opened immediately.
I straighten up.
The white room has disappeared.
I am in my apartment.
My real apartment.
The sofa.
The walls.
The furniture.
The soft light coming from the window.
Even my artificial assistant is there, silent in a corner of the room.
I remain motionless.
Then he touched my face, my body and arms, and especially my torso.
I am wearing clothes.
I am breathing normally.
No infusion.
No capsules.
No broken windows.
No scientists.
I lower my eyes to my hands.
They are normal, I have no injuries.
I close my eyes.
A breath escapes me.
It was a nightmare, a nightmare.
It was all just a nightmare.
The Pit.
The laboratories.
The window.
Pieces of glass.
A bad dream.
I smile, then collapse back onto the bed.
Then I see her.
- HA !
I jumped and clutched my chest.
Someone is sitting near the window.
My eyes widen.
– Romance?
She doesn't answer.
Her white hair falls gently over her shoulders.
I remain frozen.
Then my smile widened.
– Asmara !
Now I'm sure of it, it was indeed a nightmare.
I jump out of bed.
I cross the room without thinking and take her in my arms.
She doesn't react and even lets me touch her.
I tighten it further.
- You are here !
My voice is trembling.
I almost laugh.
I don't even know why.
I am simply happy.
– Where were you?
No response.
I step back slightly to look at his face.
– I looked for you everywhere.
Still nothing.
I take hold of his shoulders.
– Do you know what just happened to me?
She looks at me.
Silent.
– I had a horrible dream.
I speak too fast.
The words come out before I can even hold them back.
– I was in a completely white place. There were people. Scientists. They were looking at me as if I were an experiment, I think I was a little too stressed or paranoid, it's our first outdoor mission.
I hope I'm not late
I laugh nervously.
– That's ridiculous, isn't it?
– I'm slowing you down again
She doesn't smile, pretty much as usual.
I'll continue.
– And that you are doing well.
I'm stopping.
Her face doesn't change.
Are you hurt?
Silence.
I run a hand through my hair.
– No, forget it.
I look around me.
– We need to join the others
Still no response.
– Are you sure you're okay?
I'm looking at the artificial assistant.
– Am I alone in the room?
The assistant did not respond.
I turn to Asmara again.
What is this game?
– And your hair...
I approach.
I gently take a lock of hair between my fingers.
– Why are they white?
I'm starting to doubt my perception, I'm looking at it from all angles, Asmara has never had white hair.
There's something different.
Something I can't identify.
– why she looks like him...
I stop and move away from her.
I suddenly felt a prickling sensation in my nose.
I shake my head.
– Ouch.
Asmara continues to look at me.
Still this silence.
I crouched down in front of her.
– You can tell me anything.
No reaction.
– Is that what hurt you?
Nothing.
– Do you remember me?
She lowers her eyes slightly.
I feel my smile disappearing.
– Love...
I gently place a hand on her skin.
She is cold.
– What did she do to you?
She slowly raises her eyes.
And finally...
She speaks.
His voice is almost empty.
– Why, are you going to kill me again?
I freeze.
My brain shuts down.
A pain explodes in my head.
– Oh...
I fall on my backside.
My hands immediately went to my head.
Images.
Too fast
Asmara .
Then...
Another silhouette.
A glance.
A gaze that dominates me.
Who crushes me.
Which makes me feel like I'm no longer myself.
Alpha-1.
I suddenly back away.
No.
This name does not exist.
It does not exist.
It cannot exist.
Yet...
I know that look.
I've already seen it.
I lower my eyes.
Asmara is still looking at me.
His face had changed.
Or perhaps it's just my memory that's failing me.
I'm backing away again.
She does not look away.
I feel something tightening in my chest.
– Stop that.
She doesn't move.
– Stop looking at me like that.
His gaze remained fixed on mine.
The same domination.
The same presence.
I get up abruptly.
I want to leave.
I want to get out of this room.
But nothing answers my voice.
I turn around.
Asmara is still sitting.
I take a step towards her.
Then two.
I don't know why.
My hand reaches out.
My fingers closed around his neck.
I push her against the backrest.
– Who are you?
No response.
I tighten it further.
But my fingers are trembling.
Impossible.
I want to squeeze.
My body refuses.
My muscles are locking up.
A pain shoots through my arm.
I let go immediately.
I step back, horrified by my own action.
– Is...
Asmara looked at me.
Then she whispers:
– You want to kill me that badly.
– No !
My voice bursts out.
– I never killed you!
I'm backing away.
– I don't want to kill you!
I look at my hands.
They are trembling.
I squeeze them.
I could hurt anyone.
So why not her?
Why is my body refusing?
Since when?
I don't understand anything anymore.
I approach slowly.
This time, I take his face in my hands.
His eyes remained open.
No resistance.
I look at her.
A long time.
I know that face.
I know her eyes.
I know how she breathes.
As if a part of me had always recognized her.
But something is missing.
Something essential.
I gently stroke her cheek.
– Who are you?
My voice becomes almost a whisper.
– What did they do to you?
She doesn't answer.
I hold her close to me.
His body is cold.
I hold her like you would hold someone who could disappear at any moment.
Like a body I know.
But not a soul.
This strange feeling is washing over me.
I want to protect her.
I want to keep her close to me.
I want to be certain that no one will ever hurt him again.
Why... don't we even like each other?
My heart is racing.
My hand rests against his back.
I want to pull him out of there.
Protect her from that thing.
But a contradictory thought crosses my mind.
Destroy it.
Destroy it.
Destroy it.
Destroy it.
Destroy it.
Destroy it.
Destroy it.
Destroy it.
Destroy it.
I open my eyes again and press his forehead against mine.
Asmara looked at me.
I no longer know which of these two voices is mine.
I tighten my embrace.
As if I could stop something from leaving her body.
– Tell me the truth, was it really a nightmare?
My voice is trembling.
– I will never kill you.
Asmara smile .
– Why her and not me?