Robin slowly opened his eyes…
The bright white light pierced his vision, and a faint buzzing sound filled the room.
He tried to move… but couldn't.
His hands were restrained.
His body felt heavy… as if it wasn't his own.
"Where am I…?" he whispered weakly.
Sara stepped forward.
Her expression was calm… too calm.
"You're in a place where people don't return the same…" she said in a cold voice.
Robin looked at her in shock.
"Aunt… what's going on with you?! Is all of this real?!"
Sara didn't answer right away.
Instead, she gestured.
Suddenly, a heavy metal door opened with a sharp sound.
Three people entered, dressed in the same black clothing, their faces hidden.
Their presence alone created a real sense of fear.
One of them said:
"The test is ready."
Robin froze.
"…A test?"
The man approached Robin and placed a small screen in front of him.
An image appeared…
A person tied to a chair… blindfolded.
Robin squinted, trying to recognize them.
Then he froze.
"That's… my neighbor!"
His voice rose:
"Why did you bring him here?! What do you want from him?!"
A heavy silence filled the room.
Then Sara spoke:
"To see if… we can trust you."
Robin looked at her, unable to believe it.
"What?!"
The man beside her spoke coldly:
"You must choose."
"Choose what?!"
The screen changed…
A countdown appeared.
00:59
"One minute."
Robin's breathing quickened.
"Choose what?!"
Sara stepped closer… her eyes locked onto his:
"Either you follow the order…
or he will die… in a worse way."
Robin's mind went blank for a moment.
"No… impossible… I'm not like you!"
The man handed him a small sharp object.
"Prove it."
Robin's hand began to tremble.
He looked at the object… then at the screen…
then at Sara.
"Why are you doing this…?!" he said with a broken voice.
Sara remained silent for a few seconds…
Then said quietly:
"Because the world you lived in… was a lie."
00:32
Time was running out.
Robin closed his eyes for a moment…
memories flashed in his mind: his childhood… his life… Sara as he once knew her…
Then he opened his eyes.
A different look.
Colder.
More focused.
He raised his head slowly…
"…If I do this… will you let him live?"
The man smiled.
"Maybe."
Silence.
Then…
Robin gripped the object tightly.
00:10
Everyone was watching him.
Even Sara… didn't blink.
He suddenly shouted:
"Stop!"
Everyone froze.
He took a deep breath… then said:
"…I have a condition."
The man stepped closer:
"Speak."
Robin looked directly at Sara.
"I want the full truth… from her."
Heavy silence.
Seconds felt like hours.
Then…
Sara spoke:
"Agree."
The countdown stopped at:
00:03
The test ended… but nothing was over.
⸻
Sara stepped closer to Robin and looked into his eyes seriously.
"Now you'll know everything…"
The lights turned off suddenly.
And the walls transformed into screens.
Images… files… names…
Missing people… secret operations… strange symbols…
Sara's voice filled the room:
"This organization… isn't just a network…
it's a complete system…"
She paused.
Then said:
"…And now, you're part of it."