Their feet dragged silently. No one looked at the other, as if their very eyes could no longer bear what they had seen.
The air in the corridor leading to the third room was saturated with an incomprehensible scent—a mix of pain, guilt, and a hidden desire to escape.
Even the walls of the place, with their sterile stillness and dim lighting, seemed to be watching them… recording their breaths… counting their brokenness.
Nayan walked behind them. She didn't speak. She didn't lift her head. Even her body—though seemingly intact—hinted that something had broken and would never mend.
Faro didn't turn around. He didn't speak. But he felt her behind him, like a shadow that wouldn't leave.
And Ira... she walked as if her body wanted to retreat, but her legs were compelled to move forward. Not for the others… but for fear of what would happen if she stopped.
Ahead of them, a new wall opened, the cold light revealing the third room.
A room completely white.
No chairs. No circle. Just one massive screen adorning the front wall, beneath it a wide expanse of flooring, covered by a transparent glass mesh that revealed a dark void below… like the mouth of a bottomless well.
The screen suddenly lit up, displaying text:
"The Third Room – Your Decision:
Before you is one of the candidates. She underwent inhumane experiments, which she did not choose.
But the question now is: Does what she went through make her a danger to society?
Decision: She is granted a chance to continue to the next stage. Or she is immediately eliminated.
Voting is collective.
She is not allowed to participate in the vote.
You have two minutes."
No one spoke.
The screen suddenly switched to a video display.
The first shot… a long steel corridor, bathed in a grim green light.
Then… a metal bed appeared. A small girl was restrained on it. Her hair was faded gray, her skin bruised, her left eye covered with a black medical patch.
A girl… they knew her now.
Ira.
A robotic voice was heard from the video, reading in a dry tone:
"Patient 014. Adaptation rate to modified substances: 62%.
Pain resistance: High.
Spontaneous compliance: Medium.
Mental integration tests have begun."
The footage began to play in disturbing rapid succession.
Injections. Muffled screams. Cables connected to her head. Her body convulsing. Voices of doctors from behind the glass.
Little Ira was torn apart before their eyes, again… and again.
Silo suddenly closed his eyes, pressing his forehead.
Kai whispered: "This… is impossible…"
Nayan trembled without speaking.
And Jarm, always stoic, couldn't lift his eyes from the screen.
In the corner of the room, Ira stood silent, her hands hanging loosely, her eyes frozen. No defense. No justification.
As if she knew… this day would come.
The countdown began on the screen.
00:58…
The silence became heavier than the walls.
Silo: "...Can we judge something like this? She didn't choose any of this."
Kai: "But I don't know… did it affect her? Could she suddenly explode on us?"
Jarm: "What's the point of all this? This isn't justice… it's a new crime."
Faro looked at her… then said in a low voice:
"She didn't choose her past… but now we choose her present."
00:23…
A soft sound came from the bracelets.
Five points of light appeared on each, waiting for the vote.
No one looked at the other.
Silo pressed first. Then Jarm. Then Kai. Then Nayan.
Faro... remained silent for a moment longer, then extended his finger.
He pressed.
The bracelets flashed.
The screen displayed the result:
Vote: 5 in favor of continuation – 1 against – Decision: She continues.
The system didn't show who voted against.
But all eyes slowly rose towards each other…
And the silence still spoke more than any words.
Ira didn't thank them. She didn't smile. She didn't cry.
She just… looked at the screen, then closed her eyes, as if holding herself back from exploding.
The back wall opened.
The Fourth Room awaited.
But they didn't move.
It wasn't their feet weighing them down…
But their conscience.