Champion of the Bots ✔️

Chapter 34 ~ MARIOLA

Mariola flung herself to the door.

A reverberating click of a lock pulsed through the knob to her fingers and to the bottom of her heavy heart as she realized that she was trapped.

"H-hey, you out t-there! Open the door!" Mariola clumsily shouted out, realizing she never bothered to ask for the boy's name. "Boy! Get me out!"

She could almost swear that she heard a low chuckle on the other side of the door, but her heart was hammering so loudly that she didn't hear a figure approach behind her.

"How are you, Mariola?" Eden asked, perking his head to the side, licking his lips as though she were dessert.

"What do you want?" She rasped out, suddenly aware of how dry and sour how throat was.

The man stopped walking, his fingers rolling his cane casually as he answered, "I'm just here for your appointment. Everyone has to meet with me before their stimulation begins."

And then Mariola remembered. "You're the principal."

Eden bowed mockingly. "Yes, it is me. I am so glad that your memory is still functioning well enough."

"M-my memory? What do you know about it?" She took a step forward. "Tell me my memories! Why don't I know anything?"

"Hush, child," he lulled. "Now is not the time for those questions."

The man bent his knees and sat on thin air. Startled, Mariola blinked; and two velvet chairs with round cushions appeared. Eden, comfortably settling himself down, gestured for her to sit.

She shook her head.

He tsked, raised an eyebrow, and flicked an index finger.

Mariola's legs flew into the air and then collided with a soft, furry object beneath her, facing Eden. She tried to stand up, but a magnetic force seemed to lock her onto the chair; and she was stuck.

"There, that's better," he said. "If only I could lock up your mouth, eh?" He chuckled at his own joke. Mariola clamped her lips, just in case he could actually sew her lips together.

"So, what do you think of this place? Do you like it?" His eyes scanned her feet up to the object on her head. "Ah, I see that you're still on your first obstacle. You better finish that soon if you want to come back to Eden."

A breath of air escaped her cracked lips, but Mariola sucked it back in along with any words she wanted to spit in his face.

Eden proceeded, as if he was happy to listen to his voice echo through the empty room. "Eden is a wonderful place that I'm sure you would like to come. Everyone there has earned their spot on the top, toiling and achieving all the goals and obstacles they face on each level. Everyone there is beautiful, accomplished, perfect; or at least, they are as perfect as they can get." He leaned closer. "I can't wait to see what you can accomplish and what you will become when you return to Eden."

Mariola could almost feel invisible hands clamping down her arms, her lips, her fear.

The man sighed and smiled. "You remind me of a lovely woman I once knew. She was exceptional—intelligent, valiant, kind, beautiful...but one day she betrayed me." His voice dipped into a growl, and the room turned stormy.