No Pity For Your Tears

fell from the pocket of her dress. It hi

and simple. It caught the light, a

t tech company in a garage. I had materialized it as a "lucky find" at a flea market. "For good luck," the text prompt I

till had it. After all this, she still kept it. Maybe

spread across her face. She bent down, picked

ain. "This little piece of you? This

n she opened her hand, the locket was a mangled piece of silver, unreco

f me," she said, her voice dropp

en jaw open. The

grateful. Not for your 'help.' But for showing me what true control looks

into my mouth. I gagged, the

it," she

choked, trying

mouth and nose, cutting

ith a final, desperate gulp, I forced the metal dow

asped for air, coug

cheek. "Now you'll always have a

y ear. The contrast between the intimate gesture

t need saving,"

n she p

sight of the city lights spinning around me. The fall seemed to last an

violen

ring at the smooth, white interior of a simulation pod. A soft, blue light pulsed a

over me, his face a mask of professional concern. "Mr.

y limbs were fine. No broken bones, no blood. But the memory of the pain was so real

throat raw from swallowing the

nchanging. "That's the point of the 'El

was sterile and quiet. Other pods lined the w

technician said, handing me a bottle of water. "That's why our 'Salvation'

ghost of Chloe's whisper

said, my voice shaking.

ession. "The AI is designed to learn and adapt to user input. T