Two chapters were uploaded today. Please make sure you read chapter 2 first (and a vote would be much appreciated!)

Lill simply turns and walks towards the wall, and suddenly, a door-shaped gap appears in it. I gasp, shocked, and Lill smirks at me. She walks through the gap, then looks back at me and gestures to follow with a sweep of her arm. "Come on, now."

I slowly stand up from my place on the medical chair, but my feet don't seem to be willing to get any further to the door.

"Well we haven't got all day," Lill insists.

A terrible image of the wall closing up as I pass through it and crushing me worms its way into my mind. I run through the gap, rushing so fast I can't stop and nearly slam into the wall across from it. My hands press against it, steadying myself. Lill giggles at me. "Like I said, you really are a bizarre little creature," she laughs.

Blood rushes to my ears. She's really going to call me that again?! I turn, ready to make some kind of snappy remark, but the sight of the gap in the wall closing up again renders me speechless.

I look down the hall, one way, then the other. Both sides are endless white. It's unnerving. My skin prickles.

Lill and I don't speak anymore as she leads me down the hall. Her words are still ringing in my mind. "Now that's a question I don't have an answer for."

How can I possibly interpret such a question? Don't have an answer? Or don't want to answer? I need to consider the possibility that, despite her friendly nature, Lill is no ally of mine. Surely Lill could at least offer me some insight, but she chose to withhold any information whatsoever.

There is one grim possibility that seems all too likely. Lill said I am the only one they've successfully resurrected with this new method. Chances are, I'll be spending a miserable life as a lab rat.

But I know I need to hold onto hope for a better future. These are civilized beings, from a culture far more advanced than my own. Perhaps their love for compassion and civil rights is greater than their love of science. Perhaps.

Lill stops, suddenly, and another door-shaped gap appears in the wall. I don't know how she knew where to stop considering the complete lack of signs or variation, but she seems very certain this is the right place. "Your room," she gestures to the door.

I look inside. More white. White walls, white ceiling, white floor. And the room is completely barren of furniture.

I take a tentative step inside. "But--" I turn around to ask Lill, only to realize the wall is closed up again. I rush toward it, hoping it will open up again, but nothing happens.

Oh my god. Oh my god. Oh my god! They've trapped me in here! I scream in panic and start banging on the wall with my fists. "No!" I cry out in horror. Hot tears stream down my face. "Please!"

"Hello," a pleasant female voice interrupts my meltdown. "I sense you are distressed. Do you need assistance?"

I whip around, still seeing nothing but white. I turn in a slow circle. No one else is in the room with me. I'm completely alone. So who is talking to me?

"W-who are you?" My voice shakes. My hands shake.

"I am your Automated Personal Assistant," the voice responds cheerfully. "And according to my records, you are Diana. It's nice to meet you, Diana."

"Why. . . ." I wipe my face, sniffling. Wow, I feel pathetic. "Why am I here? Why can't I leave?"

"You must currently stay in this room because you are not allowed to leave unaccompanied due to the fact that you do not know anything about our way of life or your role in our society. As you learn and become a functional member of society, you will be allowed more freedoms. But for now, you cannot leave this room without appropriate supervision."

"Oh." Wow, Lill sucks! She just trapped me in here without giving me any of that very important info!

"For now, I hope that I can assist you in resting and recharging," the computer continued. "I live to serve you. I can assist you with bathing, sleeping, eating, and many other things."

My stomach growls painfully. "Well, considering I haven't eaten in like, ten thousand years, maybe that would be a good place to start?"

"Excellent," the computer responds, happy as ever. Immediately, on the far side of the room, a little gap emerges in the wall, revealing a cube-shaped indent with a glass of green liquid and a straw.

"Oh," I hurry to the glass and pick it up, inspecting it closely. It looks like a green smoothie, with a thick consistency and bright lime color. I smirk at the straw. "So, guess the whole banning straws movement didn't work out in the end, huh?"

"I'm afraid I don't understand your question?" The computer almost sounds curious.

I wave her off. "Oh, just making a joke from something relevant to my time."

I take a tentative sip from the smoothie. It takes a little bland, but it's not bad. The flavor is a bit sweet, but really very mild. Like a watered down drink.

"Oh, jokes!" The computer sounds even more enthusiastic than before. "I learned about them while doing research in preparation for your arrival. They are quite engaging."

I frown. "You just learned about them?"

"Yes. We do not have such a concept in our modern society. Well, I think some do engage in joking without realizing, but it's not a well-understood practice. We have no word for it in the standard language."

My stomach drops. "Huh." What else can I say? The locals in this new world don't sound too interesting. I may be in for a rather boring existence. My chest feels tight. How will I ever fit in? Will I ever find another companion that really gets me?

"Oh, you have an incoming visitor!" The computer announces, shaking me out of my despondent thoughts. "Shall I let him in?"

"Who is it?" I ask, surprised. Is Lill back already?

"One of your authorized supervisors. Mazdok."

Two chapters in one day! I'm on a roll guys. Let's see if I can make up for my forever break this week!