2. The Exit
Pomni and Ausgabe ran to the red door. They managed to get it open and rushed inside.
Inside was a monumental maze of offices.
''Is this what you saw," asked Ausgabe.
''Uh-huh," nodded Pomni, "and this leads to the void.
At the far end of the room was a door just like the one they had entered. Ausgabe pushed the knob and they came to a completely identical room. Twenty-seven doors later, Ausgabe began to freak out.
''Why is this going nowhere?," said Ausgabe with some anxiety.
''It's nothing... Just keep opening doors..." said Pomni. She was also starting to freak out.
They opened one more door and came to a large office. There were several computers on and time sheets with schedules. There was also a vending machine, several lights with a poor quality light and... another exit door.
''This... I remember..." said Pomni.
''What is this," said Ausgabe, "and why is there another exit door?
Ausgabe began to tug at his red hair as he swayed gently. Then Ausgabe saw Pomni staring at something, something at the back of the office. As he followed her gaze a table with a computer on and virtual reality goggles. The computer was old and the goggles were very dirty.
Pomni and Ausgabe looked at each other and suddenly started to leave like crazy. Pomni opened the door and left, but Ausgabe, still laughing, walked over to the computer.
With his wrist fingers he stroked the virtual reality goggles causing some dust on his fingers. Ausgabe looked at the computer screen and a memory came to her.
In that memory, Ausgabe was still human and was with a boy slightly older than her. The boy was forcing Ausgabe to walk through the offices against her will and finally they arrived in front of the computer and the glasses.
''Cool, a game," said the boy.
''I want to go home, mum will be very angry with us if we don't come back now," whined Ausgabe.
''Shut up, child, and put on your glasses," ordered the boy with a superior and unfriendly tone.
''Why?" wanted to know Ausgabe looking at the boy.
''You put on your glasses now. Apparently it's a video game. I order you to play a little and then tell me if it's worth it because I'm not going to waste my time on a rubbish game," shouted the boy.
''But I don't want to," cried Ausgabe again.
Suddenly, the boy put the virtual reality goggles on Ausgabe. The next thing she saw was when she was already in the digital circus...
''Are you coming," Pomni's voice brought Ausgabe out of her memory. It seemed that Poni's madness had passed.
''Yes," nodded Ausgabe and the two of them ran to the exit door.
Pomni threw open the door and they both fell out.
''What should we do now," asked Ausgabe.
''I don't know, the first time I came here Cain pulled me out," answered Pomni.
And sure enough, a few seconds later Cain appeared and led them back into the tent.
''So you tried to run away from the amazing digital circus, eh," said Cain with a cheerful tone, "When will you learn that there is no way out?
''Caine, we've done your stupid mission****," said Zooble as a sound covered his rudeness.
''Well done! As a reward you can rest for a while, then a delicious dinner prepared by Chef Bubble will be served," crooned Cain.
''Finally," whispered Kinger.
They all went to their respective rooms.
Ausgabe sat in the corner of his room and thought about the flashback he had had. Who was that boy? Why did he put the virtual reality goggles on him? What were they doing there? These were unanswerable questions. But Ausgabe promised herself that she would find the solutions to her questions and a way out.
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