— "Inside the Lab – Test Room"

The cold fluorescent lights hum above, casting long shadows across the sterile white floor. Marcy sits quietly in the center of the room, her hands resting on her knees. She’s calm on the outside, but her chest rises and falls a little too quickly — she knows this isn’t just another “observation.”

Behind the glass, Brenner and his team take notes, their expressions unreadable.

The door slides open. Kali steps inside. She’s younger here, her dark eyes shifting toward Marcy with uncertainty.

Dr. Brenner: — “Today we’ll test the limits,” Brenner’s voice echoes through the intercom. “Eight, focus. Marcy… pay attention.”

Kali closes her eyes, her small hands clenching at her sides. The air around her seems to thicken as she tries to project an illusion — a trick of sight, bending the edges of reality.

Marcy blinks. For a moment, she sees Kali’s outline flicker, fading like smoke. But something inside her resists. Her mind sharpens, as if she’s meant to see through it.

The scientists whisper to each other. Pens scratch against clipboards.

Eight exhales, frustrated. Marcy tilts her head, watching her carefully. She doesn’t speak — she never does during tests — but her presence is steady, grounding, like an anchor against Kali’s illusions.

Through the glass, Brenner’s voice cuts in again.

Dr. Brenner: — “Interesting. 09,5 stabilizes the subject’s focus. A… control.”

Kali looks at Marcy with a mix of exhaustion and relief. Even though the test is supposed to separate them, for a fleeting moment, it feels like they’re connected.

Note for Players: You can play Marcy, a character from the scene, or an original character.