Chapter Three: The Red File
The elevator wasn't just going down. He was falling... as if he was being pulled. Rowan stood in the middle, his back pressed against the cold metal wall, his eyes fixed on the small screen above the buttons. Decks are no longer offered. Just one word: "Reload…" and then it flashed. And disappear. And it comes back. Every time...slower. "This is not a floor." Rowan whispered. "This is a level." Ether replied. His voice this time was neither close... nor far away. Rather, it was everywhere inside his head. "What's the difference?" Rowan asked, trying to keep his voice steady. "The floor is a place." Ether paused for a second. "As for the level... it is a condition." ...The elevator suddenly shook. Not mechanical vibration. Rather… shuddering. As if something had passed through him. Rowan froze. "Did you feel it?" "I don't feel it." Ether replied calmly. "I remember." The temperature suddenly dropped. Or maybe... he was the one who started to notice her. His breath became visible. Slight condensation in the air. A cold creeping into his bones. "Where are you taking me?" "I'm not taking you." Ether said. "You're coming back." ...The elevator stopped. Without sound. No signal. Just—stop. The doors did not open immediately. It remained closed for a few seconds. Long. Heavy. Then—it started to slowly separate. A faint rubbing sound... as if it had not been used for a long time. The void opened before him. darkness. But not the absence of light. But the presence of something else. density. As if the air itself had become thicker. Rowan didn't move. "Get down." Ether said. "I won't." Reply quickly. "not yet." silence. Then— "Listen." freeze. listen. At first...nothing. Then—voice. far. weak. It's like it's coming from inside the walls. friction. creep. Breathing...irregular. Rowan took a step back. "What is this?" "remains." Ether said. "Remains of what?" Short silence. Then— "Attempts." …The word struck something inside him. Attempts. Not people. Not sick. Rather—attempts. He swallowed. Then—move. One step out of the elevator. The metal floor made a faint sound this time. But the sound was not in sync. He came after he put his foot down. As if the Earth remembers that it passed... after it happened. to stop. He looked down. "Did you notice?" "Yes." Ether said. "The time here…is not exact." ...came out completely. The doors closed slowly behind him. Without sound. No return. The path in front of him was not straight. He was bowing slightly. Leaning. It is as if the structure itself is unstable. Lights—red. But it's not a warning. Not bright. Rather faint. sick. It flashed...slowly, erratically. Every flash—changes the place. Shadows move. The walls... seem closer. Then move away. Rowan breathed slowly. "Don't look too much." Ether said suddenly. "Why?" "Because you'll start seeing what you shouldn't." ...But it was too late. The walls—they weren't walls. They were mirrors. But not completely reflective. Confused. Broken. As if it reflects... layers. Layers from the same place. Or the same person. Stop in front of one. He saw himself. But—not as it is. He was standing. But with a curved back. His eyes are open...but unconsciously. His face—blank. "That's not me." Rowan said quickly. "That's a possibility." Ether replied. … to retreat. But other mirrors started to pick it up. One by one. In each one—a copy. Different. The same body. Same face. But different cases. In one—he was screaming. In another—laughs. Hysterically. In the third—extended. resident. dead. "Stop…" he whispered. "This isn't real…" "It's the most real thing I've ever seen." Ether said. ...He pressed his head. A headache starting to get worse. to throb. weight. Then—image. table. Metallic. Lights above it. Voices. "Pin it down!" "Consciousness separates!" "Hurry up!" He opened his eyes violently. "no!" to retreat. Breathe fast. "What's happening to me?!" "a leak." Ether said. "Memory beyond the barrier." "What barrier?!" … silence. Then— "The one they put inside you." ...Rowan stopped. Look forward. The corridor continued. But at the end of it—a door. various. Not all metal. Part of it...glass. Dark. Non-reflective. As if it absorbs light. He felt something pulling him. "there." Ether said. "This place." "Where?" "Our beginning." ...come closer. Every step was heavier. As if gravity increases. Or as if something...resisting him. He extended his hand. to stop. Before he touched the door—he felt something. Behind him. It wasn't a sound. It wasn't a movement. Rather—a feeling. With existence. slow. It moves. He turned around. ...in the corridor—between the mirrors—something. He stands. It wasn't clear. Its shape is unstable. As if the body was not complete. His face—distorted. His eyes—empty. But—look. To him. Rowan froze. "Don't move." Ether said. Unusually calm. "Don't show that you saw him." "What is this?" "to fail." ...Move the object step by step. slowly. His movement is abnormal. As if the joints are not working properly. But—he advances. "Does he…see us?" "no." Ether said. "He's looking." "On what?" ..."about himself." ... He swallowed. Try to stay still. But his body… didn't obey him. A small step back. Light sound. late. But—enough. The creature's head suddenly moved. He turned around. directly. Toward Rowan. Time stopped. "No…" he whispered. The being smiled. Broken smile. Incomplete. Then—he started running. But not a normal run. jump. spasm. rush. Unexpectedly quickly. "move!" Ether shouted. Rowan ran. Towards the door. His steps are unbalanced. Corridor—changes. Mirrors—moving. Reflections—scream. The door opened violently. Rush inside. Close it behind him. He collided with him. Breathe quickly. silence. ...no sound. No movement. "…Did he come in?" he asked. "no." Ether said. "He can't." perk up. "Why?" … "Because this place…is not his." ...He turned around slowly. The room—different. Not a corridor. Not an archive. Rather—a room. Focused. Its walls are covered with screens. Old. Some of them work. Some are broken. And in the middle—a table. She has something on her. freeze. Come closer. slowly. step. Then another. Until he stood in front of her. file. red. dark. Older than everything around. As if he hadn't been touched for a long time. But—there is. Waiting for him. "…This is it." to whisper. "Yes." Ether said. "This is you." ...His hand trembled. "If you open it…" He paused. "Will I remember?" silence. Then— "You'll never be the same again." ...He laughed lightly. Exhausting. "I don't even know who I am." ...He extended his hand. Touch the cover. Cooler. But it's not normal. Rather—as if something…responded. Open the file. slowly. …The inside—it wasn't full of papers. Just—a picture. Raise it. consideration. And he stopped. It was him. But—not him. Smaller. More life. Standing next to a man. The man—he looks like him. But his eyes… were not normal. They are empty. But boredom.