After waking up, my first thought was I hadn’t checked if the door was locked.

I was an ass. Someone could have sneaked in and stolen my kidneys. Before I could even open my eyes, Genna greeted me.

[Good morning, Aium. How was your rest?]

In response, all I did was a series of muffled moans and groans.

[I’ll take that as a yes.]

*cough* *cough* *cough*

[How did you know I was already awake?] I asked her after my small coughing fit.

[I could be considered one with your body now. I’m capable of monitoring most of your biological functions to some extent.]

[Sounds perverted and creepy, even from a girl.]

[I can assure you, I have no sexual desires or motives. Especially not strange ones.]

That would have been so reassuring without the last part.

[So, Genna. About that door. You haven’t answered me, in the end, yesterday.] I pointed out.

[Even though it’s a question that shouldn’t be asked, I’m sure under normal circumstances nobody will enter without your authorization.]

[Good. Little vague phrasing there, but I'll take.]

[So, what’s the plan for today? Do you intend to laze around in the bed all day?] she asked me.

I slowly lifted up my head from the pillow. Was she already nagging me? When did I get a married?

[Woah… What’s with this passive-aggressive attitude?] I asked her.

[I was just merely inquiring about your plans for today. I don’t see a problem with it,] said Genna, but I could clearly feel the smugness hidden somewhere in there.

[Just five more minutes.]

[Okay. I’ll notify you when the extra time is over.]

It seemed like my soul was under new management from now on. Soon, my tormentor came back to rattle my chains.

[Ding-ding-ding. The extra time is over,] said Genna with the sick happiness of a sadist.

[You seriously said “ding-ding-ding”? Don’t you have like sound files or something?]

[I have, but it’s more fun like this,] she answered.

[You can have fun? Don’t tell me you have a hobby? Something like handcrafting garden gnomes?]

[First of all, I can have fun, too. Secondly, I don’t have a hobby… yet.]

[Oi! You are getting scarier by the minute.]

[You are just imagining it.]

[Saying that, makes it even worse! I knew you were after my perfect body.]

[I thought we were done with this silly idea. I don’t want to take over your body. Also, saying you have a perfect body is far from the truth.]

Damn, she was vicious! I had to be careful, or she might have destroyed my non-existent self-confidence. It was time to get up for real; I was starving!

*cough*

I crawled out of my new bed and before dressing up I made it. I would have to get new clothes if I had to stay here. I went to the bathroom to take my morning piss, and I was pleasantly surprised there were a few new things I hadn’t seen yesterday. A few bottles and a circular box on the shelf above the sink.

[Genna, what are these?]

[Mouthwash, soap, toothpaste and a new tooth-cleaner. The steamer is already filled with gel.]

[Let’s start with the gel in the steamer. What in the what?]

[You seriously don’t know anything? Have you been living under a rock so far? The steamer is where you clean your body. You get in naked, turn it on, and the steam will cleanse you. Also, the machine mixes the steam automatically with cleaning gel. If you tell me your favorite scent, I’ll make sure to order that next time.]

[Citrus, please. Wait… do you know what citrus means?]

[It’s a pretty old and unused scent nowadays, but I can order some I think.]

[Thanks. Next item. What’s a tooth-cleaner?]

[Like a child… It’s a little device you can fill with nanite-paste and put in your mouth. Use it once a day, and it will maintain your teeth for your life.]

So, basically a lazy man’s toothbrush. Everything was encouraging people here to be lazy. Dangerous place! I couldn’t end up like a mindless potato.

I took a quick steamer… let’s just call it steam from now on. Both the steam and the tooth-cleaner was exactly like what I expected from Genna’s explanation. The part about it using nanites was a bit scary, but I couldn’t feel anything strange so it didn’t bother me too much.

[It’s 9:31 local. Would you like to go down for breakfast?] asked Genna after I left the bathroom.

[Does the fridge have food now?] I asked her while heading towards it.

[It should be.]

*cough*

[Then I’d rather eat here for today.]

In the fridge, I saw several boxes and bottles. Oh, my… I hadn’t seen a full fridge in a while, it was definitely a great feeling.

[So, what’s edible in there?] I asked my trusty helper.

[Everything… Why would I order something inedible to your fridge?]

[Just making sure, don’t get upset. I’m still not sure you won’t fry my brain when you freak out.]

[...]

I took out one of the boxes and looked at it carefully. Where was the label?! How was I supposed to know what was in this?

[No label? What’s this? How can I know whether this is expired or not?!]

[Seriously? Are you joking with me Aium?]

[For fuck's sake I’m new here!]

[There should be a small spot at one of the corners, press it and your label will appear, but you won’t find information about the expiration on there. It won’t expire. Food doesn’t expire.]

[WHAT?! No expiration?! Even if I leave a piece of meat on the table it won’t go bad?]

[It will. The fridge keeps the food fresh. As long as you keep the unused food in there it won’t expire.]

[So cool!]

The box came with a plastic fork. Good thing I didn’t have to learn the use of a new futuristic super utensil. Fork worked for who knows how long, there was no reason to change it. The food was a pasta like something. Barely any color or smell and the taste was really bland, too. Nothing exciting. This food was made for people to quickly gobble down and forget about it. There was no joy in eating this.

*cough*

I guess it was the cheapest shit Genna could order for a poor fuck like me. After throwing away the trash I went and sat down on the couch.

“Now what?” I asked the wall.

[Well, if I can suggest you something I’d say you should look for a job. You don’t have much money, so, for now, you’ll have to work personally. On the other hand, if you are content with this minimalistic life, you could just…. laze around I guess. Maybe save up for a few months and buy the cheapest VR headset and play like everyone else.]

[You guys have VR here?]

[It’s the most popular free time activity currently. Well, I could say it’s the only activity some people do nowadays, which is starting to cause real social and economic problems, but I don’t want to bore you with these.]

[Meh… I’m not interested in VR, to be honest. I’d rather not get trapped in a game either metaphorically or literally.]

[I’m glad to hear. I was afraid you would become another VR zombie,] she chirped.

*cough*

[Before anything else I’d say we should do something about your coughing. I’ve been monitoring your signals, and I’m pretty sure something in the outside air is irritating your lungs. Since you came indoors, the irritation stopped increasing, and you are slowly getting better thanks to the room. The air comes in filtered and cleaned. If you stay indoors, you will be fine, but if you plan on going outside, I’d advise you to buy a mask with air filtration. Moreover, if my educated guess is correct, in a couple of months your lungs should get used to the air outside if you breathe it in for a few minutes regularly in small quantities.]

[Good to hear I won’t suffocate,] I said. [So, how can I get a mask like you mentioned?]

[I can order you a basic one, but if you want to look at them yourself you can use the room’s computer.]

…

[Ah! Yes! Just wave your hand above the table,] she said.

I did as she said and to no one's surprise a hologram popped up. The starting screen looked like a regular operating system. The thing acted like a touchscreen, but I could also use the keyboard that lit up on the table, too. I was pretty sure there was a voice control option somewhere, but I rather used my hands for the time being. After messing around with the screen for a few minutes, I got a basic idea about it.

[How can I look at the masks?]

[Open up the Market. It’s a centralized service where you can buy nearly everything you could think of.]

[Oh?! Can I buy a wife, too?]

[Erm… I…Aium, I don’t think you can buy a wife… I don’t know… erm, but if you wish to purchase pleasure equi-]

[STOP! Nothing like that! I was just joking okay?] I interrupted her quickly.

I searched for masks with air filtration option. There were 1567 results. Wow…

[Can I add a few filters?]

[You could specify your race. Also, you should remove the VR-compatibility since you don’t want to play, and it makes the mask’s price skyrocket. Other than that, I think you’ll just have to pick one you like, but please don’t spend all your money. I don’t want you to become homeless until the next allowance.]

Race: Human

VR Compatibility: No

I looked at the other filter options, but only two other caught my attention.

Holochanger: Yes

Advanced safety: Yes

Advanced safety made the mask water, heat, shock and pressure resistant as the name would suggest. The holochanger was a style option. The mask could change how it looked. The expensive ones could even play videos on them, but the cheaper ones were hardset to switch between a few images only.

Results: 132

HolochangerM: No

HolochangerH: Yes

Result: 12

A lot better.

The cheaper version of the holochanger was enough for me, but even with that, the mask prices went from 1000 credits up to 12000. These were already the cheap ones… Fuck me; I was really poor. As I was thinking about giving up the holochanger and the advanced safety I looked at one of the masks. Its picture was changing between two looks because the holochanger in this one had only two hardset images. One was just a blank black, but the other one was an image of a dark red mask with insidious eyes and an evil grin. Also, there was a crooked sign that was supposed to show the number four. Looked creepy beyond words.

In stock: 1

Price: 1350 Credit

I looked at the other masks. They had hundreds of them in stock from all kinds of sellers, but this one had only one left. Without thinking it through, I clicked on buy.

[Oh shit… How do I get it? It didn’t even ask about delivery or anything? Did I already pay for it?]

[Yes… The amount is already gone from your account… You spent… quite the sum…,] she said with an annoyed voice. [Nevermind… The mask will arrive sometime in the next 10 hours. I think you’ll have to go down to the reception to pick it up.]

[Yaay! Doesn’t it look cool?]

[I’d rather call it creepy and repulsive.]

[You have no sense of beauty.]

[Sure...]

[So the first item on today’s list is done. What else should I do?] I asked.

Maybe I should face reality and start thinking about my real problem.

[I could help you look for a job. You’ll just have to tell me what skills you have, what jobs would you prefer or avoid, and your previous experiences.]

Bleeeeeeeeeeeeh. Same shit as before.

I should have talked to Genna. I wasn't getting anywhere on my own. I didn’t know what or where was this place. I didn’t know how I got here and worst of all I had no idea how to go back… Did I… did I want to go back? Was there anything worth back there for me to return? Should I have felt sad if I couldn't go back? I certainly wouldn't miss my assfuck boss and job. Even this cheap flat was better than the one I had. I didn’t even know if anyone would notice my absence outside my job.

I looked down at my lap. Just staring at my right knee with slumped shoulders. My life was pretty shit, but it was still my life. I wasn’t sure I could just leave everything behind at a moment’s notice. On the other hand, I had a feeling that my fate was already decided and I wouldn’t have a say concerning my situation. After some self-reflection, I straightened my back and looked up. I was somewhere unfamiliar in a situation I couldn’t even fully grasp. I wouldn’t be able to handle this on my own. I needed help.

I had to tell Genna.