2 SURVIVAL

I tried to fight the pull of the darkness as it wrapped itself around me, pulling me further and further away from the light. But it was useless.

I was losing myself to the machine.

Program Forty-Six activated, the robotic voice sounded inside of thoughts.

Volts of energy surged throughout my body, and I wanted to scream out in pain as the burning sensation traveled at full speed with no clear end in sight, but I didn’t.

Pain showed weakness, I reminded myself.

And weakness should a loss of control.

I was still here.

I was still present beneath the machine, and I wasn’t going to give up.