In the second part of last chapter, Elio and his family went to their nextdoor neighbours apartment to visit with them. It turned out that just like the vast amount of the population, they also were extremely obese- and prefer to live their life through a simulated lens. This infuriated Elio when he meets with the family's son who talks about his video game simulations, who he ends up making cry from his brutal- and perhaps undeserved words...

Elio's P.O.V.

"What in the hell was that you two?! Are you trying to ruin our connections with the few people we ever get to commerce with?!" Mom shouts at me and my brother Xalen right after we shut- or dad slams the door to our apartment.

"Mom I didn't do anything it was Eli-"

"Shut it." Dad says as he grits his teeth... I mean... should I stand up for him? I'm probably going to get punished anyways, but I wouldn't want Xalen to get in trouble for no reason... then again, they would never listen to me right now. Or at all probably...

"Do you two really get your entertainment from forcing your own views onto others? Did you not learn in, I don't know haha, preschool- that there's something called "empathy" in this world? Those people- or no our neighbours like many others are- they're raised into those conditions you know? Some people can't afford to buy their own houses here, and so they have no choice but to live inside of these government issued apartments. Some people with criminal records PRAY to get the lives the "trapped" people living in "simulated" happiness get..." Dad scolds us as he walks back and forth in front of me and Xalen who's head is drooped down. I have SO many things I want to say back to the garbage he's spewing.

Mainly that- if you swapped "can't afford to buy their own houses" with "can't afford to buy their own freedom", there would be little to no difference. Because the apartment's are completely free- the people give up their rights to the government entirely, so much so that each apartment has camera's set up in them for "research" that the higher authorities can access any time they want to.

"Are you even listening to him, Elio?! ...What, do you have something you want to say? In fact- tell me, why do you care so much about all of this stuff in the first place? Are you not busy enough with your tests coming up soon?" Mom shouts as she slaps my forehead with the back of her hand, I guess she noticed my gritted teeth but... after she says that I calm down a bit... why do I care so much about the lives those registered people live now?

I blamed it on the Aliez's son Uleas saying my life was sad but... I don't think think that was quite it.

"I don't know. It came to me." I mumble out to buy me some time... maybe it has to do with me just being stressed? Yeah, but there's more than that isn't there...

"Is that so? No, I think you may be hiding something you've been doing like your brother was with that damaging vlog channel he had. If you two tell us now, we won't have to search your rooms- but there's no time for goofing around here." Dad says as he crosses his arms over his chest with a huff- oh God, shit I underestimated them, I have to say something now...  that's it.

"It's everything." I say, without much thought but, honestly... I think that is it... I-I don't know.

"What? Everything? What does that mean?" Mom asks as she furrows her brow.

"It's, I don't know... this continent. It's so- so dark and depressing all the time.. and we chose not to give our lives up to the government to keep our freedom, but even then... it feels like it's... like that was pointless either way now. I haven't seen the real world's sky even once, we hardly go outside the apartment... yeah." I say but luckily stop myself from going too overboard, although I ended a bit informally there. Hopefully they won't get too mad about that.

"Pointless?! Elio- wha- me and your mother have worked SO hard to get this apartment. Do you know how many strings we had to pull to get an apartment here without the government watching us and controlling us like EVERYONE else in this building? We did all of this so that you two can live meaningful lives, lives that we- you can be proud of, as software engineers. You say you don't like this continent? Use your knowledge to change it, make programs to save lives-"

"That's not it!! It's- all of this new software IS the problem. It was fine with small things like robots and electric cars, which I like but... we're all so focused on this super advanced tech now that we hardly even notice our real lives anymore... and the more and more we advance it- the worse off this place will b-"

"GO TO YOUR ROOM NOW!" Mom shouts, I- what- I'm 19 she can't just-

"Xalen you too!" She continues to shout as dad grips my arm and starts to pull me away, and looking back at my brother he's just looking down at the floor with a... smile on his face? Weird... I feel bad for him though... I dragged him into all of this.

"...I guess I forgot, they CAN do this since if we don't listen they'll kick us out. I'm happy. I'm glad I finally stood up for myself but... yeah. I am. All my raps and all should be hidden so, I think I should be safe from them getting deleted... I hope." I think to myself with my head held relatively high.

Hours later...

📂📂📂

"Ughhhh... why is this stupid thing turning out negative now, come on..." I mumble to myself as I run my hands through my short black and red dyed hair. Of course I'm sitting down in my lit up room at my desk, struggling to get through some intense algebra that looks like a whole new language to me right now on my computer screen, which I've been working on for hours.

I was right, mom and dad didn't find my raps- or anything I care about for that matter. My only punishment was having to leave my room door open 24/7, and also having to work extra long hours on my homework and all... not like that matters too much though, I've got no free time anyways... who am I kidding, it sucks.

"...Great, the last test before the EXAM is in three days and I can't even get through some questions from a while back. Shit... if I do bad on this I'm done for- who ever thought it was a smart idea to make a single test worth half of our grade? I wouldn't mind disappearing... but what would I be when I disappear? Would I be anything? Maybe the whole religion of the Five Kings is wrong and there would be nothing... yeah, stop thinking like that you big baby. I don't like those odds. "  I ponder as I stare down at my feet... I need a break. I should be "allowed" to go see Xalen now at least.

I stand up, almost falling over due to my numb legs but I'm used to that. I walk out of my room and to Xalen's open room, to where I can hear his classical music playing again.

"Hey... so did mom and dad take much from you? Oh and uh, can I come in?" I ask as I stand outside the door so that I can't see him yet, as unlike my own parents I respect people's privacy.

"Hi... and yeah. Dad looked ALL over my room and found my diary, he took it and said that he and mom would be reading over it "for my own good"... Obviously the open door thing too." Xalen slowly says, and so I walk forward so that I can actually see him, he's wearing a long sleeved white shirt and jeans as he's slouching on his chair at his computer... haaaa... this is my fault.

"I'm sorry. I should have listened to you and stopped getting mad and yelling at Uleas. ...But Xalen, man, why didn't you just leave us w- never mind. I-"

"No. You're right. This is my own fault. I just sat there in the room while you actively spoke your mind... you have my respect for that. Don't worry about me Elio, I'm- or we're used to this kind of strictness now." Xalen says as he doesn't even bother turning around...

"I mean... I guess. But, I'm still to blame as well. Anyways. Um... how is your studying coming along? I've been stuck on the same concepts for  like hours now. I'll admit, I'm pretty worried about my last intense algebra test in 3 days. Don't you have a test on the same day?" I say, only bringing up my studying to show Xalen that I'm struggling too. Normally that makes people feel better I've noticed, it does for me at least.

"Hm- wait... wa... Oh God. I was thinking it was next week but... no, no- I remember now- we talked about the coincidence a while back. Nononono, I'm so stupid, I'm done for. My mark is gonna tank and mom and dad are... they'll- they'll-"

"Hey hey calm down. How much have you studied so far? You could still make it if you start cramming now." I say, being a bit mad at him on the inside though for making a mistake as big as that. How could he forget something so important, normally he's always so enthusiastic about his schoolwork.

"I don't know, it's not enough anyways... you know. I've tried to work more recently, but... I've started to lose my... drive I think it's called? Yes that. What you said to mom and dad- I agree. I feel like I'm, like I'm not even passionate about software anymore... or if I ever was. I want to go outside..." Xalen says which surprises me but thinking about it... we never got to choose our fields of study.

Luckily I got myself more invested in tech as I grew up- well- even if I do hate what some tech is doing to people and would prefer another fulltime job but... anyways Xalen.

"...I mean... I understand what you're saying. If I could, I would drop all of this whole software stuff SO fast to start making raps for a living- or well to start learning how to do that at least. But... I mean... we have to push through this. The chance of making enough money to live as anything other than the people who make the robots, the one's who have taken all of our jobs- is to be the ones who make them...... I hate how the world works but, do you know what I'm saying?" I say, but sigh as Xalen doesn't even move as he stares at his computer.

"Anyways back to the test, come on, you know you can study enough for it. ...Xalen you have to. I hate to sound so pessimistic but, if you ended up failing, mom and dad would kick you out." I say with a frown being on my face now. He needs some truth knocked into him now, even if that truth is absolutely disgusting considering the state of this continent.

"I know they would- and rightfully so, honestly. If I couldn't even do well when all I do is sit around all day at the computer I work on- that's pretty pathetic most people would say." Xalen says calmly... what... did I make things worse here?

"I... alright. Just try your... no, I hate that saying. Just... try to cram in some studying for it Xalen- for me. After the test is over then we can relax." I say, but Xalen doesn't move.

"Ha... yeah. True." He responds with a chuckle as I can see him jolt a bit, I think that's a good sign. I hope he's not faking it though, that's probably something I would do. Only with mom and dad though.

Either way, with that I reach for the do- oh right there is no door here anymore. I walk out of his room's empty doorway and back to my grind room. Which actually stands for my bedroom- because yeah I still have a lot of, monitored, studying left to do... I'm lucky mom and dad didn't barge in on us right now actually.

Four days later...

➕➖➗

"Sweet- damn that's way better than what I expected. Mom and dad will leave me alone for so long now- and hey, maybe even be a bit proud. Not like I care about that anyways though..." I mumble to myself as I look at my posted test results, 97 percent, with a smile on my face.

"Hey mom, dad, come here, my results are in!" I shout as I turn my head back along the top of the black metal leather cushioned chair I'm sitting in, with me looking at the artificially lit brown wall of the hallway just past my room.

I hear quick footsteps coming to my room before they both walk in, with dad rubbing his hands together while mom just looks nervous.

"I got a 97." I say, trying to act cool but it's pretty hard to- considering how much time I spent studying for it for the past few days especially instead of rapping.

"Phew. As expected. Good job." Mom says as she stands still and nods her head...

"What she said. But come on, haha, where's that tinsy three percent hiding! Did you see where you messed up or did they not post the test solutions yet?" Dad says as he walks over to me and leans down to see my computer............ what.

"No. But I mean- 97, I'D say that's plenty. Right?' I ask... I don't know why I am. I could care less about their approval, they're so picky all the time anyways a-

"I mean- it'll do. That's about the average you need to get an ok chance at an internship for most of the good companies around here. Just keep up your studying." Dad says as he leans back up, just patting my shoulder once then leaving the room right after with mom...

"CH- FUCKING-" I quietly mumble as I grit my teeth and grip my knee, with me digging my fingernails right into it. What the hell do they want me to be a robot?!?!

A/N: Elio's past continues on, with him and his innocent brother facing punishments from their parents after Elio speaks his mind- and now the two both seem to be in dark places...

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