The seven brothers stood in front of the door, staring at the green light signaling them to enter. One of them said, "I don't know how to feel."
Zero, standing beside him, said, "Agreed."
From the other side of the room, a large space opened up, minimalistic yet carefully arranged. A lone table sat along the wall, neatly filled with snacks, hot drinks, and water. In the center of the room, 30 seats were arranged in two concentric circles, creating an intimate yet daunting atmosphere.
Above them, a dome-shaped ceiling loomed, a large pole descending from its center. Attached to the pole were four screens, ensuring that everyone in the room could see whatever would be displayed. The air was thick with anticipation, as though the room itself held the weight of what was about to unfold.
Watching from the second level, separated by a glass wall, mentors observed the scene below. Dr. Pill was among them, her eyes fixed on every movement, her presence almost palpable even from behind the glass.
D finally gathered the courage and said, "What are we waiting for?" He stepped in first. The room wasn't as empty as before—all the seats were taken, except for seven that remained conspicuously unoccupied. The brothers knew instantly where they were supposed to sit.
---
The moment the brothers sat down, the screens hanging from the dome above them flickered to life, casting a video of Dr. Pill.
"Hello, everyone," her voice rang out, smooth and controlled. "I know many of you are familiar with how we do things here, but today, we have newcomers with us. Let's welcome them and make sure they're not left behind."
Her tone shifted slightly, becoming more instructive. "First, everyone will have a turn to express how they feel about themselves. This is a safe space—there are no cameras, no recordings here. No one but you can actually hear what is said in this room."
The brothers exchanged glances, unsure of what to expect next.
"Second," Dr. Pill continued, "we'll be doing something a bit different for three days each week before returning to our usual schedule. One of you will become the therapist for the group, to help everyone feel closer and to foster understanding."
She paused, her gaze turning directly toward Zero. "And the one who will be doing that for three days is... Zero."
All eyes turned to Zero as the weight of Dr. Pill's words settled in. The room grew tense with the sudden focus on him, and the anticipation of what was to come hung in the air.
"Take your chair and come to the middle, Zero," Dr. Pill instructed. As Zero began moving towards the center of the room, she added, "Don't worry—there will be questions asked on the screen, so you'll only need to answer or just listen. Good luck."
All eyes turned to Zero as the weight of Dr. Pill's words settled in. The room grew tense with the sudden focus on him, and the anticipation of what was to come hung in the air.
---
A moment of silence passed before Four stood up and said softly, "Hi... my name's Four, or you can call me S. The man in the middle is Zero, like you heard. This here is One, or C... and Five, or E. There's Six, or D... and Two, or U. And last but not least, Three, or R."
He hesitated for a moment before continuing, "Together... it spells CURSED. Not the best name, but it's what we have. I never imagined I'd meet people who look like us... or feel like us. So, I hope we can all find a way to connect here... thank you."
With that, Four sat down quietly again.
But there was someone who was in shock, and that was Dr. Pill. Holding the report file in her hands, she whispered to herself, "There's something wrong..."
---
Dr. Pill, visibly shocked, called out, "Carla!"
Carla responded immediately, stepping forward. Dr. Pill handed her the report, already opened to the page concerning Four. "Read it for me," Dr. Pill instructed, her voice tense with urgency.
Carla took the report, her eyes moving over
the text as she began to read aloud
------------- :
Four profile (S)
S, also known as Four, often struggles with feelings of invisibility and a desire to escape from his own existence. He tends to isolate himself and wishes that he could make himself disappear. This desire to disappear extends to his power, which involves making things invisible. His powers reflect his internal struggle and his wish to be unnoticed. Consumed by negative emotions, S prefers isolation over any meaningful connection with others. He feels trapped in a world where he is never truly seen or acknowledged.
__________
Dr. Pill commented, "Is this 'social anxiety' to you? He speaks better than a celebrity—hell, better than me. Let's keep observing. I have great hope that everything will unfold soon." ?
to be continued....