Chapter 3

The forum disappeared.

The countdown had officially begun.

It was late at night. Cold air slipped through the gaps around the old window.

Strangely, the sharp ache from the cold began to fade from my body.

At first, I did not think much of it. I assumed I had gone numb.

But the next morning, while I was making breakfast for the family, hot oil from a fried egg splattered onto my hand.

I hissed and pulled back.

The burning pain I expected never came.

There was only a dull sensation, as if the pain belonged to someone else.

I stared blankly at my reddening finger.

So it had already started.

Panic rose in my chest.

The forum said I would become an academic machine.

When that happened, would I still be me?

Would I still recognize Mom, Dad, and Ava?

So I secretly took the allowance Grandpa had given me and slipped into a gift shop on the way home.

I wanted to buy gifts for my family.

When I became a machine with no feelings, at least those gifts could stay with them in my place.

Maybe then they would not be too sad.

I went into the shop and chose a set of family ceramic mugs.

Just then, someone lightly tapped my shoulder.

"Mia Lawson?"

My desk mate, Ethan Carter, stood there in a black hoodie. He scratched his hair awkwardly.

"It really is you. I saw you from outside and stared for ages because I wasn't sure.

"Is your birthday coming up? Do you like..."

Before Ethan could finish, a cold voice cut him off.

"So this is why you didn't come home. Hiding here to flirt."

I turned around.

Ava was standing at the shop entrance, holding Dad's arm.

Dad stared at Ethan's hoodie, his face darkening.

I knew he had already decided Ethan was some kind of delinquent just because he was not in uniform. My heart tightened.

"Dad, I'm not dating anyone..."

I tried to hide the gift bag, but Ava snatched it from my hand.

"Wow. Buying presents for your little boyfriend?"

She opened the careful wrapping and sneered at the mugs.

"Using our parents' money to buy gifts for a boy?

"Why don't you put this much effort into studying?"

The ceramic mugs swayed in her hand.

I reached out to grab them back, but she suddenly let go.

"No!"

The mugs crashed to the floor and shattered.

"Disgraceful little thing. We're going home."

Dad grabbed my arm and dragged me toward the door.

"Are you that desperate? Can't live without a man? What are you standing there for? Move!"

"Sir, we just ran into each other by chance," Ethan tried to explain.

Dad glared at him so viciously that Ethan stopped.

As soon as Dad dragged me home, Ava began adding fuel to the fire in front of Mom.

Mom became furious, exactly as expected. Her face twisted with disappointment.

"Mia, how did you turn out like this? You're already copying those kids and dating?"

"Mom, I..."

Dad waved a hand and rubbed his brow as if exhausted.

"Take her into the bathroom and check whether she's still a virgin.

"If she isn't, we'll press charges against that boy."

I froze in disbelief.

Humiliation flooded me so violently that I could barely breathe.

I protested with everything I had.

"No! I'm not going in there. I didn't do anything!"

"You're accusing me of something I didn't do! I won't!"

The protest came out raw and broken.

Ava and Mom could not drag me in by themselves.

So Dad slapped me hard across the face, grabbed my hair, and dragged me into the bathroom.

"Now you know how to be scared? Where was that fear earlier?"

"Hanging around with shady people every day, embarrassing the whole family. Do you have any self-respect at all?"

The bathroom door slammed shut.

My clothes were stripped off almost immediately.

My mother's and Ava's hands moved over me, forcing my legs apart.

As if I were merchandise they were checking for damage.

Humiliation almost drowned me. Tears swam in my eyes.

I do not know how long it took before they finally left, tossing my clothes onto my naked body.

Numbly, I put them back on.

My fingers missed the buttons again and again.

At that moment, the phone lying beside me lit up by itself.

The black forum had opened automatically.

[Trial elapsed: 24 hours.]

[Current sensory shutdown: 37%.]

[Warning: continuing will convert you into a high-efficiency academic machine.]

[Do you wish to cancel the trade?]

[Yes/No]

My finger trembled above the screen.

Terminate it?

No.

I could not terminate it.

I wanted my parents to see me. I wanted dignity. I wanted the kind of place Ava had always been given.

I was done living like something lower than a person.

Even if the price was... no longer being myself.

My finger fell.

I pressed No.

The screen flickered, and new words surfaced.

[Trade continues.]

[Final confirmation due in 24 hours.]