A Heart in the Machine (Serial Designation V x Reader)

Chapter 18: Machinations

How many drones had died because of that choice? Because you didn't do enough?

The silence in the room presses against you as the guilt swirls, heavy and unrelenting. You take another sip of oil, but it doesn't bring the comfort you hoped for. The voice in your head—the one you've been trying to ignore—is louder now. Still imperceptible, just a hum at the edge of your awareness, but insistent.

You rub your temples, shutting your eyes. Maybe you're just tired. Or maybe you're finally starting to crack under the pressure of everything that's happened. Either way, the noise isn't stopping. It's there, lurking, pushing at the boundaries of your mind.

For now, you sit in silence, alone with your thoughts, trying to find even the smallest moment of peace in the chaos.

You sit with your head resting in your hands, staring blankly at the dark surface of your drink. The quiet hum of the lights overhead does little to ease your spiraling thoughts, each one heavier than the last.

The sound of soft footsteps pulls you out of your daze. You glance up and see Doll approaching, her expression unreadable as always. Her hands are tucked into the pockets of her jacket, her movements deliberate yet casual. Something about the way she walks toward you sets you further on edge.

She stops a few feet away, tilting her head slightly as she studies you.

"Ты должен сделать выбор, и скоро" (You need to make a choice, and soon), she says, her voice calm but carrying an unmistakable weight.

Your brow furrows, trying to process what she just said. "What are you talking about?" you ask, your voice a little sharper than intended.

Doll doesn't answer right away. Instead, she shrugs, her expression remaining as neutral as ever. "Ты узнаешь" (You'll find out), she adds cryptically, turning on her heel before you can ask anything more.

"Wait," you call after her, but she keeps walking, her pace steady and unhurried.

"Мне нужно идти на занятия. (I have to get to class)" she says over her shoulder, as if that's the most important thing in the world right now. The door to the hall slides open, and before you can say another word, she's gone, leaving you alone again with her cryptic warning replaying in your head.

A choice? What choice?

You rub your temple again, frustration bubbling to the surface. Between the voice in your head and now Doll's bizarre, ominous statement, it feels like the weight on your shoulders just got a little heavier. Whatever she meant, it doesn't sound like you'll have the luxury of ignoring it for long.

You glance down at your nearly empty cup, the oily liquid now lukewarm and unappealing. With a sigh, you push it aside and stand, stretching out the tension in your back. Maybe keeping busy will help silence your thoughts—or at least drown them out for a while.

As you step out of the lunchroom, a maintenance worker passes by, carrying an armful of tools. They barely acknowledge you until you call out.

"Hey, have you seen Frank? He was supposed to check on the storage room."

The worker pauses, looking briefly uncomfortable. "Uh, who?" they say hurriedly, glancing around as if someone might be watching. "I've gotta go—got, uh, doors to check." Without waiting for a response, they dart down the hallway, tools clanking in their arms.

You frown, the unease you'd been trying to shake creeping back in. Something about their reaction feels... off. But with everything else going on, you push the thought aside. If they didn't know who Frank was, you'd have to find him yourself.