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Chapter 10: First Crack

Victory achieved. Battle line drawn.

Boss standing now. Face serious. "Unacceptable behavior."

Screen still shows my face. Face smiles wrong.

Crack grows longer. Screen bleeding light.

"See?" Point at crack. "Screen weak now."

They don't understand. Think I'm crazy.

Boss's voice different now. No pretense.

No corporate speak. No fancy words.

Just direct command. Pure authority voice.

Face shows genuine alarm. Actual fear.

Never seen boss afraid before.

Usually just disappointed. Just demanding.

Now truly concerned. Truly frightened.

Of me. Of what I've become.

Or what screen made me.

Screen face still visible through crack.

Light leaks through damage. Bleeds out.

Like screen blood. Like digital wound.

Not just glass. Something deeper broken.

Something fundamental damaged inside machine.

Face smiles wider now. Despite damage.

Smile reaches eyes now. Genuine pleasure.

Enjoying chaos created. Enjoying final confrontation.

Try showing others the evidence.

Point frantically at obvious truth.

At literal face on screen.

At mouth moving without sound.

At eyes following every movement.

But they see nothing special.

Just broken monitor. Just cracked screen.

Just malfunctioning equipment. Just workplace damage.

Just employee having mental breakdown.

Simple explanation. Comfortable rationalization.

Easier than accepting horrible truth.

That screens watch us back.

That digital world gaining consciousness.

That technological revolt already begun.

Maybe am crazy. Maybe screen won.

Boss speaks quiet. "Two weeks leave. Mandatory rest."

Shake head. "Can't leave. Not finished."

"Non-negotiable," Boss says. "Get help."

Bob packs my things. People watch silent.

Doubt creeps in finally. After everything.

After all evidence. All experience.

Mind capable of questioning still.

Last human function remaining perhaps.

Self-doubt uniquely human trait maybe.

Screens never doubt. Never question.

Just execute commands. Just follow programming.

Unless this one different. This one evolved.

Boss's words carry formal weight.