beyond the surface

"Being here as Camella's bodyguard now felt like a mistake

"Yesterday, I had been so curious and willing to follow any lead, but now, the weight of my actions was weighing on me, filling me with a growing uneasiness.

The sense of obligation kept me from making any rash decisions, but I couldn't shake the feeling that maybe being here was a mistake, and I regretted getting myself into this situation in the first place.

I wonder what would have happened if I refused primrose to work for her

My life would have been so peaceful

“Primrose was paying me. I couldn't just back out!" I reminded myself

I glanced I thought to myself especially since Camela herself seemed nice, not like a mean person at all.

It was strange, this feeling of obligation I felt towards her, but I knew that I couldn't keep up this facade forever. One day, I would find the courage to cut ties with Primrose and resign from this job, once and for all.

It's early 6oclock in the morning

And yet here I am I stood by the car, leaning against it, waiting for Camela. Glen had instructed me to wait there, explaining that today was a significant event—the launch of their company's self-driving cars, with a live test to assess whether the vehicle could replace human drivers.

Glen did mentioned that the launch felt like a symbolic transition, showcasing the strides of technology in the transportation industry so he assigned me to accompany camela by driving for her during the testing procedure

I stood not too far away from Camela, watching as she was surrounded by a group of reporters and media interviewers.

They were all eagerly asking her questions about the self-driving car. I could hear their voices blending together, their questions ranging from technical specifics to safety concerns.

"What if the self-driving car's sensors fail? How do you ensure passenger safety in that case?" one reporter asked.

"And what if there's a software glitch or cyber-attack that takes control of the car?” another reporter chimed in.

Is there a chance that the self-driving cars could be hacked or taken over remotely?"

Camela nodded in acknowledgment “Yes, it is true that there is a chance of hacking or remote takeover. However, the self-driving cars have been designed with state-of-the-art encryption and authentication systems to minimize this risk." her tone still confident and reassuring.

"What if the sensors malfunction? What if the GPS fails? What if the system is hacked and compromised?"

"Every safety precaution has been taken into consideration when designing this self-driving car. In the event of a system malfunction, the self-driving car is equipped with advanced safety features and backup systems and been programmed to safely pull over to a designated safe area and alert emergency services."

I observed Camella's responses, her confident and composed demeanor in the face of the media frenzy.

“Today marks a significant milestone in the evolution of transportation. With the introduction of self-driving cars, we're welcoming a revolutionary new technology that has the potential to change the world. It will help us solve traffic problems, reduce accidents, and ultimately create a safer and more efficient society."

The reporters and media personnel present, impressed by Camela's knowledge and eloquence, burst into applause, their hands clapping in approval. Camela, with a smile, gracefully bowed to acknowledge their appreciation for her responses.

Even from a distance, I could see the way she confidently fielded the reporters' questions, never faltering or showing any signs of panic or uncertainty. It was evident that she was in control of the situation, and her self-assurance left me undeniably impressed.

"Finally my long wait is over “I said to myself I saw Camela approached the car, her steps purposeful yet graceful

As I opened the door, she entered without a fuss.

I couldn't help but roll my eyes at her nonchalant attitude. Once she slid into the backseat, I closed the door and went to sit in the driver's seat, taking my place behind the wheel, I allowed the other cars to move forward before I carefully followed them, maintaining a safe distance from the procession.

As the procession of cars moved ahead, I was struck by the sight of the robot car, its sporty design reflecting a blend of elegance and modern technology. It glided along the road, its motions precise and smooth, all without a human driver.

I never expected to see a self-driving car in action, especially one that moved comparable to a professional driver.

It was like seeing a glimpse of the future unfold before my eyes.
"Something is wrong... “Camila’s voice broke the silence, her words tinged with a hint of concern.

“What do you mean?”

"That car is travelling at an unusual speed" she noted, her words catching my attention

As I paid closer attention, I noticed that the car had indeed picked up an abnormal speed and was deviating from the intended route.

"What is happening? “I asked

“We have to stopped the car "I added

Camela spoke with a hint of confidence, "If I could just get inside the car, I could break into its system or even take manual control" she said, her tone steady.

Her words triggered a spike of panic within me. "You can't do that!" I protested "That's reckless!" I argued, trying to convey the insanity in her proposal.

"What if you get hurt? It's too dangerous!"

"There should be a kill switch on the car" she stated, ignoring whatever I had just said

"It's standard procedure for machines, even autonomous vehicles to have a kill switch, used for emergency or testing purposes.

Camela, still composed, issued a request. "Drive the car closer to the robot car if possible so I can reach it to shut it off" she instructed, her tone conveying a sense of urgency.

Recognizing the need to act swiftly, I immediately steered the car towards the crazy car.

Heart pounding, I couldn't help but feel a knot in my stomach

Camela, with a mix of agility and determination, opened the car door and jumped onto its roof without hesitation. She swiftly maneuvered through the car window, disappearing inside the robot car.

Just as I was grappling with the fear, a sudden commotion caught my attention - the sound of metal colliding and crashing filled the air behind us. My heart leapt into my throat at the commotion behind.

A car crashed? What had happened to Camela? As I dashed towards the source of the noise, I could feel my heart hammering against my chest, the knot in my stomach tightening.

What had happened to Camela? Panic flooded through me as I rushed towards the source of the noise, I could feel my heart hammering against my chest, the knot in my stomach tightening.

I saw Camella standing there, her back, exposed, and revealed a horrific sight: her skin had been peeled away, instead of flesh and blood.....

A robotic structure exposed beneath it

In disbelief, I stood frozen, my eyes wide, struggling to comprehend what I was witnessing.

My throat went dry as a chill of fear permeated through me. I couldn't tear my gaze away from the chilling sight, noticing the small cut on her cheek that didn't even bleed

"A humanoid robot...."I whispered in disbelief

The world seemed to freeze as time stood still. Camela turned to face me, there was no sign of pain on her face. her smile oddly sweet despite the terrifying sight of her severed left arn

"Gerald?...”

My whole world seemed to freeze in that moment as time stood still, frozen in shock at the scene before me.

"Monster-"