Judgment

The screen at the altar flickered as the AI spoke again, its voice sharper this time. "We will not wait for you to find your courage. If you hesitate, you forfeit your chance. The next round begins now." The doors on the far end of the church creaked open. Three hallways. Three separate paths. Each led to a judgment room. Leonardo rose without a word and walked toward the left door. Two others followed their own paths, faces hollow. The rest waited, shifting anxiously, knowing their turn was coming.

ROOM 1 – Leonardo V. 06:40 AM

Leonardo leaned forward. "Leonardo." A pause. "I am necessary." 

The AI’s glow flickered, analyzing. "Expand."

 Leonardo exhaled. "I was raised in the slums. I watched hesitation kill people. My best friend starved because he was too afraid to steal food. My mother was beaten to death because she begged instead of running. I learned young that survival doesn’t wait for kindness." A longer pause. "And yet, you hesitated before your first kill last night." 

Leonardo’s jaw tightened. "Because I knew it would change me." His voice lowered. "And it did." The AI processed his words. The silence stretched, pressing down on him. Then, instead of responding, the AI simply shut off. No sound. No confirmation. Leonardo sat there, waiting. Waiting for what? A verdict? A sign? Nothing came. After a long moment, the door clicked open.

ROOM 2 – Kalvin Kalverton 06:42 AM 

 Kalvin chuckled dryly. "Kalvin Kalverton." He sighed. "As for value? I don’t know. Maybe I don’t have any.

" The AI remained still. "Elaborate." Kalvin leaned back. "Once, I had everything. A perfect wife, a daughter, a house with a garden. Money. Respect. I was the guy people looked up to. And yet, here I am." He exhaled. "She left. Took my kid with her. I let the business collapse. Stopped answering calls. And at some point… I realized I didn't care. I don’t even care now." A long silence. 

"Judgment: FAILED." Kalvin blinked. Not in fear. Not in anger. Just… indifference. "So that’s it?" he muttered. The AI did not respond. The door behind him unlocked. Kalvin didn’t move. He just stared at the ceiling, expression unreadable.

"Lucia." "Expand." 

Lucia hesitated. "I used to paint. Not just paint, create. People said my work had soul, that it made them feel something. I had exhibits. Money. People who admired me." She exhaled. "But somewhere along the way, I lost the feeling. I would stare at the canvas for hours, and nothing would come. I tried to fake it, tried to force inspiration, but it was gone. And if I can’t create… what am I?" The AI processed her words. 

"Judgment: FAILED." Lucia closed her eyes for a long moment. Then she stood up. And walked out.

Back in the church, the AI’s voice returned. "Judgment has been passed." The doors opened, and the three returned. Leonardo's face was unreadable. Kalvin lit a cigarette. Lucia took her seat without a word. 

Then, the AI spoke again: "Two have failed. Those who fail must be removed. Proceed." The room tensed. No one moved. Not again. Then Leonardo stood. Daniel grabbed his arm. "Don’t." 

Leonardo didn’t even look at him. "They knew the rules," he said. Daniel’s grip tightened.

 "They don’t even care that they failed! Just let them go! No one needs to die!"

 Lucia looked up. "I don’t mind." 

Kalvin smirked. "Yeah. Just get it over with." 

Daniel’s breathing grew heavier. 

Leonardo turned to the others. "If no one else will do it, I will." He stepped toward Kalvin first. Kalvin didn’t fight. Didn’t resist. One sharp movement, snap. Kalvin’s body slumped to the floor. Then, Lucia. She barely even blinked as he placed his hands around her throat. Snap. It was over in seconds. Leonardo stepped back. He exhaled slowly. The AI’s voice returned. "Proceeding." The doors opened again. "Next." The killings weren’t over. The judgment would continue. 

The air in the Church of World was thick with tension as the judgment continued. The AI analyzed every word, every gesture, every breath of the people in each room. Its cold, calculating presence weighed heavily on everyone. No one knew what the AI was looking for, what it considered a "convincing" argument. The only thing clear was that the ones who failed would pay the price.

The next six people who had entered the rooms, full of hope and fear, had now returned, their faces drained of color. They knew the verdict before it was announced. They had failed. No words, no clever arguments could sway the AI. The cold silence that followed spoke volumes.

But then, something unexpected happened. Next two entered rooms.

Two people remained in their respective rooms, silent as statues.

Neither of them was called out by the AI. No explanation, no reasoning. The system simply let them go. 

The others in the church were left in confusion. How had they done it? How had they survived when others had failed? No one knew, and no one dared to ask.