Dreamcapture

"I was almost opening the door, thinking you wouldn't make it," Carolina said, smiling.

"You were watching me?" Neo asked.

"Yes, I saw everything."

She struck a pose while adjusting her glasses.

"And you still didn’t open the door?" Neo asked, outraged.

"I was having fun, and besides, I wanted to see if you’d remember me. It seems you kept your promise, even if you don’t remember it completely." She stepped closer to him.

"It would’ve been easier if you’d just opened the door anyway," Neo grumbled, a little irritated.

"Maybe so, but everything worked out in the end. You’re here, all because of your love for me."

Carolina hugged him. He felt comforted. After months of being alone, without seeing any family, this kind of affection was soothing. But he was still angry.

"Idiot sister."

"I heard that! I also heard your pathetic attempts at guessing the password. Want me to punch you?" she said, letting go of him.

"As if you could hit me."

Carolina stepped back, crossing her arms over her chest and raising an eyebrow. With a sarcastic smile, she looked at Neo firmly, as if challenging him.

She pressed a button and let out an impatient sigh, her eyes rolling upward. A loud sound echoed as something was released. Neo, intrigued and trying to decipher her body language, observed her for a moment. Before he could react, a forceful impact struck part of his body. He was thrown off balance, landing violently on a pile of oversized pillows.

A triumphant laugh filled the air as he lay too stunned to fully grasp what had happened. Looking up, Neo spotted Carolina pointing at him with a victorious expression. Her voice rang out, full of humor and mockery.

"BULLSEYE!" she exclaimed, her contagious laughter echoing in the room.

As Neo tried to recover from the impact, his eyes caught sight of the surreal scene: a giant hand suspended by a pendulum.

"You and Leo are the same. How did you even do this?"

"I saw it in a movie and couldn’t resist copying it. It’s your fault for doubting me. I was almost ready to give up on the idea."

Neo, still incredulous, listened to her explanation. He struggled to get up, looking like a turtle flipped onto its back.

"Anyway, let’s stop wasting time. I need you for something."

After some effort, he got out of the pile. He was still dazed and couldn’t believe what had just happened. But with Carolina, anything was possible.

The lab could easily be called a workshop, given the sheer number of mechanical parts scattered everywhere. The smell of grease dominated the air. There was so much stuff that it was hard to make sense of it all.

"How does she even find anything in this mess?"

At least she kept the paths clear for walking.

Deeper into the room, they reached a small altar illuminated by tiny spotlights. On it rested a box that, based on its texture and color, resembled a safe—except it lacked the door where a combination would normally go.

Carolina stood in front of it, striking a pose to showcase the object.

"I want to show you this box."

"The box our father is so desperate to open."

She smiled mischievously. "So, you already know?"

"Yes, I heard about it."

"I’ve tried everything," Carolina sighed, gesturing to the various broken drill bits on a nearby table.

"And?"

"Do you see it open? Neo! No, right? That means I didn’t succeed," she shouted, frustrated.

"It can only be opened with the key, right?" Neo asked, already guessing where this was headed.

"Exactly. Unfortunately, I have no idea where it is. Do you?"

"No."

Carolina looked at him, confused. "I thought you came here to help me open the box. Leo said you would, which gave me time to set up the door trap. I could’ve sworn that was why."

"I guess I didn’t tell him all the details."

Her posture shifted from pensive to curious. "I see. So, why did you come, then?"

Neo thought carefully about how to say what he wanted without revealing his true intentions.

"The truth is, I wanted to see more of your inventions."

Her eyes lit up. "You really want to see them?"

Neo nodded, and she quickly darted around the room, grabbing various objects. She fiddled with several metal pieces and lights.

She reappeared in front of Neo, holding a pile of noisy, blinking gadgets. Neo scanned them, looking for one in particular, but it wasn’t there. Just as she was about to explain what each contraption did, Neo interrupted her.

"I wanted to see the Dreamcapture."

Her excitement dimmed slightly. She had been eager to show off her other inventions rather than one he had already seen. Then a question crossed her mind. "Why?"

"Because you showed it to me at the fair, but I didn’t see it working."

She thought for a moment. Neo was sweating nervously, wondering if his little lie would work.

"Alright! I’ll get it so you can see."

She scanned the room again, rummaging through the cluttered tables filled with different inventions. Metals, circuits, and other junk lay scattered everywhere.

Neo noticed cups of instant noodles lying around. It seemed she didn’t leave this place much.

After a while, as she moved back and forth, she finally exclaimed, "Got it!"