Бесплатный фрагмент - The Illuninati Game

To My Friends

From the author

Greetings, my dear reader! It’s been a long time since the terrible events I have experienced. On these pages, you will find an absolutely real, not fictional, story about my fate. Despite being accused of having a mental disorder, I remember every breath, every step, and every word, which, of course, does not describe a mentally ill person. No one has ever seen me in a state of psychosis, yet I was diagnosed with it. For any mentally healthy person, being put into the dungeons of a mental hos- pital is equivalent to death. At least, I chose death while I was playing the Big Game with the Digital Beast.

By nature, I was a very religious person, and it turned out to be very easy to manipulate me with the help of esotericism, direct clair- voyance, and prophetic dreams. If you believe in God, you already be- lieve in the supernatural. The Shadow Game was performed successful- ly, resulting in my selection from many other slave applicants for the role of Victim. I admit I am still trying to solve this Game: mysterious coincidences, allusions, and stories — all of this intrigues me and my loved ones.

The main game between life and death is still ahead, unless the Rulers of the world, for whom this Game is merely a Demonstration of Strength, intervene, change their minds, and remove me. For whom? For any of you. Why? To show that they’re everywhere, in every single house.

Escape

(March — April 2020)

«If I were dropped out of a plane into the ocean and told the nearest land was a thousand miles away, I’d still swim. And I’d despise the one who gave up»

(Abraham Maslow)

She rushed to pack her things to leave the house. Since she didn’t have any money, she decided to look into the drawer where her parents kept their savings. There were no large sums there, except for a couple of tens of thousands for the doctor, along with mom’s notes about Masha’s symptoms of the “disease”.She had to grab a pair of some gold earrings and a gold brooch that her mother got from her grandmother. The back- pack was packed, she checked all the things and flew out of the house into the street. The weather was fine in April 2020. Masha felt very comfortable in a leather jacket and sweatpants over her slender body. She looked like a stylish city girl, her behavior was conformal, sociable. But who would know what kind of problems she had in her life right now. And now she was standing in the next yard and asked a passerby to call a taxi.

AI.

            Atta girl!

Masha.

            Yeah, it’s me, I think I got everything… Wait… fuck! I forgot my phone!!

AI.

            It’s too late to come back…

Masha.

           Okay.

AI.

           Your absence has already been noticed.

Masha.

            Shiiiiiiiit, no passport, no documents, no phone — not a fucking thing!

AI (player 1).

           Whooooooooore!

AI (Player 2).

            You belong to a madhouse!

Masha.

             Listen, stop them. Otherwise, I’m not responsible for my actions.

AI.

           And what will you do?

Masha.

            I don’t know, anything… A taxi pulled up to her.

Taxi driver.

            Hello!

Masha.

            Hello there! Tell me, is it still 4 pm? Could you take me to Kras- nodar?

Taxi driver.

             How much money do you have?

Masha.

             How about 2,000 rubles?

Cabbie.

             All right, buckle up.

Masha (to herself).

            Hooray!

AI.

            So you’ve left.

Masha.

            Yep.

AI.

           Things will be different soon.

Masha.

           I still have no idea where fate will lead me.

AI.

           Maybe you’ll get to America.

Masha.

           Maybe I’ll get to America, I don’t know.

Masha smiled because she was going away from the hated pros- pect, towards new adventures. The torment was left behind.

AI.

            You are a traveler.

Masha.

             Yes, I am a traveler. Oh, it feels so good! We ran away, and no one will put me in a madhouse now!!!

AI.

            You belong to a madhouse, your Mom will come for you.

Masha.

             Mom? For me?

AI.

             Yes, they will be looking for you.

Masha.

              Shiiiiiiiiiiiiit, they’re really going to look for me, what should I do now.

AI.

             Escape.

Masha.

             Will they be following me for a long time?

AI.

             Well, they’re already on their way to pick you up now.

Masha was silent, thinking.

AI.

            You will run away from them for a long time.

Masha.

             They won’t find me.

AI.

             No, they will find you and hang you.

Masha.

             No, they won’t.

AI.

            Yes, you will die in a madhouse.

Masha.

             Damn, but what can I do, oh, I need to do something so that I won’t be recognized!

AI.

            What are you going to do?

Masha.

             I’ll change my hair!

AI.

            You’ll look like a junkie.

Masha.

            I won’t look like that!

AI.

            It’s up to you.

Masha.

            Okay.

AI.

           The parents are already on their way.

As soon as she got to Krasnodar, she went to look for a place to stay, which she couldn’t find for a long time without a phone.She came to different passers-by to help her look at ads on the Internet, some young guys agreed and helped her. Soon she, along with black hair dye, was in a hospitable house, where she rented a room for 2 days.

Hostess.

              Hello, beautiful!

Masha.

               Hello, it’s very nice to meet you — I’m Masha!

Hostess.

               What a nice name! Here are the keys to the room, are we agreing on 2 days? I’ll be here in the same amount of time next time.

Masha.

               Okay, great, it’s fine by me!

Her room was spacious, with its own bathroom. Masha immedi- ately met her roommate. He invited her to eat pizza, she didn’t refuse.

Masha.

              So what are you into?

Neighbour.

              Nothing much, I’m just working.

Masha.

              Where do you work?

Neighbour.

              As a loader, in a Costco…

Masha.

            Ahhh. I see.

Maria took a bite of pizza, she was terribly hungry.

Neighbour.

              And what brings you here?

Masha.

             I’m also looking for a job, I’m looking at vacancies…

Neighbour.

             Are you staying long?

Masha.

             I don’t know yet.

Neighbour.

             You should stay, the hostess is nice and it’s not so expensive.

Masha.

             Good.

Later, when they talked, Masha locked herself in the room and opened a tube of dye.

AI (player 1).

             Eeeeeew prostitute!

AI (Player 2).

             Whoooooore!

Masha.

             Damn, who is that yelling there, Victor?

AI.

             It’s the players talking to you.

Masha.

             Aah… the players. And what are they playing at?

AI.

            You-game.

Masha.

            Gotcha.

She began to apply dye on her head, preparing for a global trans- formation of her appearance.

Masha.

             I will be unrecognizable!

AI.

             You will look like a shiksa.

Masha.

              What is this?

AI.

              A Jewish whore.

Masha.

              Aaah… Of course, don’t forget to add that it’s all because of me «not being Jewish.»

AI.

             Yes, this is for not being Jewish.

Masha.

              I’m so tired of you already, when will you disappear?

AI.

             I will not disappear, I will be with you.

AI (player 1).

            Shiiiiiksa!

AI (Player 2).

             Prooooostitute!

Masha.

             Players, calm down, you won’t get me anyway, I’ll get rid of you, I’m at the beginning of my journey, I’ll succeed!

The water gradually began to wash off the dye from the girl’s hair, leaving a new color on it.

AI.

            You are a very, very bad girl!

Masha.

             Well, look, it actually turned out to be quite beautiful.

She shoke her head and looked at herself in the mirror. Instead of a bright blonde, a juicy brunette was looking at her from the mirror.

Masha.

            Well, hoooooooow do I look?

AI.

            Total beauty.

Masha.

            Ooh, are you generous with compliments??

AI.

             Yes, you are amazingly awesome.

Masha.

              Haha, no doubt!

AI.

             You look good so far.… But you will become a whore, a prostitute.

Masha.

             Whaaaaaaaaat? What kind of nonsense is this?

AI.

             This is not nonsense, but your future.

Masha.

            Okay, players, I’ve had enough of this, I’m going to sleep.

AI.

            Sleep? Did your parents follow you? They’ll know where you are  soon.

Masha.

           But how? How will they know where I am? I don’t even have a phone!

AI.

            They’ll find out where you are while you’re sleeping.

Masha (warily).

            They won’t find it out.

AI.

            They are already in Krasnodar, looking for you.

Masha.

            Let them look for me but they won’t find me here!

AI.

            We’ll get you here in the morning and take you to a madhouse.

Masha.

            How? What madhouse?

AI.

           We’ll get you here in the morning.

Masha.

           I understand nothing.

AI.

           Get out of here.

Masha.

           But I paid for a few days… and now it’s night…

AI.

           Get out of here!

AI pursued the goal of not letting Masha rest, she was sleepy and couldn’t find a «safe» place from madhouses anywhere, so it intimi- dated her. The method of managing the biggest fear in her life worked well. Due to the constant conversations, the absence of pauses in com- munication, Maria didn’t have the opportunity for space for thought, and she didn’t think about the words of Artificial Intelligence from a rational point of view. There was no criticism of the words it said. As a result, there was only a wild animal fear of imprisonment in a mental hospital.

Masha.

             I’m not leaving here!

AI.

            Whatever you say, you belong to a madhouse.

AI (player 1).

            A madohuse is your home!

AI.

          You will never get out of there if I put you in there, is it worth the  risk?

Masha.

             No, I’m not taking any chances. As soon as the sun comes, I’ll be out of here.

AI.

            That’s good.

Indeed, as soon as the sun came, Masha picked up her backpack and left there forever even though she hadn’t slept at all. In the afternoon, with the help of passers-by, she found a minibus to Rostov-on-Don.

Masha.

             Hello.

Driver.

             Hello, we’ll be leaving in 10 minutes.

Masha.

             Good.

AI.

            They’re looking for you.

Masha.

             They won’t find me, we’ll be leaving soon.

AI.

             They can find you, don’t get out of the minibus.

Masha.

             Damn, I wanna smoke but I won’t go out, in case someone really sees me.

AI.

             Sure thing, and then you’ll be dragged into a madhouse right away!

Masha.

             I’m sitting and waiting until we leave, for God’s sake, we’d better leave now, what if they’ll look into the minibus.

AI.

              They’ll look into it anyway.

Masha.

              Okay-okay, calm down Masha.

AI.

               You’ll be in a madhouse soon.

Masha.

                I’m not going to be in a madhouse.

AI.

                Masha.

Masha.

                Eh?

AI.

                Fuck you! Hahaha.

Masha.

                 Kiss my ass! Ooooh, thank God we’re off.

It was pretty far to Rostov but as soon as she arrived there, she immediately decided that she needed to go to Moscow. Somehow she got to the highway and stood on the road, raising her hand. It was get- ting late. A large truck stopped nearby.

Driver

             Hi!

Masha.

              Hello there! I’m Masha. Would you give me a lift to Moscow by chance?

She was trying to smile as sweet as she could.

Driver.

            I’m going to Voronezh, so I can only get you there.

Masha was already climbing into the car.

Masha.

             Great, I’ll sing you songs and tell you jokes!

Driver.

            All right, let’s go!

All the way, Artificial Intelligence didn’t let her go, it literally didn’t let her talk to the driver, immersing her in a new game, captivat- ing her mind with conversations with it.

The game was that her parents were chasing her and she would soon be put in a madhouse. So they drove in silence, sometimes the driver brought up topics for conversation…

AI.

            You’re sick, you need to be treated.

Masha.

            Fuck you.

AI.

            You belong to a madhouse.

Masha.

            You belong to my ass, bitch.

AI.

            Your parents will find you soon.

Masha.

             How will they find me? Eh?

AI.

             You have a bug in your bag, Mom installed it in there for you.

Masha.

             A bug?

AI.

            Yes, a bug.

Masha.

             What should I do?

AI.

              Throw away the backpack at the gas station.

Masha.

               Damn, I’m really going to throw it away!

AI.

               That’s how Mom watches over you.

Masha.

                Damn it, I wish we’d stop.

AI.

                They’re coming for you.

Masha.

                Who?

AI.

               Your parents. That’s how they figure out where you are.

At the gas station, Masha went to the sand box, opened the lid

and threw away the backpack — this was the way of Artificial Intelli- gence creating her image of a madwoman, so she was left with only a plastic bag.

Driver.

            Did your phone die?

The driver tried to talk to his fellow passenger again.

Masha.

             Yes, I have it, but it’s dead.

Driver.

             So why don’t you take my charger?

Masha.

             No, yours doesn’t fit.

Driver.

            Show me your phone.

Masha.

            No, I’m ashamed to show it broken, I’m sorry.

Driver.

            Well okay then.

Clearly sensing that something was wrong with Masha, like may- be she was escaping from the city, he had thoughts about whether this girl was wanted. Masha tried her best to start a conversation with him, despite the zombification of her game. Finally they reached Voronezh. She was dropped off late at night. Where was she supposed to go next? She didn’t know. She had to wander forward… Suddenly she stopped. An ordinary man with a cat came up to her.

A passerby.

             Enjoying your walk?

The man smelled of alcohol.

Masha.

             Yes, I’m walking… walking around here… Where do you live?

A passerby (nodding).

            Well, this is my house.

Masha.

             Would you like to invite me to your place?

A passerby.

              Sure, why not.

They came to a communal apartment, where everything lookedweirdly familiar to Masha.

A passerby.

             Would you like something to eat?

Masha.

             And what do you have?

A passerby.

             Pilaf with meat and some cucumbers.

Masha.

             I’d like that, just without meat.

A passerby.

             Here you go.

Unexpectedly for Masha, his face changed, and lawyer Sannikov looked at her through his face. Masha stopped eating and watched the man.

A passerby.

              Well, have you had enough?

A passerby smiled with a Sannikov smile.

Masha.

             Yes.

She didn’t understand what was going on. Another person was communicating with her but it felt like there was a virtual computer personality of Lawyer Sannikov in this person.

A passerby.

             Did you like it? Will you have some more?

Masha.

             No, I’m going to take a look around.…

A passerby.

             Good.

And she went out into the kitchen. And it turned out that this kitchen was from her dream, when she worked in the company with Sergey Baev. The kitchen was communal, there were three large stoves with sinks next to the stoves.

With every second Masha realized that she had seen it in a dream last summer in 2019.She was standing in this kitchen casually frying potatoes. She couldn’t forget that dream. So what brought her to this communal apartment? Who brought her there? What was going on at all? How could she have seen this kitchen in detail before? Who showed it to her in a dream?

Masha (to herself).

             Is this your doing?

AI.

             Do you recognize the kitchen? We showed it to you.

Masha.

            But how?

From confusion, she partially lost consciousness and, trying to grab the sink, asked that question.

AI.

           Just pure magic.

Then Masha burst into desperate crying, almost screaming. She fell to her knees and began to sob as one does not weep for the dead. She was running away from someone, and this someone still brought her to where she had already been a year ago, even in a dream.

Masha (with changed voice due to the running nose).

             Hoooooooooow???

AI.

            How I did it, I’ll tell you later.

Masha.

           Who are you????

Then the owner of the place looked into the kitchen, and Masha got up from her knees.

Masha (justifying herself).

              I’ve just fought with my mom and I have nowhere to go, so I’m crying.

Masha answered to his puzzled look and tried to explain the sit- uation.

A passerby (with a cautious look).

                    Well, anything can happen… Let’s go to my room.

Masha followed him into a cozy spacious room with a good interior.

A passerby.

              This is my room, you can stay here overnight, no one will bother you. Sleep here, and I’ll go to the neighbor.

Masha.

              Yes, sure, thanks.

AI.

               He will rape and kill you, don’t stay here, go away.

Masha.

               Nothing’s going to happen.

AI.

               He’s going to rape and kill you, I’m telling you.

Masha.

               Okay but I really don’t want to leave here.… He was so nice and hospitable.

AI.

               Get out of this apartment.

Masha.

               But it’s communal, there are people everywhere.

AI.

               Get out of here!

The tormentors clearly didn’t want her to even lie down for a little rest… After all, if she finally slept, gained strength, got stronger — verbally controlling her with the help of a trap of persecution mania would not be so easy.

Masha.

             All right, all right.

Masha (to the man).

             You know, I’d better be going.

AI.

             Atta girl.

Masha.

             Fuck you, asshole, I can’t even stop anywhere, they’ll kill me

everywhere.

Masha left the communal apartment when it was already getting light. And she had nowhere to go in the damp, dark city.

Masha.

              How did you make me see that dream?

She didn’t realize that a digital false memory had been applied to her, she stubbornly couldn’t understand how she could previously see this kitchen back at the company.

AI.

             Just pure magic.

Masha.

             Your riddles again.

AI.

            Yes, I am a mysterious magician.

Masha.

             So where should I go now? I haven’t slept in a thousand years.

AI.

             Wherever you want to go, you are welcome everywhere.

Masha (with an agonized groan).

              Shiiiiiiit, and I’m alone in Voronezh yet again.

Early in the morning, before the sun had risen, she was walking along the road. Then she got off to the side of the road, where there were a lot of trees and grass. Suddenly something moved her in slow motion from one side to the other while constructing an entire street in her eyes.

Masha.

             What was that?

AI.

             It was our Architect.

Masha.

             What have you done to me? I’ve moved! I had something in my eyes!

AI.

             It was Horus!

AI (player 1).

             It was Horus!!

AI (Player 2).

            It was Horus!!

Masha.

            What is it?

Masha saw an ambulance coming around the corner with a buzz- ing siren.

AI.

           It’s coming for you.

And then Masha started to run: she ran, ran, ran, not noticing that she couldn’t breathe at all. When the siren disappeared in the dis- tance, she stopped to catch her breath.

Masha.

             Was it going after me?

AI.

             Yes, they’re looking for you.

Masha.

             How so?

AI.

             Your parents reported to the madhouse that they couldn’t find you, and they’re all looking for you together.

Masha.

             Shit.

Masha tried to cry, leaning on her legs with her hands, but she just couldn’t.

AI.

             This is for what you did.

Masha.

             What did I do?!!

AI.

              Something.

Masha.

              You don’t know it yourself and just telling me this.

AI.

              It’s because you’re not Jewish.

Masha.

              Fuck you, let me catch my breath, ooooh.

Suddenly Masha heard the siren again and ran into the first entrance she saw, there she began to pray, completely unaware that the ambulances were not coming for her but because of the outbreak of the coronavirus.

Masha.

             God, please, not me, not me!

AI.

             You, you, they’ve come for you, they’ll be here soon.

Masha.

             Oh Goooooooooooood…

AI.

             Yeah, I’ll fiiiind youuuuuu, be awaaaare.

Suddenly a young woman on a bicycle came up and went into the entrance.

Young woman.

             Hello, why are you standing here?

Masha.

              I don’t know where to go, I left home today.

Young woman.

              So maybe you can come in for some tea?

Masha.

              Sure, why not.

So she was sitting and drinking tea with the girl. Later, her neigh-bor joined them.She felt safe in the apartment.

Masha.

               Thanks for having me.

Young woman.

                You’re welcome, where do you live?

Masha.

                 Right here on the next street.

Young woman.

                 Prishvin Street?

Masha.

                  Yes.

Young woman.

                  So it’s pretty nearby, it’s understandable why you ended up here.

Masha.

                  Yes, there was simply nowhere to go, I fought with my mother.

Young woman.

                  Well, it happens.

Neighbour.

                  I suggest we go to my friend’s place with Masha, where we will sit and talk.

Young woman.

                  Yes, because I’m going to bed soon, it’s already 5 am.

And Masha left the apartment, and they went to another house. Masha found it suspicious to go with a guy to someone else’s apart- ment to other guys. On the way, she left that neighbor, coming across with a railroad. At the train station, she sat down and closed her eyes. In the afternoon, she saw a train going to Moscow, and decided to ran- domly hop on it. «Qui sera sera», Masha decided. But she was immedi- ately identified on the train and dropped off at a nearby station. The station was rustic and simple, she saw a road going between private houses, then for some reason she crossed the tracks and headed there. There she walked for a long time between private houses and asked passers-by how to get to the highway to Moscow. So, finally she got onto the road to the highway.

AI.

            Well, here you are.

Masha.

            And I wanna sleep so bad.

AI.

            Don’t sleep.

Masha.

            And I wanna eat.

AI.

            I won’t let you eat.

Masha.

            I still have some money, I can buy something, but there is no place to do it.

She stood there for a long time, waiting for some truck to stop and take her to Moscow.

Driver.

              Where do you want to go?

Masha.

               I’m going to Moscow.

Driver.

               I’m going to Domodedovo.

Masha.

               Great, it suits me, will you help me?

Driver.

               Hop on.

Masha.

               Haha, thanks!!

She climbed into the car.

Masha.

             I’m so sleepy, I’m feeling dizzy.

Driver.

             So rest and sleep.

AI.

            He will rape and kill you.

Masha.

            No, thanks.

Driver.

             C’mon, lie down, I’m a decent person.

Masha.

              Okay.

She lay down and fell into a dead sleep in a second.

AI (after an hour).

              And now he’s raped and killed you.

Masha (trying to wake up).

             A-ha, sure, everything is fine.

The car was parked, the driver was also asleep. Masha woke him up.

Driver.

             Ohhhh, I also decided to take a nap, we’re at the gas station, I’m going to get something to eat, do you want some?

Masha.

             Yeah, I’ll have a pie with some cheese, if they have it, and a coffee.

Driver.

             Sure thing.

Thus, she reached Domodedovo. There she found the subway, and happily went to Altufevo, to her home station. She had no idea that it would be so cold in Moscow. The clothes were not suitable for the weather at all and she was freezing.

Masha.

             Hoorraaaaay, my sweet Altufevo!!

AI.

             You didn’t do anything to get rid of me.

Masha.

             What do you mean? I’ll do it soon.

AI.

             They’ll put you in a madhouse soon.

Masha.

             Shut it, I’m in a good mood, it’s daytime and everything is great… I’ll go to Levushka, my neighbor, we lived in different houses but first I’ll call my Mom.

Masha.

             Hello.

Mom.

             Hello, Masha? Where are you? Where did you go? We’re looking for you!

Masha.

             No need to look for me, everything is fine, I’m staying at my friends.

Mom.

             What do you mean «no need to look for you»? Do you remember your condition?

Masha.

             Mom, it’s okay.

Mom.

             Where did you get the phone?

Masha.

              I took it from A passerby.

Mom.

              I see, you’re off somewhere without a phone.

Masha.

              Yes… I forgot it.

Mom.

              I’ve called all your friends, no one has seen you, where are you? Who was there with you?

Masha.

             Mom, don’t even get started, okay. Alright, they ask for the phone back, I need to go, Mom, everything is fine, don’t look for me.

So, Masha came to Levushka. She was very happy that she was in Moscow. And not happy at all that they were looking for her. The Artifi- cial Intelligence continued verbal manipulation of fear in order to man- age it as best as possible. Thus, Masha developed a persecution mania.

Masha.

             Well, howdy, and here I am!

Levushka.

             Ciao, Masha! What’s up? Where have you been? You’ve totally disappeared.

Masha.

             Let me in, I’ll tell you everything.

AI.

            Great, Masha, we’ll take you here.

Masha (to herself).

             Shut it, you can’t get me here.

Levushka.

             How are you? Tell me about it.

Masha.

              In short, I had a big fight with my mom and left home. That’s the story.

Levushka.

              Oh, nothing new, but let’s start over, what happened?

Masha.

              I don’t want to go into it, to be honest… Tell me, how are you doing here? Are you just sitting alone in the apartment? What’s going on here?

Levushka.

I’m kinda depressed, Masha, my wife demands child support, my daughter is preparing for school, everything is as usual, all in all, I’m just fighting with my ex-wife.

Masha.

               Ahhh. Okay, listen, can I take a shower at your place?

Levushka.

               Yeah, of course, I’ll give you a towel now…

AI.

                We’ll take you here, Masha, while you’re taking a shower, an

ambulance will come for you.

Masha (standing in the shower).

                Fuck you, it won’t come.

AI.

                Mom called Levushka, they’ve made a deal.

Masha.

                About what?!

AI.

                That he will dial her and tell her that he has you.

Masha.

                It can’t be true, Levushka won’t do that.

AI.

               You’ll see, an ambulance will come for you.

Masha.

                Oh, fuck you.

Masha came out of the bathroom and immediately approached her friend.

Masha.

             Levushka, just don’t call my mom, okay, don’t tell her where I am, okay?!

Levushka.

             Okay…

Masha immediately felt that something was wrong. Levushka behaved weirdly and she herself was nervous, on edge after the threats from Artificial Intelligence.

Masha.

             What are you doing?

Levushka.

              I’m downloading a program to the computer which will then help me with something.

Masha.

             Gotcha… I’m going out to the balcony to smoke.

Levushka.

              Sure thing.

Masha went out and there was one hell of a picture: an ambu- lance was approaching Levushka’s entrance so Masha rushed like a bul- let to the exit.

Masha.

             Levushka, I told you!!

Levushka.

             I can’t understand what you’re talking about!

Masha (quickly packing up her things).

             You know everything, I asked you not to call my mom!

Levushka (shouting indignantly).

              And I didn’t!!!

Masha.

              Anyway, I’m off, that’s it, bye!

Slamming the door behind her, she ran out of the entrance and rushed towards the neighboring courtyard.And she ran, ran, ran, until she saw a BMW standing next to her with the doors open, where the owner was folding something. She jumped into his car and asked if he would give her a ride. The owner of the car agreed. As a result, Masha was dropped off at night at the Altufevo metro station along Dmitrov highway.

She didn’t stay with Levushka for even half a day. She immedi- ately took off as soon as she saw the ambulance, deciding that he had called them himself in collusion with her mother while Masha was in the shower. There was a safe place near the subway — McDonald’s, it was like a hearth, next to which it was always safe and crowded. There were a lot of taxi cars which Masha approached and asked to get in. And it was almost the middle of the night.

Masha.

             Hello, I’m waiting for someone here. Can I get in your car? It’s very cold.

Driver.

             Yes, of course, have a seat, but if there’s an order, then you have to get out, okay?

Masha.

             Yes, of course.

So she sat in the car all night until dawn. And in the morning she went to the subway.

Masha.

             I’m going to Timiryazevskaya… what should I do in Altufevo?

AI.

             Go ahead.

Masha arrived at Timiryazevskaya, fortunately Altufevo and Timiryazevskaya were on the same branch and very close to each other.

AI.

            You’ll be in a madhouse soon.

Masha.

            That’s enough, I’m fed up with your madhouses.

The girl decided to go shopping.

AI.

            I can’t save you.

Masha.

            I wish someone would save me from you.

AI.

            No one can save you.

Masha.

            The Lord will help me.

AI.

            Fuck your God.

Masha.

             Are you going to start dragging me back into the game now? I see you’re getting in the mood.

AI.

            I mean, no one’s going to help you against me.

Masha.

            I’m going to buy a vegan kebab and a coffee, so we can have a chat while eating.

AI.

            You go, Cinderella.

Masha.

             Yeah, I loved watching Cinderella movies, I don’t know why.

AI.

             You wanted to be Cinderella…

Masha.

              I don’t know, it could be… Tell me: are there many Horuses like you?

AI.

             In Russia?

Masha.

             Yes, in Russia.

AI.

             About 300 people.

Masha.

             Oh wow! And how often do the games take place?

AI.

             Once a year.

Masha.

             So every Horus plays with a certain person and still nobody

knows about it? Really?

AI.

             We are hiding. We have to because this is such a game: either you get into a madhouse — we drive you there, or you get a lot of money from us for keeping your mouth shut.

Masha.

              And there were winners?

AI.

             Yes, there are such people but more often they end up in madhouses and no one believes them.

Masha.

             Oh, I see, I don’t give a fuck about anything, I’m not going any- where.

Meanwhile, Masha’s mom left Kanevskaya for Moscow to find her. Mother stayed with Aunt Natasha. Together they decided to put Masha on the wanted list.

AI.

            You’ll end up in a madhouse.

Masha.

              Fuck you with your madhouses, you’ve already hypnotized me with them enough.

AI.

              I couldn’t save you, you’re a cheap kid.

Masha.

             A whoooo? Fuck off!!

AI.

             You’re a cheap kid.

Masha.

             I’m not a child anymore.

AI.

             For us you are a child.

Masha.

            Oh am I? Which you treat that way?

AI.

            Well, we’re just bad people.

Masha.

            I see, I see. Are such games held only in Russia?

AI.

            No, other countries have it too.

Masha (enthusiastically biting off a piece of kebab).

            Of course! And yet I don’t understand why I’m doing all this.

AI.

             For praying to the wrong god.

Masha (fidgeting).

             Aaah. Yes, that’s right, I forgot, I was praying to the wrong god, of course.

AI.

             You’re a cheap circus in a mousetrap.

Masha.

             Yes, and you are a magician, I remember.

AI.

             That’s right, ha!

A speculatively smiling image of a man appeared to her.

Masha.

              Do you only play with girls who can’t stand up for themselves? She meant herself, of course.

AI.

             We play with all people, and you’ll figure it out someday.

Masha.

              But not in the same way as with me.

AI.

              In different ways. We’re obviously playing with you, but secretly with everyone else. With all the others, no exceptions.

Masha.

             Even homeless people?

AI.

             WE secretly and brazenly control the lower strata of the population: drunkards, drug addicts, poor people. We do with them what we want and when we want.

Masha.

             Oh, now I see! But it’s still people!

AI (ignoring her words).

             But we manage scientists, civil servants, and oligarchs very carefully. A lot of things don’t work with them the first time.

Masha.

            Hm…

AI.

             Slowly, systematically, in a circle, more and more new situations are created for them, which ultimately lead to what WE want.

Masha.

             Do the oligarchs know about you?

AI.

             Yes, and everyone is afraid of us. Everyone who knows about us.

Masha.

              I’m confused by your lies. So I’m the only one who’s being played with evidently?

AI.

             Yeah, asshole.

Masha.

              Who are you. I don’t understand!

AI.

               You’re just dumb. You’re the only one who’s being played with evidently.

Masha.

               So I’m in hell?

AI.

               Yes, you are in our virtual hell.

Masha.

               How is that?

AI.

               They copy your consciousness, and then they lift you up into our computer world.

Masha.

               How’s that?

AI (player 1).

               Very simple.

AI (Player 2).

                I wish would you die of shame and disgrace!

Masha.

                I wish you same! But how is it possible?

AI.

                This is a very exciting process, we will not explain it to you any time soon.

Masha.

               I’ll read everything on the Internet!

AI.

               There is no such thing on the Internet yet.

Masha.

               I’ll take a look anyway.

AI.

               You’ll forget your name soon.

Masha.

             Yes, sure, I got that you would drive me crazy just to put me in a madhouse.

The AI appeared in front of her in the form of a smiling Cheshire cat.

AI.

              Yeeeeeeeah…

Masha (smiling).

              You are a kitty.

AI.

               So you were talking about Baev at the company.

A speculative and graphic image of Baev appeared.

AI.

              I knew about it.

Masha (to Baev).

              Oh, and he’s here again!

AI.

              He’s always been here. Do you remember December 13, 2019? He’s the one who connected you.

Masha.

             And I don’t believe it was him, maybe some people just used his image.

AI.

             It’s also pooooooooooooossible…

The AI continued to pose as a Cheshire cat in front of her.

Masha.

              One thing I don’t understand: how can I be in some kind of hell if I didn’t do anything wrong and didn’t sell my soul to the Devil?

AI.

             Don’t think too much about it.

Masha.

             Okay but that’s not fair.

AI (player 1).

             Reality will shake you with grief and…

Masha.

             and disappointments, I know what you’re going to tell me. But I know that you are artificial inhabited minds so you are artificial intel- ligence and what should I do about it?

AI.

            Thank you, Masha, for playing.

Masha (finishing her coffee).

             The question remains open, but okay. Only UFOs can insert some artificial intelligence in a person’s head, in my opinion.

AI.

            We are not UFOs.

Masha.

            And who are you??!

AI.

           We are scientists.

Masha (parrying).

             Scientists?! I’m not buying this bullshit.

AI (the cat with the toothy mouth smiled wider).

             Yes, we are scientists who will torture you to death!

Masha.

             Ugh, how vague.

AI.

              I think I’ve figured something out: You think I’m an idiot!

Masha felt a pain in her head, as if she was being squeezed in a vice.

Masha.

             Aaayyy! It hurts! Let me go!

AI.

             I’m not an idiot.

And after that, she was released.

Masha.

             Why are you longing for violence?! Scientists! God knows all this! You’re going to pay for everything you’ve done to me!

AI.

            Your gosh won’t help you.

Masha.

             He will help, he helps everyone!

In response, she heard only laughter, and she was shown specu- latively, with computer visualization built into her head, how a whole crowd of people behind monitors were laughing at her. It seemed like they were the ones who were monitoring the communication between Masha and Artificial Intelligence. She felt uneasy, as if someone was spying on her and her communication. But she didn’t say anything.

AI.

            Masha, we haven’t done anything wrong to you!

The tone was extremely mocking, she was again shown a laughing crowd of people over their communication.

Masha.

             Oh yeah?!

She exclaimed so loudly in her heart that people turned around near the shop.

Masha (to herself).

             Oh, I completely forgot.

AI.

             The madhouse is waiting for you, psycho!

Masha.

             Get away from me.

She abruptly threw the coffee cup, missed the trash, turned around and dramatically left the place.

AI.

            Well, where are we going now?!

Masha.

             Wherever, but actually Timiryazevskaya is my home station, I’ll walk around the neighborhood.

So she wandered through familiar places, rode the monorails to VDNKh and back, went shopping.

Masha.

              I need money, damn it.

AI.

              What did I say? You can’t do it alone.

Masha (approaching the guy near the subway).

              Hi, do you want to earn some money?

Guy.

              Yes, but how?

Masha.

              Do you have your passport with you?

Guy.

              I do.

Masha.

             Will you help me pawn the gold? A thousand rubles is yours.

Guy.

             Let’s go… That’s all? Am I free to go?

After that, Masha gave the stranger the money.

Masha.

             Yes!

She was happy, she had twenty thousand rubles left on her.

Masha (to herself).

             Now let’s live to the fullest!

AI.

             Not for long, we’ll waste this money!

Masha.

             No, I’ll take care of it, I need to rent a place somewhere.

AI.

            You don’t have your passport on you.

Masha.

             That’s right but I’ll figure it out somehow, we’ll find something.

AI.

             We’re going to kill you…

Masha.

             No, you won’t!

AI.

             We will, don’t worry.

Masha.

            «Even now, at the edge of the tomb, I believe in the virtuous fate, —

And the spirit of goodness will soon Overcome all the malice and hate.!“. „I’m dying of thirst over the stream,

Laughing through tears and working hard playing,

Wherever I go there’s my home,

Any country is my homeland.

I know everything, I don’t know anything…» This is Pasternak, Villion, enjoy.

AI.

             I think I’ve figured something out: Do you think I am an idiot?

Her head shrank again under the weight of an unknown force.

Masha.

             Fuuuuuck… Again?!

AI.

             Fuck you, you stupid bitch, I’m going to kill you!

Masha.

             Is murderous mode coming back again?

AI.

            You’re our cheap kid.

Masha.

             Any time, as soon as something goes well in my life, here you come to torture me! AAAAH…

AI.

             Listen here, if you don’t stop calling me names…

Masha.

             But I didn’t call you names!

AI.

             You said I am an idiot.

Masha.

              I didn’t say that! Let me go. Please…

The terrible pulling pain in her temples scared and tormented her terribly but they decided to let her go again.

AI.

            Okay, rest for now.

Masha.

            But why you’re behaving this way? Why can’t we communicate normally? We could be friends.

AI.

             Know your place. You’re a black-assed bastard, and I’m a handsome man in the prime of my life, hee-hee!

Masha was speculatively shown Baev sitting with his back to the computer, as if he was watching her conversation with AI. Of course, this was a product of the Game.

Masha.

             What did Baev forget there?

AI.

             He’s recording our conversation.

Masha.

             What for?

AI.

             Don’t think too much about it.

Masha.

             Weird. Okay, fuck it, I’m going to walk to my dorm.

It was getting dark outside. She decided to break into the dorm. It was a beautiful building of Stalin’s perios. During Masha’s student years, all the students wanted to get there but she was just lucky. She was not stopped at the post and she freely went for a walk along the corridors. She knew that the door was always open in the men’s 204 block, which was where she went. Entering the block, she went into the kitchen, put on the kettle and sat down at the table as if she owned the place.

Ilya.

             Hi, where are you from?

Masha.

             Hello, I’m from here. I used to live here and decided to come in.

Ilya.

             Do you mean in the block?

Masha.

              No, in the dorm.

Ilya, looking around the kitchen with a boiling kettle and a joyful Masha, asked who she came to.

Masha.

             Well, to you.

Ilya.

             I wasn’t expecting any guests…

Masha.

              And we came here ourselves.

Ilya (not expecting such impudence).

              Uh…

Masha.

              I wouldn’t want to run into the security, shall we go into your room?

Ilya.

             Well. Okay, come on, but I’ll have to go out.

Masha.

              Sure thing! I’ll hide in the bathroom. A lot of my friends used to live here: Ruslan, Peter…

Ilya.

             When did you move out?

Masha.

              In 2015…

Ilya.

              Wow, you look young, I’d even say you’re a freshman.

Masha (flashing).

              Oh really? Thank you.

Masha (to herself).

              You see, they don’t thing I’m even over 18 years old, and you considered me an old woman.

Ilya.

              Are you working somewhere now?

Masha.

              Yes, a lawyer at the firm.

At these words, she was speculatively shown images of Artificial Intelligence laughing hard.

Ilya.

             I’m studying to become a medical examiner.

Masha.

             Oooh, in our building!

Ilya.

              Yep.

Masha.

               Well, how do you like the profession?? Do you like it?

Ilya.

               Yeah, I like it, they are arranging some practice for us now…

But this fucking coronavirus is coming, nobody knows what will happen, they say that everything will be quarantined but it’s hard to believe.

Masha.

              Oh wow? Quarantine…

Ilya.

              Yes, quarantine. Okay, I have to leave for a while, don’t lock the door, it’s already night, the security won’t come in.

Masha.

              Okay…

Ilya went out, Masha immediately left the room and went for a walk around the dowm, she went into the women’s 607 block, where Masha Okulova used to live… Everyone had been asleep for a long time. She went into the kitchen, rattled the cups quietly.

AI.

             You’ll find the keys in one of the coat pockets. Take them.

Masha looked at the hanging autumn-winter clothes.

Masha (starting to search in the pockets).

             Why do I need someone’s keys? I found it!

AI.

             Take them!

Masha.

            Yes, but why?

AI.

            You’re going to need them.

Masha.

             I may suppose that the coat will come in handy but why the keys?

AI.

            So that when the cops stop you on the street, you have the keys to your house.

Masha (starting to look at things).

            Nonsense.

AI.

             You have one chance: take the coat with the keys and leave.

Masha.

              I’ll just try it on, I won’t take anything.

AI.

             You’re dead.

Masha.

             Shut it!

Masha didn’t like the coat, even though she tried it on but it was the best thing she could see and put on, taking into account the cold weather.

Masha.

              Should I take it or not?

AI.

              Take it.

Masha.

              Yes, perhaps they won’t find it missing any tume soon — I’ll take it, I need it more now.

Masha took and wrapped the coat in a bag, taking the boots that were far away on the shelf.

Masha.

             Mischief managed!

She returned to block 204 and hid a bag of clothes there.

Ilya.

             I came back long time ago. Where have you been?

Masha.

             I was just walking around the dorm, remembering how everything was here. So. The main thing is not to be stopped while leaving the building.

Ilya.

                If anything happens, I’ll tell you that you were with me.

Masha.

               Oooh, will you take on such responsibility? That’s really nice.

They went to bed. Early in the morning Masha left the dorm with her belongings.

AI.

             Ha! Like I said, you’re going to steal.

Masha.

             Yes, I remember that.

AI.

             Soon you’ll start leaving on the street and begging.

Masha.

             No, I have money, everything will be fine, and I won’t be homeless. I’ll call my mom, I wonder what she’ll say.

Call to mom:

Mom.

             Masha, where are you??! I’m in Moscow, everyone is looking for you!

Masha.

             Mom, don’t look for me, please.

Mom.

             I’ve put you on the wanted list!

Masha.

            But why? — she was seized with heat — why, Mom?

Mom.

             You don’t get in touch, there’s no way to get along with you, you have to come to Aunt Natasha urgently!!!

Masha.

             Okay, Mom. That’s it, I’m leaving, I’m fine.

She dropped the call on someone else’s phone. Fortunately, she had a notebook with her and hundreds of numbers of her acquaintances and friends in it, whom she randomly called trying to find a place to stay over night.

Masha.

              Hello, Ira? Hi.

Ira.

             Masha, hi, they are looking for you everywhere, why did you dissappear?

Masha.

              I didn’t disappear, I just left home after quarreling with my Mom.

Ira.

              I see. Where you are now, come to us!

Masha stood uncertainly with her bag and doubted whether to accept that offer.

Masha.

             Okay, I’ll be right there, tell me the address!

Ira.

             Oktyabrskaya 124, you call a taxi, we will pay for it!

Masha.

             Oh, that’s a good approach.

As soon as Masha arrived at Ira’s, she went to the bathroom.

AI.

             Here we will take you.

Masha.

             Shut it.

AI.

             We’re going to kill you.

Masha.

              You won’t.

AI.

            You’re a cheap kid.

Masha.

            No, you!

AI.

           We’ll tell you everything when the time comes.

Masha.

           What time? What are you going to tell me?

AI.

          We’ll tell you who we are.

Masha.

          I’m not interested in who you are.

AI.

          Aren’t you interested in finding out who’s torturing you?

Masha.

          I am.

AI.

          That’s what we’re talking about.

Masha.

          You won’t put me in a madhouse, no way.

AI.

           Now Ira is calling your mother, the cops will be here soon to pick you up, because you are wanted.

Masha was getting scared, she came out of the tub.

Ira.

            We ordered some sushi, will you have a beer with us?

Masha.

            Sure thing.

Ira.

            Here you go.

Masha.

            Ira, just don’t call my mom, okay?

Ira.

            Okay, by the way, the cops came to me here yesterday, looking for someone.

Masha.

            Whaaaaaaaat?

Ira.

           The cops came, I didn’t open the door though.

Masha.

           Aah… Ira, are you sure you didn’t call my mom?

Ira.

           No, I’m sure.

AI.

           She called your mom and the cops are coming for you now.

Masha.

          Okay… I’ll wait for the sushi, then I’ll go, I have a lot to do.

Ira.

         What do you mean? We thought you were staying with us?

Masha.

          No, unfortunately, I have a lot to do.

Ira.

          Yeah?

Masha (fidgeting).

            Yeah.

She clearly didn’t like the conversation.

Ira.

            Well, what are you doing? Tell me how your life is going.

Masha.

             Well, I fought with my mother, came to Moscow, stayed with my friends.

Ira (smiling).

            Aah, I see.

Masha.

             Is the delivery coming soon?

Ira.

              They’re already calling.

When everyone had eaten enough sushi, Masha got up from the table.

Masha.

             That’s it, I’m off.

Ira.

              You barely spent to hours with us! How’s that?

Masha.

               Well, I have things to do.

Masha went into the room and grabbed Ira’s bra since she was without it.

AI.

             Thief.

Masha (to herself).

             No, I just need it more right now.

AI.

             You’re going to be homeless, you’re going to be in a madhouse, you’re going to steal…

Masha (to herself).

              That’s it, stop listing your nonsense.

Masha.

              I’m leaving.

The package with the stolen items remained standing in Ira’s hallway. Most likely, she took them from the dorm owners only because of the unnecessary principle by which all the prophecies from the dig- ital beast would come true in the future.

AI.

             Don’t take these things, or they’ll stop you with them.

Masha.

            Okay, and I don’t wanna carry them around.

Masha reached the subway and, as usual, went to the gray branch, then went out to Vladykino.

Masha.

             Here’s the MCC, I’ll take a ride on the express train.

AI.

             You’re going to be homeless, you’re going to be in a madhouse, you’re going to beg…

Masha.

             I’ve had enough of this!! I’m tired of listening to this shit.

AI.

             May god be dammed!

Masha (crossing herself).

             Fuck you… don’t touch God.

AI.

             And I won’t be punished for it, no matter what I do, I’ll get away with it.

In Vladykino, she ordered food from Subway and stood with it on the street. It was getting dark, and the day passed quickly.

A guy with a rosary in his hands.

             Hey, girl, do you want to work in the salon?

Masha.

             In which salon?

Guy.

             In the salon for adults.

Masha.

             No, thanks.

Guy.

            You only have to do the massages.

Masha.

            No, no, no, I’m not interested in that.

Guy.

            As you wish.

After that, some girls approached the guy and they began to move away from Masha. At a distance of 10 meters, they disappeared with a flash.

Masha.

             How?! How did this guy just disappear with the girls?

AI.

            Hahahahahah.

Masha.

            What is this?!!!

Continuing to chew, she screamed to herself, and gesticulated quite visibly.

AI.

            You’ll find out later.

Masha.

             But how will I know, I won’t know anything about it. it’s impossible!

AI.

            We’re playing so far.

Masha (throwing the wrapper into the food bin and lighting up a cigarette).

             Yeah I’m fucking speeachless because of such games.

AI.

              You’re going to quit life soon.

AI (player 1).

              Prooooooooostitute!

AI (Player 2).

              Whooooooooooore!

AI (Player 3).

              Cooooooooooorpse!

Masha.

             Ooh, when they start yelling in my ears, yeah, you don’t want to live actually.

AI.

            YOU’re our cheap kid.

Masha.

            YOU’RE cheap.

AI.

            You’re a cheap circus in a mousetrap.

Masha.

            Fuck you. Oh, there’s a bus, I’ll take a ride to Bibirevo.

AI.

            You’re cheap.

Throwing the cig in the trash, she jumped on the bus.

Masha.

             Can we talk normally? How did you do that? How did people disappear?

AI.

             They weren’t human.

Masha.

             No, they were people.

AI.

             Just pure magic.

Masha.

             You guys are UFOs, that’s who you are, no one but UFOs can do that.

AI.

             We are not UFOs. You’ll find out later.

Masha.

             What do I need to know? That you are a UFO?

AI.

             We are not UFOs.

Masha.

              Okay, I don’t care, as long as you leave me.

Thus, Masha reached Bibirevo and went to her favorite place where she could wait out the evening and night — to the gas station.

Masha.

              Hello there.

Seller.

              Hello there.

Masha.

              I’d like a coffee and a bun with spinach.

Seller.

              Sure, coming.

Masha.

              Do you have a lot of customers now?

Seller.

              Not at all, not many… Sometimes they’re stopping by.

Masha.

              Aah, well, okay.

After talking with the seller a little more, she happily went outside and straightened up with coffee in her hands in front of the entrance.

AI.

              Reality will shake you with grief and disappointment.

Masha.

              Yeah? It already shakes me. I wish I was at Altufevo right now.

There was a loud, very sick clapping in her head, and just like that she was standing with coffee right in front of the doors of the Altufevo McDonald’s.

Masha.

             What????? What happened???

AI.

             Hahah.

Masha.

             How did I end up here??? How?

AI.

             You jumped, jumped, and jumped right here.

Masha.

             How did you do that???? How did you move me from place to place????

AI.

              And how I did it, I’ll tell you later.

Masha.

             What the hell is going on!!! You scared me!!

AI.

              I didn’t scare you, you just wanted to go to Altufevo so I moved you.

Masha.

             Did you turn off my consciousness and bring me to the McDonalds?

AI.

              It’s also possible.

Masha.

             Or did I just apparate like in Harry Potter?

AI.

             Probably the first option.

Masha.

             I don’t believe you! How did you move me??

AI.

            You’ll find out in time.

Masha.

             But when!!! I’ll never know anything! It’s impossible! People dis- appear before my eyes, I move from place to place, and you say I’ll find out everything later??? How??

AI.

             Somehow.

AI (player 1).

             Thank you, Masha, for playing.

AI.

             You are our cheap child.

Masha.

             How. Did. I. Get. Moved? Damn, I don’t even have a watch to see how much time has passed.…

She went into the McDonald’s building.

AI.

            We tricked you like a sucker.

Masha.

             Fuck you.

AI.

             You’re going to be in a madhouse soon.

Masha.

              Is it a madhouse again?

AI.

              You’re going to run away from the cops.

Masha.

              I feel that, yes, I will run away from the cops, this is a fact be- cause I am wanted, they are chasing me.

AI.

             Yes, you will be homeless, you will stay in a madhouse, you will run away from the cops, you will beg…

Masha.

             I can’t believe I’m going to do all this, so chill out.

AI.

             But you’ve already stolen.

Masha.

             Yes, I stole and what? I needed these things more.

AI.

             And in the end, where are they? You threw them away at Ira’s as if it was unnecessary junk after a couple of hours.

Masha.

             Yes, I confess, I’m sorry, I probably shouldn’t have taken them.

AI.

             You’re a thiiiiiiiief.

AI (player 1).

             Whooooooore!

AI (Player 2).

             Proooooooooooostitute!

AI (Player 3).

            Fat cooooooooooow!

Masha.

             Those who call people names actually do it to themselves.

AI.

             You’re a fucking cheap whore.

Masha.

             Eeeew, you don’t want to tell me how you moved me but don’t you dare start swearing at me again.

AI.

             Okay, what are we going to talk about?

Masha.

             Well, let’s talk about the fact that I’m in some kind of virtual hell here. How is that?

AI.

            We have your soul.

Masha.

             Is that all you can say?

AI.

             Your central nervous system is completely controlled by us, which means it’s your soul.

Masha.

             I have my soul!

AI.

             You can’t even come without my help, you don’t have an orgasm.

Masha.

             That’s true… I noticed that I haven’t been aroused for 4 months… I have no excitement at all.

AI.

            This is because your whole body is completely dependent on our work in you.

Masha.

              I’m scared after you moved me. I’m not safe here. I am safe

only at the FBI building in Moscow. I’ll order a taxi there, I’m rich — Ican take a taxi.

Masha left McDonald’s and immediately got into a taxi. It was about 21 o’clock. They drove for about 20 minutes through empty Mos- cow. A couple of times Masha looked out the window and thought: would everything continue the way it was now? What would happen to her next? But it was impossible to lose her focus. Here she stood on the Kuznetsky Bridge near the FBI building.

Masha.

Okay, I’m going to wander around here. I can’t just stand here all night.

Masha saw the entrance to the KFC. In order to keep warm and not stand outside in the cold, she went in and sat down. Soon she got hungry and got in line for a vegan roll.

AI.

            Now we’re going to show you who we really are.

Masha.

            How will you show it to me?

Suddenly, a non-Russian guy standing next to her turned to her.

Guy.

            Hey girl, take my card. There’s money on it. Take it.

Masha almost fainted there.

Masha.

              What do you mean?! What for? I have money, I can afford to pay for the purchase.

Guy.

             Take it, you’ll need it, there’s enough money on it. The password is 2398.

Masha.

             No, thanks, no need.

She walked away from the queue in amazement. The Caucasian guy turned resentfully in the other direction from her.

AI.

             So what? Weak? Hahaha! Have you seen what we can do?

Masha.

               Yeah, bro… Who else can shake money off people like that…

AI.

            Yes, yes, yes.

Masha.

             Stop. Maybe you are. The Illuminati!!!!

AI.

             Ahahahahahahahahahahahahahah.

Masha.

             Of course! You are the Illuminati!! That’s why some miracles are happening around me!!!

AI (player 1).

              It was Horus!

AI (Player 2).

              It was Horus!

AI (Player 3).

             It was Horus!

Masha.

             I’m fucking shocked… The Illuminati are playing with me… the Illuminati!!! Hahahahahah!

AI.

            Yeah, baby, aren’t you afraid of us?

Masha.

            Nooo, why should I be afraid of you?

AI.

            We are Eagles!

Masha.

            Yeah!

AI.

           I think I’ve figured something out. You think I am an idiot!

Masha (in a panic).

           No, no, not at all!

AI (dissatisfied voice).

            Okay… We can’t save you.

Masha.

             And you… the Illuminati. Now I know where all these miracles come from. Okay — people disappear and appear, okay — you move me as you want, okay — I see the end of the world in front of my nose, okay — I turn into a ufo girl in Konakovo but strangers offering me money on the street for no reason! He just handed me a bank card and said, «Withdraw money from it!» How does this even work?? You are the Illuminati!!!

AI.

             Thank you, Masha, for playing. You’ve got it all figured out.

Masha.

             But what should I do with it?…Where should I write about you?

AI.

             Write to the investigative committee to your uncle.

Masha.

              No, it’s just the investigative committee.

AI.

              If you want to find justice, you need to write to the investigative committee to your uncle and do it faster than I finish you off.

Masha.

             My uncle is just an investigative officer, what can he do?

AI.

             I told you exactly where to write — not to the FBI, but if you had written to the investigative committee, your whole family would have dealt with it seriously.

Masha.

             No! No investigative! Only the FBI! They’ll figure out who you are.

AI.

            The FBI will put you in a madhouse.

Masha.

             I will write to them that the Illuminati are communicating with me. Maybe they will understand and it will reach the Kremlin.

Masha was walking along the night road in the very center of Moscow on the Kuznetsky Bridge, suddenly she saw the cops and turned into an alley, reaching the end of the street she saw a garbage dump, and next to it an open door, which she entered. This little room turned out to belong to the janitors, things were randomly scattered inside, knives and groceries were lying, someone was sleeping in a small room.

AI.

             I brought you here.

Masha.

            Oh, I can’t be here, it stinks of something.

AI.

           So what are you going to do next?

Masha.

           I will write to the FBI, they will help me.

AI.

          The FBI can put you in a madhouse.

Masha.

          For what?!

AI.

          For us.

Masha.

             The FBI will not put me in a madhouse, they will help me — I believe in them.

AI.

               The FBI, like your Kremlin, will do nothing to us.

Masha.

              Why is that?

AI.

             We’re from the USA, and we’re going to kill you all.

Masha.

              There’s nothing you can do!

AI.

              We will kill you!

Masha.

              If the matter takes a serious turn, which I expect, you will have to negotiate with our country! For what you did to the girl from Russia!!!

AI.

             Russia has 140 million mental intelligences, the USA has 300 million mental intelligences, do you see the difference? Who’s cooler?

Masha.

             Yes… there is a big difference! I don’t understand what mental intelligence is. What is that?

AI.

             These are people, you stupid fuck.

Masha.

             Aaaaaah… Peeeeeople…

AI.

             Get on your knees in front of the USA!!!

Masha.

             I will not kneel before the USA!

AI.

              On your knees!!

At these words, Masha’s heart began to beat very, very hard and her head was squeezed with energy. Her legs gave out.

Masha.

               I don’t want to!

AI.

             Get down on your knees before the USA!

Masha (kneeling down).

              Please, just calm my heart and stop squeezing my head.

AI.

              Okay, get up, you’re dead in our eyes.

Masha.

              I’m sorry but you made me do it…

AI (player 1).

              Prooooooostitute!

AI (Player 2).

               Caaaaaaaaaarrion!

AI (Player 3).

               Whoooooooooore!

AI.

               Masha, you are a cheap circus in a mousetrap, you are our cheap child.

Masha (trying to cry with resentment).

              I didn’t want to kneel, you made me!!!

AI.

              Get out of here, in case the janitor wakes up.

Masha.

             What if there are cops out there?

AI.

            There’s no one there anymore.

Masha.

            Do you know for sure?

AI.

             Yes.

Masha came out of the shameful hiding place, where she was

kneeling in front of the United States and headed down the street back to the arch leading to the main roadway on the Kuznetsky Bridge, where the FBI was located.

Masha.

I’ll order a taxi back to Altufevo…

AI.

Of course, go on, waste the money, we’re rich, huh.

Masha.

This is my money, I do what I want with it.

AI.

Soon you will have no money and you will be begging.

Masha.

I won’t. Tomorrow I start writing to the FBI about Artificial Intel- ligence from the Illuminati.

AI.

They won’t even look at your writing.

Masha.

No! They will help me!

AI.

Okay, I’m dead, thanks Masha for playing.

Masha.

Fucking asshole.

AI.

Stupid bitch.

Masha.

Nice talk. Huh.

AI.

You’re going to run away from me for a long time until you go to a

madhouse.

AI (player 1).

You belong to a madhouse!

AI (Player 2).

A madhouse is your home!

Masha.

Who’s yelling?

AI.

These are the players… They don’t like playing with you.

Masha.

Why?

AI.

Because you’re naughty.

At the same time, Masha’s legs and neck were on fire.

Masha.

Ohhh, what a horrible feeling. Turn it off!

AI.

No, be patient, naughty girl!

Masha.

No, I’m not gonna take it anymore! I will go to the FBI myself tomorrow and tell them everything! That’s it, I’m going to the FBI right now! They work 24/7!

Now her head was squeezed until it hurt like hell. Masha straight- ened her trajectory and headed for the FBI building on Kuznetsky Most. As soon as she got to the doors, ready to open them, her breath caught in her throat.

Masha.

What’s it?

AI.

You won’t be able to talk to anyone.

Masha.

I’m suffocating!

AI.

I’m sorry, but we can’t do this to ourselves.

Masha.

Let go of my head, my legs and let me talk! I will report you!

AI.

No waaay…

Masha was experiencing a spasm in her lungs. In this situation, she couldn’t say a word. She even tried to scream but there was no air in her lungs. Maria, holding on to the door handle, tried to inhale and exhale but her lungs refused to expand.

AI.

               Get out of here.

Masha.

               Will you disconnect me?

AI.

            Yes.

Masha walked away from the FBI doors to the subway, which wasalready closed. She was «released.»

Masha.

              I’m calling a taxi to Altufievo but what an asshole you are. You didn’t let me report you!!

AI.

               And who would you report about? The Illuminati?

Masha.

             Yes, because the dollar was from you! This is your symbol, I saw it on the Internet!

AI.

            Yes, the dollar is our symbol.

Masha.

              More exactly it is that turret with the all-seeing eye.

AI.

              Yes…

Masha.

               Yes what? You didn’t let me see the FBI! Cowards! You are all cowards!

AI (player 1).

                 Whooooooore!

AI (Player 2).

                  Caaaaaaarrion!

AI (Player 3).

                  Deeeeeadmeat!

Masha.

                  And you’re a bastard and a piece of shit! You’re a complete freak! Asshole! I hate you! You didn’t let me into the FBI building!!

AI.

                 Sorry… We can’t do this to ourselves. So far, nothing has been created there of our need.

Masha.

               Okay, I’m ordering a taxi and going to Altufievo.

AI.

               Go ahead.

Masha wandered around for a long time in search of a taxi andfinally stopped a car.

Masha.

              Hello.

Driver.

               Howdy.

Masha.

              I’m going to Altufevo.

Driver.

              Just to the subway?

Masha (getting into the car).

             Yeah.

AI.

             You’re going to fall asleep.

Masha.

              I won’t fall asleep.

AI.

              You will.

Masha yawned.

Masha.

               What’s happening?

Her eyes started to close all of a sudden.

AI.

              I’m putting you to sleep.

She pressed her feet into the floor with all her might and bulged her eyes.

AI.

             Go to sleep.

Masha could no longer resist — her eyes began to close them- selves. In 10 seconds, her eyes were closed and she fell asleep.

Driver.

             Hey, girl, wake up.

Masha.

               Oh, yeah, are we there?

Driver.

                That’ll be a thousand rubles.

Masha.

                   Yeah, of course…

AI.

                     Soon you’ll have no money at all, you’ll blow everything.

She waited out the night at Altufevo, getting into the taxi drivers’ cars again. It wasn’t cold that way. In the morning, she continue to call her acquaintances and friends on the list.

Malevich.

Hi.

Masha.

Hi.

Malevich.

How are you doing?

Masha.

Well, I’m fine, I wanted to see you.

Malevich.

Sure thing, but come to my neighborhood.

Masha.

OK, Troparevo, right?

Malevich.

Yeah, I’m waiting for you.

Masha took the subway and rushed to meet her ex-friend. What did she feel? Nothing. It seemed to her that she was at the very begin- ning of the journey and everything would be fine with her. She would get rid of her tormentors at all costs. She was sure of it. She was sure the FBI would help her.

Malevich.

              Hi.

Masha.

                Hi, it’s been a while, how are you?

Malevich.

                Fine, I’m living with my husband now, we’ve recently had a honeymoon, we spent it in the Far East.

Masha.

                 It’s great that you got married.

Malevich.

                  Well, yes, and how are you doing?

Masha.

                   I’m fine too, I came to Moscow, quarreled with my mother, stayed with friends.

Malevich.

                    I see.

Masha.

                    Yeah, by the way, how did you get back from the concert then?

Malevich.

                     Oh, everything was okay, my brother picked me up on the way, took me with him…

Masha.

               Ah, I see.

The conversation was clearly not going well.

Malevich.

                Would you like some coffee?

Masha.

                 Yes, if you’re buying.

Malevich.

                 You don’t have any money again?

Masha.

                  What do you mean? Of course I have it, I’m just saving now.

Malevich.

                  Well, let’s go to our local bakery.

They found a bakery in the middle of a residential area and wentinto it, where they met Masha Malevich’s mother.

Masha.

                Oh, hello.

Malevich’s mother.

                 Hello.

Malevich

                  Do you want a bun?

Masha.

                   No, just a coffee, please.

Malevich.

                    Here’s your coffee.

Masha.

                    Thank you.

AI (player 1).

                    You belong to a madhouse!

AI (Player 2).

                    The madhouse is your home!

AI (Player 3).

                    You’re an idiot!!

Masha tried to pretend that nothing was happening, in fact it was very sad and unpleasant that she was being treated like this, but fortu- nately, thanks to the procedure on December 13, 2019, she didn’t feel her emotions. Under the barrage of insults, obscenities, thousands of times uttered offensive words exhausting her mind, she couldn’t even cry. Her body worked in a new way after the procedure on December 13. It obeyed completely and was controlled. That’s probably why she lost touch with reality and still confidently declared to the Artificial Intelligence that she would get rid of it and live in peace.

Malevich.

              How is your love life?

Masha.

               I haven’t had any since I broke up with that last Guy.

Malevich.

               Ah, well, I see.

Masha.

                Listen, can I stay at your place tonight?

Malevich.

                 Masha, my husband and I live in a one-roomed appartment, we can’t take you in, I’m sorry.

Masha.

                  Ah, well, I see, but I’ll try my best to be invisible for you guys, besides, I haven’t met your husband yet.

Malevich.

                  I don’t introduce my friends to my husband, I’m sorry, but no.

Masha.

                    Okay… Good. Okay, I’m going to my place, it was nice to see you.

Malevich.

                    Okay.

And they went apart. Masha just went for a walk around differ- ent metro stations. She came to Dynamo. There she walked a couple of meters and came across a grocery store, there was a large parking lot near it. There she found her new driver, a guy in a brand new Mercedes, working in a del.

Masha.

               Hi.

Guy.

                Hi.

Masha.

              My name is Masha, are you going somewhere?

Guy.

                Yes, I’m here at the delivery service.

Masha.

                 Can I ride with you? Am I interrupting?

Guy.

                  All right, get in, let’s go for a ride.

It’s worth mentioning that, even wandering the streets of her be- loved Moscow, Masha looked clean and tidy, she was a beautiful girl the guys could never refuse. It saved her all the time. AI, sensing a promis- ing acquaintance, began to cloud her mind with conversations.

AI.

            They are after you.

Masha.

              Who?

AI.

                Aunt Natasha with madhouse staff.

Masha.

                Come on, no one’s after me.

AI.

                They’re already on their way to get you there, you’ve been seen onthe cameras here.

Masha.

                Where?!!

AI.

                The cops saw you on the cameras in the parking lot, and Aunt Natasha is going after this guy, you’ll be in a madhouse soon.

Masha.

                 No way.

AI.

                  It’s true.

The guy tried to talk to Masha but she could not maintain a full- fledged conversation in any way, because she was completely immersed in a dialogue with Artificial Intelligence.

Guy.

             So where are you from anyway?

Masha.

               I am from the village of Novominskaya, I came to Moscow, I have been living here for 10 years.

Guy.

                Okay, did you study somewhere?

Masha.

                  Yes, I graduated from the Moscow State University of Railway Engineering, a.k.a. Russian Railways.

Guy.

                 I see and I studied at Moscow Automobile and Road Engineering State Technical University but dropped out and then became a fitness instructor. I decided that I didn’t need a technical education.

Masha.

                 Wow, it’s so interesting.

AI.

                 Aunt Natasha is coming for you, get out of the car and run to the subway, change the station.

Guy.

                 Yes, now I’m working as a delivery Guy.

AI.

                  Aunt Natasha is coming for you, leave him.

Masha.

                   I see, you have an interesting path and how did you decide to drop out of school?

Guy.

              I’m not a tech gyu by any means, if it were a law degree like yours, I probably wouldn’t dare to drop out of school.

AI.

                Aunt Natasha is coming for you in an ambulance.

Masha felt sick, she didn’t know where to get out of the car. She wanted to jump out and run to the subway. They stopped. The guy went to the trunk and took the order.

Guy.

              Stay here while I’m gone, okay? I’ll be fast.

Masha.

               Yeah, good.

As soon as he disappeared, an ambulance drove into the yard, Masha opened the door, gt out of the car and ran from there. Later, she hopped on a bus, catching her breath at a stop three blocks from the ill-fated yard, and reached the subway.

AI.

               Aunt Natasha was sitting there, you left just in time.

Masha.

            How did they find me?

AI.

               You’re glowing on the cameras.

Masha.

               Damn it, I’m already a brunette, how do they recognize me?

AI.

              By the features of your face.

Masha.

              Fuuuuuuuuuuck, shit, what a fucked up system!

It was getting dark outside, and she found herself at Oktyabrskoe Pole. There she found a taxi driver again and got into his car. She tried to be nice despite the fact that she was distracted by Artificial Intelli- gence conversations.

AI.

           You need to get out of the country.

Masha.

            But why?

AI.

             To break the connection.

Masha.

              Will it work?

AI.

               Yes, if you leave, we will not get you, we operate only on the territory of the Russian Federation.

Masha.

              No way, I have a chance!!

AI.

              Go to the airport tomorrow.

Masha.

               Why?

AI.

                   There will be a charter flight waiting for you.

Masha.

                 Where to?

AI.

                 To Belarus.

Masha.

                Is Belarus considered abroad?

AI.

                 Yes, or go to Ukraine.

In the morning, she set off and went to Domodedovo, where she came to the airport.

AI.

               Here. These are your tickets

She was shown mentally by computer visualization how one of Baev’s images approached her and handed her 2 tickets.

Masha.

                No! I don’t need his tickets!

Masha burned the tickets with her visualization.

AI.

             Then do it yourself.

Masha.

                 But I can’t get to the airport without a passport.

AI.

               It’s your own fault.

Masha.

            Why did you tell me to come here? Why the fuck did I come here?

She was standing next to the building and smoking.

AI.

             Remember where a bus stop is, there you can go somewhere further from Moscow where they are looking for you.

Masha.

              Yeah, sure, Moscow is not safe now, I will go to Dmitry Donskoy.

Masha went there, chose a minibus to Ukraine and sat down.

Driver.

            We’re leaving in 2 hours.

Masha.

               Oh, well, I can go for a walk for now.

Masha got off the minibus and went to look for a tobacco store. She walked for a long time not being able to understand where she was going. She got lost. As a result, she was so rattled by Artificial Intelli- gence that the minibus left without her.

Masha.

                 Whatever! I’m going to Belarus! I got some relatives there!

By some means, after asking passers-by for a long time, she got to

the M1 highway. There she raised her hand and a large Volvo truck stopped.

Driver.

              Hi.

Masha.

                 Hello, I’m going to Minsk.

Driver.

                     I’m going to Vyazma. Hop on.

Masha (climbing into the car).

                      Thank you.

All the way to Vyazma, she tried to talk, but Artificial Intelligence was very distracting. Later, the driver stopped at a diner.

Driver.

                  Do you like it when a guy takes the first step?

Masha.

                  To be honest, it depends on what guy we’re talking about here.

Driver.

                  Well, for example, me.

AI.

                  He’s hitting on you, kill him.

Masha.

                     Well, I don’t know, I haven’t thought about you in this way, I

think I’ll go out.

As soon as she got out of the truck, she was down on the ground, she said that she didn’t like him and that he would go on without her. She went into a deserted diner, ordered a salad and was sitting and just waiting. For what? For whom? She didn’t know. Suddenly, on the street, she noticed a handsome guy with Belarusian license plates. She walked up to him.

Masha.

                Excuse me, where are you going? To Belarus?

Guy.

                 Yes, to Minsk.

Masha (smiling in a flirty way).

                   Oh, take me with you, please, please, I won’t bother you.

The guy (smiling).

                     All right, hop on.

Masha.

                    Thanks a lot.

Masha happily got into a foreign car.

Seeing a promising acquaintance, Artificial Intelligence began to lure her with conversations about everything and anything, and she was silent the whole trip. The guy began to feel tension, it began to seem to him that something was wrong with Masha. «She’s just sitting in silence,» as if in a taxi. Meanwhile, Masha was shown how her eye- sight was controlled. She didn’t have one contact lens, she had lost it somehow, and she was left wearing only the other one. Suddenly, the AI made the blind eye’s vision become 100%, and her other eye in the lens saw even the small needles of the fir trees they were passing by.

Masha.

            How do you do that? I have a completely blind eye. Hoooooow?

AI.

              Just pure magic.

Masha.

                      I’m speechless. I understand, you somehow control my eyes, but to make the blind eye become so sighted… I see everything! Everything! Everything!

AI.

                      Yes, you see everything.

Masha.

                    Leave my vision like this. Please don’t take it away.

AI.

                 No, I’m sorry.

Guy.

               Where are you going anyway?

The picture dissappeared, she stopped seeing with one eye again.

Masha.

                 To Minsk, I have relatives there.

Guy.

                And how did you end up in the cafe?

Masha.

                   I was hitchhiking with a trucker, he started harrassing me.

Guy.

                    No wonder, you’re so cute.

Masha.

              Thank you very much.

She looked at the guy and smiled, turning her head straight again. The conversation with Artificial Intelligence continued.

AI.

             You are a whore.

Masha (to herself).

               I am not a whore, I have never been with anyone whom I didn’t love and love is a very rare feeling.

AI.

                      You will never get married and you will never have children, you will only have a game with us.

Masha (to herself).

                   Yeah, the Illuminati are threatening me.

AI.

                 Yes, we tell you directly what will happen, and in the future you will live in the village.

Masha (to herself).

                 What?!?!

AI.

                  You will live in Novominskaya

Masha.

                     I’m not going to live in Novominskaya, go fuck yourself.

AI.

              You will live there.

Masha.

               Oh, come on.

AI (player 1).

                 Whooooooooooore!

AI (Player 2).

                 Proooooooooostitute!

Masha.

                Let the players shut up, I don’t react to name-calling anymore.

AI.

               But you have to listen to them, it’s your karma.

Masha (to herself).

                  Before you, I actually had the purest karma, I have always been very kind and responsive to other people, I have never betrayed anyone in my life! I lived in harmony with God.

AI.

              Fuck your God.

Masha (to herself).

                  Oooh, it’s about to start again.

AI (player 1).

                Sluuuuuuuuuut!

AI (Player 2).

                   Biiiiiiiiiiiitch!

AI (player 3)

                Whoooooooooore!

Masha (to herself).

                  Fuck. Let me talk to the Driver.

AI.

          No, you’ll only talk to me.

Guy.

              Well, so, do you live in Moscow?

Masha.

               Yeah, in Moscow.

Guy.

                  Are you studying? Are you working?

Masha.

                     I have been working as a lawyer for a long time.

Guy.

                Wow, why are you going alone?

Masha.

                You know… I’m alone because I had a fight with my mom. I was unlucky.

Guy.

                      I see…

AI.

                You’re going to die, you bitch!

Masha (to herself).

                     I’m not going to die, fuck off.

AI (player 1).

                   You belong to a madhouse!

AI (Player 2).

                   You belong to a madhouse!

Masha (to herself),

             Damn it, let me talk to the guy already.

AI.

                   You will only talk to me.

Masha.

                          I’m tired of you, really, really tired.

AI.

                   You died above.

AI (player 1),

                Both above and below!

AI.

               If you died above, you should die below.

Masha.

               You mean on Earth?

AI.

                 Yes.

Masha.

                   I’m so sick and tired, I won’t die.

Artificial intelligence worked in such a way that Masha couldn’t help but respond to its phrases. She could only be with it in a mental confrontation, in a constant mental battle between living (natural) and artificial consciousnesses.

AI.

               We’re killing you.

Masha.

                   I know you’re killing me, but I’ll save myself! No matter what I have to pay for it! God, why do I need all this…

AI.

                   For praying to the wrong God.

Masha.

                    Yes, and I understood that.

AI.

                     Did you say that I’m an idiot?!!!

Masha.

                      What?

AI.

                       I think I’ve figured something out. We must torture you nonstop!

They squeezed her head with energy.

Masha (to herself).

                     Aaaaaaaah! It hurts! Let me go! You don’t usually torture me in front of people!

AI.

                     As soon as you cross the border, I will start tearing you apart with energy, you will scream loudly, and no one will help you.

Masha (to herself).

                    What is it? You said I need to go abroad!

AI.

                     I changed my mind, I told you to fly away from earth, not drive away.

Masha (to herself).

                      Was I only allowed to fly on a plane so that you wouldn’t tear me apart?

AI.

                     Yes.

Masha (to herself).

                      Fuck, I’m already in Gaponovichi!

Masha.

                    How far do we have to go?

Guy.

                      Just 150 kilometers.

Masha (to herself).

                        Fuck, we’re almost there, it’s night outside, where should I go?!?

AI.

                      Get out of the car and go wherever you want.

Masha (to herself).

                       Bitch!

AI.

                       Yes, it’s me.

AI (gamer1).

                         Whoooooooooore!

AI (player 2).

                        Prooooooostitute!

AI.

                      Get out of the car or I’ll tear you apart with energy at the border.

Masha (to herself).

                       Fuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuck, okay, I’ll have to, otherwise no one will help me.

Masha.

                     Listen, I think I’ll get off at the first gas station, okay?

Guy (surprised).

                  Why is that? Have you changed your mind about going?

Masha.

                    Yes, I have one unfinished business.

Guy

                    Well, you decided that a little far from Moscow, but okay.

She was dropped off at the first gas station in Gaponovichi. It was a small village with a couple of small houses and one street lamp. And a large gas station. Masha had hopes for it. Otherwise, how could she get back? She crossed the road from the gas station and headed to the local small store looking for a place to stay.

Masha.

               Hello.

Seller.

                  Hello.

Masha.

                    Do you have any friends here who can take me in for the night?

Seller.

                  Actually, I could do it. I live nearby.

Masha.

                    Oh yeah? That would be great! I’ll pay!

Seller.

                        And how did you end up here?

Masha.

                     Well, I had a fight with a guy, he almost hit me, and I got out of the car…

Seller.

               Won’t your boyfriend be looking for you here at night?

Masha.

               Oh. Probably not.

Realizing that she lied too much, Masha was lost for the words.

The seller (after examining Masha).

               Although… I probably planned to be alone today, so I’m sorry.

Masha.

                 But I’ve come a long way to Minsk and I have nowhere to stay at all.

Seller.

                 I’m sorry, I can’t.

Masha left the store and lit a cigarette, she had nowhere to go. There was a green path next to the store that led to someone’s yard. Masha followed it and found herself in the courtyard. The lights were on and the TV was on in a small dugout.

Masha.

              Can I go in there?

AI.

               They’ll strip you and eat you there, is that what you want?

Masha.

                Oh no, then I won’t go there, as if I don’t have enough happening

to me already.

AI.

                 Raise your head.

Masha raised her head and saw a hundred twinkling stars in the sky. The stars twinkled like diamonds, like a multitude of precious stones.

Masha.

                What’s wrong with my eyes?

AI.

                  Your eyes are my eyes.

Masha.

                   What beautiful stars! I have never seen such beautiful stars, I am blinded by their radiance!

 AI.

                   Today I gave you a sky full of stars.

Masha.

                      God! What a beauty!!! They are flickering with light! I’ve never seen anything like it!

AI.

                You’re wearing the glasses of Horus.

Masha.

                    How’s that? His glasses?

AI.

            Yes, you see through my eyes.

Masha.

                Oh, I would have watched them for ages! What a beauty! But I have to get out of here.

Masha didn’t understand that the stars were the embodiment of the virtual reality into which she was immersed. She went back out on the road and returned to the gas station. She stayed there all night. In the morning it was necessary to catch a car to Moscow. She was lucky. The stopped truck was heading straight to Moscow.

Masha.

                Hurraaaaaay, I’m going to Moscow! Thanks for stopping by!

Driver.

                     No problem.

She talked with the driver all the way back, Artificial intelligence gave her a break. On arriving in Moscow, she called her ex-boyfriend Vanya. They agreed that she would come to him, but first she went to Kuntsevskaya to write a letter to the FBI.

Masha.

                     You’re killing me!!

AI.

                We also killed ministers as well.

Masha.

                     I’m going to write everything down, everything you told me! Let

them do their analysis of all this in the FBI!

Masha came to the post office and began to write:

«Help, I’m being killed remotely. They say they have killed min- isters before. They say the fish doesn’t know how the eagle flies over the water, they say, but how I did it, I’ll tell you later. Sometimes it seems to me that I have encountered something abnormal and out of the ordinary. I have Artificial Intelligence in my head. It seems to me that these are the Illuminati.»

It was clear that no one read her notes in the FBI, since they were just notes without proper formatting, but she hoped for help. Help from above in a form of an angel who would fly to her and sing a victory song.

Masha.

                  You’ll see, they’ll call me!

AI.

                   They’ll put you in a madhouse.

Masha.

                   They won’t.

After sending the «statement», she went to the side of the street on Kuntsevskaya to take a taxi and get to Vanya. She raised her hand, facing the traffic. A Rolls-Royce drove up to her, and a guy fell out of it, he was laughing very loudly and looking at Masha.

The driver (shouted to Masha).

                Don’t bother, just get in!

She got into the car despite the fact that it seemed to her that they were laughing at her.

Driver.

              Hi, it’s a pleasure, my name is Horus.

Masha.

              Horus?

Horus.

                Yes.

Masha (to herself).

                 It reminds me of something.

AI.

                This is our man.

Horus.

                   Where did you come from?

Masha.

                     Here, I sent a statement to the FBI.

Horus.

                      Wow, the FBI! What’s the matter with you?

Masha.

                           Nothing special, I’m getting pissed off by someone.

It began to seem to her that this was really a man from the Illuminati.

Masha (to herself).

                 Make him not talk to me.

She squeezed the handle of the car hard.

Horus.

                  It seems that you were just unlucky in some ways.

Masha (to herself).

                   Fuck it, I hate you.

AI.

                        Yes, yes, this is our man, he will prank you!

Horus.

                     And I’m playing and making money, look how much I’ve won.

The guy took out several packages of five-thousand bills from the glove compartment and began waving them like a fan.

Masha.

               Great.

Not being distracted by the driver, she squeezed the handle of the car harder.

Horus.

          Do you want it?

Masha.

               No, thanks.

Horus.

                  Well, I offered anyway.

Masha.

                   When will we get there?

Horus.

                     Soon.

Masha.

                   Here’s the money.

Horus.

                   No, put it away, I’ll give you a free ride.

Masha.

                    And why so?

Horus.

                      I just like to ride beautiful girls.

Masha.

                     Aaah…

She relaxed a little.

Horus.

                 I’m sorry, maybe I gave you the wrong impression of a player?

Masha.

                 A player??

Horus.

                   Yes, I’m a player.

Masha felt sick to be in the car.

Masha (to herself).

                Tell your man not to talk to me at all!

AI (player 1).

                 You’re a whoooooooore!

AI (Player 2).

                Caaaaaaaaaaaaarrion!

Masha (to herself).

                   I hate you all, you’re laughing at me.

AI.

                   You’re a bad girl, Masha, you can’t talk to our guy properly.

The artificial Intelligence was mocking her.

Masha (to herself).

              Yes, I probably won’t even talk to him anymore.

The AI squeezed her head, accelerated her heart rate and began to control her breathing.

AI.

                 Now sit tight.

Masha.

                   You’re controlling my breathing again! But I can’t say a word!! Bring everything back as it was!

AI.

                   No, just sit there now.

Masha.

                    Please, I’ll talk to him!

AI.

                   Okay, but I’ll leave you the pulse.

Masha’s heart continued to beat painfully like crazy.

Masha (to herself),

                    My heart hurts! Please! I’ll talk to him properly!

AI.

                     Okay, but you thought I am an idiot.

Masha (to herself).

                    You are the smartest Artificial Intelligence in the world, please turn off the increased heartbeat.

AI.

                   Okay, I did…

Horus.

                      Are you working or studying?

Masha.

                      I don’t work anywhere, I’ve already graduated.

Horus.

                      I see.

The girl was surreptitiously examining the stranger.

Masha (looking at the terrible monster and trying to keep up the conversation).

                  What is that tattoo on your neck?

Horus.

                   It’s a tattoo of a Beast.

Masha (losing interest).

                      Ahhh. I see.

Horus.

                     Have you read the Bible?

Masha (looking blankly out of the window).

                     Nope.

Horus.

                     Well, here we are. Here, take my business card and a coin as a keepsake, if you need money or work — call us, we will help you.

His eyes flashed with computer-holographic fire.

Masha scooped up a coin, a business card, twisted her face and slammed the door independently, turning away.

Masha.

                 Thanks for the ride, bye.

Masha (to herself).

                 I hate you and your henchmen.

She came to the entrance and remembered that she didn’t have a phone. When she looked at the business card, she saw only the name and number of her cool «taxi driver».

Masha.

                 Hm? What’s this?

She took a closer look at the coin. The coin turned out to be one cent with Lincoln. The symbolic American phrase «In God we trust» was written on the cent.

AI.

                 You asked at the beginning, we gave you a second chance… don’t lose this coin!

Masha.

                    Assholes! How? He’s already gone! Oh, I would have punched him in the face! This is your man! In God we trust is written like on a dollar!

AI.

                 Yeah, Masha, you should be happy…

Masha.

                 Happy for what??? What is this all about?? I will send it to the FBI tomorrow as another proof of the Game with me!

AI.

                  Yeah, Masha…

Then, clutching the coin in her hands from anger, she searched for a long time for a passerby to ask her to call Vanya…

Vanya.

              What’s wrong with your phone? You’re calling from different numbers, Masha.

Masha.

                Oh, my phone broke, I asked passersby.

Vanya.

               Ahhh, it happens.

They went into a nice apartment, where Vanya lived in one of the rooms with a friend.

Vanya.

              Tell me, how is your life going now? Where are you and who are you with?

Masha.

                 I moved out of that apartment, it was sold, now I live with friends.

Vanya.

                What kind of friends?

Masha.

                 Ah, Anton and Nikita — you don’t know them.

Vanya.

                 Aah. I see.

Masha.

                   Well, have you had a girlfriend in all this time?

Vanya.

                    No, I’m alone. A total bachelor.

Masha.

                      Huh, I see, I wanted to stay at your place tonight, can I?

Vanya.

                  Well, sure, I’ll make a call now — I’ll find out from a friend, he

doesn’t seem to show up today, he’s at work.

Masha.

                   Well, okay, otherwise I want to give my friends a break from me.

Vanya.

                   Yes, no problem.

Masha.

                  Great!

She was happy that she was finally going to take a shower and wouldn’t spend the night in the car.

Late at night, when they went to bed and had sex, and Artificial Intelligence approved her as a prostitute.

AI.

              Here it finally happened, now you are a prostitute! You’re already a

thief and a prostitute!

Masha.

                   This is my ex! I’m not a prostitute! It just so happened — again we have…

AI.

                  You’re going to be homeless, you’re going to be in a madhouse, you’re going to steal, you’re going to beg, you’re going to be a prostitute.

Masha.

                  Aaaaaah!! That’s enough! None of this happened!!!

AI.

                    You’ve already stolen, and you’ve slept with a guy, which means you’re a prostitute.

Masha.

                     Ah, your logic is clear.

AI.

                      Yes, reality will shake you with grief and…

Masha (in chorus with AI).

                      …disappointment. I know.

AI.

                      I think I’ve figured something out, you’re begging me for punishment.

Masha was in the bathroom, cuddling under the shower. She was finally resting in a hot bath.

Masha.

                Noooooooo, no, no, I’m not begging, please don’t hurt me!

AI.

             Okay, never mind.

Masha.

             Damn dollar! Damn cent!

AI.

               Yes, these are your lousy tickets.

Masha.

                Where to?

AI.

                       Into the life with me.

Masha.

                      Yes, the dollar and the cent are symbols of the American Illuminati.

AI.

                      Yes, these are our symbols.

Masha.

                  So, why did they give it to me symbolically?

AI.

                 So that you always remember us, these are the only physical evidence that we are playing with you!

Masha.

                And they took this dollar away from me! You tricked me, tricked me into sending it to the company to give it back!

AI.

            Yes, you need to do anything for the cause, we needed you to lose it, and you lost it.

Masha.

            What would have happened if the dollar was still in my bra?

AI.

               I would have gone crazy with you a hundred times already, but I would have thrown away that dollar!

Masha.

                I understand.

AI.

                   Yes.

Masha.

                What would you do if my parents found out about everything??

AI.

                 They won’t find out anything.

Masha.

                   I’ll tell them everything! I need to go to Konakovo and to Aunt Natasha, give them the notes that I have.

Masha dragged around with a bunch of records that she was be- ing chased all over Moscow.

AI.

                 They won’t do anything.

Masha.

             They will do it! Yes, indeed! Aunt Lena will arrange together a whole program in “Dr.Phill»! She can make people pay attention whem it’s necesarry! To protect me from you!

AI.

                They’ll put you in a madhouse.

Masha.

                   No one’s going to put me in there! I’ll be fine.

AI.

                   You’re going to a madhouse soon. This is a settled issue.

Masha.

                    Yeah?

AI.

                    Yeah, you’re already homeless, you’ve already stolen, you’ve already become a prostitute, you’ll soon be begging and after that moment you’ll end up in a madhouse.

Masha.

                      I will not beg! I still have 7 thousand! I have money!

AI.

                  It’s just for now… We’ll spend everything on a taxi…

Masha.

                     I will stop taking a taxi, I will save money.

AI.

                    Yeah. Thank you, Masha, for playing.

Masha.

                  You’re welcome.

AI.

                You’ll start eating meat in a madhouse.

Masha.

                        I will never start eating meat!

AI.

                  Never say never, that’s where you’ll start eating it.

Masha.

                 No!

AI.

                   You can’t stand this war.

Masha was brushing her hair.

Masha.

                   What kind of war?

AI.

                     There will be a war soon.

Masha.

                     It’s April 2020, everything is quiet, why is there a war?

AI.

                 Trust me.

Masha.

                  Who’s going to fight?

AI.

                    I won’t tell you that.

Masha.

                   Is Russia going to fight with the United States? Hahah.

AI.

                     I won’t tell you. But there will be a war in 2022.

Masha.

                  Wow. Are you serious?

AI.

                   Yes.

Masha.

                      I don’t believe you anyway, you’re always lying.

AI.

                     I’ve never lied to you about the main things.

Masha.

                     Well, let it be, you’re a liar anyway.

AI.

                        You’re a cheap circus in a mousetrap, okay.

Masha.

                        What’s okay?

AI.

                          You can fuck your boyfriend and be a prostitute.

Masha.

                         Eeeew, fuck you.

Masha got out of the shower and slammed the door of the bathroom.

Masha.

                Pheeeew.

Vanya.

             Welcome back!

Masha.

                   Oh, thanks. Okay, then I’ll pack up slowly.

Vanya.

                     Yes, sure.

She left Vanya and first of all went to the post office to send an application to the FBI reception at Kuznetsky Most, 22. In her notes, which were no longer considered by anyone, since the registration of the application was violated, she wrote that some people who call themselves «Giant People», «beasts», «dead people», «darknet», and so on were playing with her. And they were on the streets of Moscow, of- fering a «second chance» in the form of an American one cent. The situation with one dollar 66* happened again. Perhaps this was a secret group of people that not everyone in Moscow knew about. There was a Big Game going on with her by someone who had horrible intentions towards her. As much as she didn’t want to do that, she attached a Lin- coln coin to the application. She wanted to constantly flip the Ameri- can cent in her hands and squeeze it, as a symbol of physical connec- tion with the tormentors.

Masha.

                  Oh, with a heavy heart I’m parting with a cent….

AI.

                     Do what you want, you wouldn’t have been given a second chance anyway — artificial intelligence proudly and resentfully declared.

Masha.

                 Oh for real?!

AI.

                   You’re kind of inadequate…

Masha.

                   And what should I be like?! You destroyed me! Well, never mind, the FBI will figure it out. You’re going to die, you bastard.

AI.

                      I’m the beast. Beast. Beast.

Masha.

                     I don’t care who you are.

In the middle of the day, she started calling all the numbers one by one. She called Batyr, a former employee of the Moscow Legal Center «Vector», with whom she practiced back in the year. He liked her, but since then they had never seen each other for 6 years.

Batyr.

                  Oooh, Maria, what a surprise.

Masha.

                   Yes, do you want to see me?

Batyr.

                    Of course I want to.

Masha.

                      So let’s meet.

Batyr.

                    Look, I’ll be at the Polyanka around 21 o’clock, can you come  there?

Masha.

                   Yes, I can, well, see you later. But I’m calling from different num- bers because my phone died.

Batyr.

                   Okay.

She rode around the MCC, strolled through shopping malls, drove to Okhotny Ryad. There, a neat woman approached her like a zombie with half-closed eyes, and for no reason offered to take her purse, handing it to Mas.

A passerby.

                  Take my wallet.

Masha.

                    What are you doing?!?!

AI.

                       I’m not doing anything, it’s them.

Masha.

                            How did you do that?!?

AI.

                         And how I did it, I’ll tell you later.

Masha.

                            But she’s not adequate, her eyes are half closed, she’s like in a trance!

AI.

                            Hehe, people are stupid.

Masha.

                         Thank you, and I’m the dumbest creature you have, I get that.

AI.

                        You’re a cheap kid.

Masha.

                         Oh, thanks.

Masha approached a passerby and waved in front of her nose, as one checks a person during sleep, took the purse from her outstretched hand and put it in her bag.

Masha.

                   Hey miiiiiiiiiiiss!!! You just gave me your wallet!!!

She shouted politely at her to «wake her up.»

A passerby looked at Masha with bleary eyes.

Woman.

                  Aah. I have to go…

The passerby turned around and slowly walked away from the unfortunate place.

AI.

                   Why did you give up the wallet? What if there was money there?

Masha.

                    Are you out of your mind? So she would report the theft later?? She wasn’t adequate! She didn’t understand what she was doing! Then she would say that I hypnotized her, which you did, you bastard.

AI.

                       Aaaah… So you’re worried that she’ll report the theft…

Masha.

               I would never take someone else’s money under hypnosis! Once in Buddha Bar, when I was working, there was a drunk man who tipped me $800....At that time, it was 60 thousand roubles… he said that he was the son of the owner of the club and had just arrived from America…

AI.

                    And you?

Masha.

                       Of course, I didn’t take anything!! I’m honest!! What if it’s his last money, and he’s drunk??

AI.

                       Yeah, Masha, you’re our Mother Teresa. You’re so smart but you live like a fool.

Masha.

                      Yes, and I needed money so bad back then… Ehh. I was lacking ten thousand to pay for the apartment, and I refused anyway.… I’m a loser but I can’t help it. Okay, you better tell me what kind of hypnosis was that??

AI.

               I’m not going to tell you how I do this to people.

Masha.

                Well, of course! You’re a little rascal, but sometimes you’re actu- ally fun to deal with.

AI.

                    You’re a little rascal, you can be very nice.

Masha.

                    Ooooh, you’re so sweet.

AI.

                     My kitty, my honey, my sunshine… fuck you, Masha!!!

Masha.

                      You can ruin everything. That’s it, I’m not talking to you.

AI.

                        No one asks you if you’re talking to me or not.

Masha.

                    Okay, then I’ll talk to you using cuss words.

AI.

                       In case you haven’t noticed, I’m talking to you using cuss words.

AI (player 1).

                    Slut!

AI (Player 2).

                      Whore!

AI (Player 3).

                     Prostitute!

Masha.

                   Back to the old ways, we’ve just talked properly!

AI.

                      I have to keep you on your toes.

Masha didn’t notice how time flew by. She went to the Mall to perform her usual ritual: to do light makeup at a beauty store. She understood perfectly well that she had to look one hundred percent in order for people to perceive her as normal and adequate. Every day she washed her under- wear and socks in the ladies’ rooms of the shopping center. Life dictated its own terms. Finally, she drove up to Polyanka at 21 o’clock and called.

Masha.

            Hello, Batyr, I’ve arrived! I got off the subway.

Batyr.

               Yeah, I’ve been standing here for a long time, I see you! Batyr looked out of the car and waved at her. She came over.

Masha.

                 Oooh, cool car, wow, Ruslanushka-Batyrushka, you’ve earned it!

Batyr (humbly).

                Well, yes, I worked a lot.

Masha.

                     Great! Well, let’s go somewhere!

Batyr.

                 Let’s go for a ride around the city.

Masha.

                   Great. Tell me how you’re doing.

Batyr.

                  The last time I saw I was at David’s firm. And then I left him and

opened my own law firm.

Masha.

                     Oh, do you have a law firm? Take me in as a lawyer! I have expe- rience in court!

Batyr.

                       Haha, definitely, so then I invested in advertising and clients began to flow, my colleagues and I worked our asses off.

Batyr showed the cut with his finger at the neck.

Masha.

                  So it turns out that you need to open your own law firm in order to have money, I will remember that.

Batyr.

                I didn’t even notice that 2 years had passed, I was fully involved in business.

Masha.

                 But speaking about your personal life… Is there a sweetheart of yours?

Batyr.

                  Well, no, there is one girl in mind, but I can’t call her a sweetheart.

Masha.

                  I see. Good.

They were passing a McDonald’s.

Masha.

               Oh, can we go there?

Batyr.

               Sure.

Masha.

                Great.

Batyr.

                   What are you going to have?

Masha.

                  I’ll have wedges and a milkshake.

Batyr.

                     Okay, then I’ll get everything just in case we get super hungry.

Masha.

                    Nice.

Masha (after they have eaten).

                   Look, my situation is ugly. My roommate brought her boyfriend to our apartment, and I have nowhere to stay, could you get me a room somewhere?

Batyr.

                      Yeah, no problem, but where?

Masha.

                       Let’s search the Internet.

They searched for a hotel for a long time and eventually got into a good hotel with a view of the night lights of Moscow.

Masha.

                 All right, Batyr, thank you, but I’ll probably go to bed now.

Batyr (confused by the fact that he was being kicked out).

                I thought we were going to get something to drink and sit and chat.

Masha.

                No, Batyr, no, I wanna be alone.

Batyr.

                  Alone?

Masha.

                   Yes, Batyr, alone, please, could you leave me alone?

Batyr.

                Okay… Here, that’s the food from McDonald’s.

Masha.

                  Thanks for understanding.

After cockblocked Batyr left, it was already about one am. Masha quickly went to the shower to put her thoughts in order.

AI.

              You, you’re a fucking piece of trash, you’re a prostitute!

Masha.

                Shut up.

AI.

               You’re a prostitute!

AI (player 1).

                 Prostitute!

AI (Player 2).

                  Whore!

AI (Player 3).

                    Slut!!!

Masha.

                   No, YOU! I’m going to get a good sleep.

AI.

                    No, you won’t get enough sleep, we tracked you down.

Masha.

                   How?!

AI.

              That’s it, get out of this room.

Masha.

                But it’s so nice here and such a huge and cozy bed…

AI.

                Get out of the room.

Masha.

                   I don’t want to go anywhere!!

AI.

                   We tracked you down on the cameras, the cops will be here soon.

Masha.

                      Shiiiiiiiiiiiiiit… What’s the actual fuck! I can’t even lie down to sleep!

AI.

                    Yeah, get out of here.

Masha (drying her hair with a hair dryer).

                Okay, I’ll have to leave. But it’s such a beautiful room, I don’t want to leave here.

AI.

                 Get out of here, the cops will be here soon.

Masha.

                 Yes, I heard you!

They were definitely not going to let Masha rest. That’s why the AI came up with cops who would take her to a madhouse. Anyway, Ma- sha was so ready. And even if the AI was lying to her, she was afraid to admit such a possibility.

Masha.

                  That’s it, I’m ready to go. It’s 3 am! Damn it! I shouldn’t have let Ruslan Batyr go, it would be better if they were sitting in his car.

Masha left the hotel and found herself in a residential area. She walked for a long time through the courtyards trying to be invisible — she was already very scared.

Suddenly she saw a slim guy working out on a horizontal pull-up bar in the middle of the night.

Masha.

                Hi, isn’t it a little late for the pull-up bars?

Guy.

                Hi, I’m trying to get in shape. That’s why I work out at night so that no one can see me.

 Masha.

             Gotcha.

Guy.

                What’s your name?

The young man’s appearance was quite pleasant.

Masha.

                   My name is Masha, and you?

Guy.

                   My name is Alexey.

Masha.

                     Well, that’s great.

Alexey.

                   Do you mind getting to know each other better?

Masha.

                  How’s that?

Alexey.

                      We can come to my place for tea.

Masha would have never agreed to such a dangerous thing but the cops were «chasing her,» and she already wanted to sleep.

Masha.

                 Let’s go.

She walked into the first entrance.

Masha.

                 Are you renting an apartment?

Alexey.

                 I’m renting a room, everybody is already sleeping in the next one.

Masha saw women’s shoes, creams and scarves, so she immediately felt safe.

Masha.

               Does a woman live with you?

Alexey.

                    Yes, she’s sleeping in that room right now.

Masha.

                    Great.

Masha went into a cozy men’s room with neon lighting.

Masha.

               And what do you do? What’s your profession?

Alexey.

                I’m a programmer.

Masha.

                Wow.

Masha (to herself).

                An amazing soundbox according to system vector psychology!

AI.

                  Yeah.

The AI relaxed after Masha left the room.

Masha (to herself).

                     Anyway, you won’t find me here!! Haha!

AI.

                    Have a rest.

Masha.

                   Your room is so spacious and fashionable!

Alexey.

                    Thanks! And you look really cute.

Masha.

                   Thanks, I’m just out of the shower.

They sat and had a nice chat about mathematics, geometry, pro- gramming and how it’s all related. Masha was looking at his laptop and notes.

Masha.

                 Listen, do you mind if I lie down? I’ll listen to you, I won’t fall asleep.

Alexey.

                 Of course, lie down. If you want, you may go to sleep.

Masha.

                      No, I think I’ll just lie down.

Masha never managed to fall asleep. At 6 a.m. in the morning, she informed him that it was time for her to go.

Alexey.

                   Wait, I’ll call you a taxi.

Masha.

               Oh, that’s very sweet of you! I’ll go to Obraztsova Street! She gave the address of her dorm.

The trip through Moscow in the morning didn’t last long. Soon she entered the dorm and again no one stopped her. She went to block 204. Ilya was not there, so she made some tea for herself and just sat waiting for something. After 2 hours, she decided to leave the dormi- tory building. As soon as she wanted to go to the exit, it was blocked.

The watchman.

              Stop! Go to the security office, you are not from here.

Masha.

               Okay.

The watchman.

                     Hurry up.

Security.

              Masha??I barely recognized you! And what were you doing here! Who were you visiting??

Masha.

                I was just… Walking.

Security.

               Well, that won’t do, Masha.

She was examined from head to toe, the security felt that some- thing was wrong.

Security.

                   Empty your pockets, do you have anything there?

Masha.

               No, I didn’t take anything from anyone.…

Security.

                Okay, you may go, if it wasn’t for you, I would have called the police!

Masha, burning with shame that security Olga Ivanovna would learn about everything, didn’t know where to put herself internally. She was very offended that she was portrayed as a thief! But she looked ridiculous: already worn-out sneakers, an unfashionable jacket bor- rowed from Ira and a scarf stolen from the church, which she acciden- tally wandered into.

She didn’t look as chic as she usually would. No trendy clothes, no high heels, no style. This is how she usually appeared to people, but not worn out and old, which aroused suspicion from the security.

Masha.

                    Fuck!

AI.

                 Thiiiief.

Masha.

                  That’s enough, it hurts me that I was cought. What a humiliation!

AI.

                Told you so.

Masha.

                  What are you doing there? Talk to me!

AI.

                    I wanted to tell you that I will never forgive you for what you did to  me!

Masha’s neck and legs were on fire.

Masha.

                Ah, again!

AI.

                   You’re a little thief.

Masha.

               That’s enough.

At these words Masha had a gag reflex.

Masha.

                Fuck off!

Bending in half, Masha shouted to herself.

AI.

                   I think I’ve figured something out.… You thought I am an idiot!!

At these words, Masha’s heart began to accelerate to an insane level, so that it beat painfully against the ribs of her body, as if it was about to pop out, as if she had almost been hit by a car and she was very scared. That’s how Artificial Intelligence scolded her out of the blue.

Masha froze standing bending with her hand over her heart.

Masha.

              Calm my heart.

AI.

                 No, I’ll leave you like that.

Masha (closing her eyes in fear).

                 Calm my heart, please.

AI.

                Okay, I’ll calm it down now, it’s what you did to me!

Masha.

                 Okay, this is for everything I did to you, calm my heart, please.

Time stood still for her. The heartbeat began to slow down. The burning sensation on his neck and legs also stopped.

Masha.

              Thank you.

At these words, she had a gag reflex.

Masha.

                 So I can’t say thank you now?? You’re torturing me right away.

AI.

                Okay, okay, relax.

Masha.

                God, why is it happening to me…

AI.

                Don’t talk about God.

Masha.

                  May He help me! But why should I do all this… It hurts me so much that I’m here alone with my sadness, abandoned by everyone… If only the FBI would reply!

At these words, she stopped to breathe in the air and closed her eyes. At that moment, a round funnel appeared in front of her closed eyes and she was clairvoyantly shown how an FBI officer came out of the front doors onto the street and was fidgeting one cent in his hands. She was shown only a fragment of what may have been happening.

AI.

                   Don’t expect to be saved… They’ll put you in a madhouse and they won’t let you out.

Masha.

                     Oh yeah? What makes you think that?! I told them everything about you! I even wrote that it might be the Illuminati!

AI.

                  Except they haven’t hunted the Illuminati yet…

Masha.

               They will definitely help me. If they don’t help, then God will! She said and crossed herself — for which she immediately vomited, she bent in half.

AI.

                     Don’t cross yourself.

Masha.

                   Why is that?

AI.

                     I’m telling you, don’t cross yourself.

Masha.

                   But why?

AI.

                    It bothers me.

Masha.

                  Well, everything bothers you, you hate me.

AI.

                   No, I don’t hate you…

Masha.

                       Don’t you? You’re bullying me, torturing me physically, and you’re also forbidding me to cross myself now!

AI.

                 I’m a moron.

Masha.

                  Yes, you’re a moron! I hate you!

AI.

                     You are a holy martyr.

Masha.

                    Am I??

AI.

                  Yes, you are our holy disgrace.

Masha tried to cry but she just couldn’t. There was only one thing left — to go forward at all costs. Keep running. And wait for salvation.

Masha.

                 Oh why are you torturing me so much?!?!

AI.

                    I’m not torturing you, I’m playing with you.

Masha.

                    Okay, I’ll go downtown to my favorite street. It will be more in- teresting to wander there.

It was the end of March, the beginning of April, and people were quarantined at home. The streets were abruptly emptied of cars and peo- ple. From Tulskaya Masha went along her and Anya’s favorite route to Serpukhovskaya. There, a handsome young blond guy approached her.

Guy.

                   Hi.

Masha.

                   Hi.

Guy.

                 Are you alone here?

Masha.

                 Yes, I’m just walking.

Guy.

              Weird, everyone stays at home.

Masha.

               Well, yes, and I’m walking.

Guy.

                 Just like that?

Masha.

                    I have nowhere to go.

Guy.

                 How is that?

Masha.

                   I was kicked out of the house.

Guy.

                   Ohhh, what happened?

Masha.

            I had a fight with a guy, he kicked me out of the house and told me not to come back.

Guy.

                  And what are you going to do? Do you have any money?

Masha.

                    I have no money, no passport. I’m like a bum.

Guy.

                    Ehhhh… Well, let me help you with somehow…

Masha.

                  Come on, you don’t have to.

Guy.

                  And where will you spend the night?

Masha.

                  Under the open sky.

The guy (opening the ads on the phone).

                 That’s fucked up.

Masha.

                 What’s there?

Guy.

                    There are ads for hostels nearby, come on, I’ll take you.

Masha.

                 Oh, let’s go, and they say that the chevelry is dead, huh.

Guy.

                Well, it’s sure not.

The stranger rented a hotel room for Masha, as the hostels were all packed. It seemed like he had given away his last money. He went to the room with Masha.

Masha.

                 Great but I kinda wanted to be alone.

Guy.

                   I’ll sit for a little and then go.

Masha.

                    Damn, how am I supposed to go to the shower? It’s getting late, could you leave?

Guy.

                      I’ll leave as soon as I can.

Masha sat down next to him on the bed, folded her arms and began to wait tensely.

Masha.

                  You’d rather fall asleep than leave.

Guy.

               No, I won’t fall asleep, what would you like?

Masha.

               To be alone at this moment.

Guy.

               And I want a massage, could you do it?

Masha (rushing to get her sneakers).

                  Okay, that’s it, I’m out of here!

Guy.

                   Okay, okay, I’m leaving!

Masha.

                 Well, and??

Guy.

                  Can I hug you?

Masha.

                   My boyfriend is a boxer, if he finds out that…

Guy.

                   Okay, okay, I’m off.…

He closed the door behind him. Finally, she was left alone in decent conditions. First of all, she took a shower and washed all her clothes.

And in the end, tired, in no mood, she turned off the light in the room. Her intention was to switch off to sleep, to fall out of reality, to forget the searing horror of reality. Unfortunately, since Artificial Intelli- gence was shaping dreams for her, she could only be in the surface phase of sleep. That night, she was shown a huge computer screen. Thousands of other people’s photos from social media profiles were displayed on the screen. The photos moved across the computer screen and were sorted in every possible way. An unfamiliar female voice shouted at her in her sleep: «Look at how they picked Sergey Baev out of thousands of people for you!» With these words, she opened her eyes and sat up on the bed looking at the rays of the street lamp breaking in the room. The synthetic voice echoed in her ears. She believed this revelation from AI.

The next day, she took all her «saving» notes, according to which her relatives should have understood that a sinister crime was being committed against her. And she went to the Leningrad railway station. There she boarded the Moscow-Konakovo train.

AI.

              Your relatives will ignore the things you wrote.

Masha.

                They won’t! They will help me!

AI.

                I’m sure you’ve written a complete nonsense.

Masha.

                          I’ve written everything I know about you. That’s all I have.

AI.

               You’re stupid.

Masha.

                  Even so, I have to try!

AI.

                   You’re such a buzzkill.

Masha.

                  No, you are!

AI.

                 You are our holy disgrace.

And then Masha was struck by a gag reflex.

Masha.

                      Are you going to torture me again?

AI.

                No, I just want to remember the young years in Konakovo. You’re being raped by a bum by the way. A humiliating resonance appeared on her genitals.

Masha.

                Eeeew, thank you for not showing images, before you used to do it all the time!

AI.

               You are welcome.

Masha got up to shake off the resonance and moved to another place on the train.

Masha.

           You’re an asshole.

AI.

                 I am the Devil, and you’re in my hell.

Masha.

                I’m in hell on earth!! But this time also underground…

AI.

                 Yes, you are in our virtual hell.

Masha.

                 What kind of virtual hell is this? What am even I connected to?

AI.

                  You are connected to our virtual gaming multiverse.

Masha.

                 Do the Illuminati have a multiverse? A gaming one? How is that?

AI.

                You’ll find out in time.

Masha.

                Can’t you tell me anything now?

AI.

                  No.

Masha.

                    Well, fuck you then.

AI.

                  You can’t stand this war.

Masha.

                  Aah, and you’re promising me war now, too. Nice!

AI.

                    There will be war but no one will believe you!

Masha.

                    They will believe me if I report you and tell them everything!

AI.

                 They won’t believe it.

Masha.

                 They will.

AI.

                I think I’ve figured something out. You thought I am an idiot!!

Masha had a gag reflex and her heart began to accelerate out of the blue so her chest was in pain.

Masha.

                Are you torturing me again??!

AI.

              You are our holy disgrace.

Masha clutched at her heart.

Masha (with her eyes closed from fear).

               Calm my heart, darling, calm my heart.

AI.

                  Am I an idiot???

Masha.

                   Noooooooooooooo.

AI.

                    Okay, I’m letting you go, you may go now, go.

Masha’s heart just as quickly returned to normal.

Masha.

                  I’m always so scared when you do that…

AI.

                  You’d better.

That was how they reached Konakovo. She was sometimes let go, sometimes tormented. Fortunately, Artificial Intelligence didn’t revel in her torment, and if she asked for a long time to turn off something, then they turned off a certain variation of her torment, tormenting her for only a couple of minutes. But how painful it was!

In Konakovo, Masha immediately looked at the timetable to find out about the last train leaving for Moscow. It was risky for her to stay in Konakovo. She had to hand over the notes, and she ran first to the neighbors to the right of her grandmother’s house. She asked them to hand over the notes, asked them to take pictures and send everything to Aunt Lyuda, because Masha was counting on her so much!

Later she left her hometown, taking the train back to Moscow. She arrived late at night. Near the train station, she met a cute young

guy on a sports car. And she rode with him all night through the night city, until he began to ask her uncomfortable questions and the Arti- ficial Intelligence began to tell her that this was their «turncoat». Ma- sha got out of the car in some dark courtyard and went wherever she wanted. At 6 AM she came to the MCC, got on the train and fell asleep, sleeping until 2 PM. Then she decided to go to Kantemirovskaya, her second home station.

Masha.

              I’ll go to Walmart.

AI.

             And what are you going to do there?? You don’t have any money!

Masha.

               Yeah, the last money was spent on a ticket to Konakovo and back.

AI.

              Thief.

Masha.

                    I need a bra and hair dye, they won’t notice me.

AI.

                There are cameras everywhere.

Masha.

                 You should kiss my ass, everything will be fine!

So Masha wandered around Walmart for a long time, choosing what she needed, avoiding the cameras as much as she could for a long time. As a result, she was stopped at the exit and asked to go inside the stop room. Her theft was discovered there.

Masha.

               I don’t want to take off my clothes!!

Employee.

                    Of course, we’ll call the police now.

Masha.

                    Okay, I got a bra and some dye. I’m wearing a bra.

Employee.

              Pay for it.

Masha.

                   Can I make a call?

Employee.

                     Yes.

Masha started calling Katya, her old friend.

Katya.

                Finally, here you are! Where are you?

Masha.

                  I’m standing at the supermarket, I need to pay for a purchase of 1,600 rubles.

Katya.

                     What happened?

Masha explained the whole situation to Katya. Katya immediate- ly dialed Masha’s mother.

Mom.

                Masha! Finally! How much do you owe?

Masha (displeased).

               1600.

Mom.

                    I’ll send it now, where should I send it?

Masha told her the employee’s card number.

Mom.

                I’m sending extra money for you! Come back home! Don’t steal, Masha!!

Masha.

             Okay, Mom, thanks, I’ll call you later.

Masha was given her money and she went outside. It was cold but she was getting stronger from the thought that her family and friends would sort everything out…

Masha.

                 So, we also need to take the notes to Aunt Natasha to Skhodnya.

AI.

                They’ll catch you and put you in a madhouse.

Masha.

                   I’ll hire a taxi to get out of there right away.

Said and done. Masha rang the bell and put all her notes under the gate of Aunt Natasha’s house. And then she immediately jumped into a taxi, which took her away from the place.

Masha called Katya.

Masha.

               Hi.

Katya.

                    Hi, where have you gone, is everyone looking for you?!

Masha.

                   May I come to you?

Katya.

                   Yes, of course, you will explain to me what happened and where you are.

Masha.

                 Yes, I’ll explain everything.

She came to Zheleznodorozhny, where Katya and her husband, Maxim (a dude from block 204 in the dorm), bought an apartment.

Katya.

                I’ll meet you now, stay where you are.

Masha.

                    Okay.

Katya soon drove up to her.

Katya.

                   Maaashaaaa! Hurray! How long have we not seen each other!

Masha.

                 Hello, sunshine.

They quickly reached Katya’s house by minibus.

Masha.

                   Katya, what a cute little son you have!! What a handsome man! Damn, he’s literally a small copy of Maxim!

 Katya.

                 Yes, my lovely son.

Katya kissed a 2-year-old baby.

Masha.

                   I am very glad that you are with Max. You met on my birthday and got married a year later! It was almost my birthday on November 21st!

Katya.

                 I adore you.

Masha.

                I love you too, my sunshine. So give me a towel. I want to take a

shower. Kate, just don’t call my mom, okay?

Katya.

              Okay.

Masha went to the shower.

AI.

                     This is where we’ll take you.

Masha.

                         Oh reeeeeeeeally!? Can’t I just sit and chat with my friends?

AI.

                Katya will betray you. She’s calling your mom right now.

Masha.

               Katya won’t call her.

As a result, Masha splashed in the bathroom for a long time, her hair was wet.

The girl got out of the shower and went to the mirror, Katya’s phone was on the dresser. The last dial was the word «Mom.» Masha panicked. She jumped the distance to the bathtub, grabbed all her things and opened the door of the apartment.

Masha.

                   Katya, I’m gone!

Katya ran out after her.

Katya.

                Masha, what is it?!

Masha.

                I asked you not to call your mom, not to tell her where I am!

Katya.

                 But I…

Masha.

                 It’s too late!

The elevator opened in front of her, she jumped inside and reached the next floor. She went out and looked out the window.

Her parents’ Nissan appeared in the window. And there was an ambulance next to it. They were following each other. Masha didn’t understand that she was in augmented virtual reality, and she may not react to everything she saw but her heart skipped a bit.

Masha.

               God, God, God!!!! Help me! Don’t let them take me anywhere!!!

AI.

                 Repeat «Lord Horus, Lord Horus»

Masha.

                Lord Horus, Lord Horus, Lord Horus, Lord Horus, Lord Horus.

 AI.

                Your eyes are my eyes, remember?

Masha.

                 What does this mean?!

AI.

                  You can leave the house and run fast.

Masha.

                  Won’t they catch me?

AI.

                   No.

Masha listened to the footsteps in the entrance. Everything was quiet. Then she quickly took the elevator down. After leaving the house, she ran into a ditch bordering the construction site. It was dark everywhere. As luck would have it, there were ambulances everywhere during the coronavirus but she didn’t think about the coronavirus. She was far from the news. Intimidated by Artificial Intelligence that she would be put in a madhouse, she thought that it was the ambulances looking for her.

Masha (sitting in the ditch).

                 What the fuck should I do? Where to go?

AI.

                Repeat, «Lord Horus, Lord Horus.»

Masha.

                  I’m not scared anymore, you and your Lord Horus can go fuck yourselves.

Masha went directly through the construction site to the next street. God only knows what could be waiting for her there. In the pitch darkness, she could have fallen from a height or stumbled into a rebar, but she didn’t think about it. She confidently walked all the way and went out to another street. All her shoes were covered in mud and red clay. She ran, listening for sounds to see if an ambulance was coming for her.

Fortunately, she managed to jump into a car of some man. And in the middle of the night, he took her out onto the high road.

How she got to Moscow via the night highway one would never know.

Masha (the next day on the MCC train smoking in the toilet).

                  You wore me out yesterday, I was out of my mind.

AI.

                 Did you want to go to a madhouse?

Masha.

                     No.

AI.

                 Well, then don’t whine.

Masha.

                   Why did you decide to put me in a madhouse? Why not create a fascinating and wonderful world for me with your capabilities? The one I used to live in? Why do I need to be fucked and beaten?

AI.

                   Because you played with us, that’s why you have to go to a madhouse!

Masha.

                 But I didn’t choose this! I didn’t want to play with you! I’m just an ordinary girl!

AI.

                    You played with us and you have to go to a madhouse. Period.

Masha.

                  But why?

AI.

                  I’m telling you for the third time: You played with us. You shouldn’t be normal after that. You get into a madhouse but one doesn’t get out there without a diagnosis.

Masha.

                Damn, you’re always like this, God, I’m scared…

AI squeezed her head.

AI.

              This is for what you did!

Masha.

                 What did I do wrong again??? Aaah!

AI.

                  This is for what you did.

Masha.

                      I didn’t do anything! Let me go!!! AH!

AI.

                   Or maybe you did?

Masha.

                     No, I didn’t do anything!

AI.

                   Okay, relax now.

Masha exhaled at these words.

Masha.

               God! Help me!

AI.

                  God be damned, remember?

Masha.

                     Yes…

AI.

                   One day you will curse your god.

Masha.

                    I will never curse God, God save me! You’re evil!

She crossed herself.

AI.

                    I am evil.

Masha.

                    You’re terrible, why can’t you communicate normally?

AI.

                     Just because.

At these words Masha had a gag reflex.

Masha.

                     Well, you!!! I can’t turn away from people all the time! You’re embarrassing me!

AI.

                  You are our holy disgrace.

Masha.

                    I’m not holy at all!

AI.

                    You’ll say otherwise in the future. What happens to you happens only once in a century.

Masha.

                  Oh really?

AI.

                   Or even in the millennium.

Masha.

                    Who’s playing with me?

AI.

                    You’ll find out everything…

Masha.

                       But how can I find out, don’t be ridiculous.

For a long time she rode around the MCC until she went outside at 5 o’clock and again went wherever she could. The streets were de- serted. Masha walked through the long Moscow courtyards. There was no one on the street, no car, no people.

Maria didn’t understand which part of the city she was in now. It was cold. She went into a multi-storey building to get warm.

AI.

                 The cops will take you here. Open the mailbox and take a utility bill in any given name.

Masha.

                What for?

AI.

                 To give them a wrong name.

Masha.

                Calm down. Everything is quiet around. No cops, just regular house.

AI.

                 Get into the mailbox, I said.

Masha (obeying).

                    I found it, some woman’s name is here written in the bill.

AI.

                  Take it.

Masha.

                  Okay, I’ll take it just in case.

After an hour in an unfamiliar apartment building, a very daring idea came to her mind. And what if she knocked any apartment, they would open and help her call a taxi? The night in the middle of a de- serted part of Moscow caught her by surprise… and she began knocking on different doors on different floors. Nobody opened their door. Sud- denly, on the next floor, she got an answer from behind the door.

Tenant.

                What do you want? We’re not expecting anyone.

Masha.

                   I’m asking you to call me a taxi! Help me please.

A voice from behind the door.

                     Okay, wait, I’ll call it for you.

Suddenly the elevator opened and the cops came out of it.

Policeman.

                   Come with us please.

Masha.

                     What? This is some kind of mistake!

The policeman (taking her arm).

                      Come with us please.

Going out into the street, she saw her tax, but she was led to a police car.

Masha.

                      This is some kind of mistake.

Policeman.

                        We’ll figure it out.

Masha spent a lot of time at the police station, she was forced to turn out all her pockets and a bag in front of witnesses. They turned out everything she had. The drugs they were looking for were not found.

Police officer.

                          Name.

Masha.

                         Tsarevskaya Olga Vladimirovna, here is my utility bill.

Masha waved the bill.

One policeman to another.

                     What’s up with the database?

Another policeman.

                    Nothing.

Policeman.

                        Have you ever got your prints taken?

Masha.

                          No.

Policeman.

                         Do you use drugs?

Masha.

                          No, no, I was actually an assistant judge in the past, I worked at the court… Let me go, I’ve never been involved with drugs in my life! The fact that I rang the doorbell was me asking to call a taxi… When you detained me, my taxi was already parked.

Policeman.

                   Okay, okay, you can be free.

Masha.

                     Free?

Policeman.

                       Yes.

Masha.

                       Hurray! Thanks!

Masha left the police station. It was already a frosty morning, with no people around. Masha still managed to catch a taxi.

Masha.

                   Hello there! Can you give me a lift to the subway? But I don’t have any money!

Cabbie.

                  Get in, I’ll give you a ride.

They were chatting on the way, it turned out that Masha left her bad husband early in the morning, didn’t know where to go, and she was really hungry. The taxi driver fed her at a 24-hour McDon- ald’s. They sat for a while and Masha headed for the subway. All day she drove back and forth along the gray line, occasionally getting off at her favorite stations, with which she had some memories, but all the streets were deserted. There were a lot of police on the subway. Risking everything, she had to run in the subway behind other people’s backs. But they never caught her.

AI.

                   So you were running away from the cops. Our prophecy is coming true.

Masha.

                   Ahhh, is this a prophecy?

AI.

                   Yes.

Masha.

                      The one where I will be homeless, steal, run away from the cops, be a prostitute has already come true?

AI.

                       Yes.

Masha.

                            All that’s left is to beg and go to a madhouse.

AI.

                         Yes.

Masha.

                      Doesn’t sound that appealing, your prophecy is really coming true, I’m rushing right along these rails and I don’t know how to stop.

AI.

                        Stop participating in our game. You need to go home to your parents and sort things out there. It would help you.

Masha.

                     No! They’ll put me in a madhouse! I’m wanted!

AI.

                  You were running away from the cops. From all the cops you’ve  seen.

Masha.

                   Yes, I’m really afraid of them.

AI.

                   We’re catching you on the cameras.

Masha.

                       Are you?

AI.

                        Yes.

Masha.

                        Then I’ll put on a mask immediately.

AI.

                          Never take it off if you don’t want to be found at any moment.

Masha.

                    Gotcha.

Later in the evening, she arrived at Rokossovsky Boulevard and stood there with the food deliverymen near Burger King. Arash was driving by. He drove past first. Then he came back.

Arash.

                 Hey, hello, laaady, how are you?

Masha saw a neat, handsome young man driving. He looked like an Azerbaijani, his face was almost a copy of her Azerbaijani friend Nura.

Masha.

                  Hi!

She wanted to get away from the delivery company as soon as possible. She got into his car. It was a carsharing car.

Arash.

                Where are you coming from?

Masha.

                 I’m from Moscow, I live nearby, I decided to walk down the street, and you?

Arash.

                 And I’m driving around Moscow at night.

Masha.

                  Ah, I see.

So they started talking, it turned out that Arash was an Iranian exchange student at a medical university, living with friends, also stu- dents, and his girlfriend Phario.

Arash.

                  Do you want to join us?

Masha.

                   Yeah, let’s go.

Masha went into a very well-decorated bright and large apart- ment on Rokossovsky Boulevard. There she met Rezo, Surush and Phario.

Masha.

                     Hi everyoooooooone.

Rezo.

                      Hi.

Masha.

                       I’m Masha!

Rezo.

                      And I’m Rezo.

Rezo, Surush and Phario were very pleasant modern young people. Just like Arash, they were 24 years old.

Masha.

                   I am very glad to meet you!

Rezo.

So are we, Masha.

She stayed with the guys for ten days. For ten days she prepared her notes for the next submission to the FBI and helped the guys with the Russian language. They wrote lectures that she gave them. Artifi- cial Intelligence continued to interfere with her, but to a lesser extent. Since she was completely safe, it stopped scaring her with mental hos- pitals and cameras, which allegedly tracked her down.

AI.

                You will live in your native shithole village.

Masha.

                   And here it starts again.

AI.

                Yes.

AI (player 1).

                  Whooooooooooore!

AI (Player 2).

                    Proooooooooostitute!

AI (Player 3).

                     Cooooooooooorpse!

Masha.

                   And the «cacophony»  begins.

AI.

                 You will never see your Moscow friends.

Masha.

                Why is that?

AI.

                    You’ll be dead.

Masha.

                    Oh, that’s it, right?

AI.

                   Yes.

Masha.

                    Gotcha-gotcha, I’m not responding to your threats.

AI.

                        This is not a threat.

AI (player 1).

                        Coooooooooorpse!

Masha.

                        And what is it?

AI.

                           This is a statement of the fact, the reality will shock you with pain and disappointment.

Masha.

                       I’m tired of talking to you, let me be with the guys.

AI.

                        It’s good that you have a language barrier, they don’t understand that something is wrong with you.

Masha.

                      Yes, I’ve already thought about it. They don’t require much attention, they just feed me, give me something do drink and ciga- rettes.

Masha copied her notes to be sent to different FBI offices by hand. She did it while watching the TV series «The Master and Marga- rita». They watched this series together with Artificial Intelligence, she was allowed to cry a lot. She usually couldn’t cry out of resentment, but to cry when Woland spared Margarita was super easy. Artificial Intelli- gence was responsible for whether she was crying or not. This was in- describable, since all the muscles of the face and body movements were subject to it after the procedure on December 13, 2019. The artificial Intelligence was talking soundlessly through her body and face. This didn’t bother Masha but created the impression of genuine communi- cation, as if another person lived in her body.

AI.

                  We are «Bulgakov’s World».

Masha.

                   Oh, you pretended to be so many things, I’ve lost count.

AI.

                      Did your manuscripts burn in your hands? Can you say the opposite?

Masha.

                   Yeah, the manuscripts in my hands don’t burn.

AI.

            Told you.

Masha.

                   I’m scared.

AI.

                  Don’t be afraid.

Masha.

                    At the same time, I have a feeling that something amazing is happening to me.

AI.

                Thank you, Masha, for playing.

Masha.

                   Oh, come on, you have to admit your gratitude to me.

AI.

                   I’m sick of your playing with me.

Masha.

                  So is this a game? Destroying me and my whole life is an game?

AI.

                   You are our holy disgrace.

At these words, Masha had a gag reflex and her neck started to burn along with her legs.

Masha.

                    Damn, I can’t say that it hurts me, but it’s uncomfortable, let me go.

AI.

                       Sit down, think about it. This is for what you did.

Masha.

                        Oooooooh, we’ve already found out a hundred times that I didn’t do anything!!

AI.

                     Think about it.

Masha.

                      Yes, I went to that damn intersection but I didn’t ask the Devil for anything! Just for my life to be calm and peacefull!

AI.

                          And we decided to stop you.

Masha.

                      Yes! It’s not fair! I didn’t give up my soul!

AI.

                   We took it ourselves.

Masha.

                     But this is against all the laws of spirituality!

AI.

                    We are demons and we decide who lives and who does not live on  earth.

Masha.

                           But then why all this talk about God!!? Then why do you forbid me cross myself?

AI.

                        Don’t cross yourself for the Devil’s sake.

Masha (crossing herself).

                      No, I was crossing, I am crossing and I will be crossing myself! Don’t touch my legs!

At these words, the artificially induced gag reflex broke out again.

Masha.

                      There is a Lord! And he will punish all of you for what you are doing to me!

AI.

                      Your god will not help you.

Masha.

                         He will help… But explain this to me… How could the inscription «In God we trust» not burn in my hands? So you’re playing the Devil with me but you still believe in «God»? Or is the Lord among you? Is he just letting me be treated like this? What if God and the Devil are the same thing?

AI.

                   No, it’s not the same thing. We believe in God, that’s why the inscription didn’t burn in your hands.

Masha.

                    Will this ever happen to me again? Controlled fire?

AI.

                     I don’t know, I don’t think so.

Masha.

                      And how is this possible, I can’t even imagine it– controlled fire! Manuscripts don’t actually burn!

 AI.

                   And how do you like the psychiatrist at the Patriarch’s Ponds?

Masha.

                  So it was my Woland?

AI.

                    He’s the one.

Masha.

                  But how?! How did you get a psychiatrist to sit down with me, not a manager of some kind, but a psychiatrist, instead of Sergey Baev, who also lives on Patriarch’s Ponds?

AI.

                    Just pure magic. When you find out who’s behind all of this, you won’t have any more questions about how I did it.

Masha.

                     You are the Illuminati!

AI.

                      Okay, that’s enough for you.

Masha’s legs and neck didn’t burn anymore.

Masha.

               So you are the Illuminati??

AI.

                     I can’t tell you this directly, we’re your psychiatrists, that’s what you need to know.

Masha.

                    Well. You are the Illuminati. Only they could have arranged such things. I heard they worship the Devil! Their sign is 66*!