He leads me out of the white room into another across the hall. Here, everything is comfortingly modern. The room is warm, decorated in oranges and browns. I perch on a chair, crossing my legs and folding my arms. It’s a defensive body posture, but I can’t help but try to barricade myself against him.

I have two options: I can plead illness and hope he lets me leave and go home. Or I can be Tila.

She’s done this. She’s trapped him with all her grace and sex appeal. She’s someone who stops at nothing to get what she wants. I could do the same and ride this out and see what happens.

As soon as I make the decision that this is what I’m going to do, I relax.

I slouch back, leaning on an elbow. The man sitting across from me is more powerful than the mayor of San Francisco, and maybe even the president of Pacifica.

Out of the corner of my eye I think I spy a spot of blood on my silver jumpsuit, but it’s just a play of the light from the false fireplace. I blink, willing the memory of the bloodbath, the bodies, away, but the smell of my own vomit still lingers. It wasn’t real. It wasn’t real. I really wouldn’t mind some mouthwash.

“So, now that I’ve passed your Test, what happens next?” I ask, my voice teasing. I can’t be scared. Tila never seemed scared, no matter how difficult things were. She seemed so calm when we ran away from the Hearth. Her strength was what got us out of there. Without her I wouldn’t have made it. Now it’s my turn to rescue her.

Ensi pours two glasses of what looks like whiskey and passes it to me. I drink it, more to get rid of the lingering taste of vomit in my mouth than anything else. Of course, it’s not Synth. I don’t know enough about whiskey to guess at the type, but I’m sure it’s one of the most expensive to be found in San Francisco.

I’m trying my hardest to be Tila. But I’m on such thin ice. I have no idea how well they know each other. If he references anything specific, a past conversation or event, I’m doomed. I’m so very aware that the likelihood of me exposing myself as a fraud rises the longer we speak.