The Darkness. Matt Brennan

and out of focus. Finally, I gave up trying to look at the keys and typed what I hoped was at least a version of English.

      DorianOne: Ellie, ru watching ur screen?

      Ellie4Ever: Of course.

      Last year, I programmed Ellie’s actual voice into the speech software and installed it on my machine for her birthday. She’s very shy and doesn’t like the sound of her own voice. So I had her read this passage from a book she had. I checked it out and knew it that had all the different sounds in the English language and had her record it. The program I wrote, took those sounds and matched them with the words she typed. That way I could hear her voice and she’d get to remain comfortably silent.

      DorianOne: Ellie, listen to me.

      Ellie4Ever: Always.

      DorianOne: Ellie, I know I’ve said this before, but this is really happening.

      Ellie4Ever: What is?

      DorianOne: Ellie, I’ve got it.

      Ellie4Ever: Dorian. Stop please.

      I wish I had programmed some emotion recognition algorithms into the program. Because I know she’s mad, but her voice sounded all carefree and happy.

      DorianOne: I wish I could.

      Ellie4Ever: Dorian, this isn’t funny you know. You’ve already done this to me twice.

      DorianOne: I know and I’m sorry.

      Ellie4Ever: Dorian, you told me you would never do this again.

      DorianOne: I know and I’m not doing it now. I really have it.

      Ellie4Ever: Where are you? If you’re sick, then let me see you.

      DorianOne: I’m on the floor Ellie. Look, I don’t have much time.

      Ellie4Ever: Well, how can I see you?

      DorianOne: I hit the macro Ellie, everyone has control of my feed. Just spin the camera.

      I heard the robocam swivel and settled into place. I looked up in its direction and waved.

      Ellie4Ever: Dorian, this going too far! You can get kicked out for a public prank like this.

      DorianOne: Ellie, it’s not a prank. Look at my bio-readout. I’m dying baby.

      Ellie4Ever: Oh my god, Dorian, you have a 106 degree temperature!

      DorianOne: I know, the fever hit me a little while ago and I passed out. I barely got the macro running.

      Ellie4Ever: Dorian, do you mean that this is the last time we get to talk to each other?

      God I remember how I had wished I’d programmed some emoticons or something. But who needed it when we always Skyped.

      DorianOne: I just want you to know I love you. I always have. I felt it the moment I met you.

      Ellie4Ever: Oh Dorian, how am I gonna do this without you?

      I’m losing my focus, I don’t have much time. The keyboard is getting blurry.

      DorianOne: Ellie, I need you to shut off my feed. Don’t watch me die. Don’t do that to yourself.

      Ellie4Ever: No! No, I’m not leaving you alone.

      Why wouldn’t she listen? I knew what it would do to her to watch me go. I couldn’t let that happen to her.

      DorianOne: Been alone for a long time.

      Ellie4Ever: Maybe, but you’re not dying alone.

      DorianOne: Of course I am.

      Ellie4Ever: No.

      I might not have been able to hear the emotion that was in that no, but I felt it in every bone of my body.

      DorianOne: Promise me. Shut me off. I don’t want you to watch.

      Ellie4Ever: Too bad. I’m not going anywhere.

      DorianOne: Ellie, I’m so sorry I’m going first...I kknnnwo iaprmisedddd.

      I’m not even sure what I was trying to type. I couldn’t think anymore. I’d barely been holding onto consciousness and I was about to totally lose my battle.

      Ellie4Ever: Dorian?

      Ellie4Ever: Dorian? Don’t you dare!

      Ellie4Ever: Dorian?

      Ellie4Ever: Dorian, I—I’m sorry.

      The last thing I heard before The Darkness took me was Ellie’s voice saying, “End of transmission.”

      I could barely find the strength to breathe.

      I knew any moment the convulsions would start. My only hope was that they’d snap my spine in the first wave. I’ve seen some tweakers last for hours. Of course, I knew I could have been one of the lucky ones. The high temperature could have turned my brain to jelly before the convulsions even started. After all, I’ve seen that before too. May not sound pleasant, but trust me, it’s much better than the alternative.

      But before any of that could happen, I blacked out.

      And then, I died.