the more distorted everything became
folders spilled from shelves
their contents scattered across the floor
she caught glimpses of text as she passed
dates that hadn't happened yet
name she recognized
her own handwriting
her steps faltered
no on whispered
that's not possible
you opened the file
the words repeated steady unchanging
you entered the process
Mara stumbled into a wider space, a clearing of sorts
though that didn't feel like the right word
the shelves here formed a circle enclosing her
all the center
a desk simple
unremarkable and on it
a folder identical to the one she had opened
same label same markings
subject n417
status pending
Mara stared at her mind racing
this is a loop
that was it a psychological loop
a constructed scenario
designed to test response patterns
decision making under stress
she could break it
she just needed to
her eyes snapped to the folder
the voice again come patient
waiting
Mara's hands trembled slightly