Quoted By:
>Employee M to Bond with Sirocco. Say what you think a child needs to hear if they're ever to leave the nest.
"Not the first time I had to." Monifa wistfully laughs to nobody in particular. She wipes a tear from her head before heading to the cell.
Employee M enters the cell with the appropriate protective equipment.
<span class="mu-i">Mommy? N-no, calm down, she can't always...</span>
The storm quickly closes the distance when it spots the new visitor.
ANOMALY: Mom! Oh, uh, new mom! Monifa! Monny!
M: Woah, woah, calm down there. Sorry that I haven't visited in a while.
M: Work stuff, you know? Dangerous stuff.
ANOMALY: Yeah...I know. I-I heard. Down below.
ANOMALY: W-what do you wanna do? Stuff's been so confusing. So big, so complex!
M: I bet it was simpler when you were with your parents, wasn't it? Like your dad.
ANOMALY: Mmh! They said it was too dangerous to stay in the city. Had to hide, had to run, had to..
ANOMALY: Stay hidden. Not go outside. Dangerous. Cowboys, anonm...something. Storms. W-waste?
M: I bet Mr. Carceri had his reasons.
This causes the anomaly to stop dead in its tracks. It was as if time itself froze for a moment, just for her.
<span class="mu-i">God damnit it, hide already! I can't let you see them. Not like this!</span>
<span class="mu-i">Why couldn't you just stay inside? I told you those storms were dangerous! Now you're...this"</span>
<span class="mu-i">Do you see WHY we have to hide? The world will only harm you!</span>
Employee M places her hand on part of the storm, gently stroking the sand that passed by her fingers.
M: It's tough, isn't it? Being a kid. Wanting to grow up. Wanting to do things an adult does.
M: But the world outside blows. Most of us here hate every moment we have to brave the cold or work our jobs.
M: Do you know why we do it, though?
ANOMALY: ...I think I know why. It...it hurts to think in such big gi- adult. Adult terms. T-tearing at my head.
M: There's safety here. You have food, playmates, paintings, toys.
M: Trust me. I was once like you. Scared of the world, listening to every fear my parents had. Trying to keep ME safe.
M: But you eventually have to move on. Even if the world sucks, even if it's so much easier to stay...
ANOMALY: ...Is it truly living? Or am I just mooching off all of you?
<span class="mu-i">If it wasn't for me, you would be dead or experimented on! Stay inside!</span>
<span class="mu-i">And I don't want to hear any backtalk! My house, my rules!</span>
ANOMALY: Dad just wanted to keep me safe. I know why. I can't...blame him?
ANOMALY: But with him, and th-those cowboys, and now here...I've been trapped for so long.
ANOMALY: T-trapped in a desert. Trapped in cubes. Trapped in my brain. <span class="mu-b">Trapped in this storm...</span>
M: We'll be here for you. When you make your choice.
The storm holds back a sob.
ANOMALY: T-thank you. <span class="mu-g">Thank you for e-everything you've done for me.</span>
The storm's voice wobbles as it drifts back to the corner of the room.
ANOMALY: I need time to t-think.
Employee M nods before leaving the cell.
