EXPIRATION DATE

Elias froze. He stared at these words, unable to believe his eyes. The twelfth clone. The one not in the capsule. The one who had disappeared. He had not been disposed of. He had escaped.

"What does this mean?" he thought. "What does this mean for me? If the system finds out I didn't dispose of the twelfth clone, I will be punished. My PC will fall. My heart could be shut off. I will become consumable material."

He felt his hands begin to tremble. He did not know what to do. Did not know how to explain. Did not know how to hide it.

"I must find him," he thought. "I must find the twelfth clone. I must dispose of him. Or else I will be killed. Or I must escape. I must go to the Gray Zones. I must be free."

He looked at the terminal and felt his heart beat faster. Vzh-vzh-vzh. The sound he hated. But now it sounded like a warning. Like a reminder that he had a choice. That he could change his life. That he could be free.

"I don't want to die," he thought. "I don't want to die in the disposer. I want to live. I want to be free. I want to be human."

He closed the terminal and stood. He knew what he needed to do. He needed to find the twelfth clone. Or he needed to escape. He had a choice. And he was going to make it.

Elias opened the twelfth clone's file. He needed to know who it was. Who had escaped. Who had disappeared. Who had changed his life.

On the screen appeared a photograph. A child. A girl about ten years old, with large eyes and light hair. She looked at him from the photograph with an expression he could not explain - not fear, not hope, but something in between. She was small. She was defenseless. She was a clone. And she had escaped.

Elias looked at her face and felt his heart clench. She was a child. A child who did not understand death. A child who wanted to live. A child who had escaped the system.

"She escaped," he thought. "She did what I cannot do. She risked everything. She left. She is free."

He read her file. "Clone No. 12. Name: not specified. Age: 10 years (biological). Expiration date: expired 1 day ago. Reason: organ failure. Condition: critical. Recommended: disposal within 24 hours."

"Organ failure," he thought. "She is dying. If I don't find her, she will die. If I find her, I will kill her. No way out. No right choice."

He closed the file and leaned back in his chair. He felt broken. Felt empty. He did not know what to do. Did not know how to be.

"I can't kill a child," he thought. "I can't kill her. She is defenseless. She wants to live. She deserves a chance. But if I don't kill her, the system will kill me. What do I do? What do I do?"

He stood and walked to the window. New Tokyo-3 stretched before him - gray, cold, lifeless. Corporate holograms shone on the walls of buildings. Drones patrolled the streets, scanning for violations. Below, people hurried to work - assets like him. They did not look up. Did not look at each other. They just walked, heads down, following their protocols.

"I want to be free," he thought. "I want to leave this place. I want to be human. But I can't. I'm too weak. Too tired. Just an asset."

He turned back to the desk. On the screen, the girl's photograph still showed. She smiled. Her smile was sincere, alive, real. She was a child who still believed the world could be better. A child who had not given up.

"She is stronger than me," he thought. "She is stronger than I am. She escaped. She risked everything. She did what I cannot do. She deserves to live. She deserves to be free."

He sat back at the desk. He knew he had to make a choice. Had to decide what was more important - his life or hers. And he knew his decision was already made.

"I will save her," he thought. "I will find her. And I will help her. I will help her survive. Even if it costs me my life. Even if it means I die. I will not let her die alone. I will be with her."

He closed the terminal and stood. He knew what he needed to do. He needed to find the girl. He had to save her. He had to be human.

"I will do it," he thought as he left the office. "I will do it. I will save her. And I will prove I am still human."

Elias left his office and headed for the elevator that led to sector D-7. He knew he needed to find the girl. He had to find her before the system did. He had to save her, even if it cost him his life.

The elevator descended to the lower levels. Elias stood in the corner, looking at his reflection in the metal wall. He saw a tired face, dark circles under his eyes, gray strands at his temples. He looked like an asset. He looked like consumable material. But inside him was something else. Something that would not let him give up.

"I will do it," he thought. "I will find her. I will save her. I will prove I am still human."

The elevator stopped. Doors opened, letting in dark, damp air. Elias stepped out and walked along the corridor. Lamps flickered, sometimes going out for seconds, plunging him into darkness. He walked forward, not stopping.

He stopped at room 39 - the very one where the girl should have been. The door was open. The capsule empty. On the floor lay a child's toy - a small stuffed bear, dirty and worn. Elias picked it up. It was soft, warm to the touch. It smelled of a child.

"She was here," he thought. "She lived here. She played here. She was afraid here. And she escaped from here."

He tucked the bear into his pocket. He did not know why. Maybe to have something to remember her by. Maybe to have something worth fighting for.

He left the room and walked further along the corridor. He did not know where to go. But he knew he had to find her. He had to save her.

At the end of the corridor, he saw a door leading down. Into the basement. To where the system could not see. He opened the door and began to descend.

The stairs were old, with peeling paint and creaking steps. The air was cold and damp. Elias descended slowly, feeling his heart beat faster. Vzh-vzh-vzh. The sound echoed in the silence.

At the bottom of the stairs, he saw light. Dim, flickering, from an old lamp hanging from the ceiling. In the corner sat the girl. She huddled in a ball, arms wrapped around her knees. She was trembling. She was afraid.

Don't come near me, - she said, her voice trembling. - I don't want to die. I don't want to be killed. Please. Don't come near me.

Elias stopped. He did not know what to say. Did not know how to comfort her. He just stood and looked at her.

I won't hurt you, - he said. - I don't want to kill you. I want to help you.

The girl raised her head. She looked at him with distrust. But there was hope in her eyes. Faint, small, but there.

Really? - she asked. - You won't kill me?

Really, - he replied. - I won't kill you. I will save you.

She slowly stood. She was thin, pale, with large dark eyes. She looked at him, and in her gaze was something he could not describe. Trust.

What is your name? - she asked.

Elias, - he replied. - And yours?

My name is Emily, - she said. - I want to live, Elias. I don't want to die. Help me.

Elias walked to her and extended his hand. She took it. Her hand was cold and small. She trembled.

I will help you, Emily, - he said. - I will help you survive. I promise.

Elias took Emily's hand and led her along the corridor. He knew they had little time. The system had probably already noticed her absence. The head of department was probably already looking for her. They had to leave before they were found.

Where are we going? - Emily asked, her voice trembling.

Down, - Elias replied. - To the lower levels. Where the system cannot see. Where you will be free.

And you? - she asked. - Will you come with me?

Elias was silent. He did not know what to answer. Did not know if he could leave. Did not know if he could be free.

I don't know, - he said honestly. - I don't know what will happen. But I promise I will do everything to save you.

They continued walking. The corridor grew darker and colder. Lamps barely worked. Air smelled of mold and dampness. But they walked. They did not stop.

At the end of the corridor, Elias saw a door. Small, metal, rusty. It led to the Gray Zones. Where the system could not reach them.

We're almost there, - he said. - Just a little further.

He opened the door. Beyond it was a tunnel. Dark, narrow, endless. It led to freedom.

Go, - he said, pointing at the tunnel. - Go. There you will be free.

Emily looked at him. Tears in her eyes.

I don't want to go without you, - she said. - You saved me. I can't leave you.

You must go, - he said. - You must live. I can't go with you. I have work. I have a duty.

She took his hand and squeezed it. Her hand was cold, but warm inside.

I will never forget you, Elias, - she said. - I will remember you. Always.

She turned and stepped into the tunnel. Elias watched her go. Her small figure gradually dissolved into the darkness.

"I did it," he thought. "I saved her. I saved a child. I was human."

But in the moment, she disappeared from view, he heard footsteps behind him. He turned. In the corridor stood the head of department, J.S. His face was cold, indifferent. In his hands, he held a taser.

Hall, - he said. - I knew you were a traitor. I knew you would save her. But I didn't think you would be so stupid.

Elias froze. He looked at the head and felt his heart beat faster.

I'm not a traitor, - he said. - I just want to be human.

Human? - J.S. repeated, smirking. - You're not human, Hall. You're an asset. An asset who broke the rules. And you will pay for it.

He raised the taser. Elias knew this was the end. But he was not afraid. He had done what he had to. He had saved a child. He had been human.

"I will die," he thought. "But I will die knowing I did something right. I will die knowing I was human."

He closed his eyes and waited. But instead of a blow, he heard J.S.'s voice:

You won't die today, Hall. You will live. You will suffer. You will watch everything you love be destroyed. That will be your punishment.

Elias opened his eyes. The head had gone. He was alone in the dark corridor, staring at the door through which Emily had disappeared.

"I did it," he thought. "I saved her. I made the right choice. And now I am ready to face the consequences."

Elias remained standing in the dark corridor after J.S. left. He stood motionless, staring at the door through which Emily had disappeared. The tunnel to the Gray Zones was now empty and silent. The girl was gone. She was free. He had saved her. But now he had to return to his work. To his death.

"I did it," he thought. "I saved her. I saved a child. I was human. But what now? What will happen to me?"

He slowly turned and walked back along the corridor. His steps were heavy, as if he carried a burden that grew heavier with each step. Lamps flickered, casting shadows on walls covered in layers of old paint. Air was cold and damp. He felt his heart beat steadily - too steadily, too mechanically. Vzh-vzh-vzh. The sound he hated. But now it sounded like a reminder that he was still alive. That he could still feel. That he was still human.

He reached the elevator and pressed the button. Doors opened, and he entered. The elevator was old, with metal walls covered in rust. He pressed the button for level D-7. The elevator began to rise. He stood motionless, looking at his reflection in the metal wall. Tired face. Dark circles under his eyes. Gray at his temples. He looked like a man who had lived through too much. A man who had seen too much death.

"I have to go back," he thought. "I have to finish my work. I have to meet my fate."

The elevator stopped. Doors opened, and he stepped into the corridor of sector D-7. It was quiet here - too quiet. Usually there were voices of clones, ventilation noise, sounds of working mechanisms. But now there was only silence. The kind that pressed on the ears.

Elias walked along the corridor. He knew he had to find the first clone. The one he had not killed. The one that should have been his first victim. But when he approached the door, he saw it was open.

He looked inside. The room was empty. The sleep capsule was open. Inside - no one. The clone had disappeared. Escaped. Like Emily. Like the twelfth clone.

"What's happening?" he thought. "Where have they all gone? Who freed them?"

He entered the room and examined it. Everything looked normal - white walls, white floor, white ceiling. But the capsule was empty. He stepped closer and saw something small on the floor. He bent down and picked it up. A toy. A small stuffed bear. Just like the one he had found in room 39.

"Someone is freeing them," he thought. "Someone is helping them escape. But who? And why?"

He tucked the toy into his pocket. He did not know why. Maybe to have something to remind him he was not alone. That someone else was fighting the system.

He left the room and walked further along the corridor. He had to find the other clones. Had to understand what was happening.

Elias approached the next door. Room 4. The first clone. The one he was supposed to kill this morning. He opened the door and entered.

The room was dark. Lamps did not work. Only faint light from the corridor fell on the floor. In the corner stood a capsule. It was open. Empty. Like the previous one.

Elias froze. He looked at the empty capsule and felt his heart beat faster. This was impossible. All the clones should have been here. All should have been in their capsules. But they had disappeared. All of them.

"Someone freed them," he thought. "Someone helped them escape. But who?"

He heard noise behind him. He turned. In the doorway stood a man. Old, gray-haired, with a wrinkled face and tired eyes. He wore a gray jumpsuit - like all users. But his face was different. It had an expression Elias had never seen on others. An expression of freedom.

Are you looking for them? - the old man asked. His voice was hoarse but firm.

Who are you? - Elias asked.

I am the one who freed them, - the old man replied. - I am the one who helps them escape. I am the one who fights the system.

But why? - Elias asked. - Why risk your life?

The old man laughed. His laugh was crooked, tired, but there was strength in it.

Because they are human, - he said. - Because they want to live. Because the system has no right to kill them. We must all fight. We must all be free.

Elias looked at him. He felt his heart beat faster. Felt his hands begin to tremble. He did not know what to say. Did not know what to do.

I will help you, - he said. - I also want to fight. I also want to be free.

The old man looked at him. Surprise and gratitude mixed in his eyes.

Are you sure? - he asked. - You know this could cost you your life?

I know, - Elias replied. - But I don't want to be an asset anymore. I want to be human. I want to fight. I want to be free.

The old man smiled. His smile was warm, genuine.

Then come, - he said. - I'll show you what it means to be free.

The old man led Elias along the corridor. They walked quickly but quietly, trying not to attract attention. Elias felt his heart beat faster. He did not know where they were going. But he trusted this man. He felt it was right.

What is your name? - Elias asked.

My name is Mikhail, - the old man replied. - I was an engineer. I worked at Genesis for thirty years. I saw the system kill people. I saw it destroy them. And I decided to fight. I decided to save those the system wants to kill.

But how do you do it? - Elias asked. - How do you free them?

Mikhail stopped and turned to him. Seriousness in his eyes.

I have access to the system, - he said. - I know how to bypass it. I know how to disable cameras. I know how to open doors. I know how to lead them to the Gray Zones. I've been doing this for five years. I've saved hundreds of people.

But how have you not been caught? - Elias asked.

Because the system doesn't look for old men, - Mikhail replied. - It looks for the young, the strong, the efficient. It doesn't pay attention to those who are no longer needed. I use that. I hide in plain sight.

They continued walking. Mikhail opened a door and let Elias into a small room. Inside were several people - clones he had saved. They sat on the floor, huddled together. They were afraid. But hope was in their eyes.

They are waiting, - Mikhail said. - I will lead them out tonight. To the Gray Zones. There they will be free.

Elias looked at them. At their faces. At their fear. At their hope. He felt his heart clench. He felt their pain. He felt their fear. He felt their hope.

"This is an echo," he thought. "An echo of emotions. I feel them. I feel everything they feel."

I will help you, - he said. - I will help you lead them out.

Mikhail looked at him. Gratitude in his eyes.

Thank you, - he said. - You are a good person, Elias. You are making the right choice.

Elias helped Mikhail lead the clones to the tunnel. They walked through dark corridors, trying not to make sounds. Each step was heavy. Each step brought them closer to freedom. But each step also brought them closer to danger. The system could notice them at any moment. Guards could find them at any moment.

"We must be careful," Elias thought. "We must be quiet. We must be fast."

They walked in silence. Only their breathing and footsteps echoed through the corridors. Lamps flickered, casting shadows on walls. Air was cold and damp. Elias felt his heart beat faster. Vzh-vzh-vzh. He heard this sound as clearly as the silence around.

Suddenly they heard footsteps behind them. Elias turned. At the end of the corridor stood a guard. His face was hidden behind a helmet, but his posture was threatening. He held a taser.

Stop! - the guard shouted. - You are breaking the rules!

Elias looked at Mikhail. He nodded.

Run, - Mikhail said. - I'll hold him off.

No, - Elias said. - I won't leave you.

You must, - Mikhail replied. - You must lead them out. You must save them. This is your duty.

Elias looked at the clones. They looked at him with hope and fear. They waited for his decision. They waited for him to make the right choice.

"I must do this," he thought. "I must save them. I must be human."

He turned and ran. He led the clones along the corridor. He heard Mikhail fighting the guard. He heard the sounds of struggle. He felt his heart break. But he did not stop.

He led the clones to the tunnel. Opened the door. Showed them the path to freedom.

Go, - he said. - Go. Be free.

They left. One by one. Disappeared into the darkness. Elias remained standing in the tunnel. He heard footsteps fade. Heard voices grow quiet. Heard silence return.

"I did it," he thought. "I saved them. I was human."

He turned and walked back. He had to find Mikhail. Had to help him.

Elias returned to the corridor. He saw Mikhail lying on the floor. The guard stood over him. But he was dead. Mikhail had killed him. He lay on the floor, breathing heavily. His face was pale, sweat on his forehead. He was wounded.

Mikhail! - Elias shouted, running to him. - Are you hurt?

No, - Mikhail replied, trying to smile. - I'm just tired. I'm old. I can't run as fast as I used to.

Elias helped him stand. Mikhail leaned on his shoulder. They walked together along the corridor.

Did you save them? - Mikhail asked.

Yes, - Elias replied. - They are free.

You made the right choice, - Mikhail said. - You are human, Elias. A real human.

They reached the end of the corridor. Mikhail stopped.

Now you must go, - he said. - You must be free. You must run.

I won't leave you, - Elias said.

You must, - Mikhail replied. - I am old. I am tired. I have done all I can. Now it's your turn. You must fight. You must save. You must be human.

Elias looked at him. He felt tears rise to his eyes.

Thank you, - he said. - Thank you for everything.

Go, - Mikhail said. - Go. Be free.

Elias turned and walked. He walked along the corridor. His steps were heavy. But he walked. He did not stop. He knew he had to keep going. Had to fight. Had to be free.

"I will do it," he thought. "I will fight. I will save. I will be human."

Elias emerged from the corridor into a large empty room. It was dark here, only one lamp flickering in the corner. He stopped and looked around. Walls were bare, concrete. Floor was uneven. No doors anywhere, only the one he had entered through.

"I'm in a dead end," he thought. "I have nowhere to go."

He heard a sound behind him. He turned. In the doorway stood J.S. His face was cold, indifferent. In his hands, he held a taser.

Hall, - he said. - You thought you could escape? You thought you could be free? You're wrong. You will never be free. You are an asset. You have always been an asset. And you always will be.

Elias looked at him. He felt fear and anger battle in his soul. He wanted to run. He wanted to give up. But he could not. He had to fight.

I am not an asset, - he said. - I am human. I have always been human. And I will prove it.

He stepped forward. J.S. raised the taser. But Elias was faster. He punched him in the face. J.S. staggered back. Elias hit him again. J.S. fell to the floor. Elias stood over him, breathing heavily.

"I did it," he thought. "I defeated him. I am free."

He turned to the door. He had to leave. Had to run. But he heard a voice behind him.

Hall, - J.S. said, his voice quiet, almost a whisper. - You think you won? You're wrong. You will never be free. You will always be an asset. This is your fate.

Elias stopped. He turned and looked at him. J.S. lay on the floor, his face bloody. But he was smiling. His smile was cold, ruthless.

What do you mean? - Elias asked.

You think you saved those clones? - J.S. said. - You think they are free? They are already dead. All of them. The system found them. They are dead. Everyone you saved is dead. Including the girl.

Elias froze. He could not believe it. Did not want to believe it.

You're lying, - he said.

I never lie, - J.S. replied. - You should have known. You should have understood. No one can escape the system. No one can be free. Neither can you.

Elias stood and looked at him. He felt his heart break. Felt his world crumble.

"He is lying," he thought. "He must be lying. He can't be right. They are alive. They are free. I saved them. I did it."

But deep down, he knew J.S. was telling the truth. He felt it. Felt the echo. The echo of death. The echo of pain. The echo of what he had done wrong.

"I didn't save them," he thought. "I doomed them to death. I killed them. All of them. I am a monster."

He fell to his knees. Tears streamed down his face. He did not hold them back. He cried. Cried for the first time in years. Cried for those he had lost. For those he had never known. For those he had killed.

"I am a monster," he thought. "I have always been a monster. And I always will be."

He sat on the floor and cried. J.S. looked down at him.

Now you understand, - he said. - You will never be free. You will always be an asset. This is your fate.

Elias raised his head. He looked at him. Emptiness in his eyes. The emptiness of one who had lost everything.

"I am not an asset," he thought. "I am human. I was human. And I will die human."

He stood. His steps were even, confident. He walked to the door and opened it. He stepped into the corridor. And he walked. He did not know where. Did not know why. He just walked. Walked into nowhere. Walked into his death.

"I will die," he thought. "But I will die human. I will die knowing I tried. I will die knowing I fought. That is all that matters."

Elias emerged from the room and found himself again in the corridor of sector D-7. His eyes were dry - he had cried all he could. Inside him was emptiness. So deep, so cold, that he barely felt his own body. He walked mechanically, his legs moving on their own, carrying him forward, to the next room, to the next clone, to the next death.

"I must continue," he thought, but his thoughts were dim, like the lamps in this corridor. "I must do my work. It's all I know. It's all I can do."

He stopped before a door. On it was a sign: "Clone No. 5. Expiration date: expired. Status: awaiting disposal." Elias looked at this sign and felt his stomach clench. Another one. Another life he had to take. Another name he had to remember. Another death that would haunt him.