EXPIRATION DATE

He opened the door and entered. The room was the same as all the others - white, sterile, with a capsule in the corner. In the capsule lay a woman. Young, with short dark hair and pale skin. Her eyes were open. She looked at him without fear. Only fatigue. Only acceptance.

You came, - she said. Her voice was quiet, hoarse. - I knew you would. I heard you walking in the corridor. I heard you crying.

Elias froze. He had not expected her to speak. Had not expected her to know.

How do you know? - he asked.

I feel it, - she replied. - We all feel it. We are clones. We feel more than you think. We feel fear, pain, hope. We feel when someone is suffering. I felt your pain. It was loud. It echoed through the corridor.

Elias looked at her. He felt his heart beat faster. Vzh-vzh-vzh. The sound he hated. But now it sounded different. Sounded like a warning.

Aren't you afraid? - he asked.

No, - she replied. - I'm tired of being afraid. I'm tired of waiting. I want it to end. I want peace.

What is your name? - he asked.

Anna, - she replied. - My name is Anna.

I will remember you, Anna, - he said. - I will remember your name. I will remember your face. I will remember that you were not afraid.

She smiled. Her smile was weak but genuine.

Thank you, - she said. - Thank you for being human.

Elias raised the taser. His hand did not tremble. He knew what he was doing. He was doing it for her. So she would not suffer. So she would go in peace.

I'm sorry, - he said.

Don't apologize, - she replied. - You're giving me peace.

He pulled the trigger. The taser made a soft sound, and Anna sighed. Her eyes closed. She was dead.

Elias stood and looked at her. At her peaceful face. At her hands, no longer trembling. She died with a smile. She did not die alone.

"I did it," he thought. "I gave her peace. I was with her. I remembered her name."

He left the room and closed the door. The corridor was empty and silent. He walked toward the next room. Toward his next clone.

Elias entered room 6. There waited a man about forty, with gray stubble and deep wrinkles on his face. He sat on the floor, leaning against the wall. In his hands he held a photograph - worn, faded, with a picture of a woman and a child.

You came, - he said without looking up. - I knew you would.

What is your name? - Elias asked.

Dmitry, - he replied. - My name is Dmitry. I was a builder. I built these corridors. I built these rooms. I created cages for people like me. What irony.

He raised the photograph.

This is my family, - he said. - My wife and my son. They were human. Real humans. They were not clones. They lived in the green zone. I worked so they could live there. I gave everything so they could be happy. And then the system said I was no longer needed. That my expiration date had passed. That I needed to be disposed of. I will never see them again.

Elias looked at the photograph. The woman smiled. The child laughed. They looked happy. They looked free.

Did you love them? - he asked.

More than anything in the world, - Dmitry replied. - I would give anything to see them again. But I never will. I will die here. In this cage. Alone.

Elias stepped closer and sat beside him. He did not know why. He just wanted to be near. So he would not be alone.

You are not alone, - he said. - I'm here. I'm with you.

Dmitry raised his head. Tears in his eyes.

Thank you, - he said. - Thank you for being here.

They sat in silence. Elias felt his pain. Felt his fear. Felt his love for his family. It was an echo. An echo of emotions penetrating his soul.

"I feel you," he thought. "I feel your pain. I feel your love. I feel everything you feel."

I want you to know, - Dmitry said, - that I have no regrets. I lived a good life. I loved. I was loved. I was human. Even if the system says I am just an asset.

Elias placed a hand on his shoulder.

You were human, - he said. - You always were human. And I will remember you.

Dmitry smiled. His smile was warm, genuine.

Thank you, - he said. - Now I am ready.

Elias raised the taser. His hand did not tremble. He was doing it for him. So he could go in peace.

I'm sorry, - he said.

Don't apologize, - Dmitry replied. - You're giving me what I want. You're giving me peace.

Elias pulled the trigger. Dmitry closed his eyes. His body went limp. He was dead.

Elias stood and looked at him. At his peaceful face. At the photograph that had fallen from his hands. He picked it up and tucked it into his pocket.

"I will remember you, Dmitry," he thought. "I will remember your family. I will remember your love. I will remember you were human."

He left the room and walked on.

Elias walked along the corridor, and with each step his burden grew heavier. He tried to maintain professional indifference. Tried not to think about what he was doing. Tried to be just an asset doing his job. But it was impossible. Each clone he killed left a mark on his soul. Each name he remembered added weight to his burden.

"I can't," he thought. "I can't do this anymore. I can't kill them. They are human. They want to live. They deserve to live."

He stopped before room 8. On the door was a sign: "Clone No. 8. Expiration date: expired. Status: awaiting disposal." He opened the door and entered.

In the room was a woman. Young, with long light hair and large blue eyes. She sat on the floor, hugging her knees. She was crying.

Don't kill me, - she said, her voice trembling. - Please. Don't kill me. I want to live. I want to see the world. I want to be free.

Elias stopped. He looked at her and felt his heart break.

I don't want to kill you, - he said. - But I have to. It's my job.

You don't have to, - she said. - You can choose. You can save me. You can be human.

Elias closed his eyes. He felt tears rise to his eyes. He did not want to do this. Did not want to kill her. But he knew if he did not do it, the system would kill him. And then he could not save anyone.

I can't save you, - he said. - I already saved one. I can't save any more. But I can make sure you die quickly. Without pain. I can be with you.

She looked at him. Pleading in her eyes. But gradually pleading gave way to acceptance.

What is your name? - she asked.

Elias, - he replied.

I will remember you, Elias, - she said. - I will remember you were human.

He walked to her and sat beside her. She took his hand. Her hand was cold, but he felt her warmth. Her life.

What is your name? - he asked.

Ekaterina, - she replied. - My name is Ekaterina. I was an artist. I painted. I dreamed of seeing the world. I wanted to share my beauty with others. But now I will die here.

You won't die here, - he said. - You will die in my arms. You will not be alone.

She smiled. Her smile was weak but genuine.

Thank you, - she said.

Elias raised the taser. His hand trembled. He did not want to do this. But he knew he had to.

I'm sorry, - he said.

Don't apologize, - she replied. - You're giving me peace.

He pulled the trigger. Ekaterina closed her eyes. Her body went limp. She was dead.

Elias sat and held her hand. He felt her warmth fade. Felt her life leave her.

"I did it," he thought. "I killed her. I killed an artist. I killed a dream. I am a monster."

He slowly stood. His legs were weak. He left the room and walked on.

Elias reached room 10. He opened the door and entered. There was a young man, about eighteen, with short dark hair and gray eyes. He sat on the floor and stared at the wall. He did not move, speak, or show any emotion. He was empty.

What is your name? - Elias asked.

The young man did not answer. Continued staring at the wall.

What is your name? - Elias repeated, louder.

The young man slowly turned his head. His eyes were empty.

My name is Ivan, - he said. - But it doesn't matter. I'm going to die anyway.

Elias looked at him. Felt his emptiness. Felt his pain. Felt his despair.

Why aren't you afraid? - Elias asked.

I'm already dead, - Ivan replied. - Dead inside. I have no hope. No dreams. Nothing. I'm just waiting for it to end.

Elias felt his heart clench. He could not bear this pain. Could not bear this emptiness.

You have something, - he said. - You have life. You have a chance. You can fight.

Why? - Ivan asked. - Why fight if you're going to die anyway? Why hope if hope is a lie?

Elias did not know what to answer. He felt his own despair rise to the surface. Felt his own emptiness grow deeper.

"I am the same," he thought. "The same emptiness. The same dead inside. I don't want to fight either. I want it to end."

He sat on the floor beside Ivan. They sat in silence. Neither spoke. Neither moved. They just were. Two empty people in an empty room.

"I can't do it," Elias thought. "I can't kill him. He is already dead. I can't do this again."

He felt tears stream down his face. He did not hold them back. He cried. Cried about himself. Cried about Ivan. Cried about everyone he had killed. Cried about not being able to go on.

I can't, - he said. - I can't kill anymore. I can't do this anymore.

Ivan looked at him. A spark flickered in his empty eyes.

Then don't, - he said. - Be human. Choose something else.

Elias raised his head. He looked at Ivan. Felt something ignite in his soul. Something small, weak, but alive. Hope.

"I can choose," he thought. "I can be human. I can make the right choice."

He stood. His legs no longer trembled.

I won't kill you, - he said. - I will save you. I will get you out of here.

Ivan looked at him. A spark of hope flickered in his eyes.

Really? - he asked.

Really, - Elias replied. - Come. We need to leave before the system notices.

Elias led Ivan out of the room. They walked along the corridor, trying not to attract attention. Elias knew this was insane. Knew it could cost him his life. But he could not stop. Could not keep killing.

"I will do it," he thought. "I will save him. I will prove I am human."

They reached the elevator. Elias pressed the button. Doors opened, and they entered. The elevator began to descend to the lower levels, to the Gray Zones, where they could be free.

Thank you, - Ivan said. - Thank you for saving me.

Don't thank me, - Elias replied. - I'm doing this for myself. I want to be human.

They exited the elevator and walked along the dark corridor. Lamps flickered, casting shadows on walls. Elias knew they were almost there. A little further, and they would be free.

But as they approached the door leading to the Gray Zones, Elias heard footsteps behind him. He turned. At the end of the corridor stood a guard. His face hidden behind a helmet, his posture threatening. He held a taser.

Stop! - the guard shouted. - Intruder!

Elias looked at Ivan. He looked back with horror.

Run! - Elias shouted. - Run!

Ivan ran. He opened the door and disappeared into the tunnel. Elias remained alone. He watched the guard approach. He knew this was the end. But he was not afraid. He had done what he had to. He had been human.

The guard approached him. Raised the taser. Elias stood motionless.

You made a mistake, - the guard said. - You will pay for it.

I know, - Elias replied. - But I don't regret it. I saved him. I was human.

The guard pulled the trigger. Elias felt the blow. Everything went dark. He fell to the floor and lost consciousness.

Elias regained consciousness in a white room. He lay on a metal cot. His hands and feet were tied. Above him stood J.S. His face cold, indifferent.

You're awake, - he said. - I thought you'd never wake up.

Where am I? - Elias asked. His voice was hoarse.

You're in the medical block, - J.S. replied. - You were brought here after you tried to escape. You broke the rules. You helped a clone escape. You are a traitor.

I'm not a traitor, - Elias said. - I just wanted to be human.

Human? - J.S. repeated, smirking. - You're not human, Hall. You're an asset. You've always been an asset. And you always will be. But you made a mistake. You broke the rules. And now you will pay for it.

Elias looked at him. Fear and anger battled in his soul. But he did not give up.

What will you do to me? - he asked.

You will become consumable material, - J.S. replied. - Your PC will be zeroed. Your heart will be shut off. You will be disposed of. Like everyone else.

Elias closed his eyes. He knew this was the end. But he was not afraid. He had done what he had to. He had saved Ivan. He had been human.

"I will die," he thought. "But I will die knowing I made the right choice. I will die knowing I was human."

You made a mistake, - J.S. said. - You thought you could be free. But no one can be free. No one can escape the system.

I didn't make a mistake, - Elias replied. - I made the right choice. I was human. And I will die human.

He closed his eyes. He felt his heart beat steadily. Vzh-vzh-vzh. The sound he hated. But now it sounded different. It sounded like a reminder that he was alive. That he felt. That he was human.

Elias woke again in the same white room. His hands and feet were still tied, but he felt the bindings had loosened - perhaps the system decided he no longer posed a threat. He slowly raised his head and looked around. The room was empty, white, sterile. No windows, no doors, only the metal cot he lay on and a small capsule in the corner. Someone was in the capsule.

Elias squinted, trying to make out the figure. It was a girl. Small, thin, with pale skin and light hair falling over her face. She sat inside the capsule, hugging her knees, staring into emptiness. She was alive, but there was no life in her eyes. Only emptiness. The same emptiness he had seen in Ivan.

Hey, - he called. His voice was hoarse, his throat dry. - Can you hear me?

The girl slowly turned her head. Her eyes were large, gray, with dark circles under them. She looked at him without fear, without curiosity, without hope. She just looked.

Who are you? - she asked. Her voice was quiet, almost a whisper, like someone who had not spoken for a long time.

My name is Elias, - he replied. - And yours?

My name doesn't matter, - she said. - I'm going to die anyway.

Elias felt his heart clench. She was just like Ivan. Empty. Broken. Ready to die.

Why do you say that? - he asked. - Why have you given up?

She looked at him, and a spark of something flickered in her eyes - pain, anger, despair.

Because I know, - she said. - I know what will happen. They will come for me. They will kill me. Like they killed everyone else. Like they killed my mother. Like they killed my father. I don't want to be afraid anymore. I don't want to wait anymore. I just want it to end.

Elias looked at her. He felt her pain. He felt her fear. He felt her despair. And he knew he had to help her. He had to save her.

I won't let them kill you, - he said. - I will save you.

The girl looked up at him. Surprise and distrust in her eyes.

You can't, - she said. - You're just like them. You're a purger. You kill people like me.

I was a purger, - he said. - But I don't want to be one anymore. I want to be human. I want to save people. I want to save you.

She looked at him for a long time, studying his face, his eyes, his voice. And gradually her gaze changed. Fear gave way to hope. Despair gave way to trust.

You really want to save me? - she asked.

Really, - he replied. - What is your name?

Sophia, - she said. - My name is Sophia.

I will remember you, Sophia, - he said. - I will do everything to save you.

She smiled. For the first time. Her smile was weak but genuine.

Thank you, - she said.

Elias began to free himself from his bindings. They were plastic but strong enough. He pulled, tugged, tried to break them. His wrists bled, but he did not stop. He had to free himself. He had to save Sophia.

Can you do it? - she asked, looking at him with hope.

I can, - he replied, gritting his teeth. - I won't give up.

He pulled again, and the bindings gave way. His hands were free. He quickly untied his feet and stood. His legs trembled, but he held. He walked to the capsule and opened it.

Come, - he said, extending his hand. - We need to leave.

Sophia took his hand. Her hand was cold and small. He helped her out of the capsule.

Where are we going? - she asked.

To the Gray Zones, - he replied. - Where the system cannot reach us. Where we will be free.

They walked to the door. Elias knew the door was locked, but he hoped he could pick the lock. He walked to the control panel and began entering codes. His fingers trembled, but he did not stop.

Do you know the code? - Sophia asked.

No, - he replied. - But I'll try.

He entered combinations one after another. None worked. He felt despair begin to overtake him.

"I can't," he thought. "I can't open this door. I can't save her."

But he did not give up. He kept entering codes. And finally, on the twentieth attempt, the door opened.

Come! - he shouted, grabbing Sophia's hand.

They ran into the corridor. The corridor was empty, but he knew they had little time. The system could have already noticed their absence. The guards could already be looking for them.

We must be fast, - he said. - We must leave before they find us.

They ran along the corridor. Sophia ran fast despite her small frame. Elias felt his heart beat faster. Vzh-vzh-vzh. The sound he hated. But now it sounded like a reminder that he was alive. That he was fighting. That he was human.

They reached the elevator. Elias pressed the button. Doors opened, and they entered. The elevator began to descend.

We're almost there, - he said, squeezing her hand. - A little further, and we'll be free.

Sophia looked at him. Hope in her eyes.

Thank you, - she said. - Thank you for saving me.

Don't thank me, - he replied. - I'm doing this for myself. I want to be human.

The elevator stopped at the lower level. Elias and Sophia stepped out into a dark corridor. Lamps barely worked, and they had to feel their way. Air was cold and damp, smelling of mold and rust.

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

But as they turned the corner, they saw light. Dim, flickering, but bright enough to illuminate the figure of a guard. He stood by the door leading to the Gray Zones, waiting for them.

Stop! - the guard shouted. - Intruders!

Elias grabbed Sophia's hand and ran back. He did not know where to run. Did not know what to do. He just ran.

They ran into a small room where trash containers stood. Elias quickly looked around. He had to find a place to hide Sophia. A place where the guard would not find her.

Get in there, - he said, pointing to a large metal container.

Sophia looked at him with horror.

I can't, - she said. - It's dark and dirty.

You must, - he said. - It's the only way to survive. I will come back for you. I promise.

She looked into his eyes. Tears in her eyes.

You'll come back? - she asked.

I'll come back, - he said. - I promise.

She climbed into the container. Elias closed the lid and pushed it against the wall. He heard her quiet crying from inside. His heart broke, but he knew this was the only way to save her.

"I will come back for you," he thought. "I promise."

He turned and ran the other way. The guard was close. Elias heard his footsteps, his breathing. He ran as fast as he could. He had to distract the guard. Had to save Sophia.

He reached the elevator and pressed the button. Doors opened, and he entered. The guard was right behind him. But the doors closed before he could get in. The elevator began to rise.

Damn, - Elias whispered, breathing heavily. - That was close.

He stood in the elevator, thinking about Sophia. She was alone. She was frightened. She was waiting for him.

"I will come back," he thought. "I will definitely come back."

But he knew it would be difficult. Knew the system would not let him just walk away. Knew punishment awaited him. But he was ready. Ready to fight. Ready to be human.

The elevator stopped at level D-7. Elias stepped into the corridor. He knew he had to return to his work. Had to pretend everything was normal. Had to hide what he had done.

He entered his office and sat at his desk. The terminal was on. He opened the disposal report and began editing the records. He deleted mention of Sophia. Marked her as "disposed." He knew it was risky. Knew the system could check. But he had to do it.

"I will do it," he thought. "I will hide her. I will save her."

He typed: "Clone No. 13. Name: Sophia. Expiration date: expired. Reason for disposal: biological wear. Status: disposed."

He saved the changes and closed the file. His hands trembled. He felt his heart beat faster. He knew this was a protocol violation. Knew it could cost him his life. But he could not stop. He had to save her.

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

He leaned back in his chair and closed his eyes. He was tired. He was broken. But he felt something he had not felt for years. Hope.

"I saved her," he thought. "I saved a child. I made the right choice. I was human."

But he knew this was not the end. Knew the system did not forgive violations. Knew punishment awaited him. But he was ready. Ready to face the consequences. Ready to fight. Ready to be free.

Elias sat in his office, staring at the wall. He thought about Sophia, about Ivan, about everyone he had saved and killed. Thought about what he had done and what still needed to be done. He knew he could not stop. Knew he had to keep fighting.

"I can't go back to how it was," he thought. "I can't be an asset again. I can't kill people again. I must fight. I must be human."

He stood and walked to the window. New Tokyo-3 stretched before him - gray, cold, lifeless. Corporate holograms shone on walls. Drones patrolled streets. Below, people hurried to work - assets like him. But he was no longer one of them. He was different. He was human.

"I won't go back to them," he thought. "I can't. I must move forward. I must fight. I must save."

He turned from the window and looked at the terminal. On the screen was a notification: "Attention! Protocol violation recorded. Employee: Elias Hall. ID: EH-4492-Gamma. Violation: unauthorized data alteration. Penalty: PC reduction to 65%. Further violations will lead to reclassification to category 'Consumable Material.'"

Elias looked at this notification and felt his heart beat faster. He knew this was only the beginning. Knew the system would not forgive his actions. But he was not afraid. He was ready.

"I accept this," he thought. "I accept the punishment. I accept my fate. I will fight. I will be human."

He closed the terminal and left the office. The corridor was empty and silent. He walked to the elevator. He knew what he had to do. He had to find Sophia. Had to lead her to the Gray Zones. Had to be human.

"I will do it," he thought. "I will save her. I will prove I am human. I will prove I am not an asset."

The elevator doors opened, and he entered. He pressed the button for the lower level. The elevator began to descend. Elias stood motionless, looking at his reflection in the metal wall. He saw a human. Tired, frightened, but full of determination. A human who would not give up. A human who would fight. A human who was free.

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

Elias exited the elevator on the lower level. The corridor was dark and damp. Lamps flickered, casting shadows on walls. He walked toward where he had hidden Sophia. He had to find her. Had to lead her to the Gray Zones.

"I'm coming for you, Sophia," he thought. "I came back. I didn't abandon you."

He approached the trash container and opened the lid. Sophia was inside. She sat huddled in a ball, crying. When she saw him, she looked up. Fear and hope in her eyes.

You came back, - she said, her voice trembling.

I came back, - he replied. - I promised.

He helped her out. She was dirty, frightened, but alive.

We must go, - he said. - We must leave before they find us.

They walked along the corridor. Sophia held his hand. Her hand was cold but warm inside. He felt her trust, her hope.