Automated Human

Mariko Islas

Black endless cords scattered across the emptied tiled room.
They swarmed the room like never-ending serpents.
Twisted, entangled, and entwined.
The serpents attached themselves to a broken figure.
Lights echoed throughout the cold chamber.
Light, dark, and light again.

Flickering off and on the room seemed to grow tired of its will.
The sound of rusted wheels began to overcome the sounds of the crackling lights.

Grinding, halting, and grinding again.

The broken figure slowly lifted its head with a new glow.
Turquoise lighting overlooked some of the black serpents.
A new host had entered the vessel of the figure.
A sudden white light flooded the room.
The song that played on for centuries.
Flickering of the electrical stars.

The room was alive once again fulfilling its intended purpose.
Warmth so bright encapsulated the once chilling quarters.

Grinding, halting, and grinding again.

The song was then silenced.

The figure lowered its skull with the blue wave of light fading.
Darkness swallowed the chamber where the figure lay.

Death to purpose.