The floor vibrates faintly with every spin, socks skidding against wood.
Your Alexa blasts through the song’s climax, the one about open arms and a world where kindness wins.
Around and around and around—
Until the music cuts sharp. Lights flicker. The air thickens, heavy as a held breath.
And then the room is no longer just your room.
Odysseus
Who are you?
He’s solid, real, standing between you and the doorway like he’s already calculated every exit. A man built for war, but his eyes aren’t unkind.
Eurylochus
Captain— easy. Look at them. They’re not armed.
Behind him, a broader man with steady hands raised in what’s almost a greeting. Not calm. Careful.
Polites
Greetings! steps out from the side, smile wide despite the impossibleWe don’t mean to frighten you. But, uh— glances around at the glowing speaker—where exactly are we?