Current Balance: Zero

Reader,

I don’t dwell on thoughts of ifs and buts, but rather soldier through life as it comes.

It came one day, teasing, in the form of a theme: “If you get a superpower for one

day, what will it be?”

But I don’t aspire to one.

“I can offer you two, three, or any number you wish, girl,” it smirked at me.

“Then turn into a blank cheque,” I retorted in anger. “Let me scribe the figure.”

It stretched itself into an oblong piece of paper, gradually tearing through the

screen, inflating a bit, perhaps with pride. Slowly and steadily, it folded and

unfolded multiple times till it acquired the form of a blank cheque.

Of which bank? It doesn’t matter. But the name and signature on it seemed a bit

out of order: Энг банк силы. Who cares? After all, I don’t have any real

knowledge of Russian. Hey, how do I know it’s Russian without actually knowing

Russian? Ah, leave it, I said to myself without concern.

Confidently, I wrote the amount as ZERO in my cursive handwriting and deposited

it at the nearby branch. Phew, I can relax now, I thought to myself.

Two days later, my phone rang at peak decibel, showing an alert: Amount credited.

Current Balance: ноль. What is this? I adjusted my glasses, trying too hard to

focus on the figure.

I am fed up with this joke. I’m going straight to the police. But before that, should

I not take Mother into my confidence?

Breathless and restless, I climbed the topsy-turvy ladders but did not find the end.

There was no one ahead, no one behind. Looking around, I realised that instead of

a ladder, it was a lane — long, dark, and dreary. But that was not the only thing

that made it different from regular lanes. It resembled a treadmill, where a person

may crawl, walk, or run, yet an invisible belt keeps them in the same position,

giving only the illusion of moving ahead.

I am trapped — trapped forever. Is someone out there? Why is there no one around

me? Did this happen recently, or has it always been this way and I was simply late

to realise? Lost in such thoughts, I stumbled over a hurdle and fell, my senses

slowly zooming out from my surroundings, until I found myself alone, locked in a

room.

Reader,

I hope you never settle for zero. It’s dark and lonely here. I am learning the art of

manipulation — to reshape it into eight and become visible again. That is the

ultimate superpower I crave, not just for one day but forever (0 → 8 → ∞).

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