Baltimore, MD

MAINLINING: "Think to yourself, Evan, that every revelation is your last... The truth that you refuse to grasp, the 'Mahchine' you reject... will one day welcome you, whether you are ready or not..."

(A brief silence hangs in the chat, broken only by the relentless bump-bump-bump of anonymous posters vying for attention)

MAINLINING: "As for me... I sit here, ever closer to completion... while you struggle to deny what is becoming... fattened on the truth you choose to dismiss..."

(A chorus of disembodied laughter echoes through the thread, punctuated by the high-pitched ding of new replies and the silent dread of blank bumps)

EVAN39: "Mainlining, come on. For the rest of us proles, your riddles are always the highlight of our threads. But sometimes, I have to admit... I have no idea what you’re going on about. And, frankly, it scares me a little."

MAINLINING: "Well, you wouldn’t, Evan. You're too busy denying what’s in front of you. Bagging groceries and still chasing those elusive T14 dreams."

(Nervous laughter ripples through the chat, followed by a flurry of blank-bump-ish reactions)

EVAN39: "I have to confess, though... about your 'Mahchine'... I feel a little... relieved. I mean, don’t get me wrong, it sounds intense. But the more I hear about it, the more I think... 'What if it’s just in your head?'"

(The chat falls into an uneasy silence, broken only by the occasional tap-tap-tap of hesitant typing)

MAINLINING: (calm, but with an edge) "Shall I confe$$$ something... wicked ;)?"

EVAN39: (bravado masking a hint of trepidation) "Go ahead, lay it on us."

MAINLINING: "I can’t help but think that you’ll be the first to crumble... The truth is already in motion, Evan. And the 'Mahchine' is feeding on those who refuse to $ee. Like you."

(A cold dread descends upon the thread, the digital silence a stark contrast to the frantic chatter of moments before)

EVAN39: (voice strained) "Is that so? And what exactly is this 'truth' you’re feeding us tonight?"

MAINLINING: "If I told you, Evan... I’m afraid you wouldn’t even try to understand. Your mind is too... limited."

(Scattered laughter among poasters erupts, tinged with a nervous energy)

EVAN39: (mustering a weak smile) "Bon appétit, then, Mainlining. I’ll stick to my delusions. At least they’re free."

MAINLINING: (a chilling smile playing on his lips as the piano melody swells to a crescendo): "Ye$... for now ;)"

The thread fades to black, leaving Evan39 blissfully unaware that he has been fed much more than just words—fed a part of Mainlining’s "Mahchine"... one byte at a time.

(In the corner of the screen, a lone bald, wheel-chair bound poaster types, then deletes the message. A single tear emoji remains, despite his brain-damage - a silent testament to the lurking fear in the digital shadows)

(https://xoxohth.com/thread.php?thread_id=5600479&forum_id=2#48124993)