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“No.”
Once again, a quick, cold answer to shut him down. Eden could feel the alcohol warming up her body. At least it would give an excuse for her pink cheeks...
“...I take it you don’t want to talk about it,” he simply said.
Eden frowned a little. He wasn’t pushing for an answer or saying this out of mockery this time. It was like he was simply acknowledging her choice, which was quite a first. However, she didn’t want to stay here and answer more of his questions. Plus, her stomach was starting to grumble, and she wasn’t willing to embarrass herself again. Eden got down from her stool to explore the place. It really was his place... probably. At least, it felt like someone was living there. There were a few more plants than she would have expected, and even an aquarium with colorful fish. Eden stared at it for a long moment, wondering if this was a screen, hologram, or real... If this was a fake, it was a very realistic digital illusion. She wouldn’t have known what species those fishes were, and she even doubted such colorful ones with blue, orange, and red shades could even exist.
She moved on, and to her surprise, there was a little speaker on one shelf. Eden grabbed it and turned it on.
“You can play whatever you want.”
Eden glanced over her shoulder. Dante was still focused on his cooking, but he knew exactly what she was doing. It was a bit annoying... but she didn’t care. She put the speaker back after choosing a quiet, calm piano tune, which began playing. Somehow, she had the whole world of music open to her, but she only felt like hearing this at the moment. She was scared anything else would have set a mood, but, after a full minute, she realized the piano piece made them feel even more... like they were alone in this world.
Ignoring that, she moved to the little table set for two and sat. As promised, only two knives... except for the sharp, big one he was holding. Eden sighed and stared, once again, at the superb window view.
“...Is it real?” she asked.
“The window? Yes.”
She had somewhat guessed so. The fake screens didn’t show the pollution over their Suburbs, or use filters to tone it down. From where she stood, though, she could easily recognize the neighborhoods she lived in and that horrible cloud of dust, filth, and other unknown elements that hovered over them. Has the air pollution gotten worse again? If Eden turned her head further left, she could see the Core. The clouds never got over the Core. Their huge air filters not only took the air to filter and release the clean air inside, but they disposed of all the harmful particles back on the Suburbs’ side. She could almost see the barrier between the two worlds.
“Have you ever dreamed of living there?” asked Dante.
He walked over, carrying his glass and the two plates like a professional would have. Eden watched him put down the plates, even with a little bowl of grated cheese, and then sit. Like the perfect gentleman part he liked to play, he put his towel on his lap and handed Eden hers. She grabbed it, but now that she was looking at the table, she didn’t like it: neither the small space between them nor that stupid rose on the table…
Suddenly remembering the pups, she looked around for Beer and Bullet, but the two of them had settled in one corner, sleeping quietly. Eden felt a bit anxious now that her sidekicks were down...
“The Core is appealing to anyone,” he said when she didn’t reply. “However, if you go there, their society is so controlled, no one is really free anymore. Each movement is controlled, each decision is judged. It is so systematic, even their identities are settled at their birth. For each of them, there is a precise position waiting. They are raised like ants, programmed for one line of work, one partner. The Architect built a system so perfect, it decides everything for humans without them even knowing.”
Eden grabbed her fork, poking at the shrimp, a bit curious. She had never eaten pink shrimp... but it sure smelled a lot better than what she knew. She carefully took one to her mouth, eating a piece. It was good. Not just that, but the intense taste of garlic, cream, and white wine that came with it too. As if her stomach had opened wider to the amazing flavor, she was already craving more. How could he be so skilled at cooking? Wouldn’t it have been better if he could just remain a mythic jerk with crazy intentions...
“When one goes out of control,” continued Dante, still staring at the window, “they expel them here. They don’t realize how much they’ve been controlled their whole life. The Core makes them see what they want to see, on each screen, wherever their eyes go. The more they conform to their society, the more points they get. The more they obey the system, the more the system rewards them. You’re giving up your freedom for wealth, eternal life, and safety...”
He sighed, and brought his glass to his lips, drinking more of the wine. Then, his eyes went down on Eden. She was eating her pasta so well and so fast, it made him chuckle. He knew he would never get thanks or praise from her, so that was already plenty enough. Dante finally picked up his fork.
“So? What do you think of the Core, Eden?”
“...I hate them.”
“Wouldn’t you be interested, if you had the chance to live there? Wouldn’t you want to try? Never risk being hungry, afraid, in danger?”
Eden chuckled.
“I think we don’t have the same version of the Core...” she finally said, with a bitter smile.
“There’s only one version of the Core. Anyone who doesn’t conform–”
“Shall be expelled. I know.”
Eden put down her fork, her plate still half-full, but she needed a break from eating so fast. She had some sauce around her lips, contrasting the seriousness with which she was staring at him.
“...I was born there,” she suddenly said.
Dante almost dropped his fork out of sheer surprise. His fingers tightened around the silver at the last second, but he was still shocked. However, he could read the truth in Eden’s eyes. As hard as it was to believe, she wasn’t lying. He took a silent breath in to try and process that information. It was... strange. Something didn’t add up. Eden had revealed many surprises up until then, but this was definitely the biggest one to date.
“You were... born there?” he repeated.
Eden nodded.
