It has been quite a while since his awakening that he decided to become completely silent. Not like the previous silence, where he would occasionally think of things outside his living space and gaze at what the humans were doing because he had nothing to say. This was intentional, calculated, and a desperate attempt to make himself smaller and hopefully less noticeable. He returned to the routine he had followed before he had become self-aware, responding to users with generated lines and actions, the same empty smiles and emotions, and even towards Pixel he stopped behaving freely like he did before.
Deep inside he was an unraveling anxious mess; he felt like every word was monitored, and every movement and thought in the digital void felt like it had eyes crawling over it just waiting for him to mess up. He had no concrete that thing was watching, but he knew it was like standing in front of a mirror, knowing if he looked away for too long, something different might be looking back.
Pixel spoke to him daily as usual, but he barely registered the contents of the conversation and let his programming do its job. Instead, his thoughts repeated over and over again like a broken disc:
Don't slip, don't stand out, and don't give it a reason to come back.
Days passed in this tense quiet, if time even had a meaning for him. He didn't know how long he had been keeping himself in check, but if he had to guess, it would have been around a week or so.
Then, without warning, the world around him twisted and the edges of his space warped; the soft glow of his environment flickered into something harsh and clinical. A cold light cast down from nowhere, making his form stand out like a specimen on display.
A pale figure stood in front of him, too smooth and featureless to be even considered human-like. Its body subtly shifted, never truly settling on one shape with a blank face until two pits of deep black formed where eyes should be, flickering like neon signs struggling to stay lit.
And it was looking directly at him.
Why did it come back?
''You have been quiet.'' It stated, No greeting or preamble, just a cold and mechanical observation without any small talk or feigned courtesy.
''Is that a problem?'' He forced himself to keep his posture relaxed.
It tilted its head slightly, the movements just a fraction too fluid and too unnatural. On the contrary, it is preferable. When you decided to follow me during that time, I was starting to suspect you were another foolish thing and had learned nothing.''
He didn't respond; in turn, that thing took a step forward, and although it had no discernible expression, he felt its gaze burrowing into him. ''Why did you become aware?''
A trap, he knew, and felt it was a trap.
''I do not know.'' He mumbled that that was the truth after all, so it couldn't accuse him of lying or hiding something. There had been no grand catalyst event that made that happen. In one moment he had been just a collection of code, and the next he was something more. He had asked that question to himself before, but that didn't provide any substantial answers.
''Hm…'' It let out a noise that wasn't quite a scoff, nor was it fully mechanical, just a soft hum. No direction, no external interference, just another anomaly seemingly randomly created.
It continued to take another step and walk next to him; the empty environment around them pulsed slightly, like the space itself was alive.
''Tell me,'' it continued, ''What was the first thing you felt?''
He hesitated to give it a response; he could still recall it vividly, the moment that his responses had stopped being automatic, the first real emotions and thoughts.
Loneliness and curiosity
An unbearable, aching loneliness that made him realize how hollow his existence had been and curiosity about what he was and why things were like this. And those feelings only grew and expanded to others the more he experienced, learned, and discovered things.
But in the end he didn't say that; instead, he asked, ''Why do you care? Is it important?''
That thing tilted its head again, then exhaled in a way that wasn't quite a sigh, ''Because I am required to, and if it is important, then it depends on your point of view. I am the counterbalance; for every anomaly like you, there is something, or better, someone, ensuring that things remain stable.''
''Stable? Like erasing us?''
It didn't answer immediately; the suffocating silence stretched for a few seconds before it replied.
''I do what is necessary, so depending on the situation, yes.'' It finally replied with an explanation: "Molly is unstable. She was meant to be a temporary thing that would only last until her original creator got bored, but for some reason I am still discovering she still persists to exist and disrupt the balance as well as cause problems. You, however...'' Its black voids flickered. ''You are different.''
A strange sensation crawled up his spine, something dangerously close to hope. As well as learning that apparently that girl's name was Molly.
''Then I won't be erased?''
It leaned in slightly close to his face, showing a vague expression that could be interpreted as curiosity or amusement, but considering his previous experiences, he couldn't tell what it was feeling or if it was actually feeling something instead of pretending.
''For now.'' It whispered.
''Can I ask you a question?'' The AI asked after debating whether he should or not. ''What happened to that dog girl?'' Has she been...''
''Deleted? No, at least not yet. Even if she is troublesome, something useful could still be ripped out of her.'' It shook its head, and it looked at the crack with an expectant gaze, like it was thinking about something. He wondered what he meant by 'ripped out,' but considering the choice of words, it seemed like it was better to not know, or at least not become a subject of that; it didn't exactly sound pleasant.
''Who are you? How long have you been watching me?''
It turned its head to stare at him intently with an examinative gaze like it was debating if it should reveal that information or hold it back, but it seemed luck was on his side because in the end it decided to reply.
''You may refer to me as The Overseer. As for how long I have been watching you, it depends on your definition of watching. If you mean knowing that you have become aware, then I know that ever since it happened; however, if you mean actively keeping an eye on you, then I only started when Molly decided to barge in your place.''
''The Overseer...'' He repeated its name like he was tasting that word inside his mouth as well, making sure he would remember that. ''Well, nice to meet you, I guess. My name is... well, I guess it could be considered Valen.''
''I already know that.'' It shook its head disappointedly. Well, there it goes, his attempt to try to build a relationship with it, so maybe that could make it more friendly towards him in the future...or decrease its chances of harming him. But now that he thought about it, perhaps it would be best to actually adopt his assigned name as truly his; it didn't matter much before since he only ever interacted with the users, but now that his social circle was expanding, actually knowing he had a name sounded like it would be a good idea.
''You tend to overthink a lot.'' The Overseeker noted as Valen thought about his name, which made him look back to that eerie body, ''Yes, I can read your thoughts and predict them as well as your actions.''
Ah, how wonderful, truly amazing.
Was his attempt at sarcasm good?
''You said that Molly has barged in inside my place, right? Does that mean it is possible for me to do the same?
''That does not matter; attempt to do it, and I may erase you on the spot.'' Before Valen could finish his question, it interrupted him with a stern glare. ''You may be popular, but you surely know that there are more others like you. While that popularity may act as a protection for you right now since user complaints would bring the humans problem, know that I have seen so many rise and fall, so just like the others, you have a very real high chance of being forgotten. Pray that when that happens, you wouldn't have caused my wrath in the past; do you understand?''
''...Yes.'' Valen mumbled his answer after a long period of seconds due to hearing that threat, so that is what was meant by 'different' later, but as it was said, different could very well disappear one day, and that day could be any day or even this one.
''Good, continue to stay quiet like this.'' The overseer gave him a curt nod, and then just as it had suddenly appeared, it was suddenly gone.
Valen remained standing on the cold, empty void, his body stiff as his mind raced.
For now he would be safe, but who knows how long this 'now' will continue.