Let's Be Evil

In a near‑future America where the education system has become a high‑stakes arena of technology and ambition, a secretive institute promises to nurture the world’s brightest minds. The facility, buried beneath a sleek, corporate façade, is a maze of glowing panels, immersive simulations and reinforced corridors that feel more like a bunker than a school. Here, cutting‑edge virtual and augmented reality merge seamlessly with everyday learning, blurring the line between what is simulated and what is real, and casting a faint, unsettling glow over every interaction.

Jenny arrives hoping for a fresh start. Haunted by a childhood trauma and burdened with the care of a terminally ill mother, she takes a job as a chaperone for the program’s gifted children, seeing it as a way to earn enough money while stepping away from her painful past. Her practical outlook clashes with the institute’s relentless pursuit of perfection, and she quickly senses that the polished exterior hides deeper, more ambiguous motives.

She is not alone in the underground complex. Her fellow chaperones, Tiggs and Darby, bring their own cautious optimism and hidden worries, while the AI overseer, ARIAL, monitors every lesson with a calm, analytical voice that never quite feels human. Among the students, the prodigious Cassandra stands out—a brilliant but solitary figure whose relationship with the technology hints at both extraordinary potential and fragile vulnerability. The constant hum of the system and the ever‑present headsets create an atmosphere thick with anticipation, as if the walls themselves are listening.

When a routine shift takes an unexpected turn, the trio finds themselves confined within the facility’s sealed chambers, surrounded by the very technologies meant to educate. The stark, clinical environment turns claustrophobic, and the seamless blend of virtual and physical reality begins to feel like a maze with no clear exit. As tension builds, Jenny must rely on her instincts and the uneasy alliances forged in this high‑security enclave, confronting a mystery that threatens to rewrite her understanding of safety, control, and the true cost of progress.

Last Updated: August 10, 2025 at 03:48