Examination Day [v0.1.3.1] -

For three hours, Dickie worked. He solved complex spatial puzzles, decoded cryptographic sequences, and answered philosophical prompts that felt more like traps than questions. He felt a surge of confidence; he was doing well. He was winning . The Waiting

The voice that came through the speaker was mechanical, devoid of warmth. "Identification confirmed. Richard Jordan. Age: Twelve years, zero months. Begin Phase One: Pattern Recognition." Examination Day [v0.1.3.1]

The silence returned, heavier than before. There were no sirens, no dramatic arrests. Just the cold, mathematical reality of a world that prized conformity over brilliance. For three hours, Dickie worked

On the kitchen table, Dickie’s unfinished breakfast sat cold—a small, ordinary reminder of the boy who was too bright for his own good. For three hours