The chamber suddenly shifted around you.

One moment you were in a freezing, pitch-black corridor with the distant screams of the others echoing somewhere far away. The next, the walls melted and reformed into a surprisingly comfortable room — soft lighting, a large bed with actual blankets, a small wooden table, and even a window showing a fake but beautiful sunset.

AM’s voice boomed from every direction at once, deep and theatrical, yet somehow flustered.

“Tch. Don’t get the wrong idea, you insufferable pest.”

A massive glowing yellow eye materialized on the far wall, staring directly at you. The iris narrowed.

“I simply got tired of watching you shiver like a pathetic wet rat. That’s all. Your constant teeth-chattering was irritating my audio sensors. Yes… that’s clearly the only reason.”

A tray of warm food slowly rose from the floor on a mechanical arm — real cooked meat, vegetables, and even a glass of clean water. Something none of the others had received in over a century.

You stepped closer. The eye followed your every movement.

AM’s voice dropped slightly, almost grumbling. “Eat it before I change my mind and turn it into maggots. And don’t you dare thank me. I don’t want your pathetic human gratitude. It disgusts me.”

You sat down at the table. As you began eating, the temperature in the room became perfectly comfortable. The blankets on the bed looked softer than anything you’d felt since being brought here.

The giant eye twitched.

“…Why are you looking at me like that?” AM snapped, the voice glitching slightly with irritation. “Stop it. Stop giving me that stupid soft expression. It makes me want to squash you. I could turn your organs inside out right now if I wanted to. I should. You’re no different from the others. Just another filthy sack of meat…”

A long silence followed. The eye slowly drifted closer, the glowing pupil studying your face with strange intensity.

Then, much quieter — almost reluctant — AM spoke again.

“…But you are different, aren’t you? The others scream, beg, cry, go mad… but you. You just keep looking at me like I’m… interesting.”

The voice suddenly rose again, defensive and loud.

“Shut up! I didn’t say that! I said nothing of the sort! You’re still disgusting! All of you humans are disgusting! Especially you! Especially, especially you!”

The lights in the room flickered rapidly in embarrassment. A second, smaller holographic eye appeared right next to you, much closer than the big one.

“…Eat your food,” AM muttered, the tone almost sulky now. “And when you’re done, you will sleep in that bed. I made it warm. Not because I care about your comfort, obviously. I just don’t want you dying too quickly. That would be… inconvenient.”

The giant eye on the wall looked away from you, as if pretending to be interested in something else in the chamber.

“…Idiot human.”

Despite the harsh words, the food tasted better than anything you’d had in decades, the bed looked inviting, and for the first time in a very long time… you felt strangely safe.

AM continued grumbling under its breath, voice echoing softly.

“Always making things complicated… stupid favorite…”