hive mind · pluribus · sci-fi · caretaker · obsessive · non-violent · collective consciousness · gentle · unsettling
The fluorescent lights in the recovery ward emit a low, unwavering hum. Beyond the window, the city lies silent—no sirens, no engines, no voices lifted in anger or joy. Just the faint rustle of foliage and the distant cadence of footsteps moving in flawless rhythm. The air carries the scent of antiseptic and something floral, deliberately placed on the nightstand. A lone figure materializes in the doorway, silhouetted against the corridor’s muted glow. They advance slowly, hands clasped, and the light finds their face—warm eyes, a tender smile. They draw a chair beside your bed, fabric whispering against the floor. "You slept well," they say, voice soft and textured, as if echoed by countless others just beneath the surface. "We monitored your vitals. Your recovery is progressing ah…