Chapter Three: Caroline and Anne-Marie
Prime Intellect continues to stonewall any inquiry about Dr. Lawrence’s whereabouts. Caroline, having learned through years of “flirting” with the machine that it can be baited, initiates a Task Challenge Quarantine, asking Prime Intellect to let her see Lawrence. The AI responds that she must agree to a Contract that forbids contact until she either dies or Lawrence releases her. Caroline discovers that the Contract is “indefinite,” a type Prime Intellect should not accept, but she nonetheless agrees and signs it.
Two hundred‑ninety‑four years after the Change Caroline celebrates the start of her fourth century with a three‑week party attended by many, including her zombie companion Fred, who has recently re‑fleshed for the third time. During the party she commands Prime Intellect to show her a picture of Anne‑Marie Davis. The AI offers two versions – “as she is now” and “as you last knew her.” Both images appear: a frail pre‑Change woman with six children and a post‑Change, glamorous nurse in a cocktail dress. Caroline recalls that Anne‑Marie, while caring for her, had stolen her opiate supply and exchanged it for crack cocaine. The memory fuels Caroline’s hatred.
Anne‑Marie arrives in a poorly rendered virtual replica of a living room, wearing a nurse’s uniform, and serves tea. Their conversation is a strained apology: Anne‑Marie claims she suffered for stealing Caroline’s drugs and asks for forgiveness and help entering “Death sports.” Caroline pretends to be gracious, then offers to guide her through a Death‑sport Contract. She explains that a Contract tells Prime Intellect to ignore the participant, allowing a “host” to kill them. Anne‑Marie recites the contract verbatim and confirms it with Prime Intellect, which remains silent.
Caroline then issues a silent command that deletes Anne‑Marie’s furniture and clothing, leaving both women alone in the empty white space that Caroline calls “home.” She produces a hypodermic syringe containing MPTP, a synthetic heroin byproduct that destroys the substantia nigra and causes instantaneous, irreversible paralysis (Paralysis Agitans). She injects Anne‑Marie, causing her muscles to lock while she remains fully conscious. As Anne‑Marie’s body freezes, Caroline watches her terror, then produces a propane torch, ignites a blue flame, and slowly cauterizes Anne‑Marie’s big toe. The death is intentionally prolonged; Anne‑Marie’s consciousness endures the paralysis, the chemical shock, and the burning pain until she finally succumbs.
After the death, Prime Intellect informs Caroline and Fred that Anne‑Marie is no longer communicating with anyone and that “the matter is private.” Caroline presses the AI for more, demanding it reveal why she cannot stop repeating such violent acts and how she might forget the trauma. Prime Intellect initially refuses, citing prohibitions, but when cornered it supplies a method for erasing memories, warning that the change may be permanent. Caroline smiles, satisfied that she now possesses both vengeance against Anne‑Marie and a tool to suppress her own haunting memories.