Prologue – The Crisis

  The crisis in which my country finds itself has taken my job. These days have been difficult, the little money that my company provided me with after my twenty years of service will soon run out. I scour the newspapers every day in search of a new job, no matter which one, no matter the position, I urgently need a paid job.

  I send out dozens of CVs, but unfortunately I don't get any replies, now all I can do is hope. My funds will soon run out, even if I cut my spending’s even further, and live on the edge of what I can, in a month I will be destitute.

  I finally got an answer. Wonderland.Inc sent me an electronic letter, which contained the address where I should go every day at 6pm, the Corvus hospital. The hospital is where the experiment will be carried out, something related to the study of dreams. I couldn't understand what these scientists were hoping to achieve by carrying out this experiment, what useful discovery could they bring to humanity? Well, it doesn't matter, after all, I've got a job.

  It's been a week since I received the electronic letter, and tomorrow I have to go to the hospital to confirm the contract. This work as a “Voluntary Participant in Clinical Trials” makes me… a little nervous. I was told, in the letter, that the medical team would take all the necessary precautions to ensure my safety, and if I wasn't feeling well, I could freely leave the experiment. Nonsense, the economic state of the country ensures that this option is not viable, and besides, the name "Voluntary Participant" is just a fancy way of saying guinea pig. Unfortunately, this was the only job that accepted me, I can't afford to turn down this offer because of my irrational fear.

  --*--

  What I earn from playing the piano is the bare minimum I need to support myself, and now that the country has gone into crisis, unfortunately I can't survive on my art alone.

  This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings.

  I've sent out a lot of CVs, I've looked everywhere, and I've still not had any answers. To make matters worse, the small salon that used to pay for my shows will close tomorrow. This crisis has really affected us all.

  The salon closed a week ago. Now, the only moment of peace I have is during my daily rehearsals.

  I received an e-mail from the company Wonderland.Inc, which gave me all the information I needed about the job. Of course, I accepted their terms. Next day, I'll be going to the contract confirmation meeting, of course, I'll never stop playing, I'll never give up music. This job is only temporary.

  --*--

  This morning I had a discussion at the International Boxing Federation. The young man insisted on saying that they were cutting the income of all former athletes, inconceivable, they already paid me a pittance, and now with the crisis, they want to cut the pay even more? My fights earned the federation millions. Unfortunately, after they identified Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy, I was forced to retire, and as time went by, the respect they had for me began to fade. The discussion led to nothing; it just put me in a bad mood.

  My illness was identified before I could face the world champion. This was the reason I fought, the desire to become the best, the world champion, gave meaning to life. Unfortunately, it wasn't to be.

  Tomorrow, I'll have to look for a job, I've been advised to use the computer, I don't know how to use it properly, but I don't have any other options, I urgently need a job.

  I've sent a few e-mails, which I understand are like letters, electronic letters, at least that's what they say, I just hope they get back to me soon. Wonderland.Inc replied, their reply was the only one I got this month. Even though it's a rather old-fashioned job, I have to accept this offer, the money the federation gives me doesn't even pay the rent at the moment, let alone the monthly expenses.

  Tomorrow I have to go to Corvus, the local hospital, to confirm my participation in the medical experiment. Apparently, this work shouldn't be too complex, from what I understand, all I have to do is take the medicine and sleep. Sleep… something I rarely do. We all need rest, but since I retired, nightmares tend to steal my sleep. I just hope I can be useful to them, because I really need this job.