By Cedrick C. Cabaluna

Graphics by Jed Paul O. Naval

Stay still. Fix your gaze straight in front. And whatever you do, whatever you hear, or whatever you feel on the back of your neck, do not look back.

The school recently shifted to another test-taking platform which lets you take the exam offline by allowing you to download the file beforehand. The application seizes control of your laptop, preventing a student from accessing his personal files. The webcam and microphone stays on the entire duration of the exam to maintain a strict surveillance over the exam-takers. Do not avert your gaze, do not mutter—hell—do not even breathe, lest the machine flags you for suspicious activities.

Misfortune struck one night when you were alone in the house taking one of these seemingly 1984-inspired exams. The internet was down—it must be due to the sporadic storms in the country. Luckily, you were able to download the file beforehand. The lights were blinking on and off. You worry as the electricity supply might go out soon. You checked the battery percentage of your laptop: 25%. Not a lot, so you have to blitz through the test.

You open the application and enter the kafkaesque password given by the admin. Now, you wait for the loading bar to fill up.

Done.

The lights blink on and off again. You really have to hurry now. The terms and conditions flash on the screen. It says that the microphone and webcam should be unobstructed at all times, that other gadgets and devices must be turned off, and that you must receive no outside help and you must be alone in the room. Fair enough.

You tick the box that you agree, and click on the Agree button. The webcam opens up. You see your deadpan reflection staring right back at you on the screen. The application tells you to center your face on the screen and wait for it to verify your identity. You stared at the webcam pinhole to hasten the process. You feel the weight of the bags on your eyes. You were really tired. You were feeling drowsy and was about to close your eyes for a bit when you got slightly startled with a warning on the screen that you have never seen before.

“PLEASE BE ALONE IN THE ROOM. OUTSIDE HELP IS NOT ALLOWED”

You try to process what is happening.

“MORE THAN ONE PERSON IS PRESENT IN THE ROOM. NON-EXAM TAKERS PLEASE LEAVE IMMEDIATELY”

You wonder what kind of glitch is happening as you were sure that you were alone in the house at that time.

“PLEASE BE ALONE IN THE ROOM. THIS IS YOUR FINAL WARNING”

You look at the screen and see that there were two green squares. One square was centered at your face, while the other green square seems to be focusing right on the right side of your shoulder, focusing on thin air.

“PLEASE BE ALONE IN THE ROOM

PLEASE BE ALONE

PLEASE

PLEASE

PPLESSEAD

PLEELEADS

HELADP

HELP”

The electricity finally went out, along with the lights.

In complete darkness, the laptop’s screen was the last remaining light source.

“The exam is about to start, are you still there?”