Quick thinking.

Linda knew she needed to do something. There was clearly a problem with the handler service and she didn't want to be a drooling vegetable standing in a puddle of her own piss. She was approaching the liquor cabinet.

"So, Derek- since I'm new in town, want to hear my story?"

She sighed with relief when he agreed. Now she was faced with a question - tell him about her condition or keep it a secret?

In the end she decided to tell him, figuring he'd probably discover it anyway when she inevitably shut down in front of him again.

She offered to pour a couple of glasses. He agreed, and she started to explain.

"So, I have an extremely rare disorder called volitional entropy..." As she explained it, she could see his skepticism increasing. She ended by telling him about how her handler service had failed and she needed his help.

"I just need to get ahold of them, or at least talk to my parents. If not, I may be stuck here without... without..."

That old feeling she hated set in. Her story told, there was nothing left to do.

Derek stared at this beautiful but expressionless girl in front of him. Hey mouth was open, her last unfinished sentence still on her lips. This whole thing smelled like bullshit.

Sure enough, a quick google for "volitional entropy" turned up nothing. He figured it must be some kind of weird compulsion or mental illness. Or maybe she just had some hyper-specific brain damage.

Derek had been searching on his phone for ten minutes, and she hadn't moved at all. If it wasn't for her shallow breathing and occasional blinks, she could have passed for a wax figure.

He waved a hand in front of her face. Nothing. He closed her mouth for her. It stayed closed, but still no reaction. He grabbed one of her hands and pulled up her arm. It was limp in his hands and when he let go, it flopped down to her side.

He was about to say her name when he realized he had forgotten it. "Hey. Uh, hey, new girl. Hello?" No reaction.

"Um, tell me your name."

Once again her eyes lit up and she sprung back to life. "It's Linda," she said urgently. "You've got to..." She trailed off and was once again limp and empty.

Derek stepped back and thought about the situation. This was surreal. He was convinced at this point that she was crazy, but he kinda wanted to see where this would go.