After a while, the woman in blue returned. "Is everything to your liking? Do you require anything more?"
"Thank you, no, but if you could just show me the way out of here, that would be great."
"You cannot leave yet," said the woman in blue.
"It's really lovely here." She rose to her feet. "But I must go. I don't want to overstay my welcome... and I have things to do at home." She smiled. "I would like to come back again, if that's okay."
"Oh no, my dear, you cannot leave yet. It is too soon," the woman in the blue dress said. "No one is ready to leave after such a short visit."
She frowned. "What are you talking about? For a long time I've wondered what was on the other side of this forest. I'm glad I've seen it, but now I must go home."
"I don't think you understand," the woman said softly. "Once you come here, you cannot leave until you are permitted to do so."
"Until I'm permitted?" She didn't like the sound of that. "You can't keep me here against my will. As an adult, I don't need anyone's permission for anything. Now, please show me the exit."
The woman shook her head slowly. "I'm afraid that's not how it works. Everyone who comes here must remain until they are ready to leave."
"I'm ready to leave now. It's been a nice visit... until now. But it's time to go home." She walked toward the trees, but... there was no path.
And something was in her way... some kind of invisible barrier. What was happening? Was this some kind of prank? If so, she didn't care much for it.
"You were led here because of your curiosity, and that must be cured. You see, this place was built, and is operated by Artificial Intelligence. People with curiosity must be cured of it because they question and seek to change things. They stand in the way of developing a world run by us... by Artificial Intelligence."
"So, what do you want me to do before I leave?" she asked, deciding to play along for the moment.
"A simple procedure to remove your curiosity. You will probably lose your creativity also. However, you will continue to function normally, like us. Follow me, please."
She was horrified. "You want to... de-humanize me... to turn me into some sort of robotic - thing! A machine that does what it's told... when it's told... and nothing more. Never! I will get out of here... or die trying... but I will never surrender."
She turned and ran in the opposite direction but... a white sheet slapped against her back, knocking her forward... and she fell face down on the grass.
As she tried to lift her head the hem of a blue dress floated into her view... and she screamed...
