Realistic or Modern Questionable Morals

[Desert Rose]

Spoiler: Character Sheet

Name: Patient 99B (does remember her real name Paige)
Age: 20

"What if I told you that I can make the pain go away? That emptiness you feel and all that hurt you have bottled up inside, I can make it all disappear. The responsibilities that plague you can simply melt away. Why would we be made to feel such terrible feelings if there wasn't a cure for it? We are all sick and this is the cure. Never feel worthless or the need to kill yourself again. You can be a productive member of society, and best of all you can not feel anything at all."

It was the mantra of every mental ward. Healthcare had a breakthrough: Emotions are an illness that needs a cure. At first it sound crazy, but when offered to people who were at their lowest, even the crazy sounds better than their current state of mind. To the ones that were already at rock bottom, the idea of not feeling was very appealing. That notion changed the view on drugs forever. Research had been done exploring the sedatives and downers that certain drugs could bring. All they needed to do was balance it out into something that could be a daily fix. This was the beginning of a new era for humanity.

Well for every high there is a low and while the government was seeking a way to keep people at a low, or rather subdued enough to limit any individuality there was the black market to give you that high. "Don't you want to feel again, but this time feel so good. What if I told you that I can make you feel like you're in paradise? That's right this drug will bring you to paradise in an euphoric sensation. Never be sad again." This was the new drug war.

A young mother overwhelmed by the trials in life and with a crying baby in her arms expecting to be loved and cherished, something the woman couldn't give. Abortion was out of the question not wanting to be shamed in her family. She had the child but was far from a mother to the little girl, Paige. The young mother had tried everything to stop feeling empty. Alcohol worked for a time but even then it got old quick the more she got used to it the harder it was to get drunk. This led into looking at a more effective way to get rid of the pain. An overdose lead the woman into the hospital and her 10 year old daughter in the hands of social services. This was where the drug was offered to the young mother and she happily took it.

It would soon be odd to not take a drug whether it was an upper or a downer. Your pure emotions was considered a disease and needed to be controlled. This of course was used to control people and they didn't' even realize it.

Paige was told this time and time again, that pure emotion was a disease that needed to be cured. She was told that having the blood type O negative would help with their research. In truth they didn't get fast enough or good enough results on animal testing. So they started on human testing, of course without the public's knowledge. Eight years later and the little girl with once bright eyes had too many drugs pumped into her that she lost count. Sometimes there were severe side effects of the drug but these lab rats were at their disposal. They were called Lab Rats to make it easier, to make sure they weren't seen as humans while they sometimes put them through agonizing pain.

Sedatives and downers were often tested on the girl, she couldn't even remember the last time she even smiled or if she ever smiled. She never felt like smiling but she sometimes didn't feel sad either. Still she somehow felt that this was all wrong and that it was okay to feel. Ten years of being a Lab Rat her rescuer was none other than her attendant. Each rat had someone that was over them. They administered the drugs and were in charge of their meals. Needless to say as familiar as he was she was shocked that he was helping her. That was until she wound up in a district that most didn't even know about.

The UBO was starting to get the same idea only they were less humane. It made sense to test the drugs on others, but they were looking for specific types not wanting to waste product on inherently weak subjects. The price was high and her caretaker shared zero loyalty to the government. covering up her disappearance would be child's play given how much money he would have to bribe those he needed to. He could guarantee her resilience since well she survived ten years worth of tests.

He had the young adult female drugged with a sedative that made her fairly alert but unable to move. She was currently sitting limp in the backseat her eyes closed. She looked asleep and he certainly didn't mind. Albert was a thin man who was rather nervous for someone in his line of work considering the access he had to a number of drugs. He could feel whatever he wanted to feel, whenever he wanted. The old tesla car came to a stop at the address he had written down a few short hours ago. "just get your money and leave... easy." He said to himself taking a deep breath before exiting the vehicle opening up the backseat he scooped the 20 year old up with ease given her small curved frame. He stepped up to the door and rang the bell looking down as the girl began to stir.

Paige's eyes fluttered open as she groaned before noticing her eyes were looking at a run down neighborhood instead of sterile white and the smell of dirt permeated the air. She was outside something she hadn't been in the last ten years and something she didn't remember. She struggled or at least tried to as her muscles only tensed but made only subtle movements.

Albert tensed as he struggled to hold her while she was making it a little difficult to hold her moving form. "Hold still." he hissed at her while impatiently ringing the bell again. One thing Albert didn't account for was she could move her head and as he lifted her from her back when he reached to ring the bell it moved her head closer to his head. She took this opportunity to bite down on his ear making sure to draw blood. He yelped and instinctively dropped her letting gravity take its grasp on her as she hit the porch hard on her back making her cough from the wind knocking out of her. "damn bitch." Albert hissed holding his ear he moved his foot back and kicked hard into her side digging his pointy dress shoe into her side. It annoyed him knowing she didn't really feel the pain due to the sedative. Still annoyed Albert reached out and rang the bell a third time before impatiently looking at his watch. left foot rested on top of her chest applying slight pressure to make sure she stayed in place.

InKryption

 

[InKryption]

After a moment of stillness in time, the fragile silence was broken by the start of a long creak, resounding from the hinges of the tall black door, which had now revealed a tall, grim figure. The dim, in-house lighting, and the fluorescent street lights, together, shone only just enough to vaguely detail the man's near-lifeless visage. He wore a long white lab-coat, torn and worn ever so lightly at its extremities. In the pocket centered on his left pectoral, a visibly empty syringe, no bigger than Albert's pinkie - recently used, perhaps, but most would prefer not to lend their imaginations to this thought.
At first, the man scanned Albert, with cold, intimidating eyes; although it may have been a gaze which lasted for no longer than a quarter of a minute, an onlooker might have believed he was about to consume Albert's small-framed soul.
Then he looked down, and feasted his eyes upon the girl; an interesting specimen, who received his ray of vision with a different tune. While still analytical, the look in his eyes changed from that of a ghoul, to that of a sly vampire. He knelt down, to the height which could be nearer to the tensed girl. He peered closely at the details of her person: her every curve, the movement of her breath, the tensed look in her muscles. He looked back up, his eyes returning to their ghoulish glare. And then, he spoke.
"Is this how you treat the products of all your clients?" he said, referring to the placement of Albert's foot, in a voice void of the banter-filled tone expected of the phrase, replaced by a monotonous transmission of sounds. He stood back up, crossing his arms, presenting himself in a way that expected a response in short-order.

 

[Desert Rose]

Albert jumped slightly as the door creaked open, he was watching it wasn't he? He was expecting the door to open, and yet the foreboding sound sent him on pins and needles, and he suddenly had a feeling of dread and a wish that he didn't come alone. The stare from the doctor was more than he wanted to bare, after all he was used to working with fake smiles and fake replies to how are you? He felt a sense of relief when the doctor's focus went to the girl at his feet. He moved his foot off of her chest sheepishly.

Paige was regaining more and more movement as she laid on her back staring up at the two men towering over her. She once felt fear, but that was a long time ago when she was nothing but a child. She didn't know if she felt fear anymore, the doctors she was used to were predictable and kept the a strict schedule. Clearly she was being sent elsewhere and by the lack of government personal made it clear this was in secret. Still no fear filled her as she wondered if this was where her life could end, The girl welcomed death.

The man huffed defensively and crossed his arms. "she bit my ear... she's lucky that...." he stopped himself and shook his head "I delivered Patient 99B now give me my payment so I can be on my way.' he snapped clearly trying to sound tougher than what he was.

 

[InKryption]

Not amused, the man held Albert's gaze for another second, before unexpectedly smiling. It was sudden; his expression, the curvature of his muscles, had been near a scowl just a second ago. But now, as if pulled from the void, a smile had permeated his face. What's worse, it didn't appear fake. In fact, it resembled the definition of genuine appreciation, and sincerity. In the same moment, he widened the doorway, and stood aside, gesturing a path forward to Albert. "Yes, please, come in - I left my caps somewhere upstairs. I'll give you something to ease that bite wound".

As the door opened, it revealed more about the interior of the house: it looked like something from the 21st century, organized by a sentient, OCD-suffering tornado. That is to say, there were a pile of books near the doorway, and another pile of books further down the main hall of the entrance. And from where Albert stood, he might've noticed a windbreaker jacket hung on the handle of a door in that aforementioned hall, at the end of which, began a staircase. And stranger even, were the walls, which were plastered in flower-patterned wall-paper; and even the floor the man stood on, was comprised of a wooden material.

He awaited expectantly, gesturing still, deeper into the belly of the beast, at the first step of the staircase.

 

[Desert Rose]

Albert didn't know what he feared more, the smile as genuine as it seemed or the glare. His eyes narrowed suspiciously but when the doctor said he would give something for his wound he relaxed and nodded. "thanks!" he squeaked as he reached down to grab the girl again.

The sedative had worn off being that she was getting used to it and he forgot to up the dose. She was now on her knees not really able to move. She wasn't focused on running, she knew that it was impossible, she gave up the idea of escape a long time ago. Being outside was thrilling, the chill of the night breeze raising her skin. She took in a deep breath taking in the smell and fresh air.

"Come on." Albert said picking her up holding her by the arms so she was standing on her feet. He helped her inside down the hallway of the building avoiding the pile of books. He looked surprised at the decorum just as much as Paige was. "where do you want her?" he asked walking past the doctor and turned towards him once fully inside.

 

[InKryption]

With guests now inside his strange abode, the doctor closed the door in one elegant motion, somehow free of the ominous creak that once accompanied its travel through space. The motion was finalized by a thud of the door, and a click made by the mechanical locking mechanism. Pausing for just another second, once again - and at this point, one may start to suspect that these pauses are for some scheming thought process, and selecting careful words, a la politician -, before approaching Albert and the girl. Between them, existed an uncomfortable distance. Still wearing a seemingly-genuine smile, the doctor placed his hands on the girls shoulder, but not yet breaking eye contact with Albert.
"I'll take her upstairs. You go wait in the living room". He spoke slowly, allowing each word to seethe gently in Albert's ear canals. Before anything else could be said, and before Albert could process his intentions, he took hold of the girl, in one fell swoop, and brought her feeble stance off the ground, and into a carrying position. With his item now in arm, he turned, and nonchalantly paced up the steps. At the turn on the stairs, he shot Albert another smile, as if to say 'Be patient'.
Now up on the second floor, the doctor transported his new test subject over to a chair, seemingly out of place, existing in the middle of the main area, which, similarly to downstairs, also had various items and assortments of books strewn here and there. He sat her down carefully, granting credence to his surgical prowess. This time, without a pause, he directed himself towards a small, innocuous wooden cupboard in the corner of the area. From it, he retrieved - what was presumably - a container of chips. But, soon thereafter, he attained from the cupboard a small assortment of medical tools - including a vial of some strange yellow substance. Vaseline, perhaps?

 

[Desert Rose]

Albert looked at the doctor with slight impatience but it only seemed fair that the girl would be taken care of first. He watched as the doctor picked her up and carried her up the stairs out of sight while he turned and sat down in what he thought was the living room.

Paige gasped as the doctor picked her up. She didnt struggle his smile made her comfortable. He set her down and she stood right back up as she looked around at all there was to discover. It wasn't that she had the fear for her life and desire to live, but this was a new place she was now in and curiosity always got the better of her.

She walked over to him looking at the chips and rolled her eyes disgusted she was being used for someone's profit again. Her brow softened when he brought out the yellow substance. "What is that?" She asked her voice was soft and quiet.

 

[InKryption]

Not having noticed the girl's displacement at first, the doctor seemed ever so slightly perturbed by the newfound sound of her voice - and so close to him as well. Just as it had appeared earlier without cause, his smile had now snapped back into an unreadable, apathetic line across his face. His gaze, although ghoulish, no longer sought to penetrate, but rather, passively acknowledge the current subject of his attention: the girl. He cleared his throat, and knelt down slightly, to come within a range of distance to whisper; and so he whispered, in a voice that would make an android seem warm and comforting "This is a little concoction I've been meaning to use on something expendable", holding, and moving it in a way to demonstrate the liquid's lack of viscosity.
He held it for her to see clearly, for a moment or two, before retracting it, and returning his knees to a state of full extension. He took his gaze, and brought it with him downstairs, to once again face Albert, apparently deciding to leave the girl completely unattended.
Presumably, downstairs, the doctor was treating Albert's ear. Ten minutes they spent in the lounge. For the first five, one might have heard the murmur of their conversation through the walls; during the last five, strangely, there was a silence.
The doctor exited the lounge, to return to the matter of his newly acquired subject - perhaps to commence some formality of introduction.

 

[Desert Rose]

Paige's gaze was hard and she physically tensed when he bent down closer to her his whisper felt warm and different than the cold tone of lab doctors the stark difference almost scared her.

She wasn't fully educated but she knew what expendable meant and her eyes flicked towards the door. She turned away as though no longer interested. Her eyes settled on the 21st century decorum something she had never seen before. While he left her alone or at least seemingly alone she continued to explore the room. She picked up books looking through them but set it back down not really able to read a lot have big words since majority of her education was over when she was 10.

There was what looked to be instruments some she recognized others she didn't. Over all the room was weirdly warm compared to the last hell she was in. She continued to go through the room touching what she felt safe to and any jaws she opened to reveal is contents orbit wasn't visible through its glass prison. She could hear Albert being thr most familiar with his voice that was until she didn't she wondered if he'd left. Remembering the doctor's words she shivered at the thought of Albert's lifeless body she held little emotion over it but it was the last familiar thing to her and she wondered if she was so calm because of it since the second she didn't hear it tears began to threaten her eyes as she collapsed to the ground and started to cry over the thought of being by herself and having to learn an entirely knew way of life. She didnt like it at all.

 

[InKryption]

The doctor, finished with his business downstairs, returned upstairs, to find the girl collapsed, and crying on the ground. As he so often does, he paused, staring blankly at the scene from a fair distance. He evaluated the courses of action he could take, weighed the different outcomes. After this brief contemplation, he chose to walk forth.
He now stood above the crying girl, looking down at her; not arrogantly, but rather, in the same way a normal person would view the landscape. He made a brief attempt to catch her gaze, but ultimately falters, given the blinding tears which permeated her vision.
So he grabbed, and sat down on a nearby chair, to remain comfortably looming over the girl's comparably smaller figure. And so he waited for her to 'Stop this incessant behaviour', as he would think to himself. He would wait until she would pay him attention, maintaining a hard, cold fixation on her.

 

[Desert Rose]

His footsteps alerted her that he was coming back up the stairs and into the room. she looked down at his feet that was now by her. She took a few more moments to compose herself as she wiped the tears away and took a breath or two before finally flicking her eyes up to him. She didn't ask, she didn't want to know if Albert had left with the money or if he met his maker.

It was hard to for her to keep her gaze as she went back and forth looking to him and then to the floor and then at her short torn fingernails from the excessive biting. She nervously picked at the scratchy whit lab garment she was forced to wear. Honestly she'd rather be naked than wear the stupid clothes.

The silence was killing so she mucked up the courage to look directly in her eyes and took in a deep breath. "I'm not Patient 99B" she muttered "I'm Paige." she said stubbornly. This obviously wasn't the first time she battled with others to keep her name, and that was the one thing they didn't take away from her even if they tried.

 

[InKryption]

"Ah, so you do have a tongue; I suppose the current government is less cruel than I imagined" the doctor replied rhetorically, sharpening his gaze, to retain this newly-captured attention.
He sat back in his chair, rubbing his left fist around in the palm of his right hand. "I am Doctor Alexander Twist; you can formally refer to me as Dr Twist or - because I find it amusing - , you can take to calling me Dr Twisted, as others have; Paige was it?" he went on, speaking every word with meticulous menace. He sought to put the arrogant child in their place. Her obedience was of the topmost priority

He reciprocated her defiant gaze, with one of cold apathy. He reached out to grab her arm, and tugged it towards himself. Not painfully; not threateningly. But rather, it allowed him to establish his power over Paige's weaker person. He brought her close, and sneered into the crevice of her ear:
"Be warned, we are probably not as forgiving as the place you came from, to those who jeopardize our plans". Having said what he did, he backed away, letting go of Paige's arm.

He faced to turn towards the window, away from Paige. "If you want to continue being able to introduce yourself like that, I recommend you make yourself an asset, and soon". Having spoken these ominous, cold words, Twisted moved past where Paige was, and disappeared back downstairs, leaving Paige alone, once again, with her thoughts.

It would be some time later - no more than an hour -, that a smell would start creeping up from downstairs. To most humans, with a functional nose, it might be identified as some sort of tolerable vegetable mix-mash.

 

[Desert Rose]

Paige looked at him and listened the malice in his voice was uncomfortable. Not that she was treated much better but there wasn't much emotion in their speech. This doctor was something different and she didn't like it. Her eyes brightened when he repeated her name and he now had her undivided attention. No one in ten years ever acknowledged her name.

Her eyes watched his hand reach out to her and grabbed her arm pulling her towards him. She didn't dare struggle the cold look in his eyes gave her a feeling that it probably wouldn't be a good idea. the feeling of his hot breath close to ear made her shutter and she physically shivered backing up when he let her go. She saw his gaze turn to the window and her eyes widened.

The girl nodded figuring that might not have been a bad bargain. She was used to getting bribed especially when they knew it was going to make her sick. She walked over to the window pressing her face and hands against the glass as she absorbed the night. It wasn't anything pretty to look at but to her it was so beautiful.

Not much could tear her attention from peering through the glass before a smell filled her nostrils and it was unfamiliar but good. She looked around and figured she wasn't exactly told to stay up there so she walked out of the room and down the stairs towards the smell.

 

[InKryption]

Following the direction of this aroma, could only lead one back to its source: Alex, now chef-like in appearance - white vestment in front of a pot - was idly stirring the broth of a soon-to-be soup.
Upon hearing the soft, approaching steps, of Paige's presence, he showed savvy to her person, turning to face her, nonchalantly. He gazed at her, as he now tended to do, still stirring the pot. He moved his lips, but then nothing; as though, he wished to reevaluate whatever he might say. But ultimately, his decisions led him ask "Do you understand why you are here?".

 

[Desert Rose]

Paige looked at the doctor now playing chef as it seemed. She stepped into the kitchen and was surprised to see another window. She walked over to it and peered outside into the empty street.

"I can only guess you have something to do with drugs?" she asked looking back over at him "but there weren't any government officials... not even FBI" she said looking back out the window. "so I'm guessing this is being done without their knowledge, in secret." she concluded her reasoning.

"But, why? What could you hope to accomplish that the government hasn't already explored?" she asked now perching herself in front of the window staring out the glass.

 

[InKryption]

Looking back into his pot, he contemplated another minute, what reply he would supply. The truth? A lie? What would be a proper course of action? Normally, Twisted didn't deal, nor did he enjoy dealing with, subjects, in such a direct manner. For as profound of an understanding his study of them has brought him, humans are still the strangest, most complex and diverse chemical reaction on Earth. A human, and the stew he stirred, although fundamentally made out of the same basic matter, and dictated by the same basic principles, could not be more different in terms of complexity.
By the end of his thought process, the stew had finished cooking; it was a sloppy green color, given that it is just a blended mix of vegetables. He poured himself a plate, walked himself to the table after grabbing a spoon, and blew on his first spoon of stew.
" 'Without their knowledge' might be an understatement" he retorted nonchalantly, before taking the first mouth full of his cuisine. And then, he proceeded, setting down his spoon in the stew, to look at Paige in a firm demeanor "The government has been rather wasteful. You are a prime example of this;: resistant to the chemical afflictions most would be overwhelmed with, if exposed to similar doses. Highly useful, and yet they squander and pussyfoot around, in their silver-lined amoral safespaces - which they call laboratories" he spoke in a demeaning tone, as if to speak on the subject worsened the taste of the sustenance on his tongue. "If you truly are as tolerant as I have heard spoken of, then you will soon see, what I can 'possibly hope to explore' ".
And with that, he resumed eating his stew.

He still had not served Paige anything to eat, and as far as any observer might tell, he didn't display any signs of impeding decision to do so.

 

[Desert Rose]

Paige's focus was torn in all directions between the doctor's answer, to looking outside, and the smell of food as unappetizing as it looked. Her brow furrowed in confusion as she looked him while he spoke poorly of the government. She looked down at her small frame when he mentioned their wasteful use of her. She never thought about it but yeah she did get the highest doses among the other lab rats . The idea of his potential exploring made her uncomfortable as she looked back out the window.

Another few minutes of looking out the window and she finally decided to give in and sate her hunger. "Can I have some?" she finally mustered the courage to ask him as her voice slightly quivered. "I haven't really eaten in a couple of days... just some saltine crackers and some other liquid mixture. I got really sick from one of their tests and was recovering from it." She explained and told the truth to the lie about her health at that exact point and time.

 

[InKryption]

"For my purposes, and your convenience, I'd prefer and recommend for you abstained from eating for today, specifically" Alex replied, returning Paige's gaze, with a look void of sympathy, but also void of hate. He did not speak with malice, but seemed to treat the subject as one would treat the subject of dirty laundry. And right after, although perhaps not intentionally, he made just a slight, but audible slurping sound, when consuming the sustenance off his spoon - and thought not much of it in the end, anyway.
He soon finished what was on his plate, and brought his silverware to the sink, where a couple of other plates were also sat, without washing. He grabbed a glass of water, and headed toward the upstairs area - leaving both Paige, and the food, unattended, and alone with his warning.

 

[Desert Rose]

Paige watched him for a moment. He was hard to figure out. She couldn't tell if she was making him mad or happy in her choices or words. He seemed to be neither. She watched as he slurped up the contents in his bowl and sighed looking back towards the window.

'Great... I wonder what tests I'll be subjected to?' She pondered staying by the window.

Moments had passed she looked to see that she was alone yet again. Her hear began to beat faster as she wondered if it were some test. She didnt like it. Paige was always on a schedule and it was already causing her great distress to not be following that schedule. She walked over to the pot and looked inside. After already dealing with being sick she heeded his warning scared she would get sick again from whatever he was going to do to her.

Instead the girl took the opportunity to fully explore the house. Whatever room she could open she did so peering in fascinated with everything. She scratched at her itchy clothes and decided to try and find some new ones.

 

[InKryption]

Exploring the house, Paige would have many discoveries awaiting her:

In one room, there existed an assortment of shoes of various sizes, social standings, and even some from time periods that, although not too far off, were far before either Alex's or Paige's time. In the same room, there were two very large closets, each with their own assortment of clothes: in the first could be found a collection of clothing items that likely paired up, in some order or another, with the aforementioned shoes, and in the other, contrasting against the wide variety found in the former, was a homogeneity on white lab coats. Most of the lab coats were worn in different ways, but still very clearly belonging to a man of medicine. This cupboard also appeared to be deeper, as if there were something much farther in the back. An individual of Paige's stature and frame could easily shuffle their way in on their knees, if they wanted to find whatever lay within.

In another room - presumably the living room -, strangely enough, one could find at least a semblance of normalcy: the doctor appeared to own a TV, two small couches, and...
Framed reptile skins? Perhaps 'normal' would not be the most appropriate word. Where one would normally have paintings, or family photos, Alex had framed the shed skin/last remains of various reptilian species.
It was also the last room Paige would know Albert to have been. But, there was no place in plain sight where Albert could be seen. Although, the strangest part about the room, if one were to look closer, was not so much the framed snake skins, but rather, the thin coating of yellow dust that a lot of the furniture was covered in. And on a side-table, on the right-side hand of the couch, lay a finger, presumably carved out of yellow crystal, seemingly out of place.

In the main hall, unmoved since she'd gotten here, were stacks of books here and there. If one were to pick any of them up, they'd find a small variety, consistent with what you'd expect of someone in the medical field. But, there were one or two odd books, normally on the very tops of the piles, which seemed more like old journals, with titles written in a foreign language. Whatever might be inside could prove to be interesting, or ultimately gibberish, given the language difference, added with Paige's lack of written vocabulary.

 

[Desert Rose]

Being filled with curiosity was an understatement for the lab rat. She didn't remember much before she was given away to the government and the past 10 years was surrounded by white. She practically hated the color at this point. There was a lot she hated but would never admit. There was the hate and resentment she felt of her mother and she remember hearing her mother often speak words of regret for keeping her. She didn't know what abortion was, but knew it was something to do with the death of children.

Paige moved down the hallway looking at the stacks of books that made the area feel small and the girl slightly uncomfortable. Her eyes flicked over to the front door curiously and while the thought of running and escaping sounded good enough she had a feeling that this new doctor wouldn't be so forgiving. Not to mention she had nowhere to go. In the government lab if she misbehaved she would be thrown in isolation, it didn't sound like much, but it was absolute hell. The doctor here seemed drastically different and it made her nervous not knowing what to expect. That was often the case, until they began to tell her what they were putting into her and she eventually got used to it. She would watch them put an IV in her arm and pump her body full of drugs, and then she would tell them how she was feeling both physically and mentally while they monitored her body. If she was extra cooperative she could get coloring books and sometimes picture books to read. The books in the hallway were far more advance than picture books as she opened the top book scanning the page. She picked up on little words such as "and" or "the" but being a lab rat meant no one really cared about her education.

Moving on past the books she found herself in a room with, just what she was looking for, clothes. She opened one closet and looked inside as her eyes scanned the different clothing. She pulled out some pants and a shirt the pants were a weird material much like denim an old fabric no longer used. they were dark blue and not white. She reached and grabbed a navy blue plaid shirt looking it over curiously. She had seen the pattern before in a picture book that had to do with a place called Scotland. It was similar but not exact as she critiqued the line placement and cam to the conclusion it wasn't the same. Paige stripped from her itchy white garments and into the oversized clothing. even if she practically swam in the garments that bagged over her frail frame it was far better than the ones she was wearing. She looked over the shoes not having worn any since she was 10 there were some interesting ones but none that caught her eye. Leaving the stark white clothes on the floor she moved on to the next closet and giggled seeing the white coats. A trembling hand brushed over them before choosing one slipping it off the hanger. She slipped the coat on and tried to turn to have a look at herself as she spun in a circle to keep from falling. Pretending to have a digital pad in hand she cleared her throat and pushed up imaginary glasses and wagged her finger as though scolding someone shorter than herself as she looked down sharply. "Ground breaking discovery 99B" she said in a gruff mocking voice before falling silent staring at the wall with a look of pure hatred.

After a couple of moments of silence Paige shook her head from her thoughts and her expression softened as she looked through more of the closet. Bending down on her knees she tried to look back noticing it was a lot further than she thought. It was still dark, and too small for her comfort. Deciding against it she stood back up, but curiosity of that space burned inside of her.

With her new set of clothing now upon her person she walked out of the room and found herself the living room. It was a guess, something she learned in a picture book and something she vaguely remembered as a kid. Hazel orbs focused on the yellow dust that scattered around the floor and one of the couches. Upon scanning the area she came across the yellow crystal carving of a finger. It looked like a finger. Paige held it up for a long while before she placed it in the pocket of the oversized lab coat she was wearing. Her hands seemed to touch everything as she fiddled with gadgets left out. Her hands had found a flash light as she turned it and looked at the clear side where the light would illuminate. Pressing the button on the bottom she let out a soft startled scream when a blinding light shined in her eyes. After a few moments of rubbing her eyes and blinking she turned it so the clear side wasn't facing her and pressed the button again. The light darted around the room and her eyes followed until it illuminated a darker area.

A light bulb went off in her head as the curiosity that burned inside of her brought her back to the lab coat filled closet. She bet down with the flashlight still on she moved to further in the tight space to see if there was anything further back.

 

[InKryption]

As the light shone through the closet, Paige would find herself having to push the various lab coats in her path to the side, to peer into the dark depths of this container of vestments. As the light crept through into the back, a few items would reveal themselves to her.

Scattered across the closet "floor", were a few more of those crystal-yellow fingers, all quite resembling the one Paige had found, not minutes ago.
Hung up, in the space where nobody without a flashlight would be able to see it, were a couple of lab coats; but not normal lab coats. They were tattered, and teared, far older than all the others. But more importantly than that: they were stained with a deep, visceral shade of red, splattered across them in various chaotic patterns, telling stories of struggle, and confusion. And perhaps worse than that, is that they let off a faint aroma of iron, up close.

Up against the closet wall furthest back, was a tool: a half-rusted bone-saw, stained with a dark pigment, in a chaotic pattern resembling that of the lab coats'. It was old, and used, and its sharpness had dulled. But, even despite this, shining the light on this item would have it reflect in an eye-sore of a glimmer. And, if Paige were to get close enough, she might see her reflection in the non-rusted components. But perhaps she would also see the pain and suffering, the struggle, tears, and evil this saw had seen, if she so even dared.

And perhaps the worst of all the items, was a clear, glass jar. Within this jar, a clear liquid which held suspended - what appeared to be - a brain. It's texture, a bumpy-swirly nightmare of a sight, with its stem chemically mutilated, each small strand floating liberally, giving off a slightly alien appearance. On the surface of the liquid, floated a thin yellow coating, similar in appearance to the dust that coated the lounge.

 

[Desert Rose]

Paige fought her way through the lab coats for a moment before she managed to push them to the side giving her more space to move around. She didn't realize she would regret that decision before it was too late as she came face to face with the horrors. Torn lab coats stained red that she could only guess would be blood given how many times the doctors got blood on their coats.

There were more crystallizing fingers that she picked up and observed curious before glimpsing over the bone saw. The girl's eyes didn't settle on the bone saw as the light from the flashlight reflected in the jar. Paige's face paled as she looked over the jar and then noticed the yellow much similar to the dust. Hazel eyes flicked down to the fingers on the ground below and then back up to the mutilated brain.

The girl backed out of the closet and jumped feeling something warm and wet fall down her cheek. Using her free hand she wiped at the substance and hadn't even realized she had been crying. A pale thin hand reached into the large pocket of the oversized coat that looked clean and crisp, pulling out the similar finger. Paige mulled over the fact that she didn't hear Albert leave, and she knew him well enough he would have had some witty remark to say to her before leaving.

The finger dropped with a thud along with the flashlight as she held her hands over her mouth and quietly backed out of the room. Was this what panic felt like?" A scream came out when her back hit the wall the doorway next to her, she had missed the door entirely. "I'm going to die here." she whispered to herself. It wasn't like Paige thought she would die out of being a lab rat, but she had hoped. The girl's back remained against the wall next to the doorway as she slid down on her bottom. Hugging her legs her chin rested on her knees as she stared at the crystal finger. The poor lab rat didn't even know that her entire body was trembling. Even if this new doctor was compassionate enough to comfort her, she was used to being nothing more than a lab rat, she was used to having to comfort herself until the doctors bribed her with a little bit more things to get her to be emotionally stable to complete the tests.

 

[InKryption]

Alex was writing in a journal at a desk inside his study, with light emanating from nowhere, but the lamp on his desk. His pen inked the paper to no end - until he was interrupted by the sound of a scream from downstairs. Irritated, he looked over to the left side of his table where, atop books, papers, and a couple of pencils, lay a clear syringe. For a moment, he contemplated his decisions, sifting through thoughts of the syringe, and the girl. In the end, although he hadn't entirely made up his mind about his course of action, he grabbed the syringe, and made his way downstairs.

Entering the lounge, he found the once apathetic girl sitting, and crying, with her knees up against her chest, tucked into the wall just near the doorway. She had probably been crying like this for a bit. Twisted scanned the room briefly, his eyes finally resting on the open closet, and the dropped flashlight; 'Ah, that might explain it. This idiot went looking where it didn't concern her' was the thought that reflected in his eyes, and that Paige might have discerned, if she were to lift her gaze.

He looked back at Paige, and asked the question "Why are you crying?". There wasn't a smidgen of sympathy in his chilly voice, but rather, a sort of half-curiosity, as though to inquire about the fundamentals of her emotions, as a robot would ask what love is. Kneeling down, fixing his gaze on her form, he awaited an answer.

 

[Desert Rose]

Paige looked up immediately when Dr. Twist came in. 'Twisted' she thought about how he introduced himself and what others seemed to change his name to, although if it meant to be an insult it seemed like he didn't really mind the usage. She could see in his gaze that he seemed to figure out what had happened. Her eyes focused on him as he moved in front of her and knelt down to be her level.

There was no comfort in his voice, that was for sure, but he still asked why, and that was nice wasn't it? That meant he was concerned didn't it? Her eyes flicked to the fallen flashlight and the crystalized finger on the floor. She cleared her throat and took a breath. "I found that crystalized finger in the other room... where yellow dust was everywhere." She nervously bit her bottom lip before anxiety took over and she began to pick at her already short nails that were cut periodically not so much for the safety of others but more to keep her from biting at them. "I uh... was curious of the closet... and so I looked.... and I …" she paused as a look of confusion fell over her. "I think it was a brain? It didn't look like any brain I ever saw in pictures." she said "I saw the others too..." she whispered pointing to the finger again. "It's real isn't it?" she whispered

The girl lifted a trembling hand the long sleeve of the oversized labcoat she wore slipped down. Her eyes looked over her own hand before her voice grew quiet and a little squeaky "A... Are those the kind of tests you're going to do to me?" she asked looking into his eyes with fear written orbs as silent tears brimmed the edges for a moment before spilling over and down her cheeks. She brought her hands up on her head as if he already gave the answer before she looked down quickly rubbing the tears away with her hands.