Chapter Text
The liquid slid down my throat, burning my tender skin as the unknown substance splashed my face. I could feel it blazing a trail through my insides and wished I could scream. But the steady stream seemed to go on forever until the last few drops finally dripped into my mouth. The scientist’s hand that had been holding my head still as I had been writhing in pain lifted as I heard him retreating.
The glass vial rang out as It was set down on - by my guess - a glass table. My throat was sore, and it felt as if acid was slowly gnawing at my insides. My eyes were straining against the ever-present darkness that was brought on by the cloth over them, rendering me blind. I could feel the cold metal of the chains on my legs, strapping them to the floor, the rope around my waist holding me in place, along with the rope around my wrists, tying them to the arms of the chair.
I could feel my arms throbbing from each individual sore where the needles had been injected, and for the millionth time, I found myself silently cursing my father. Especially when I remembered my mother’s screams after my father sold me to the facility and as I had been dragged away, trying desperately to get back to the safety of my mother’s arms. Three years had passed, and I still couldn’t extract her screams from my memory.
Throughout the years, they had experimented on me with various kinds of serums, some almost killing me, others just unbearably painful. Some altered my very DNA; others did nothing. Those were the ones I relished, for they gave me no pain, and that itself was a miracle.
I could hear the scientist shuffling around the room. I then heard him bump into what I assumed to be the table. The sounds were unnaturally loud in my ears. I heard him step closer, and I bit the inside of my cheek, drawing blood as the scientist stabbed my arm -with no concern for the damage he might cause- with yet another needle of which I had lost count, thankfully no further pain occurred. As he withdrew I let my tongue once again trace my wolf-like fangs - the one now dipped in my blood - that had been a result of one of the many serums though I couldn't recall which as it had been one from near the beginning of my imprisonment.
My newfound tail curled up as the pain in my stomach from the earlier liquid flared once more. Just then the scientist once again stabbed me in the arm with a needle, this one filled with a different liquid. Almost immediately after the serum began to drain into my bloodstream pain shot up my arm through my skull and into the back of my retina. I couldn’t help but scream, drowning out every other sound and feeling. My eyes shut tight trying to block the pain. Eventually my throat gave out and I was unable to scream any longer. Although my head was still steadily throbbing from the pain. My whole body burning and beating in unison.
I opened my eyes when I heard the scientist creeping closer and the muscles in my arm tensed in anticipation. He took a few more steps before yanking off my blindfold, my eyes squeezed shut from the bright light that threatened to blind me. I hadn’t seen light in almost three years and my eyes couldn’t stand it. I could hear him shuffling behind me but I dared not open my eyes. I felt the pressure on my stomach loosen as he removed the rope from my waist. More steps rang out as he walked to my right to untie my hand, he then walked to my other arm and did the same before unlocking the chains around my ankles. I then felt his warm sweaty hand wrap around my wrist and yank me out of the chair. I nearly collapsed as my weight in full had quickly been handed over as a burden for my knees to carry. If anyone had seen me they would have been able to tell I hadn't walked or even stood in years. My legs were stiff and weak and my knees threatened to buckle at any second and throw me to the floor.
The scientist put his arm under mine and half carrying me dragged me out of the room. We had entered a darker hallway when I deemed it safe to open my eyes. It still seemed unnaturally bright but not painfully so. I looked around at my surroundings. We were in a long hallway with what seemed like a million doors. I avoided looking at the scientist.
After what felt like hours we stopped at one of the doors, this one different in a way I couldn't explain. He opened it and threw me in slamming the door behind me. I flinched at how loud the sound was in my ears. My body crumpled to the floor as It could not hold itself upright. I laid on the floor until I was able to attempt sitting up. Once I managed to, I searched the room. I was in a dull gray bathroom the light of which did not hurt my eyes unlike the bright white experiment room. There was a mirror, a sink, a toilet, and a shower. The walls were bare but it's not like I was expecting decorations.
I scooted over to the sink and tensing every one of my muscles pulled myself into a standing position. I leaned on my arms as my legs threatened to give out. Once I felt my legs would hold, I looked in the mirror. What I saw shocked me as I didn't remember what I had looked like before and could not even recognise my own reflection. In the mirror I saw a little girl with pale skin, startling glacier blue eyes, and long deep brown almost black hair. My eyes were sunken in as were my cheeks. My hair was messy and matted and atop my head were two wolf-like ears. Around my neck was some sort of collar device. There was a small green light on a box-like thing that was attached by some sort of elastic. Underneath the box I could feel some sort of prong digging into my skin.
I opened my mouth and saw sharp fangs that gleamed threateningly. I looked down and saw I was incredibly thin, unhealthily so but considering the rations I've had stuffed down my throat it made sense. The people here weren't exactly concerned with how much I was eating and only cared that I ate enough to survive. I was wearing a long dirty gray shirt. It was worn and roughed up. It went down to my knees and hung loosely.
I looked behind me and saw my fluffy almost black wolf-like tail with a white tip. I lifted my hands from the sink and flexed my fingers. When I did my finger nails grew into sharp claws as quickly as a cat’s. I stared back into the mirror and quickly noticed something I hadn't before. My pupils were sharp and narrow like a wild animals’. I probably would have smiled had I remembered how.
I attempted to talk but forgot how to form words so I reluctantly turned away from my reflection. Not trusting myself to walk, I got on my hands and knees and crawled over to the toilet. As I reached it I lifted my head over the seat and promptly threw up attempting to rid my body of whatever acid-like substance it was the scientist had forced down my throat earlier. It burned just as much coming up as it had going down. Once I couldn't get anything else to come out I lifted my head and wiped my mouth. I then stared down at my arms and at all the bumps, bruises, sores, and scars that littered my skin. For the first time I noticed the rope burns on my wrists and ankles from the bonds. I ignored them for they had never really bothered me. Well at least they didn't bother me as much as every other injury that covered me from head to toe. I turned my attention back to the injuries on my arms and started to wipe off whatever blood or pus I found attempting to clean them and prevent any further infections.
I once again tried to stand and since it was easier than before I decided to try and walk but when I went to take the first step I immediately collapsed once again crumpling to the floor. Once I pushed myself back into a sitting position I crawled back over to the sink and stood up. Once more I attempted to speak but it seemed as if the instinctual part of speech had left me and I no longer understood how words were formed nor how to create sound to make them heard. Though it's possible the last part was because I had tired out my voice from all the screaming.
I slashed my tail in annoyance then froze in place. I hadnt meant to do that. I hadn't tried to move my tail. That had been purely instinct. My ears perked up in surprise and I had to hold them down to stop them. I didn't quite understand this instinctual thing and wasn't quite sure if I liked my ears and tail moving without my consent. I decided not to dwell on it and just stared at my reflection, resting my hands on the sink and shifting some of my weight onto them.
I was studying my face when a realization hit me. I didn't remember how old I was. I believe I was about eleven when I was sold to this facility and it's been about three or four years most likely closer to three so I had to be around thirteen or fourteen maybe even fifteen. I didn't know what date it was and didn't even remember my birthday. As I continued to contemplate it I could feel my breathing quicken. My thoughts were racing faster than I could comprehend when I heard the door handle rattle. The sound was loud and managed to shake me from my stupor. I felt my ears perk up once again and almost reached my hands up to stop them when the door slammed open.
“Times up,” said a gruff voice from behind me.
I spun around managing to catch myself before I collapsed. The man lumbering toward me was pudgy, fat, and clumsy. His white lab coat was smudged with grease and other stains I couldn't identify. His goggles were foggy and cracked. The straps were fraying. He had a short, dirty, and matted mustache. His hair was unbrushed and dirty as if all he cared about was his experiments. I could practically smell him from across the room. In His hands were the ropes that had kept me on the chair, my blindfold, and a cloth.
As he got closer I felt my heart beginning to race again. He was going to take me back. I didn’t want to go back. His hand wrapped around my wrist again this time he was wearing gloves. As he slid the blindfold back over my eyes and pressed the cloth to my face my last thought swam lazily through my brain. I really hate the feeling of latex on my skin.