I blinked A few times as a light was shined In my eyes and my pupils tried to adjust. My gaze moved back and forth as it moved all around before finally being clicked off.
“Basic physical responses are normal…” kerian mused, turning away to look at a clipboard.
I sat by silently watching him pace for a moment before putting down the papers To retrieve a few items from the cabinet.
“answer me once more, you do not feel fatigued? Sore? Drowsy? Sick? Anything?” Kerian asked Before walking over and taking my arm to draw blood.
“No, I feel fine…he didn't do anything to me, as far as I can tell, we just…talked.”
Kerian paused to glance up at me. “He?” He said questionably.
Turning my gaze away out of awkwardness I mumbled reply. “yeah. From the way S-59 sounds and looks up close I just kind of guessed he was male.”
Kerian hummed as he looked at me then finished gathering a blood sample. Pulling the syringe away he inspected it before putting it away on a tray.
“and exactly what were you two ‘talking’ about? Did he say why he hasn't been responsive since your first interaction?”
Staring at the floor I couldn't help but feel like I shouldn't be telling Kerian or anyone about what happened with S-59.
“no…”
Kerian watched me for a moment before his gaze moved to my torn shirt. “Remove that. I will grab you another one to cover up with.” He went over to a cabinet and grabbed a clean shirt for me as I removed my coat and the torn top. Instinctively I covered my bra and chest to the best of my abilities with my arms.
Walking back over, Kerian seemed to hesitate as he stared at me and then glanced at the shirt. “May I examine you for injuries?”
His request caught me off guard and I looked up at him surprised. He's never actually asked my permission for anything before, usually checkups are mundane and repetitive, he always does what he needs to and sends me off. Not once has he ever hesitated or asked me before proceeding.
I merely nodded and he stepped closer, setting the clean shirt off to the side. Slowly I lowered my arms and keiran looked over my front, keeping his gaze away from my breasts and his touching to a minimum.
“you said it didn't attack you… I see no injuries but it doesn't explain why your clothes were torn.”
“He ripped my shirt but it wasn't to hurt me… he was just curious.”
Kerian froze as he heard this and his eyes snapped up to mine briefly before he pulled away. “Curious how?” He handed me the shirt which I gladly put on to cover myself up in.
“I believe He was just trying to figure out how humans protect themselves.”
Kerian watched me with an unreadable expression. “And did ‘He’ do this to you?” he asked, gently grabbing my chin to look over the nic on my lip.
His proximity and touch made my cheeks flush ever so slightly. After a moment he pulled away and turned his attention elsewhere. “You are free to leave now, you are to return to your quarters And rest until called upon again. if anything happens or you feel strange You are to come to me immediately. I will do another checkup in 12 hours.”
Climbing off the examination table I made my way to the door. I hesitantly looked back at kerian before leaving, as he focused on the task at hand and I couldn't help but wonder as my fingers grazed my lip. ‘What was that about?’
__ Days later__
Walking into the cafeteria, my ears were immediately greeted by the sound of laughter. Glancing over to the far right table I saw none other than jade, Matt, and Sarah sitting at a table conversing with one another.
My stomach immediately twisted at the sight of them and I turned my gaze away to b-line it for the coffee machine.
Things seemed to grow quiet as I passed them by And I could feel multiple eyes on me, making my anxiety worse.
Getting to the counter I poured myself a cup, added creamer and some sugar before blowing at the steam. A smile spread across my face as I gazed at the heavenly delight before me. I could never survive without my caffeine.
Before I could take a sip I was suddenly harshly shoved from behind. The scalding hot coffee spilled Across my hand and I yelped, dropping the cup onto the floor.
Looking up I saw none other than Matt walking by with Sarah at his side. “sorry! Didn't see you there!” They both snickered and laughed As they walked off.
Why do they find it so amusing to torment me? I moved to the sink to run my hand under some cold water, but as I reached for the cold handle another hand grabbed my arm in a tight grip and another turned on the hot water.
“Wha-” I tried pulling my arm away with little success and looked up to find none other than jade holding me.
“Tell me how you did it.” She said in a threatening tone, holding my arm close to the spray of hot water that was now steaming.
What?! “What are you talking abou-” She forced my already burned hand under the hot spray and I cried out in pain trying to push away from the counter.
“Tell me what you did! no one has ever survived after being put in a room with that thing! What did you do to make it leave you alone?! Was it some kind of pheromone? Did you hide a weapon on yourself?! Tell me!” Jade shouted.
“I didn't do anything!” I managed to slip free from her grasp And push away from the counter only to fall back on the floor and couch my arm in pain.
The sound of Matt and Sarah laughing from across the room could be heard but my attention was solely on the woman standing over me, glaring down at me like I was little more than a stain on a brand new carpet.
Turning away she walked off like nothing happened and I watched as the others followed after her, snickering at me. Sitting uo I heard Matt call me a ‘freak’ before they all left the cafeteria, leaving me alone, sitting on the floor.
I couldn't understand why they hated me so much.
Standing to my feet I changed the sink water to a cooler temperature and placed my hand underneath, wincing in pain. Bumping into me, making me spill papers and coffee, That's not unusual but they've never done anything as cruel as this before.
Sighing I looked over to the spilled coffee then my painfully red hand. I could already tell it was decently burned.
Sulking I cleaned up my mess then went to kerians office.
Upon entering I found Kerian buried in his work. When he noticed my presence he lifted his gaze towards me confused. When his Eyes locked onto my injury He immediately dropped his papers on the desk and stood up.
“What happened?” Coming over to me he looked over my hand seemingly bothered by how red and inflamed it was.
“I Just spilled some coffee is all.” I replied.
“you’re not usually so clumsy…” kerian stated.
I didn't respond as he sighed and grabbed some ointment from a cabinet. “Here, it looks like it's a second degree burn. I'll apply ointment and a cold compress, just take some pain medication in the meantime.” He quickly patched me up before standing back to look me over.
“Has Anything else happened since your exposure to Subject-59?”
“No, nothing to make note of…”
Kerian was quiet as he finished up bandaging my hand. “The director will Probably try to have you communicate with it again in a day or two, outside the containment room… if things don't work out he may force you back inside again.”
“You need to do your best to get subject-59 to respond, even just a little, do that and you may avoid Another life threatening situation.” His blue eyes met Mine momentarily. “Understand?”
I almost couldn't believe what I was hearing. ‘Why would he tell me this? Information like this is classified Even if it revolves around me…is he worried about me?’ I could only nod in response.
“Good now go rest and keep that injury cooled. Try not to get yourself hurt again. He turned away to go back to his desk and I made my way out of his office.
Placing my hand over my chest I felt my heart beating a bit faster. ‘Am I imagining it?’
Glancing back at his office once more I shook my head and walked back to my room.
—-3 days later—-
“It refuses to cooperate!” The director's voice was distant but clear.
“Might I suggest an alternative?” kerian piped in as my head swam from my dizzy spell.
“Give a dog a bone and it will obey, a beast shall not bite the hand that feeds it.” Kerian finished and I finally snapped back to reality, my heart racing as panic took over.
“n-no!!” I shoved him off me, backing away as I looked between the two men fearfully. He can't be serious!
Kerian stepped towards me, grabbing my arm to pull me away for a moment to speak. “let go!” I demanded.
Turning to look at me he grabbed me by the shoulders. “calm yourself miss ava! I am trying to help you!” He scolded.
Help me? Help me?! He just suggested the director use me as bait or a lure to gain S-59’s trust.
“I-i don't believe you!” I tried to push away.
“he's going to kill you!” Kerian snapped quietly, making me freeze.
My mouth felt dry as I listened to kerian. His hand Suddenly moved a stray lock of hair behind my ear and I lifted my head to look at him surprised as my heart skipped a beat.
“On Sample day you stayed back to clean up this office after everyone had left, somehow you managed to converse with a creature whose only shown violence since the day it was captured. After days of failed attempts to do the same thing the director threw you in its cage believing you to be useless, he did That to dispose of you and instead you not Only survived, you commuted with the creature, interacted with it…that has kept them from trying to dispose of you again. If you do this…if you stay useful then you can prevent such from happening. This is the best chance you have at survival, I'm doing this to help you ava, get us something. Anything. Data, knowledge, samples, anything to satisfy the others. Let us use you… so that you may live.”
I couldn't deny anything Kerian said and he sounded… sincere? Perhaps he really is just trying to help? No one here has ever done anything like this for me before–
Looking back towards the director I could see he was getting impatient. It had been nearly a week since I entered S-59's cell last time he told me he didn't wish to commune.
“What if it doesn't work? If he wants Nothing to do with me?” I asked quietly, afraid of the answer.
“It will work. Trust me.”
Digging my nails into my own arm I took a shaky breath. I didn't have much choice, besides kerian has never lied to me before. He has always spoken the truth even if it's a harsh one. He's never done or said anything bad to me, he's always been quiet and minded his own business he's not like the rest of them…
“Okay… I'll do it.”
Kerians lips curled up into a smile, something I've never seen him do before. “Good. Then let's get started.”
(Note: 👀 thoughts?)