(Pov - Laura Cavendish)

Laura walked down the corridors with steady steps, following Emily, her boss, and Victor, her long-time friend. Victor pushed the aquarium containing the anomaly Laura had found in the forest. Despite what many said, Laura was convinced that the anomaly had, in fact, saved them.

Since they had been in the forest, the anomaly had consistently protected Laura, preventing her from being killed. Laura not only felt deeply grateful but also considered herself lucky to have discovered this new anomaly. Perhaps this fact had created a special bond between her and the anomaly, especially considering that the anomaly seemed to have had no contact with other humans.

Laura wasn’t sure if her assumption was correct or not, but what she was certain of was that, for some reason, the anomaly seemed to have positive feelings towards humans. However, as a scientist, Laura was equally interested in understanding more about the anomaly and discovering why it was the way it was.

Laura wished, if possible, to conduct the tests in such a way that the anomaly would not feel pain or discomfort. However, she knew that this would probably not be feasible. Her greatest desire was for the anomaly to feel nothing or not be severely injured in the process.

(However, setting that aside, the way it curls up to sleep is just so cute—it looks like a little kitten)

Laura’s cheeks flushed as she watched the anomaly resting in the aquarium. Everything about the creature was absolutely charming; Laura simply couldn’t find anything about it that wasn’t adorable.

Laura, Emily, and Victor approached a white door. Along the way, several scientists showed interest in the new anomaly inside the aquarium, while soldiers displayed signs of apprehension, ready to act and fire their weapons at the slightest hint of danger.

When the door opened, Laura and Emily proceeded to a second door, which was relatively close to the one Victor had passed through. This one was a bit larger. Upon entering, they found a large glass wall ahead, offering a complete view of the interior of the room.

Victor stopped in the center of the room, which was cuboidal in shape. Although not very large, it was enough to allow movement. Carefully, he opened the aquarium and placed the anomaly on the floor, where it continued to sleep peacefully. Laura was surprised to see that the anomaly was still able to sleep despite everything that had happened.

When Victor left the room, Laura, Emily, and other scientists who were patiently waiting for the anomaly remained silent. After about 10 minutes, the anomaly finally woke up. With its adorable little hands, it rubbed its large eyes in an equally charming way, eliciting sighs of satisfaction from the team of scientists.

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Everyone watched with interest as the anomaly explored the room. In fact, it was the first time they had seen one that resembled a human child so closely. In a way, it was refreshing for them to witness something that didn’t squirm, didn’t have an undefined shape, and didn’t try to kill them every five seconds. For everyone in the room, it was practically a moment of relief and tranquility.

“Bring in the prisoner. I want to see how she reacts to strangers. Also, give him a protective suit. We don't want her to realize he's a human”

Laura heard Emily’s order from the side, not paying much attention to it. In fact, none of the scientists seemed to care about what was being discussed, as they were not the ones directly interacting with the anomalies. Emily and Laura were having a unique experience watching the anomaly from the other side of the glass, as they usually studied anomalies only through indirect observations.

Moreover, none of the scientists seemed to feel guilty about using humans in this way. Even Laura, deep down, knew they were treated like condemned prisoners. The organization promised to release them if they served their sentences without dying, but the prisoners didn’t know that none of those who came before them had actually been freed. In the end, they all ended up being killed by anomalies.

Everyone watched attentively as the anomaly explored the room, until a sound caught its attention: the door opening. A man dressed in a suit and mask entered the room. Emily and Laura watched the scene, noticing that the anomaly showed discomfort and seemed to be analyzing what was in front of it.

“Maybe your theory is correct, Laura. It could be that she really is hostile to anything that isn’t human. Even if it has a similar shape, it seems to perceive that something essential is missing for it to be considered truly human”

Of course, Laura and Emily didn’t know that the small anomaly was actually just curious, wondering why someone was wearing a radiation suit near it. The anomaly seemed to be wondering if the presence of the suit meant that it saw her as something similar to a nuclear bomb.

The scientists watched with interest the anomaly’s next action, eager to find out what would happen next. At that moment, they noticed something strange: the man who had been sent in was trembling. Since the anomaly was positioned in a way that didn’t allow them to see its face, no one knew what was happening.

The man seemed on the verge of losing control, as if he were facing a terrible monster. Then the anomaly turned towards the glass. Emily had set up the glass to allow visibility from both sides, so just as the scientists could observe the anomaly, it could also see them.

Everyone was in shock. Their faces paled, and their breathing became rapid. The anomaly’s eyes shone in various colors, but instead of appearing charming, they emanated a dreadful and dark aura, as distant and incomprehensible as the question “what’s on the other side of a black hole?” The scientists were paralyzed, unsure of how to react to a fear so primal that had emerged within them.

The anomaly blinked, and its eyes returned to their original color, a vibrant and charming gold. Meanwhile, the scientists and the man beside her watched with racing hearts. The anomaly tilted its little head to the side, appearing confused, and one of its fingers approached its mouth. Although the scene was undeniably cute, there was something about the way the anomaly behaved that made it even more unsettling.