I am a rational man.
I have never had any mental illnesses, nor am I intellectually impaired. I am a content man, one who is satisfied with his daily life.
Clack-Clack-Clack
The subway train rattles as it moves along.
Massaging the bridge of my nose with one hand, I open my phone with the other. It’s been a long day.
With a few taps, I open YouTube and click on an interesting video that catches my eye.
Top ten scariest flaws you would not survive! (Iridiscience Foundation)
It’s a multimedia series that’s been super popular recently, with countless comics, games, and even movies being produced based on it.
It’s set in a gritty world filled with rival factions, and most importantly, flaws.
You might be wondering, what are flaws?
A page from the wiki comes to mind.
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[Flaws]
Anomalies that range from the monstrous, to the paranormal, to the plain bizarre.
No one seems to know where they originated from, but one thing is certain.
They are here to destroy our world.
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At first, Iridiscience Company started as merely a creepypasta, spread modestly across the internet. But after hitting the YouTube algorithm, it went viral like crazy.
Perhaps it's due to the fact that it meets the sweet spot between horror and mystery, captivating audiences of all ages.
Now, there's even an independent wiki with thousands of pages detailing all the different flaws and other world building aspects.
Perfect to read about while pretending to do work…
Screech
The doors rattle open, heavy footsteps reverberating throughout the space as multiple passengers file into the train.
On my screen, a man ranks the flaws in order of survivability.
“At number ten, we have a flaw currently contained in one of the Bureau’s many facilities!”
As the video continues to play, I begin to nod off. It’s all surface level information that I already know.
“The fearsome Watcher, who was discovered in the alleyways of district 9…”
Before I know it, my head droops and my eyelids grow heavy. Video essays really are the best thing to fall asleep to.
Bzzt-
Passengers, thank you for using Abyss Transit today.
Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.
If only I was laying down on my comfy bed-
Wait.
Abyss Transit?
My eyes jolt open. The train car is empty, and there’s not a single passenger.
My head begins to pound at the mentioning of a familiar flaw, I’ve read about it on the wiki before.
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[Abyss Transit]
VC-F-39
F-Class Flaw
A flaw disguised as a subway train. Participants can escape by following a set of steps outlined in the guidebook.
Additional Info: VC-F-39 can be used for actual transportation.
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Hahahahahahaha
The once pleasant sounding speaker has distorted, the robotic voice now laughing maniacally, breaching onto the level of uncanny.
Kiiiiiiiiik!
The subway train shakes loudly and lets out a metallic sound as it lurches forward.
My body slams back into the seat, knocking the air out of my lungs.
What the hell is happening?
SCREEEECH
The subway train moves faster.
The wheels scream, the sound like nails on a chalkboard, high-pitched and grinding. The walls around me pulse and distort as if the very structure of the train is unraveling.
There’s no time to rationalize things, panicking can come later.
Clenching my teeth, I squint as I rack my brain.
If this truly is the flaw I’ve read about, then all I need to do is escape by following the requirements…
Damn it, what were they again?
The next stop is Hell, Hell Station.
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
I swerve my head desperately, looking for any sort of clue.
In the corner of my eye, I spot a red button attached to the wall, the words ‘EMERGENCY’ labeled beneath it.
Right next to it is another button, colored green with a symbol of a phone on it.
I can faintly recall the fact that only one of these buttons is the correct choice. Pressing the wrong one will make the train accelerate ten times faster.
Crawling towards the buttons, my mind doesn’t even register the dirtiness of the floor.
Damn it, which one is it?
Abyss Transit is a flaw mainly used to transport employees to Vita Corp.
Then, it has to be this.
Gritting my teeth, I slam a fist down on the green call button.
Bzzt-
I open my mouth, barely choking the word out.
“Aeternum.”
A code word distributed among the mid-level employees of Vita Corp, and by extension, knowledge fans of Iridiscience Company.
This stop is Vita, Vita Station.
The speaker cheerfully announces the destination, the demonic voice from earlier no longer in control.
The pressure subsides as the train gradually slows down, allowing me to exhale a deep breath.
The doors are opening on your right!
I quickly stumble to my feet, rushing towards the exit.
But as I take a step forward, a sudden rush of dizziness overwhelms me. Everything in front of me blurs as if covered in black plaint, flickering like static on an old television.
And by the time the spinning sensation washes over me, the world had completely changed.
“Welcome to Vita Corp, everyone!”
Before I knew it, I was standing in a corner of a auditorium, facing the central podium directly.
Boom!
While the audio of clapping plays from the speakers, fireworks explode the screen mounted above the podium.
Three words are displayed across the power point presentation.
[Employee Candidate Orientation]