The rat in the plastic maze scrutinized the light raining down from above, many of the lights off or burnt out. Other rooms had been missing a few lights, but now the vitamin D deficiency was undeniable. Despite the poor luminescence, the crow could still see the outside lab: random wooden shapes dotted the lab, varying in size and shape. Most looked like they were attempts to make circles using one’s teeth and the blocks were anywhere from the size of the crow’s foot to bigger than the box he was trapped in.

Then there was the matter of saw dust replacing the floor and claiming large sections of the tables in the room. Where there wasn’t wood shavings, there wee weights, sticks, rocks, and papers. Papers joined the saw dust in a flurry of chaos. Perhaps this was why the room was poorly lit. Realizing how much time he was wasting on spacing out, the bird turned his attention to the room at hand.

The room was another narrow hallway with a low-ceiling, but what stood out with this puzzle was the massive weight sitting on a box sitting on circles. The weight itself was gigantic, roughly the size of the crow itself, and was far too heavy for the crow to so much as budge. Jumping off the cart and then back on top, the crow realized the cart was on a slant.

Looking left, the crow saw a stick on the verge of pushing a rock over an edge. Clasping the stick with his beak and maneuvering it on to a button, the crow quickly released himself when he felt the cart below him begin to move. The car quickly began gaining momentum before slamming into something, sending its passenger into a frenzy.

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Taking a moment to drink in his new surroundings, the corvid could confirm he was on a slope, but more importantly the weight moved forward a little. To his right was another stick-and-rock puzzle and upon completing it, the cart again moved down the slope and forcibly hit a wall. Looking left and right, there was no puzzle, but on the ceiling there was a string attached to a rock. Pulling at it caused it to fall on a switch, opening the next door. With one final slam, the cart came to sudden halt but the weight went flying off through an opening.

The passenger descended onto the lock, looking on at a giant hole that led to the floor. Without hesitating, the crow descended into the hole.

“Ivan Joseph, Day 75:

After spending so long getting this experiment to work, I was happy to report that all subjects at successfully completed the challenge. What I’m not happy to report is Sharp’s reaction, which shouldn’t be a surprise but it makes my stomach implode every time I see anger or disappointment.

This time was the worst reaction yet and it was neither of those reaction. This time Sharp was shocked and disgusted. He felt my experiment was hurting the corvid. I told him otherwise, but he told me to gut this experiment or else, and to make the next one safe for the birds.

Honestly, what the hell does he know?”