V2 Chapter 3 - Disturbed Slumber
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THERE'S TRUTH IN EVERY DREAM, IF YOU DIG DEEP ENOUGH. LET'S FIND OUT WHAT THEY BURIED.
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Thud. Thud. My heart, or main heart rather, makes its presence known as it pounds in my chest. A strong, sweet odor fills the room from the nearby vase, the decorations more irritating than pleasant. The room is bathed in a soft, almost eerie glow from multiple lights on the ceiling, casting faint shadows that seem to dance in the corners of my vision. The general pink facade is familiar, though in a way that I can't quite describe. Shelves line the walls, each filled to the brim with a range of simple picture books and children's tales to elaborate encyclopedias and subject textbooks. On top of them, a variety of board games are neatly stacked, their colorful boxes adding a peculiar contrast to the otherwise serene setting. A large rug nearly covers the entire floor, painting an intricate picture of a story that I can't quite remember.
Where am I? Thud. I look around the tranquil room, antennae perking up as I search for clues. Yet there's nothing. Nothing but the distinct smell of the flowers in the vase. I take matters into my own hands and walk forward, my body colliding with an invisible wall. I fall backwards, confused, looking at the white obstruction. A small cage? Was that always there?
Suddenly the wall opens, or a door that blends with the wall, and a human steps in. Thud. Its white lab coat remains unbuttoned, showcasing the plain shirt and pants that are underneath. Its build is male, but no matter how much I stare his face is impossible to make out.
《*****?》I communicate,《I thought-》I turn away and look around the room, my eyes drawn to the makeshift drawings on the wall. Thud. That's right, he had to go. He couldn't stay with a failure like me. He-
Suddenly, the human is right in front of my cage, looking down on me as he looms above. Despite the distance, his face is still blurred, but I can just tell he is looking down on me with pity. “What's wrong *****? Ah, I said I would stop doing that. What's wrong Kyraa? You promised you'd learn.”
Thud. The world seems to come to a standstill as I ponder his words, resisting the urge to shrink back even more.《P…Promise?》I stutter, coming up blank as I mull over my memories.《What promise?》Thud.
“You don't remember *****? We just talked about this. You have to pay more attention to what I'm saying. That's the only way you'll improve, and we both want that right?” He questions, the blurred face staring me down with an aggression that makes my antennae droop in fear. “Of course you want that! You want to get out of this cage after all.”
Thud. I look up at the human, eyes blinking frantically as I try to get any sort of glimpse at the marred face. 《I...do…did…but I-》I hesitate, unsure if I should continue. Thud.
The human sighs, the sound low and weighted, before he reaches into his coat pocket. "Here, let's see if this helps you remember," he says, pulling out a small container. Thud. My eyes lock onto it as he opens the lid, revealing a portion of food that looks vaguely familiar, though the scent is off, almost bitter.
He reaches into the cage, and despite the growing unease in my chest, I find myself leaning forward, unable to resist the instinct to eat. The human gently places the food in front of me, and I hesitate only for a moment before taking a bite. Thud.
The taste is sweet at first, a comfort that momentarily dulls the anxiety thrumming through me. But then, an overwhelming bitterness takes hold, spreading like poison across my tongue and down my throat. Thud. My body tenses, a sudden wave of nausea washing over me, and before I can react, my vision begins to blur.
Thud. My heartbeat, once so prominent, starts to fade into the background as the room around me darkens. The human's face, already indistinct, melts into a shadowy figure, his words growing distant and garbled.
"That's right, Kyraa. You'll learn... you have to..." His voice trails off as the world around me descends into complete darkness. The last thing I hear is the echo of my own heartbeat, growing fainter and fainter, until it too disappears.
And then, nothing.
The darkness lingers for what feels like an eternity, an endless void where time loses meaning. But then, a sharp, piercing light breaks through, jolting me back to consciousness. Thud. My eyes snap open, only to be met with a blinding brightness overhead. A strong, foul odor fills the room, the unmistakable stench of peppermint making my head spin. I try to move, but my limbs are unresponsive, bound by something tight and unyielding.
Thud. Thud. Panic sets in as I realize I'm strapped down, the cold, sterile surface beneath me amplifying the terror. My antennae twitch frantically, searching for any sign of what’s around me, but the harsh light above makes it impossible to see until I adjust to its glare.
Thud. I struggle against the restraints, pulling and thrashing, but they hold firm. My breathing quickens, each inhale feeling shallow and labored. The straps dig into my exoskeleton, a painful reminder that I'm completely immobilized.
I was just in the cage, in my room. Where…where am I? My thoughts race, disjointed and panicked. Thud. The last thing I remember is the taste of that bitter food, the way it had spread like venom through my body, and then… nothing. Just darkness.
Thud. A door creaks open somewhere beyond the light, and footsteps approach, slow and deliberate. Thud. I strain to see who’s coming, but the light is too bright, casting the rest of the room into deep shadow.
Stolen story; please report.
“Ninety-Seven, you’re awake,” a voice says, a different one from before. One more clear, more authoritative, and less…compassionate. The human steps into view, his head just at the perfect spot to block out the harsh light and give me a proper view of his face. Thud.
He's a man of dark skin, his large and round body visible through the outline of his robe. His black robe is crisp and clean, adorned with purple crescents. It's hard not to notice his crooked nose, as well as the crown he wears on top of his unruly and wild hair. Thud. I recognize him. Demeter. Alchemist Demeter.
《W-what are you doing to me?》 I stammer, my voice shaky and weak. My thoughts swirl with confusion and fear. The straps, the light, the eerie calm in his voice—it all feels wrong. Thud.
“Ah, where are my manners? Good morning!” He continues with a bit of pep in his voice, seemingly ignoring my question.《Let me go!》I protest, but he seems unfazed. Thud. It's almost as if he can't hear me.
Demeter's lips curve into a smile as he reaches into his pocket, taking out a brown stick of meat that smells amazing in contrast to the stuffy room. However this time around I'm aware not to eat without a thought, except that I realize it's for him and not me when he takes a hearty bite. Thud. “You know Ninety-Seven, ever since I've taken over this project….we've made great progress.” Thud. “Today's reading says that I should try something new! And well, I have just the thing in mind.”
I look him up and down, my fear palpable as I writhe in my restraints. Thud.
Demeter's grin widens, his teeth shining under the harsh light as he mutters about the alignment of the moon and sun. His hand hovers near his mouth as he licks his lips, his eyes fixed on me with an unsettling intensity. Thud.
“You see Ninety-Seven,” he begins, his voice trembling with excitement. “The stars have spoken, and they say that today is a day for….indulgence.” Thud. He takes a deep breath, struggling to contain his enthusiasm. "They told me to try something...different. A taste of the exotic, if you will.” Thud. “And who am I to deny such a fortuitous alignment?" He explains, leaving me to think on his words as he moves out of the light.
My vision is blanketed in white once again, but I can hear him pacing about, moving around as I hear the sound of metal landing on metal. Thud. It continues for a few more seconds and then the room is quiet save for the sound of a cart squeaking along the floor.
It comes closer and closer until it stops right next to me, Demeter filling in the light with his bald head once again. Thud. It's not what I think it is, is it? He wouldn't.
“You have no idea how much I want to take more than one arm for research.” He remarks, gazing over my restrained form with an indescribable hunger.《NO!》I exclaim, my words falling on deaf ears. He can't hear me can he? Thud.
“But...ah, I'm only allowed one limb for now.” He laments, consuming another stick of whatever meat was in his pocket. Thud. “You can relax Kyraa, it's easier to take an arm compared to an eye.” Demeter adds on, taking notice of my limbs straining against their restraints.
He leans over to do something on the tray, and quickly returns to his position hovering over me, his hands now gloved. Thud. He brings his right hand down near my neck and I catch a glimpse of the sizable syringe in his hand, the needle at least 2 inches in length. His other hand goes to the backside of my neck, holding me in place for the injection. Thud. “You’ll hold still if you know what’s good for you.” He commands in a stern tone, the needle finding purchase in between my carapace.
Thud. In a matter of seconds he retracts, and much to my horror a feeling of limpness spreads through my body at an astonishing pace. This isn’t real.
“Atta girl. A few seconds and we'll be ready for the main event!” Demeter exclaims, returning to his tray. Thud.
The words chill me to the core, and I thrash harder against the restraints, desperation fueling my efforts. Thud. But it’s no use—my strength is leaving me. Thud. No. No! NO! This can't be real. I'm not here. I can't-
Demeter's hand wraps around my chosen arm, looking it over as he positions the saw in his other hand. Thud.《NO! STOP!》I look Demeter in the eyes, pleading for mercy. Thud. My breathing calms, my body seemingly relaxing despite my frantic heart. Thud.
“It's pretty old fashioned, but I've always preferred these saws.” Thud. He states, pressing the cold metal against my shoulder. Thud. The saw's teeth bite into my exoskeleton, and an icy jolt of pain shoots through my arm. Thud. My body is betraying me, paralyzed by whatever he injected into me. Thud. I want to screech, but the only sound I can make is a strained gasp, my mouth opening and closing uselessly. Thud.
Demeter hums a cheerful tune, his hand steady as he begins to cut through my limb. Thud. The noise is grating, a metallic scraping that reverberates through my entire body. My vision blurs, filling with pure white. Thud. The sensation of the saw grinding through my bone is unbearable, sending shockwaves of agony through me with every movement. It's not real.
Thud. The scent of burning chitin fills the air as the saw’s friction heats up, and I’m assaulted by a wave of nausea. My head lolls to the side, and I catch a glimpse of my arm, the green ichor already seeping from the gash Demeter has made. Thud. I can see the flesh underneath, dull and torn, exposed to the air. Thud. This isn't happening.
My vision is narrowing, darkness creeping in from the edges, but I can’t tear my eyes away from the sight of my arm being severed from my body.
Demeter seems to be taking his time, savoring every moment. He hums louder, his rhythm matching the relentless pull of the saw. Thud. My breaths come in short, frantic bursts, and I can feel my consciousness slipping, the world fading into a hazy blur. Thud.
Thud. The saw catches on the exoskeleton plates again, the friction creating a high-pitched whine that seems to pierce straight through my head. Thud. It’s almost over now. Thud. The last of my strength leaves me, and I go limp, the pain so intense that it’s almost numbing. Thud.
Just before everything goes black, I hear it—the sound of the final plating finally giving way, a sharp, sickening Crack that echoes through the room. Thud.
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Nightmares
Nightmares are vividly realistic, disturbing dreams that rattle you awake from a deep sleep. They often set your heart pounding from fear. Nightmares tend to occur most often during rapid eye movement sleep, when most dreaming takes place. Because periods of rapid eye movement sleep become progressively longer as the night progresses, nightmares are most often expierienced in the early morning hours. For humans, nightmares are most common from the ages of 3-7, and begin to taper off after 10.
Nightmares can arise for a number of reasons—stress, anxiety, irregular sleep, medications, mental health disorders—but perhaps the most studied cause is post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).