Chapter Text
Warnings and Need to Know
I Will never write indept SA especially not between character/reader even if they are ooc. IDGAF. This story has briefest moments of sa, nothign graphic or detailed. Gore and mentally ill behavior. Seek therapy and I don't codone murder lol
It was a hit and run. What had changed their life upside down. Loss of parents, empty condolences, raised by grandparents who didn't make it past your 15th birthday. In the system, home to home. Everyone had lives , no one wanted to take care of an extra mouth. Everyone only cared when the problem affected them. So you became the problem. How's that for a middle finger universe?
The autumn air carries an unusual warm gust as fall leaves dance in the air. Cars and buses bustle by. Bikers slipping in and out.
“You get back here!” The police officer huffed as he chased after you. Kicking up piles of leaves. Red in the face, you hopped a fence, took a right turn, scaled a building rain pipe. All while not a single citizen blinked. Two old men continued their chest game when you opened the exit door. After scaling the building, you entered the top roof doors and went down the stairs.
“Morning gentleman!” You chirped and power walked across the street. Another day as usual, bullying the police. The resident delinquent. Or town clown. Whatever it was most people treated it like a Monday. Except well… everyone higher up. After all, you were their problem. Not theirs.
You skipped into the apartment and knocked. Your roommate in only his boxers (that had a food stain) and weed red riddled eyes opened it. “What did you do this time?” The scruffy man asked.
“Oh you know, loitered around, made a cop paranoid. Then when he least expected it I left a lovely ‘gift’ in his donut bag!” Aka, you know Mr. Peter hated you . Never letting you out of sight. So paranoid he couldn't keep his eyes off you till you left. So you..went around back, certainly didn't spook him. Asking if he needed something, then slipped a plastic bag of dog shit in his order. He can't prove it though. So you'd end up being released within an hour. Accidentally dropping tacks in front of police cars you bought for your cork board, sneaking into the mayor's house to move their furniture…an inch . And watching the mayor go insane and make a fool of himself…ah fun.
Your roommate slowly pulls out a…muffin? Out his hair?? And starts eating it. “Cool cool, I'm too high to scold you,” he says. Stepping aside as you skipped in. Ok ‘roommate’ is a kinder term. Your couch hopping really. Only jobs available come seasonal, and the damn police will do anything to put you on the street…. Or behind bars. You flopped onto the couch near the sun and sighed. What an eventful start to your morning. After throwing off your clothes (and destroying the gloves you were wearing. No evidence at all.) You make a hearty breakfast… and read the paper while flipping through channels.
Your roommate is ass up on his floor, giggling to himself. You'd join him but you're getting a high from the newspaper right now.
‘Gremlin supposedly strikes again!’
‘This morning a young woman was seen running from a policeman a few days back after his car got a flat tire. When caught they were arrested on charges of destruction of enforcement property. But it seemed to just be a tear in their jacket and charges were dropped! We've all seen this face before but the coincidences keep adding up. Accident or foul play?’ Ahhh, that was fun. Can't wait for next week's paper. You don't know who started that nickname but it's better than bastard at least…or bitch.
The day winds down and as your roommate (who has clothes on now) finally comes to. He sighs seeing you getting ready to turn on music. He hits the radio off as you frown at him. “Not a chance, wanna add public disturbance too?”
“Aww, just wanted to see my ol pals on the farm, Ryan!” You giggle, he rolls his eyes and opens the fridge. Bathrobe hanging loosely on him. No shirt but at least he has pants. “Back from heaven?”
“Unfortunately,” he grumbles. “ Greaat , gonna have to see…Cindy for more.”
“She is charging you sugar instead of money, be thankful,” you pat him.
“That girl sucks the soul out of me, I'm begging you to add drugs to your record,” Ryan pleads. You cackle at that.
Life wasn't perfect, I mean. You're estranged to the remainder of the family, no one to lean back on and hopping on a couch of a friend you made after scraping him out of a bar bathroom. You both were a shitty mess. You give a side hug and he returns it before shrieking as you touch his ripple with your cold hands.
Ah, the joys of life.
….
Well, it was anyway…
“Subject Z-9876 seems to be lasting an inhumanely longer period than other subjects, no physical appearance changes. Light sweat, ears pointed but no other change.” a doctor says into a recorder.
You're strapped down, your heart is jamming, your blood sounds like sludge in your ears, your skin is burning— no , it's boiling . Are you melting? Is that sweat or tears in your eyes? You can't feel your fingers or toes. Several areas heat, numb, then cool. You can't even swallow . You gurgle and choke.
But you..fight. Yes, that's all you know. I didn't do it. You repeat. I didn't fucking do it. You can't scream, just stare at the bright light up. Is it the faculty light or heaven calling? Will you see ma and dad? Nana and pops?
“Transformation has not progressed for an annoyingly long period, a hypothesis is to be made. Despite 6 strands of different formulas and 11 injections, nothing. We even added a hefty dosage of octopus dna… Another to be administered,” you want to scream, another? The doctor leans over you and you gather all the strength you have to spit in his face. He reels back disgusted. The female doctor next to him glares.
“Administer a muzzle as well. Somehow still has strength to resist.”
The next shot is jabbed in, the liquid burns your veins. The bright lights turn black as your vision shifts. Why? Enter your fading mind.
How did I get here..?
Beep! Beep!
Maybe it was because it was rainy on a perfectly sunny day that things felt…off. The saying 'the devil beating his wife’ came to mind. You frowned at the thought. You remember your mother hitting your dad when you gave him a horrified look. Your dad avoided saying it since. Memories won't bring them back , you think. Why now anyway? Ryan was out, no doubt mustered the courage to have his soul sucked out. You snaked at that. Today you would plan your next prank…and get something good to eat!
The money you did have you could afford donuts and coffee. The walk wasn't far and despite needing an umbrella, people were still out. People with dogs and children littered the sidewalk. You paused to see a couple with a giggling kid. You turned rather sharply and kept walking. The place wasn't very full. The doorbell jingled alerting your arrival.
You took to a bar stool, listening to the breezy tune of the radio. A fat burly man came out the back. “Samantha ain't in the back?” You joke.
“So you can stare at my wife's fat ass? Not a chance,” The man chuckled. “You're gonna have to appreciate mine.” You groaned playfully.
“You ain't got shit to oggle!” you let out a laugh.
“Alright, what can I getcha?” You order your usual. You look around absentmindedly. Before spotting off duty cops in the corner giving you a rather nasty look.
“Howdy Fellas? Need something?” You ask with a grin. One grumbles, you know him as Mr. Rook. “Something to say Mr. Rook?”
“Don't talk to us,” he spits. “One of these…”
“These days what officer?” You bat your eyes. One next to them pulls him back into his seat, whispers something in his ear. The salt and pepper tanned skinned man pauses then chuckles. You hide the red alert of that in your mind.
“Nothin, nothing at all..” They get up to leave just as your order comes out. The cop throws down money. You glance at him. “For their order…keep the change.”
The cops leave with the jingle of the bell. “When are you ever gonna be done?” a Gruff voice says. You turn back to the owner. “I know it's cops and all that but you're messing with the wrong group…”
You sip your coffee. “I have no idea what you're talking about…” The owner stares you down. “ Buuut if I did Mrs. Robin, I'll keep it in mind!” He sighs and walks from the bar. You hold no promises…and you never will.
You leave out after finishing your meal and the rain has stopped so you keep your umbrella closed. You lay in the grass in the park, enjoying the weather. A conversation catches your ear. “That mayor on another ‘business trip’ like we don't know his ass isn't on vacation! Our taxes mind you!” Old man Mcgee is in an outrage again. Walking with his daughter. “I swear I wish that gremlin would do worse! They do nothing for this community.”
“Of course dad, let's get back home.”
You stand and chuckle quietly. You love when a plan, plans itself. You stop by the apartment and are happy to see some spray paint cans are still left. You don't see Ryan, a shame… You held out, barely noticing the graying skies. Maybe it was because of the moon, full moon yadda yadda. All that superstition. That you decided to give another go at the mayor’s home. His fence is no walk in the park. Security moves away from the gates. Their patrol gives you more room than last time.
So far, you have dulled the scissors for cutting ribbon, moved his furniture an inch, and drew a butt on his house while he was on vacation. You gave him a break because you swore he was gonna have a stroke from anger. Plus you were close to being caught one time. Seeing his bald head turn so red was a joy you couldn't pass up though. You search the perimeter and see a cracked window. You slide in and shut it. You quietly stroll, It's dark and you accidentally knock into the sofa. You cringe and pause. He's not home. No need to be so nervous.
Why were you nervous?
You get to the grand stairs and see…faint light. Did he already get back? Yet he did not shout or call who's there? Maybe he passes out? You grin at the thought of drawing on his face. You quietly step through the second floor halls. The door is cracked when you get closer. You peek in, seeing him passed out. You snicker then swing the door open.
Your smile drops.
In his robe lays the corpse of the mayor. Bullets in his chest. Your heart squeezes, throat tight. You step back, another—
You run into something firm.
A boot stomps on your back and you yelp. You become eye to eye with the frozen shock gaze of the mayor. The light has long died.
And his blood is all over you.
“Well, well, the murderer is still here,” the shock can't even settle in as you realize what's going on. The gun in the officer's hands to the left is being cleaned.
“W..what the hell?” you stammer out. “Ok..this gotta be a joke right..?” Two cops come out of the mayor's bathroom. You start laughing. “Alright you got me! Tell baldy to wake up now..! Hah! And I thought you guys couldn't take…a joke..”
But no one moves. Mr. Rook merely smiles.
You feel sweat drip down your temple, Mr. Rook hums. “You know how much of a pain you've been? Wrecking cars, dog shit pranks, all the while we can't truly lock you up. Law and all…”
“It was just pranks!” You shout. “What the hell is your problem?! This is going too far!” Mr. Rook's face goes deadly cold.
“Do you remember that scandal, the picture you copied and copied and threw around town?” Rook says. You swallow.
“What..? The one with you cheating on your wife with Betty? Lattice left you right?” You chuckle nervously. “Come on man, that's your fault!”
“You ruined my life! ” Mr. Rook screamed. “My wife left with our daughter in a rushed fit, she..she was so angry she wasn't paying attention to the road…” what…?
“They…” you go quiet.
“That…I wasn't trying to cause that,” you say. “I..I didn't cause that. No…I didn't make her leave. You did !”
“You just don't know when to admit things, huh?” Mr. Rook said. “That your actions have consequences?”
“You're the one who was cheating! ” You spit.
Rook backhanded you and you slammed into the wall. He balls his fist up.
“You killed my family! ” he snarls. “An orphan waste of space like you, isn't going to be missed…” Mr. Rook advances. You wait till he hovers then sprays him in the face. He screams in anger and you shove past him down the stairs.
“ Catch Them !!”
You nearly get hit by a car and careen into the sidewalk. You scrape yourself off and slam into the apartment building. You move on Auto pilot. You don't talk the elevator and rush up the stairs. “Ryan! Ryan help me!” you harshly whisper. When you slam the apartment door open. You halt. Freeze . Cindy and Ryan's corpse lay. Bleeding out. Two cops waiting in the kitchen.
“Oh dear,” Mr. Peterson says. “You really are predictable…”
You turn around and run out only to run into another cop who slams you to the ground. You slam into wet warm blood. Staring into Ryan's fearful eyes. Tears leak down your face as a sob catches in your throat.
You glare at Rook who steps in. Police light blare outside.
“D..id you have to..to kill Ryan?” you ground out in a watery voice. The cop laughs and doesn't answer. Handcuffs grab you before you can react. Your trial is speedy. You aren't offered anything in confinement. You aren't even interrogated .
Your only family is dead….
And it's all your fault.
You don't hear the sentence, just dragged out of the courtroom. People scream and shout at you. You walk down the hall and see all the cops you've been terrorizing. Mr. Rook smiles.
It haunts you.
—
You scream in agony and thrash. You reawakened in the blinding facility.
“Subject Z-9876, heart momentarily stopped. Any more injections may be fatal, end of research for no—” your screams cut the scientist off. You lunge but are bound and muzzle. “Subject Z-9876 showing increasing aggression.”
The scientist turns to another. “Administer sleeping agent.” You sob as another injection enters you and your vision darkens.
Ryan… You Sob in thought. The first to offer you an umbrella at your grandparents funeral. Who stayed with you when you had a bad trip.
Your best friend… Ryan…
You dragged Cindy into this by just being acquaintances. God , what have you done?
Maybe you belong here.
Your first days in the faculty didn't seem so bad. It just felt like…a cleaner prison. All eyes were on you. The newest addition. You hugged the walls, faking a tough persona. But you couldn't avoid eating forever. You decided to just sit with your roommate. Just like her, they did not want to deal with your hair texture, so they shaved it off. At one point, you thought about making a friend out of her…
But you quickly learned that was not true. She talked to herself… a lot. You made the mistake to ask about her friend and she jumped at you for talking to her ‘boyfriend.’ No other prisoner helped as she tried to wring the life from your neck. You scrambled and grabbed a utensil. Stabbing her in the eye with a fork.
Your roommate changed.
You didn't talk to the new one. Bored out your mind. You removed the wet floor signs and watched security bust their ass. They rolled back the cameras and you were called into questioning… Before they promptly beat the shit out of you. Only stopping when you curled up in a corner, flinching at every sound. You avoided pranking security. You become paranoid of them, they seem to delight in it. You seem to have gained too much fame. Or maybe vulnerability. Injured and healing, several fellow prisoners take advantage of you. One pulls you into a locker room and uses his full weight to hold you down as the other goes to remove your clothes.
You scream and shove but they only laugh and no guards rush to help. You claw at his eyes and he relents you then proceed to crawl away. The other lands on top of you but you but you roll just in time to stomp him in the crotch. He curses as you scramble up. Pain sears through your body but you grab and bench and move without thinking. Guards lazily stroll in to see two young adult males with their head caved in and you covered in blood shaking. You are put into isolation for God knows how long.
You avoid the lunchroom as long as you can. You try to hide in your cell but the guards force you out into the courtyard. A scientist approaches you. “Such a shame a pretty thing like you is here,” you tense, digging further into the corner. They purr towards you and you swallow bile. “If you…contribute to a little research I'll get you better conditions.. “
“Go to hell,” you say, hyperventilating. The two men come back to mind. The doctor enters your space without warning. Hand coming to graze your growing back hair.
“Now don't be—” you bite him on instinct and he screams. It catches everyone's attention and the guards pin you roughly. The doctor spits at you.
You get new beatings. Your roommate disappears after that. And you hear from whispering guards how he heard an investor snatched up a pretty z inmate just a few days ago. Dread fills you, you have to be worried about being sold too? You get a new one a few days later.
This one has the face of an angel.
He has deep blues and blonde curly hair. You avoid him for weeks but he keeps nervously trying to talk to you. He stands in his own corner. You notice he does it a lot. You slowly get worn down. You share a Hello, then hey, then before you know it you're venting to each other. He's getting closer.
One day loitering around after getting examined, you notice a stack of all the prisoners they've seen. a name stands out. You steal it.
You head back to your cell room and begin reading while the guards are changing shifts.
‘Lewis Ridgemond, brought after being convicted of serial murders of women by playing weak or being a gentleman on dating apps. Went by several names and changed appearances. admitted To enjoying killing them. Health intact. Intelligent, keep watch. Getting too close to roommate—’
“Oh dear.” You go cold.
You turn slowly towards Lewis. He hums, disappointed before smiling.
“Guess the cat's out the bag~”
He pounces you before you can even scream. You are forced to bite bed sheets as he smiles so softly at you. “And you were becoming my favorite!~” he cooes. He wipes the tears from your eyes.
“There's no need to cry…” you kick but he doesn't really flinch, just laughs. He pulls at your clothes. “I thought I could at least get in your pants first…oh well, guess it'll have to be this way..”
Your heart jams in your chest and you do the only thing you can think of. You slam your head into his. He falls over and you rush out. Dazed and room spinning, you slam into the railing.
“My pretty kitty has claws ,” he giggles. You look at him, staggering out of the cell. “Don't worry…I'll remove them…”
“What the hell are you two doing!?” A guard shouts and Lewis' face fills with rage as he tsks.
You two aren't roommates anymore. You are once again in solitary confinement. The world has long since gone gray. You wince when bright light flits in. The scientist you bit stands before you with a cold expression.
“Grab them.”
Each experiment is worse than the last. Each dosage was upped. They burn your veins, your sure one has popped already. You've died several times on the table already. You're convinced if heaven exists, you're not going.
All you see is Ryan's face.
His death repeats. Sometimes you picture the moments before. Did he beg? Did he run? It…
It doesn't matter any…more
“Subject Z-9876, has stopped responding to pain, heartbeat is still going,” a scientist says. “No results have appeared besides pointing teeth. Another failure.”
You…just want to… die .
“Same results, Subject Z-9876 is use…” you don't listen anymore and close your eyes.
After that day no more experiments are conducted. Instead you're dragged into an office, mute and despondent.
“Subject Z-9876, there's only three choices for you,” a paper is slid toward you. It looks like a contract. “You can stay here and continue the experimentation, get sold off if those experiments continue to yield nothing…or go down to the blacksite and retrieve the core…” You don't respond.
“If you do so, all crimes will be washed away…you can leave.” You twitch and look at the woman. She awaits and you look at the paper. You skim and in bold letter you read—
A laugh leaves you.
You are expendable, do not expect to return.
You sign.
You sit in a cramped submarine with three others. A jittery woman, a dark skinned male, and a dark ginger haired one. The submarine opens with a hiss and you all step out. You look around, looting hard drives. The girl nervously mumbles to herself. She jumps as the submarine retreats. A door opens and you see the dark skinned male rush in. With the other cursing and chasing after.
“Take me back! TAKE ME BACK!” She sobs. You sigh.
“Are you coming or not?” She turns to you with watery eyes but you hold no sympathy. You turn away and follow after the other two.
The girl chases after you and hides behind you. Cowardly. The hallway is long and spans in three directions. You find the two males after walking a long time fighting over a flashlight. They spit and curse at each other. The lights flicker. You hear the girl speak, she panics and jumps into a room without thinking.
You sigh, stepping towards the men. “Hey…” you call, the ground begins to rumble. They're still too busy tussling. Something…is …approaching. You start to panic and lunge in a locker.
“Give me that fucking—”
“Piss off—”
Crunch, squelching, and agonizing screams are heard as the room is sent into pitch black. You don't move, you can hear the girl sobbing. Red lights flicker on and you step out. The sight before you is nothing more than a massacre. Intestines and limbs strewn about. Your foot touches something…the flashlight. You gulp and gag. “It's…safe…but..we lost them,” you call. She peeks out, goes wide eyed then throws up. You grimace then look away. You grab at their stuff, pause and shiver at the feeling of organs and abandon some.
You..you can't do it…
There's only the girls sobbing as you travel through a long winding corridor. There's two paths, the third is jammed. Both have the same number.
“Hey, it's the left!” A voice and the girl cowards. “Hey, psst! There's no need to be afraid! I'll get you out of here!” The girl sniffles and you squint.
“What…are you?” You ask.
“A friend…we are gonna spend a lot of time together!” It giggles. “Now, hurry up!” The lights flicker. The girl squeals and rushes to the left. You aren't faster than her, your shoes squeak as you turn back. As the door open, red lasers fall on the girl. The number is replaced by a face looking smug.
“Or not! Hehe!”
You slam out the way as bullets fly and you grab a locker door as the rumbling becomes an all time high. Throwing yourself inside. The lights go out.
You sit in silence waiting. The door slides shut and once the red lights flicker on, you step out. You peek around the corner to see the girl's face frozen in fear with tear stains and holes in her face.
“w..why would you..?” You stutter.
“w..w.. whyyy not?” The ai chimes back. “real question, why are you down here? ” you slide down the wall, drenched in cold sweat.
“I'm sure they told you already, you're expendable , they aren't expecting you to come back…” The air continues. “Did ya really think anything is your friend down here?” it hums.
“And look at that, your one friend…dead. What a bummer you couldn't join them..” you choke on a sob. “Unless! You come on and sliiide a little into view—”
You sob openly and the ai goes silent.
“If you're crying already, you aren’t going to last long at all, what a bummer… ” you take off running down the corridor. You put as much distance as possible between that room. You hug yourself as you slide into a corner and weep.
You are alone….
And no one will mourn you ..
You choke on air and can't seem to get enough. Is your vision blurring because of tears or because you can't breathe? You shake violently. You sob silently, staring at the wall across you. The creaking of the underwater base and dripping are all you hear. Your thoughts are deafening…
After nearly hyperventilating, you shakily stand. Pick up loose documents, shove them in your bag and keep trudging. You…don't feel…anything. Your eyes are fully forward. Grabbing items as you go.
Your footsteps feel all the more loud.