I'm sitting on the squeaky hospital bed again. I feel so confused about, well, everything! I closed my eyes and tried to trace back my steps to before I was in this maddening place. The maze... My family... Escaping... A flash of static buzzed across my vision, engulfing me in nothingness. After a minute it ebbed away, leaving me hunched over, shivering.
"What the HELL was that?!" I said to myself. I heard the doorknob turn. I groaned, I was SO not in the mood for them right now.548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfvv0JBHmmg
Lab coat walked in, clicking his clipboard. I only glared at him. Ignoring this, the man simply smiled and said: "Congratulations, you've passed the two tests. As I said before, you work here. Get yourself dressed, we have a long day ahead of us." And with that he swished out of the room.
"Wait! Gah, never mind.." I grumbled.
A nurse came in and placed a set of clothes on the bed, with a small bow she turned right around and exited. I slipped on the clothes as slow as possible. A simple black shirt and jeans turned out to suit me fairly well. Glancing at the last part of clothing, I held it up. My own lab coat. My hands started to shake, the coat fell to the floor. No, no. I wasn't one of them, no way. I wouldn't wear the coat, but I'll oblige to what comes next. Stepping out into the hallway, another nurse greeted me with warmth.
"Ah, Miss Allingmen! Right this way, the doctor is waiting for you." I was steered to the right, passing by other patients rooms. One held a man, with odd spores protruding from one side of his face. They seemed more like blisters, I saw one pop, a green liquid dribbling from it. Shuddering, I looked in the room opposite, it wasn't much better. This time a young woman was covered in fur, howling at the nurses crowding her. She looked like a lost puppy, tail and all. What have I gotten myself into? Suddenly we faced an old, wooden door.
"Enter when you're ready, Miss." The nurse bowed and walked off. I hesitated, and knocked.
"Come in." The familiar voice answered. I opened the door, and closed it behind me. Clipboard guy was shuffling around with papers, wearing reading glasses. The glasses seemed odd on him, he looked more homely. He smiled when he looked up at me.
"Welcome! Take a seat, anything I can get you? Coffee? Tea?"
"How about my loved ones." It was more a statement than a question. His smile faltered.
"Some things are easier to replace than others." He looked down at his desk grimly.
"But that's not why we're here today. Today, you will start work, as my apprentice." I stared at him, feeling the anger boil over.
"You're APPRENTICE?!"
"Yes," he nodded. "My apprentice."
I opened and closed my mouth several times, trying to come up with a comeback. Nothing. Out of luck, I sat in the chair parallel to his.
"Just who are you, anyway?"
"I am Dr. Yukizu, pleased to finally have a formal introduction." He held put a hand, I didn't shake.
"That's a strange name." He retreated his hand.
"Yes, it is. Most people here just call me Doctor, anyway. Or Dr. Y, if you prefer."
"Why can't I remember anything?" I asked, more quietly this time.
"Standard precaution. I had to go through it as well, the amnesia, and facing my true fear."
"T-that wasn't a fear, that was just plain terrifying!" I stuttered.
"More so for you, Miss Allingmen. I'm afraid that's all the time we have for questions today." He stood up.
"Let me show you what we do here." I followed him to the door cautiously. We veered down several hallways at a speedy pace, and and to a large, steel door. The Doctor punched in a pass code, flashed his card and the door opened with a deafening creak. Gasping, I saw several different creatures of all shapes and sizes running amok.
"We're trying to find the right combination of species that would enhance the human mentality, and physical body." We walked passed all sorts of animals, monkeys, crocodiles, even a butterfly flew past me at an alarming speed. The Doctor chuckled slightly.
"Some creatures we even discovered ways to help them become stronger, though the process can be brutal." The smile faded away again. He continued walking.
"And over here is where we search for cures to, well, everything. Any disease that has no cure we sniff it out! Cancer has been a struggle, but some say it just needs some fine tuning." The Doctor sounded different, a lot different, from before. He seemed to fantasise about helping all these creatures.
"If all you're doing is trying to help, then why are there so many people in pain?" I inquired.
"Failed experiments. Those people signed up for what was their only chance for a cure. Most knew full well that it would take a miracle to help them, but it's all we can do for now is experiment." He had a scornful look now, so unlike how he normally appeared.
"But, anyway, enough of that. Here is your office." Shocked, I blinked at the door in front of us.
"My... Office?" I was speechless.
"Yes, your office. Part of the apprenticeship includes a nice space for you to work." He opened the door. Stepping onto hardwood floor, the desk and chair sat nicely across the room. Nothing else was in the room, however.
"You may decorate how you'd like." I felt myself smile, but quickly changed it to a frown as I turned to Dr. Y.
"It's beautiful, really, but I still think you have the wrong girl. I'm not who you think I am. Sorry." He nodded.
"I'll leave you to think, then." He left.
"Wait-!" I called out, but it was too late. This was all so strange, but I felt an urge of happiness deep down. I just have to keep playing things out until I can plan out an escape, it's my only hope.
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