Test and Sacrifices

Cave of Illusion

He timidly walked over to the creature chained to the wall. His hands were trembling and his mind was racing; he wondered if he could actually do this. Could he hurt something even if it tried to kill him?

Would she feel it like a human would or does whatever creature she is have a high pain tolerance? He took a few more steps then his legs collapsed from under him. He fell to the floor and sobbed. His sense of empathy had forbidden him to do such a thing. He didn’t feel right about harming her.

He looked up and looked into her deep brown oval-shaped eyes. One looked like a glass marbled but the other showed fear, sadness, regret almost as if somewhere deep inside her there was a soul that just wanted to be free and innocent. He threw the key aside. He couldn’t hurt something with that kind of look. Something about her at the moment looked child-like and helpless.

She wasn’t a soulless being after all. “You passed the test. You saw the human within the monster that is me.” She said as she took out her right eye and rolled it to him. It was indeed made of glass and attached to it was a key. “That’s the key to my chains. Please free me and I’ll give you the key you need .” Owen looked up at her cautiously. If he freed her, would she hurt him? He wasn’t sure if he should trust her yet.

“Please, I’m forced to be a monster. I don’t like hurting people but unless a test subject frees me I have to or I’ll be killed. I just want to be free. The hope of someone like you, someone with empathy is the only reason I try to survive this place. I don’t want to die here.”

Owen hesitantly moves closer to her. As he did she held out her cut up and chained hands. He unlocked them and to his surprise she hugged him. Her embrace was warm and timid. He then unlocked the rest of her chains, the ones around her ankles, and the collared one on her neck. “Why didn’t you ever unlock them yourself?” Owen asked. In response she pointed to something on the ceiling. “ That thing emits an electric laser. When I tried to free myself I was shocked, before I could reach the door.

“How did you get here?” She pointed to a desk to the side of the room. On it were two pieces of paper. He began reading them and as he did he realized that she was more victim than monster.

Test subject #17

Experiment type : Biological and Psychological mutation

Name : Julia

Age at the start of the experiment: 10 years old

Found : Daughter of one of the scientists in the labs.

Test method : injections of serums that alter the biological state and isolation

Purpose of test : To study how much a human can endure and be altered till they become something that's more creature-like than human

Experiment lasted for : 1 year

Sold to : X

The next page read :

Welcome to the red zone

Room : # 1

Creature : Weapon of destruction

Trained to : kill

Test of room : empathy or physical strength you decide which one

Owen was horrified by what he read. The girl then took a piece of paper and wrote “They lied. My parents both worked for the labs. At first the labs were more humane. They worked mainly on robots. The only biological things they did was working with bacteria and viruses to find cures to different illnesses and DNA crossing of plant species used as what they said were painless but deadly poisons to be used in combat. They were working for the greater good until she came. A woman one day arrived with a cage. Inside it was a creature, she said it was indestructible.

The workers at the lab were fascinated by this. She told them that her practices were humane, but that in order to participate in her work everyone will have to be injected with what she said was a tracker in case of an “accident”. I heard this from the doorway to the labs. She injected all willing workers who then passed out for three days. She ordered her monster to kill all who objected to her plan.

When the workers woke up they were like puppets she could control them somehow. I wasn’t 10 I was 6 when this began. She began experimenting on and torturing all the children of the workers. She was turning us into tools for whatever she wanted. I was sold to her sister at 9 and have been here for 3 years. I was once a human just like you. I was told that my only way out is through the empathy of a sacrifice test subject which is you, but now I have to become the same test subject that you are.”

“ I’m a sacrifice?” Owen asked, “What am I here for?” “ Yes you are but I don't know what kind. You are being sacrificed to their experiment and sadistic nature. I don’t know what’s beyond this room or what will happen if we get to the end. All I know is that this is a survival test and the main sacrifice is you and your sanity. It was my job to kill you. Most don’t make it past this room, which is scary because my room is only the first one. Also its solution is to either overpower me or convince me to trust you. All you had to do was be stronger than me or free me.

There’s a place called the dead room, I only know about it because that’s where all the dead bodies are taken. Now that I’ve joined you I’m also a sacrifice.” She answered. Then she took a key out of her pocket and unlocked the door. “ Come on, let's keep moving.” She said as she beckoned him to follow. “Do you know where you’re going?” Owen asked. “ Nope I’ve only seen the room we were just in, but this hall is the only way to go.”

He followed down the hallway. It was cold, and dark. There was a hollowness to it that could only be described as a void. As they walked the air grew damper and cooler until it felt like they were in a cave. Their footsteps echoed louder and louder as they walked . Shadows of what looked like formations you’d see in a cave began to become visible on the walls and ceiling.

Finally they reached a door. It was cold and it had an illuminated sign above that said: “Welcome to the cave of illusion.” Owen was once again scared to open the door but Julia went forward without hesitation. “Hurry up, the only way out of this place is to get through all the rooms.” She said, So reluctantly Owen followed her into the room. As soon as they entered the door slammed shut.