The Anomaly

Welcome Home

Samantha slowly awakens though her head is still fuzzy, and it takes a few minutes to gather where she is. Sadly she knows exactly where she is. Samantha is tied to a flat metallic bed in a large circular and empty chamber. As the realization that she's in the testing chamber settles into her, Samantha's breaths and heart begin pacing. Her head turns to see whatever she can quickly. Her arm and feet restraints are thicker and cover her entire feet and hands instead of just the wrist and ankle. Samantha tries to summon Rava and both of them roar in anguish before Samantha ceases her escape attempt.

"I wouldn't advise that Samantha, we have learned much in your absence." Doctor Paul says through the speakers of the room.

"Let me go! Where are my friends?" Samantha shouts as she attempts to wiggle free of her restraints.

"I cannot do that and your friends are safe rest assured." Doctor Paul says sincerely but this still doesn't calm Samantha. She wanted to see them. She wanted to leave this waking nightmare that had plagued her dreams for the last year.

"I will not be a lab rat again." Samantha's and Rava's joined voice call out but even this small act causes Samantha's brain to throb. There is an odd silence from the speakers. 

"Are you aware of what you have done Samantha?" Doctor Paul's voice is much quieter and accusing. A screen begins to play in front of Samantha, there are multiple different photos and videos on display at once. Videos of Samantha flying over the city, tearing limbs from people, biting chunks into people, and her recent fight in the hallways at school. 

"I didn't mean..." 

"Your actions have cost people their lives! Millions have gone to waste! My reputation dragged down to hell!" Doctor Paul now shouts through the speakers and a small amount of feedback reverberates through them.

"I didn't ask for any of this!" Samantha shouts back, trying to force her arms free now. Doctor Paul sighs.

"I had tried to see beyond the spirit. See the human that was in control. I saw you as just an unfortunate and innocent girl," Doctor Paul's words are somber, and they take Samantha aback, "however I see now that I cannot distinguish the two. One does not exist without the other and one will always be stronger than the other."

"I am stronger! I can control him!" 

"Tell that to those you've killed!" Doctor Paul enters the room through a door under the screen as it changes. It quickly flashes between images of people's bodies broken, in shambles, and bloodied. 

"I had tried to prove to the world that dark spirits could be free in society with you and all you've done is prove the opposite is true." Doctor Paul continues to approach the restrained Samantha.

"So what? You gonna throw me back in a cell and continue to examine me?" Samantha asks raising an eyebrow. 

"Oh we will be examining you, but not quite like before. See we've made a few achievements in the time you've been gone. Your inability to summon Rava currently without strain is the result of one of those developments. We can now pick and choose who gets to use their spirits and when." Doctor Paul stands a few feet from Samantha who, from her elevated and tilted bed, must look down on him.

"I cannot be restrained forever. You can't control me. I will be free from this." Samantha and Rava speak despite the headache that results from it. A smile slowly spreads across Doctor Paul's face.

"An ample choice of words." Something in Samantha doesn't sit right, and she knows Rava can feel it as well because a wave of nausea hits her.

"What do you mean."

"How did I say it earlier? Being 'free' in society?" Doctor Paul emphasizes a word in his sentence and a twisted thought runs through Samantha. If they could prevent Samantha from using her spirit, what other twisted research had they been doing? A few machines spark to life from behind Samantha and begin to bend toward her. Doctor Paul takes a few steps back and observes with waiting eyes. 

"Get the hell away from me!" Samantha says as she presses against her restraints and bears her teeth at the machines that work around her. They however continue to advance, more focused on her head than anything else. Samantha roars and Rava's voice slowly mixes in. Black smoke tries to travel up Samantha's arms from her shoulders however it is as if a fan is blowing the smoke from her body, surrounding her in a thick fog all around the table she lay on. 

"I WILL NOT BE YOUR MONSTER AGAIN!" Samantha shouts so loud it echoes several times across the room and likely down the hallways that connect. Samantha slams her arm against her restraint and her bed shifts slightly. Rava's form is still working to form across Samantha with her wish and her angered state. However the pain is immense, and the strain it takes is unbearable.

Doctor Paul's eyes go wide for through the thick black smoke that flows around the bed she lays on, he can see the red reptilian eyes of Rava. Another push against her restraints and Samantha rocks the table again, roaring as a machine grabs her by the head and holds her in place.