CatNap: The Smiling Cat

Chapter 8: The Smiling Critters

Theo and Dr. Sawyer roamed the shadow-laden hallways. As they moved, the echoes of their footsteps mingled with the whispers of the facility's dark history.

Theo now noticed he was taller than the Doctor in his new body, and the other employees for that matter.

Everyone they walked past stared in amazement, some looked in a fearful manner, some tried to look away, some looked in amazement and awe.

The two of them entered a secluded chamber adorned with unsettling toys and dimly lit by flickering bulbs, Theo encountered an assembly of peculiar beings – the other Smiling Critters.

Bobby BearHug, a red hulking teddy bear with a stitched smile, was too weak to get off the floor, being deaf and mute.

Bubba Bubbaphant, a blue elephant, greeted The Doctor with a weak wave.

CraftyCorn, with a grin stitched onto her husky exterior, stood silently, not even noticing their presence.

DogDay, a canine creation with unsettling eyes, weakly turned his head to look at them. Theo instantly noticed it was the same yellow dog he saw in his dream, and stared in awe.

Hoppy Hopscotch, a rabbit with an eternal grin, was curled up on the floor, as if she was trying to go to sleep.

KickinChicken, a yellow chicken with a perpetual smirk and maniacal ruffled feathers, tried to crawl away from them, clearly being scared of The Doctor and even the other creatures around him.

PickyPiggy, a stitched swine with an unnerving gaze, stared at the two of them unnervingly.

Sawyer looked at Theo, "CatNap, meet your fellow companions – the Smiling Critters. Each one carries the mark of experimentation, just like you."

Theo observed the grotesque assembly, most of them were in too much pain to take much notice of him, yet they all had the same eerie frozen smile.

"Your purpose, CatNap, is to work together with the Smiling Critters to ensure the tranquility of Home Sweet Home," Sawyer explained. "You will listen to me and carry out the responsibilities entrusted upon you."

Harley looked at Theo, expecting a response, but not getting one.

Sawyer looked Theo in his new eyes, "This is your purpose now. If you are resistant, I will have no issue killing you. Nobody cares about you, nobody will notice if you go missing. Nobody loves you."

Theo looked at The Doctor and managed to utter three words, "He will set us free..."

"Who? Experiment 1006?" The Doctor writes something on his clipboard. "Interesting. 1188 has grown a genuine attachment to The Prototype. Very interesting."