The Freaky Digital Lab: A TADC AU (15+)

Chapter IV: Added to Our Beta Testers

[[Before you begin with the chapter, I must warn you that this chapter mentions blood, body horror, discomfort, and needles/injections. Proceed and read with caution!]]

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Pomni opened her eyes to bright lighting. Her eyes squinted as she regained consciousness and adjusted to her surroundings. She found herself to be... restricted. Her arms, legs, and torso were strapped down to the table. Hearing the clanks of glassware, she turned her head to see Professor Caine stocking up his finished serums. Her eyes were fixated on the Professor's hands- he was filling up a syringe with a substance.

"Wh-what is this?!" Pomni panicked.

Caine stopped what he was doing, turning towards his frantic subject. "You're awake, excellent! How are you feeling?"

"Get me out of here!" Pomni pleaded as she squirmed on the table, crying out. "HELP! HELP! HE'S TRYING TO KILL ME!"

"Now, now, my dear! Shh!" Caine shushed her. "Don't bother struggling or crying out for help; for nobody can hear you from here."

Caine tilted the table to an upright position. Pomni was visibly shaken and whimpering. Her heavy breathing was apparent; so Caine grabbed Pomni's hand, trying to calm her down.

"This is all in the name of science, Pomni... The name of science." Caine's demeanor had become gentler, but the madness underlying in his eyes was still present. "Now, before we initiate the experiment, I need a blood and plasma sample from you."

Pomni's eyes widened at the mention of blood and plasma sampling, meaning that needles would be involved. She began to feel faint. "No, God! Please don't!"

"Relax, Pomni," Caine reassured her. "It's only one needle, dear. I will draw your blood into a couple of vials. One will be for just blood while for the other one, I will use centrifugation to diffuse plasma from the blood."

Caine carefully wrapped an elastic band around Pomni's upper right arm, aiming to locate a vein. He took his time, patiently probing until he felt a vein. Caine swiftly grabbed a vial, attaching it to the needle's connector.

"Stay nice and still," Professor Caine advised Pomni. "It'll be over shortly."

Then, he prepared the butterfly needle and gently penetrated Pomni's vein. She winced in pain as the phlebotomy began.

After less than a couple of minutes, he properly disposed of the needle, sealed the vials of blood, and then put a small cotton ball and bandage over Pomni's injected spot.

"You did a good job, dear," the Professor praised. "You can open your eyes now."

"Oh, thank God..." Pomni looked down at the bandaged area on her arm. "N-now what?"

"I'll also need to collect other samples such as urine, hair, and saliva," Caine responded, writing notes on his clipboard.

...

Back in the corridors, Ragatha got up from the ground, giving Jax a dirty look.

"What the f***, Jax?" Ragatha scolded. "Why would you rat her out like that?!"

"What?" Jax shrugged wittingly.

"You know exactly what you just did! You exposed her even after promising you were in on it and you wouldn't tell! God, I can't believe we had run to you for help only for Pomni to get betrayed. Even for the jerk you can be, we trusted you." Ragatha ranted.

"Me? Well, Pomni was going to be found anyways," Jax remarked. "Bubble is the Professor's eyes and ears. He's so nosey... I'm surprised that the deranged scientist doesn't have higher security."