For The Sake of Science

Chapter 5 - Welcome to The Institute

Emily fought the nausea rising in her chest, pressing her eyes shut tighter each time she slipped into consciousness. Her head spun. Her stomach churned. The hum of the car, paired with a static-filled radio, was unintelligible without her hearing aids. At some point, the vehicle stopped, but the vertigo persisted. Someone nudged her shoulder, calling her name. Hands tugged at her arm, trying to get her to stand—but her legs buckled beneath her.

Someone gave up and lifted her.

She felt the rhythmic motion of footsteps... and then nothing.

⸻

When she opened her eyes again, it was only one at first. Her vision was blurry, but she could make out warm-toned wooden furniture and a faint lavender glow. Her head rolled to the side, eyes landing on a bunk bed draped with string lights. The comforters were crisp white, tucked neatly at the corners. A lavender-framed bulletin board was tacked with Polaroids—smiling faces frozen in time.

Emily slowly sat up in her own bed—single, white comforter, tucked like the others. She pressed a palm to her forehead, exhaling shakily. Her headache lingered, but the spinning had dulled to a low throb. Her feet touched the cold concrete floor, grounding her.

Around her was a half-decorated dorm room. One side had a plush rug, cozy lighting, and small decorative touches. The other—hers—was sterile. Bare. The only items laid out on her dresser: a neatly folded navy skirt, a white short-sleeve blouse, a pair of knee socks, and black Mary Janes.

She stood and walked slowly to the door, which hung slightly ajar. It opened into a dated common space—soft pink sofa, scratched side tables, and a box TV balanced on a wooden stand, flanked by VHS tapes and mismatched coasters. A small houseplant perched on top of the TV, beside a faux candle.

Down the short corridor, she glimpsed a second bedroom and a communal bathroom. Past that, a hall lined with three more identical suites. One end held a glass block window; the other, a pair of metal double doors.

Emily walked toward the doors and stepped into a large open lounge. Fuzzy bean bags. Bendable lamps. Bead curtains. A rainbow karaoke machine. The space looked like someone raided a 2003 dorm catalog and never moved on. She kept moving, down two concrete staircases into a wide industrial lobby, then past a small front desk into a bustling cafeteria.

Every head turned when she entered.

Some tried to be subtle. Most didn't.

She froze, scanning for somewhere—anywhere—to sit.

"Emeline!" someone called. A girl waved her over, gesturing to a tray of untouched food. "We saved you a seat!"

Emily caught maybe half the words—lipreading, half-hearing through the noise—but it was enough. Better than standing around being stared at.

"I'm Mara," the girl said as Emily approached. "One of your quadmate leaders."

"It's nice to meet you," Emily said. "You can call me Emily."

"Oh! Sorry," Mara winced. "That's just what was written on the whiteboard on your door."

"No worries." Emily gave a polite nod and sat down.

She was still reeling. Her hearing aids hadn't been returned. She couldn't keep up with the conversation and felt the early signs of listening fatigue already setting in.

Someone tapped her shoulder. She jumped.

"Emily," a guy said within her hearing range, smiling kindly. "I'm Alex."

He looked slightly older—maybe eighteen—with deep brown skin and a clean fade. His teeth were perfect.

"Nice to meet you too," Emily said with a nod.