Experiment of Madness

15-Taunts in the Darkness-Aerra

I recall that last night's sleep had been different somehow. There wasn't the usual barrage of tormented thoughts or horrific nightmares like I usually experience. Instead, there was a certain peace and tranquility that I couldn't quite understand.

The experience was oddly peaceful. Even in the depths of sleep, I didn't feel my usual anguish or terror. It's a strange and unusual feeling, one that I can't quite wrap my head around.

My mind drifts back to Dag's actions. Why would he even offer to let me sleep in his bed? It's such a strange thing for him to do. Is it out of pity or something else entirely?

I think about Dag's unexpected actions, like the way he hugged me and patted my head. It's so unlike him, unlike the stoic and aloof man I've come to know. Is he losing his mind too, or is there something else at play here?

My ears pick up the sound of approaching footsteps, and I instinctively react. I scramble under the bed, my heart racing as I try to make myself as small and unnoticeable as possible.

I wonder silently to myself. Normally, Dag keeps his room private, so who could be entering at this time? The thought makes me feel even more unsettled, my pulse quickening as I hide under the bed.

I strain my ears to make out the voice. It's a girl, I can tell, though her voice is muffled by the bed frame. She sounds...excited?

I strain to make out their conversation, the girl's voice growing clearer as she speaks. "Imagine I can tell people I have a cousin who's in the FBI," she says, her tone excited and boastful. The words send a chill down my spine.

I hear the girl speak again, her voice betraying a hint of sadness. "I'm gonna miss you, Jett," she says, her words tinged with emotion. "You know this, right?"

I continue to listen intently, trying to decipher the situation. It seems like the girl is talking on the phone with someone named Jett. The sound of her voice comes through clearly now.

I catch snippets of the girl's conversation with Jett, her voice rising in excitement. "You're not even going to graduate. Are you serious?" she exclaims. "That's like, so cool. I'm stuck here in this school, and you get to work for the FBI. It's not fair!" The words sting a little, like a reminder of my own situation.

I hear the girl mention something about a snake, her tone concerned. "I'm looking for Basilisk's food. You know how my snake gets when he's hungry," she says, her words a mixture of frustration and care.

I strain to hear her better, and my heart drops as I catch her words.

Did she just say a snake?

I thought to myself. The realization of her having a snake in the room sends a shiver down my spine.

What are you doing in my room?Get out.I hear Dag's voice

The girl quickly tries to placate Dag, her tone slightly defensive. "Christ, relax," I hear her say, "I'll just take Basilisk's food." There's a hint of irritation in her words, but she also seems wary of crossing Dag's boundaries.

The girl's voice becomes muffled as she mumbles under her breath. I can just make out her words, the disdain in her voice, "The guy's a twisted freak," she says, followed by a quieter, almost proud, whisper, "just like me." It's a strange statement, one that I can't quite wrap my head around.

I watch as the girl's legs pace across the floor, her boots clomping loudly. There's a brief shuffling sound, and then suddenly, I hear a door closing. Silence falls over the room, and I can only assume the girl has left the room.

I cautiously crawl out from my hiding spot under the bed, my heart still racing. My body feels stiff and cramped from being in such a small space for so long, and the sudden change in position makes me dizzy for a moment.