𝐘𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐛𝐲 - 𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝟏𝟏𝟔𝟔

Chapter 8: The Change

Quinn lay in the corner of his small, prison-like room, still as stone. Days and nights had merged into one long stretch of silence, interrupted only by the occasional click of the door slot. But this time, the door itself creaked open, and a scientist entered—someone he'd never seen before. She was younger, her expression uncertain as she approached.

"Hello, Quinn," she said, her voice barely masking her nerves. "Dr. Sawyer won't be... joining us anymore. He's been moved off this project."

Quinn's eyes widened, confusion morphing into a deep, aching sense of loss. Sawyer had been his only connection, his one anchor in this strange, terrifying transformation. He wanted to ask why, to demand answers, but his mouth could only make broken, grumbling noises.

The scientist took a step back, her expression shifting to wariness.

The pain inside him twisted into something darker, and before he knew it, his face began to change. The grin split slowly down the middle, each side pulling apart to reveal the monstrous maw lined with jagged teeth, the hollow throat exposed in a grotesque, hungry gape.

The scientist stumbled backward, her eyes wide with horror. "S-stay calm," she stammered, her hands trembling as she reached for the door. "We'll... we'll figure something out."

But her words barely registered. Quinn's heart pounded, torn between hurt and anger. The scientist backed out of the room, slamming the door shut behind her, leaving him alone once more.

As the room fell silent, Quinn's face slowly returned to its usual form. But the ache of Sawyer's absence lingered, heavy and sharp, making his prison feel colder and emptier than ever before.