Trials of the Test Subjects

Chapter 1: The Awakening

I blinked awake, my head pounding and my body heavy, as if I had just emerged from a deep sleep. The harsh glow of a single flickering light bulb hung above me, casting eerie shadows that danced across the stark, cold walls of the cell. My heart raced as I took in my surroundings. I wasn't alone.

To my right, I saw a girl with fiery red hair, a boy with tousled black hair, and another girl with a nervous expression. They all looked just as confused as I felt. I pushed myself into a sitting position on the narrow metal bed that felt more like a slab than a place for rest. The name tag on my jumpsuit read "Mitochondria," a ridiculous code name that made me feel like a lab experiment, which, in a way, I guess I was.

"Hey, are you all okay?" I croaked, my voice hoarse.

The boy with the tousled hair sat up, rubbing his eyes. "Yeah, I think so. Where are we?"

"I don't know," I admitted, panic creeping into my voice. "I just woke up here... and I can't remember anything."

The girl with the red hair sighed.

"We're all in the same boat. I'm Ana... I mean, Mitochondria. I guess that's what we're called now?" I said.

"Lyn," the boy introduced himself. His tone was steady, which made me feel slightly better. "I've got some experience sneaking around. We'll figure this out."

I looked around, trying to gather my thoughts. The room was cramped, with six metal beds lining the walls, each one bearing a name tag with a different code name. The air was stale, and I felt a shiver run down my spine. The fact that we were all assigned to these beds felt sinister, as if we were part of some twisted experiment.

Then I noticed the sixth bed-empty and ominous. "What do you think happened to the last person?" I whispered, feeling a knot tighten in my stomach.

"Doesn't matter right now," Lyn said firmly, his gaze scanning the small room. "We need to get out of here and find out what's going on. Together."

I nodded, trying to shake off the dread creeping into my mind. As we all stood up, I noticed how the orange jumpsuits we wore were similar to prison attire, marked with SCP insignia on our right pockets. I tugged at my black twin braids, feeling the weight of my inexperience and fear. I was weak in stealth, and the thought of navigating whatever lay beyond these walls made my palms sweat.

"Let's start exploring," Lyn said, moving toward the door. "Stay quiet and stay close."

The others nodded, but I hesitated. My heart raced as we stepped into the hallway. The flickering lights buzzed ominously overhead, and an unsettling silence enveloped us. My instincts screamed that something wasn't right, but we had no choice. We had to find a way out.

I took a deep breath and followed Lyn, reminding myself that even if I was weak, I had to try. I had to be strong-for myself and for the others. The only way forward was to uncover the truth behind this nightmare.