The Horrors

Chapter 1: The Briefing

I sat on the edge of my bed, fingers brushing the bandages around my arms. The cold, sterile walls of the hospital room felt familiar, but it didn’t make me feel at home. The air was thick with silence, broken only by the faint hum of the ventilation system. The other subjects sat in silence too, each in their orange jumpsuit, waiting.

The door opened, and two doctors walked in, their lab coats and aprons pristine. Dr. Garrett, the older one, cleared his throat, his gaze cold. "You’ve been selected for a task. Complete it successfully, and you'll earn your badge — privileges await. Fail, and there will be consequences."

I felt a familiar resentment stir in my chest. A badge. A piece of metal to remind us we weren’t free, just tools to be used.

He continued, giving us our assignments and locations. “Remember, the device on your wrist must not be tampered with,” he warned. “Don’t try anything foolish.”

The threat was as heavy as always, but I knew what it meant. The device would track every step, every breath.

As I was escorted out of the room, the familiar tension coiled in my stomach. I was the last to leave, and the guards didn’t speak to me as they led me to the car. I slipped into the backseat, black shoes pressing against the cold floor, staring out the window as the city passed by in a blur.

The ride felt endless. We reached an apartment complex on the outskirts of the city, the cold ground biting my feet as I stepped out. The guard’s voice was flat as he handed me my instructions. "Your task is simple. Care for the subject. Follow orders."

I nodded, the device on my wrist a constant reminder of my lack of freedom.

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Inside the apartment, I closed the door behind me with a soft click. I took a deep breath, trying to settle my nerves. Alicia, the girl I was supposed to care for, was waiting inside. She would be just like the others — innocent, but with her own needs. I had to be careful.

The task had begun.