it was black ◎ psycho pass

~Chapter 44~

I don't know where this story's going I might end it soon smh
I think of my writing as a piece of skin. there isn't any bone building blocks behind the fragile skin of story, and its unnoticeable for a while but not for long 

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It was just a box of cookies.

Crispy, delicious, fresh cookies.

I realised how hungry I was just by staring at them. They were strangely seductive cookies, and it had been a while since I had ate anything, never mind cookies. Maybe this trial wouldn't be so bad after all! I dropped the lid with a clang and shuffled over to the box. Sniffing the contents, I laughed to myself. They smelt just like normal cookies!

It did strike a few questions. I was trained, drugged, brought to this secret room, had my own conscience knocked out- for this? To eat some cookies?  The idea was plausible, but not convincing enough for me. Doubt still cast a shadow in my mind.

Before I could start sulking about how it wasn't muffins, the walls started retracting upwards. I quickly stood up and spotted another figure outside the glass. 

~Her POV~

"I'm so glad you invited us for the demonstration!" A voice came from beside me. The chief of the police force shook my hand. "I can't wait to see how the new system's working."

We were in another room, adjacent to the one she was in. A few chairs littered the back wall but other than that, it was empty. Only a few people were present. Better if anything went wrong.

The walls slowly retracted in front of us, revealing a woman who I recognised well.

Zara Evergreen.

Ex-latent criminal and frequent hospital visitor, known solely in my field for the testing of new drugs. She was the perfect fit really. Her Crime Coefficient was high enough, though I can't fathom why.

Of course you know why. It was good that you fixed the little 'problem' she had before she realised what was going on- don't you think?

Quite coincidental that she was my daughter as well, but I suppose that was to my advantage at this point. No luck got me here.

"Gentlemen." I stepped forward. "Today we will be observing the new drug nicknamed 'Mute Shock'."

My hand moved to brush my hair out of my eyes. 

"This is the subject for our experiment. As most of you have recognised, this is my own daughter."

There was a wave of surprise echoing through the room. Of course. Many of the ignorant leaders here didn't know of my main winning mayoral election campaign. 

"And because I am so sure of my own research and development, I have gained consent to test them on my own daughter. I assure you, if anything were to go wrong I wouldn't stand for it, as a mother."

Those words alone earned me the title of mayor.

"My daughter has been safely testing these drugs for the greater good of latent criminals, due to her more agitated Psycho-Pass." I continued. "She cannot hear anything past this glass, so she is unaware that she is about to be tested on. She thinks this is part of her MWPSB initiation, and this is for the best."

I turned around and looked at Zara through the glass. She looked confused, and strangely angry. As Zara looked around her vividly, we waited for her next actions.

~Zara's POV~

Everyones eyes were on me, observing me like an animal behind glass. She was here as well.

"YOU MAY BEGIN." The voice returned.

Begin? Eating cookies wasn't a trial. It was a pass time. I'll show them all how quickly I can devour sugary foods!!!

~Her POV~

I watched.

"As soon as the cookie touches her lips..." I began. "She will become.. 'mute'." 

~Zara's POV~

One bite was enough.

One bite.

One.

That was enough to send lightning shocks down my throat, shocking the nerves almost enough to die. My eyes, previously jarred open with shock, were blurred. The rest of my body was too frightened to act.

"Zara!" A muffled voice came from behind the door. Mels. I tried as best as I could to turn around. "If you're in pain, just shout for me- okay?!"

I started getting restless, trying to use my voice. If I don't hurry up they'll leave me! Before I wheezed a single word the lightning shocks returned again, prohibiting me from speaking.

Then the realisation hit me like a bulldozer. I can't speak. They've muted me. I can't make any trouble. Even now, with the cookie abandoned on the floor, pain was resonating through my throat. My hands were clawing at the skin uncontrollably.

"See? She's alright!" Kyle shouted. Thoughts flooded my empty brain. I forgot that my conscience wasn't there and starting rambling where it didn't hurt to speak.

Wake up!

I can't speak!

Why won't you answer?!

Can't you hear me?

Eventually I just lolled on the floor and didn't move. No amount of crying inside my mind would change anything at this point. I was tricked. And the realisation stung. She had yet again tricked me into testing a new drug, one that could probably kill people. I had been used- again. Five minutes ago I was peacefully raising a deathly weapon to my lips, now I was reduced to nothing.

As I lay on the floor, the pain slowly ebbed away into nothing. I could feel stray strands of hair sticking onto my forehead, ragged breathing evident in the small room. Almost all at once, anger bubbled up inside me and almost spilled out onto the floor, motivating my throat to try and scream out loud. 

I had forgotten that the drug probably wasn't good for my Crime Coefficient, and that I was probably gonna snap- in a bad way. It was tugging at my ribcage, a constant painful reminder that a great future filled with me destroying everything and probably knocking myself out was just around the corner.

Really? You woke me up for this?

I sharply gasped, almost choking on air.

The snapping was instantaneous.

~END~