The Scientist's Subject

She awoke on a cold dark floor and it seemed she had been here for awhile because her skin peeled back when she raised her head. Her mind was pounding from a pain located at the base of her skull and her vision became blurred by each stabbing jolt. As she lay, paralyzed with fear and wonder, the coppery scent of blood filled her senses, making her shudder. Was it her own blood or another? Disturbed she ran a shaking hand across the steel floor only to feel a wet sensation against her fingertips.

She raised her hand towards her face, blinking rapidly to desperately see the solution smeared on her hand. Her eyesight couldn't adjust, failing to allow her to see if it was indeed blood. Slamming her hand back down, she suddenly felt a burning pain on her right shoulder. Sitting up with a groan, she rubbed her shoulder and felt the wound.

It was the size of a bullet hole and deep from what she could tell. Gingerly she pressed her fingers down which only caused her to cry out. Holding back tears, her hands now slick with blood, she stared wide-eyed around her prison.

It was nothing but darkness. She felt claustrophobic, the blackness weighing down on her, suffocating her. For a moment she thought something else might be in the room, breathing heavily to frighten her, but she soon noticed that it was her own frantic breath. Mind racing, she stalled her lungs for a moment to listen to any signs of life.

In the silence the only sound that could be heard was a strange electronic hum. It came from around her in the darkness of the black room she was contained. Where was she? Who would do this? And Why? These questions pounded with terrified confusion in her mind as she shakily stood to her feet.

Her legs felt like rubber, threatening to give out from under her. Hands held out, she blindly attempted to seize something to hold on to, but only found the floor once more. After a few more tries and falls, she found a wall and balanced herself against it.

It was cold to the touch and she could feel it vibrating underneath her hands, as if it had a artificial heartbeat. Pounding her fist against it, she concluded the walls and floor were made of hard steel. She sighed heavily, pressing her forehead against the wall, when suddenly a bright flash of blue tinted light came behind her.

Quickly she turned, back pressed against the wall and squinting into the brightness to desperately see who was causing it. Once her eyes adjusted, she could make out that it was a screen.

A young man sat in the image, his hands clasped together as he peered over his glasses at her. He was handsome, his hair styled to the side, a slight stubble lining his jawline and a small smirk curving his lips.

''Did you sleep well Subject Nyx?'' He said rather smugly.

She stared blankly at the screen for a moment before slowly nodding. She didn't understand what was going on? Before she could open her mouth to ask where she was and as if he had read her mind, the young man said. ''You are located at a space station orbiting Mars.''

Subject Nyx froze and looked around frantically. A space station near Mars? What the hell kind of joke was this? She turned back to him, her eyes now growing dark with rage as the young man met her gaze unwavered by her anger.

He then continued. ''Before you ask any petty questions...I am informing you that you're an experiment for the different levels of the space station. We needed someone with a certain quality to survive the tests and it seems you fit the bill perfectly to my Boss.''

Subject Nyx crossed her arms angrily and listened as the man continued on. ''In my opinion...I think you'll be dead by level 2.'' He smirked, his eyes illuminated by the blue lights that shone from either side of the screen.

Subject Nyx uncrossed her arms and stood silently as the young man allowed two weapons to protrude from the wall on a rack below the screen. ''This will be your artillery for the levels. Hope you know how to use it.''

The screen glitched black and Subject Nyx was alone with two glowing weapons. They sat on a steel tray, waiting for their bearer's touch. Quietly she approached the weaponry, stumbling only slightly, and observed them.

One was a dual blade mechanism, designed to fit around the forearm, perfect for cutting through an enemy. The blades glowed a strange orange, electrical currents ran across their surfaces. She looked to the other weapon solemnly. It was a laser pistol with a black grip and charged red energy within its cell chamber.

Cautiously, she took the holster for the pistol and buckled it around her waist. She was unsure that by grabbing the weapons she might be struck down. Comfortable with the fit she put her arm into the dual bladed weapon. Straps inside tightened automatically around her arm, securing the weapon in place.

As soon as she was ready, one of the metal panels slid back, revealing a strange humming blue light. She couldn't understand what they wanted, but if surviving these tests earned her freedom, then she would push forward. With a deep breath she approached the opened door.