Abnormal {Book 1: Completed, Book 2: Ongoing}

Chapter 15

Lyanna's POV

My skin feels like ice as I finally return to my room after my second experiment. They injected a foul smelling liquid so that all the fluids in my body would freeze, and I would become the perfect specimen for them to observe. I couldn't even see what they were doing to my body because I wasn't able to move my eyeballs. 

For almost two hours, I stared at the blank ceiling and wondered if this is what it feels like to die, to feel detached from the world. Until they injected yet another fluid into my body to unfreeze my blood and bring me back to life. And that was when the pain began. After that, they sent me straight back to my room.

I can't stop shivering as I curl into a ball in my bed, my head pounding with pain. For a moment, I wish this could all end. I wish I was back at TCD, where all I had to worry about was Heather's bullying and the Commander high expectations. I wish I was gossiping with Valerie, bantering with Adam, or...

An image of Adrius flashes through my mind, and my heart lurches. If only...

Suddenly, an excruciating pain shoots through my skull, and a scream escapes my mouth as I bolt upright in my bed. I feel like someone is running a chainsaw through my brain. All I can see is red, and my heart is pounding so hard in my chest I feel like it might burst. I can't breathe. I press my hand against my head, willing the pain to stop as tears flow down my face.

I hear a creaking sound to my left. The door opens, and a woman in a lab coat walks into my room. She leans against the wall and stares at me coldly. Abruptly, my pain stops and I raise my head to look at her. She is strikingly beautiful, in an ice queen kind of way, and looks like she's in her mid thirties. She has wide, light blue eyes and long, wavy blonde hair. She brushes an imaginary speck of dust off her white lab coat, and folds her arms over her chest. 

"Ms. Collins," she says, cocking her head to the side. "You are one of the dangerous ones, aren't you?"

"Who are you?" I rasp, my voice cracking from the screaming a few moments ago.

"I am Doctor Medina. I've been in charge of all your lab experiments."

My throat tightens at the calculating look in her eyes. I open my mouth to respond, but she cuts me off with a glare.

"The pain you just experienced is from a reactor we placed in your brain during the second experiment. It is a simple metal device used to detect...rebellious thoughts, and release pain stimulators when activated."

"So you're planning to zap my brain whenever I think of TCD?"

"Yes, that pretty much sums up what I meant."

I breathe in, and out. In, out. After a few breaths, I've calmed down enough to speak in a neutral tone. "I understand."

"Very good, Ms. Collins. You're a fast learner."

"Thank you, Doctor Medina."

She nods to me once, then turns to exit the room. "Remember, you have another experiment tomorrow," she calls over her shoulder.

As soon as she closes the door behind her, the display on the wall lights up, just like it did before my first experiment. I force myself to relax, and lean back against the pillows.

Hello again, Ms. Collins.

This time, there's a microphone icon at the bottom of the screen, with an arrow that says "press the remote to turn on". The nightstand to the right of my bed beeps, and a hidden compartment opens, revealing a small, round, remote with a red button in the center. I pluck it from the drawer, and aiming the remote at the screen, push the button.

The microphone icon enlarges until it fills half the screen, and starts blinking. I'm assuming this is when I start talking. "Um...hello," I say to the screen.

It flashes to the next slide immediately. 

Welcome to your featured presentation. This presentation will be about your third experiment.

Again, the microphone icon. I press down on the remote, and respond, "Ok."

How do you feel about the experiments so far?

"I..." I clear my throat and try again. "I...find them very meaningful," I say in a stronger, more confident voice. 

Good. Now I will introduce you to the third experiment. Your third experiment will be an interactive experiment, meaning that you will interact with the other Abnormals in this organization.

"That's...very exciting," I reply, forcing enthusiasm into my voice.

You will get to meet new people, and go through the same experiment together. However, you are forbidden to contact any of them outside the experiments. Do you understand?

I swallow hard. "Yes..um...of course. I understand. I won't contact them outside the experiments."

Very good. Goodnight then. Your third experiment will be tomorrow morning.