Chapter 34 - Conducting experiments [4]

Have you ever wondered how a lab rat feels during testing? Probably not, unless you're someone who loves animals; in that case, this question might not have crossed your mind. However, what I want to highlight is that right now, I feel like I'm living the same experience as those rats, as I'm seemingly being treated like one of them.

Just to clarify, I'm not mentioning this because of my size, which resembles that of a child. But, changing the subject, why is this place suddenly turning reddish? Also, I noticed that there was steam coming from various places.

(Did they turn on the heater or something?)

Honestly, I couldn't tell the difference. Ever since I woke up in this body, even though I was in a forest in the middle of the night with winds that should have frozen me, I maintained a neutral temperature. Neither hot nor cold; just neutral. In other words, I felt nothing.

In the end, those were the only changes I noticed: nothing really happened. Yet, for some reason, the scientists were watching me with surprised expressions. Plus, I remained in a state of pure boredom for about ten minutes until something finally happened. A small hatch opened near where I was, and after watching closely, I saw a white, fluffy object leap out: it was a little rabbit.

I watched the rabbit carefully, but as soon as it entered the room, it started running back and forth as if it were desperate. I tilted my head, trying to understand that strange behavior. In the end, it ran so much that it collapsed on the floor, exhausted, and didn't get back up. At that moment, a single thought crossed my mind.

(... Did it run so much that it ended up dying of exhaustion?)

I was seriously confused by what had happened. Just to be sure, I approached the rabbit and poked it with my finger, but it showed no signs of waking up. Its tongue was hanging out, and its eyes were glazed over—a rather disturbing scene, to be honest. In short, it was definitely dead.

***

(POV - Emily Parker)

"She's really fascinating! Despite her outward appearance not showing it, she has an above-average resistance to extreme temperature variations. The rabbit, for example, endured up to a point when we reached 250 degrees but died quickly when we raised it to 500 degrees"

Emily listened intently to Graham's words, but no matter how hard she thought, the only conclusion she could reach was that his words spelled trouble. Graham's interest in an anomaly indicated that she would be subjected to increasingly severe tests. Emily didn't know why, but from her perspective, Graham seemed to be searching for something.

Emily couldn't exactly define what that "something" was or what its purpose would be once Graham found it, but she was sure it was an anomaly. At first, this didn't seem strange to her; after all, who didn't join the organization looking for a specific goal? She herself was like that.

However, no matter how Emily analyzed the situation, it was simply unsettling. What would Graham do once he found what he was looking for? That question echoed endlessly in her mind.

"Normally, we would start with light physical endurance tests, but we observed that she healed quickly after being shot. I believe we can go straight to a more intensive test to assess how far her body can recover from physical injuries"

Unaware of Emily's thoughts, Graham continued immersed in his reflections. Deep down, she wasn't so different from him; she was also curious to discover how far the anomaly's endurance could go. Even Laura, who clearly opposed this type of testing, wore a curious expression on her face. Emily accepted that this restlessness was, in fact, the essence of every scientist.

"Miss Anomaly, hold steady!"

Laura's determined voice echoed beside Emily, who also hoped that the little anomaly could get through the remaining tests without difficulties. It was the least she could do in return, considering that the anomaly had saved her earlier.

"Let's start the test with lower temperatures. Reduce the temperature! I want any living being that enters that room to freeze instantly!"

Upon hearing Graham's command, Emily firmly gripped the clipboard in her hands. It contained all the data collected from the little anomaly up to that moment.

-

[Anomalous Entity Report]

Date: September 8

Reported by: Lead Researcher, Emily Parker

The currently unnamed anomalous entity exhibits impressive resistance to extreme temperature changes, withstanding an initial temperature of 250 degrees, which eventually reached 500 degrees. Additionally, earlier tests indicate that it has remarkable resilience to physical blows, recovering within seconds after being impacted. Although not yet confirmed, the entity does not appear to feel pain, but this observation needs to be revisited.

Risk Level Classification: Currently under review.

Additional Request: None.

-

While it wasn't uncommon to find anomalies whose resilience far exceeded that of humans, there were also those that were indestructible or required inhumane methods to be destroyed. Emily's curiosity was palpable: in which of these two aspects would the little anomaly fit?.

***

(POV – Protagonist)

After the rabbit's death, I remained a few more minutes waiting for something to happen. However, apart from the steam intensifying and the room taking on an increasingly reddish hue, nothing occurred. I continued standing by the rabbit, and when I looked back at the scientists, I noticed that their eyes seemed almost obsessed, as if they were staring at something promising.

Although I could withstand their gazes, the director's, for some reason, felt much more intimidating than the others; perhaps the word "fanatic" would be more fitting. In the end, they seemed to be discussing something.

Even without considering that, there was also the fact that the director had no color. It became clear to me then that my eyes were special, although I still didn't know to what extent. Normally, seeing the weak points of things would be considered something frightening.

Since I saw no color in the director, he remained a mystery to me. Besides not being able to understand what he was thinking, his gaze since we met seemed like that of a believer before a new god or something similar.

Emily, on the other hand, appeared focused on taking notes on her clipboard, while Laura shot me encouraging glances. However, I really didn't understand what exactly she expected me to strive for. Also, why did I suddenly feel like I was being treated like a dog?.

What happened next was surprising: the room, which had previously displayed a reddish tone, began to take on a bluish hue. Moreover, the steam that had been emanating from various points vanished, replaced by a subtle mist. In a way, I felt like I was inside a freezer.

I really couldn't understand their purpose in changing the temperature. Were they trying to find out if I was resistant to heat and cold? However, I couldn't feel heat or cold. With that in mind, a thought popped into my head.

(Aren't these tests completely pointless for me?)