Blood (1)

Many rooms of the institution had tinted windows, where passerbys could not see into the room even if they had enhanced vision.

The lights were implemented in a zig-zagged pattern from the walls to the ceiling as many wires coated the floors. Many of these wires seem to all lead somewhere- to one specific place.

At the end of the long white corridor there is a single room.

Inside, the room exuded an eerie darkness, with shadows casting strange shapes that filled the void of missing furniture. The lights were deliberately turned off and the air was cold.

Any person who stepped into the room would feel as if their very soul was being pricked at.

White noise filled the atmosphere from the few dozen computer screens that lit up the dark room, each projecting a different piece of data or information.

The language on the data was foreign…strange. It seem to glitch in and out, sometimes changing from one variable to another.

The contents of the screen were reflected off a pair of glasses.

The owner of these glasses had short dark hair and wore a sharp look. They wore the darkest of lipstick while clad in a pristine white coat.

Swoosh.

The doors suddenly slid open.

A figure walked in, unbothered by the atmosphere and seemed to not even feel the frost. They crossed the threshold and stopped behind the person, holding a clipboard and a pen.

The doors slid shut with a click, ridding the room of light once more.

A few of the screens turned blank.

Just then a female voice cut across the silent room,

"Results, Davian."

Her voice carried a relaxed tone that did not match the expression on her face.

"My, not even a greeting?" Mr. Davian asked with a smile, tilting his head as he looked forwards.

When met with silence, he sighed and began to report. "The results show that all subjects are compatible. The materials and scriptures will be ready by tomorrow evening. We're low on some vitals, but they should be delivered by day's end."

Silence.

"Is the preparation nearing its completion?" She asked, her eyes still on the blue screens.

"Yes, the team has begun preparing and laying out the materials that we have so far."

Then, the woman finally turned around to face him.

The room seem to drop a few degrees colder as the blue lights illuminated her figure from behind.

Her purple eyes resembled galaxies, and her stern expression suited her elegant features. Dark circles marred her otherwise perfect appearance but added to her allure.

"Good," she said in a clipped tone. "Things appear to be on track."

Though she had turned around, her eyes remained on the doors behind him.

"Relatively," Mr. Davian added with satisfaction.

He continued, further elaborating on each of the results from the day's experiments and other activities that were being conducted around the building.

His voice droned on, bored with such a task as reporting.

Eventually, he reached the conclusion of the day's reports when his face lit up, mentioning one exceptional subject whose results were unprecedented. He suggested keeping him for further study.

"His results were off the charts! I've never seen it before- may I make a suggestion? We should keep him instead of the others and conduct further resear-"

"We have one job," she interrupted him in a slightly softer tone. "A simple one, right?"

A pause.

"…Yes, it is."

"Glad you understand."

Anyone looking closely might have caught a hint of a smile on her lips, however the illusion was quick to be dispelled when she turned her head to the screens once more.

Now, the screens displayed what seem to be moving images, pieces of film.

She watched in silence for awhile.

"Little things…aren't they?" She commented as she stared at a particular screen. A group of people could be seen walking or sitting around, each wearing a tired expression.

They wore restraints around their wrist and legs, each donned in a spacious white uniform.

Among the individuals displayed on the screen, there was a specific boy with starking red eyes and dark hair, smiling and seemingly engaged in conversation.

His voice echoed throughout the room in a static noise, letting the two individuals listen in on his conversation.

He went on about some details on a specific list of instructions for him and the others as he encouraged them with false hope.

Mr. Davian stood quietly behind her, his presence almost imperceptible as she remained engrossed in her observations, a sly smirk playing at her lips.

It was as if she found the idea of his plans amusing.

She then swiped her hands across the air, causing the screen to switch its contents.

"I heard one of the elites is coming to observe our project," she mentioned casually.

"Elites? As in one of the seven?" Mr. Davian asked, adjusting his glasses in response to the sudden news.

"Sir Elijah."

"Oh! How exciting!" Mr. Davian exclaimed, bringing a hand up to his cheek.

"Should I introduce myself? It'll be my first time meeting an elite. Should I wear something formal-?"

"He'll be in the operator room for the duration of his stay," she said, cutting him off before he could indulge further.

"Ah~ pity, it really is," sighed Mr. Davian in disappointment.

Ignoring his comment she walked over to her desk.

On the desk lay a plethora of wires, each connecting to a blue screen displaying intricate data. There were also numerous vials, some empty and others filled with a mysterious dark liquid.

She went over and picked up one of the full bottles, her fingers dancing delicately around it.

"An unexpected visit from the higher-ups, how interesting, don't you think?"

She lifted the vial by its cap up to her face, swaying from side to side as she examined the liquid.

"Something entertaining will be happening soon," she mused, an all-knowing glint in her eyes.

With a deft motion, she uncapped the vial and downed its contents, the liquid flowing down her throat as some of it clung to her lips.

Wiping her mouth, the dark substance stained her sleeves and smudged her skin.

Turning back to Mr. Davian she tossed the glass vial to him, "Throw that away for me on your way out, won't you?" she asked, her voice casual and detached.

Sighing, he turned around and walked out the door.

The door slid open, letting light flood into the once-dark room.

As Mr. Davian walked out, the woman smiled slightly, the smudges of the dark liquid that coated her mouth and sleeves now illuminated in the light, giving off an almost eerie hue of dark red.

She stared ahead, unceremoniously wiping more of the liquid onto her finger.

The pungent smell of iron filled the room.