Chapter Text
The first and most glaring sign that something was wrong was that he woke up.
He was cold, his throat was dry, and notably he wasn’t in extreme pain that he was certain should be lurking under his eyelids. Eyelids that were too heavy to open, like they were glued shut from hours upon hours of sleep.
“That’s fine,” He told himself, “It gives me a chance to take stock of the situation.”
A situation that shouldn’t be happening.
Wherever he was, it was quiet save for the low hum of machinery and the distant sounds of movement. There were wires that he could feel brush against his skin with every breath he took and his body felt weak.
He would almost suspect that he was in a hospital if it weren’t for the odd metallic structure that wrapped around his head and hugged the sides of his face.
No, it was likely he was somewhere much worse.
A door that he presumed led to his room opened and he could hear loafers on tile as they circled where he lay helpless.
There was a click, a cold sensation in his arm, and a sickeningly drowsy feeling that began consuming his senses.
His name was Derek Hutchins, a man who should have died with infinite knowledge and an unfathomable entity in his decaying brain, and as he fell into drug induced unconsciousness, the only thing he knew for certain was that his troubles weren’t done just yet.
“Subject Oazpguf 2. Perform the task we have given you or we will be forced to use stimulants again.”
The largely restrained subject snorted from the other side of the glass, “That didn’t go so well for you last time.”
“We have made adjustments and taken extra precautions. Perform as we have asked or we will be forced to test the new protocol."
“Alright, bet.”
A different voice came over the speakers and spoke in a more gentle tone.
“When you first arrived you were quite cooperative, O2. Is there anything we can do to restore that trust?”
“Restore my trust-?! You kidnapped me! You stole my property, put me through tests against my will, took over my life! You won’t even let me go to my friend’s funeral! He saved the world and you won’t even let me say goodbye!”
Tears would be running down his red face if not for the blindfolds they forced him to constantly wear.
The heart monitor he was strapped to confirmed his obvious breakdown and there was a rushed din from the other side of the glass.
“O2, you are having a panic attack. Stop or you will be sedated for the rest of the day at least.”
Through desperate gasps for air and sobs he choked out “-not my name-!”
There was an ominous sound that joined the beeping of the heart monitor and the scientists had a moment of deliberation before one spoke through the speaker gently, yet urgently.
“Avery. We need you to breathe.”