Teksuo
05-17-2009, 12:46 PM
Hearts in the Shadows
Caterpillar
It's dark...
Where am I?
Why am I so cold...?
I can't move...
Why can't I feel my...anything?
*cough* *cough*
Why do I feel so...wrong? Something's wrong...
My stomach feels like it's about to flip inside out...
My mouth feels so...dry.
"Monitors are reading increased brain and respiratory activity,"
That woman's voice...why is it so...muffled?
"He's waking up," Another one... A man. Who is that? "Let's begin the first phase of testing. Rise and shine, Mr. Caterpillar..."
That voice... That smokey voice... I know that voice... But from where?
"Beginning the first stage of UV Testing."
A soft flicker.
A glow all around me.
A warm electric hum....
Light...
It's not bright at all, so, why is it hurting my eyes?
I'm surrounded by soft blue light....
*sniff* *sniff*
A smell rising up...like...burning light bulbs...
Am I inside some kind of...tanning bed?
Why am I naked?
Why am I strapped down to this thing?
Why is...? Who's that? That man staring at me through the tiny window...
The woman at the desk behind him...
Jesus, I can smell her perfume from here, how can he stand it...?
Where am I?
Computers...
Microscopes...
Lab equipment...
Where...am I...?
I can't remember...
I know him...
I know her....but I can't remember...
"System primed and ready."
I can't remember anything...
"Begin."
It hurts to remember...
"Activating UV lamps."
Why is it suddenly so much brighter?
OH GOD! The light! It's so bright, it's bleeding through my eye lids...! Damn restraints, I can't even shield my eyes!
IT BURNS!
"STOP! PLEASE!"
"This is Dr. Peter Woods of the Hand of Research Archives, logging in on case file: #4-7-4-3-1-7. Testing has begun on the subject dubbed 'Caterpillar,'" Put that ******* tape recorder down and help me! "From the very beginning of the test, it's become apparent that the creatures are far more sensitive to UV Radiation during the first change, which could help explain why they're taken underground, or kept in dark spaces in the initial hours after being bitten."
"LET ME OUT! IT BURNS!" How can he just stand there!? Wait...did he just say bitten?!
"The subject complains of burning sensation on the skin, which further indicates heightened reaction to UV light. This could explain why many mythos about the creatures have them burst into flame in sunlight; metaphor taken literally."
What is he talking about!? Why does it feel like I'm standing in a pocket of Hell!?
"Heart rate is increasing, Dr. Woods."
The woman at the computer.
She's the one.
She's the one at the controls.
"TURN IT OFF! PLEASE!" I can hear you, woman, so I know you can hear me!
"Overall stress levels are rising, Doctor, but well within acceptable limits." Why are they doing this to me!?
"Caterpillar's immune system has undergone some extraordinary changes. Early lab results show that right after the change begins, the body's auto-responses are the first thing to be transformed. This may help to explain why the human body is able to survive the change; the body prepares itself to be ripped apart and put back together first. Blood work indicates that Caterpillar may be able to fend off most diseases. Results of post-viral exposure tests are still pending."
Viral?! What the hell did they give me!?
"DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA HOW THIS FEELS!? LET! ME! OUT!" Damn restraints...!
"Doctor...stress levels to chamber are increasing; he's trying to break free."
I have to get out... I have to!
"Increase the radiation levels..."
"Doctor??"
"Do it."
If I can just get one arm free...!
Maybe...just maybe...
No!
More light!
"AHHH!!!"
"Subject appears to be in a great deal of pain at the increased UV setting, despite the fact that it's actually lower than those used by your average tanning salon. Closer inspection...reveals that UV exposure at this change is in fact damaging to the skin as the subject is beginning to display minor burns throughout the body. How do the creatures walk around in the daylight without suffering from this level of discomfort? More testing will be needed."
"Sir, stress levels are continuing to elevate. If we don't stop now he's going to become more and more aggressive. He's sedated for now, but once he gets enough adrenaline..." If I get enough adrenaline what!? WHAT!?
"Agreed. Turn off the lamps."
Oh...
The lights dimming....
I can't see...
I can't breath...
I can feel... But, I don't want to feel this...
Hot tingling sensation running under my skin, like fire ants burrowing through my veins.
Skin burning like I just bathed in lava...
I feel even more ill than I did when I woke up.
All I want is to be numb again...
God, make me numb again...
"Stress levels decreasing rapidly; brain activity suggests increased levels of endorphins being released," what the hell is she saying now?
"Could explain why the complete ones have such a high threshold to pain; the body sends out feel good chemicals to help them deal with it." Who is this guy?
Who am I for that matter...?
I can't remember...anything. It hurts to remember anything...
Why can't I even remember who I am!?
"Who...am I?"
"You?"
Oh, crap...
Here he comes....
Closer...
Weird...
Even through the scent of burning filaments I can smell him...why...?
"You're our pet caterpillar... But, but unfortunately, we may have to put you down before you can become our butterfly... Sedate him. Take him back to his room, keep him restrained."
What is this guy on?
What did they put me on?
Am I dying?
Am I changing?
Changing into what...?
"What do you think of the memory loss?" Why does that woman he's talking to seem sp familiar...
"He's been through a lot, physically, mentally... Its quiet possible his mind just couldn't handle the stress." She talks to him without even skipping a beat at that console... Beautiful wrapping to a cold *****... She there and listened and didn't even try to stop it til I started hurting her precious machine...
*HISS*
What the hell!?
Why is everything going dark again...!?
"Administering the sedative."
No! No...! I can't...can't fall..
Fall asleep...
I can't...
No...
...
Caterpillar
It's dark...
Where am I?
Why am I so cold...?
I can't move...
Why can't I feel my...anything?
*cough* *cough*
Why do I feel so...wrong? Something's wrong...
My stomach feels like it's about to flip inside out...
My mouth feels so...dry.
"Monitors are reading increased brain and respiratory activity,"
That woman's voice...why is it so...muffled?
"He's waking up," Another one... A man. Who is that? "Let's begin the first phase of testing. Rise and shine, Mr. Caterpillar..."
That voice... That smokey voice... I know that voice... But from where?
"Beginning the first stage of UV Testing."
A soft flicker.
A glow all around me.
A warm electric hum....
Light...
It's not bright at all, so, why is it hurting my eyes?
I'm surrounded by soft blue light....
*sniff* *sniff*
A smell rising up...like...burning light bulbs...
Am I inside some kind of...tanning bed?
Why am I naked?
Why am I strapped down to this thing?
Why is...? Who's that? That man staring at me through the tiny window...
The woman at the desk behind him...
Jesus, I can smell her perfume from here, how can he stand it...?
Where am I?
Computers...
Microscopes...
Lab equipment...
Where...am I...?
I can't remember...
I know him...
I know her....but I can't remember...
"System primed and ready."
I can't remember anything...
"Begin."
It hurts to remember...
"Activating UV lamps."
Why is it suddenly so much brighter?
OH GOD! The light! It's so bright, it's bleeding through my eye lids...! Damn restraints, I can't even shield my eyes!
IT BURNS!
"STOP! PLEASE!"
"This is Dr. Peter Woods of the Hand of Research Archives, logging in on case file: #4-7-4-3-1-7. Testing has begun on the subject dubbed 'Caterpillar,'" Put that ******* tape recorder down and help me! "From the very beginning of the test, it's become apparent that the creatures are far more sensitive to UV Radiation during the first change, which could help explain why they're taken underground, or kept in dark spaces in the initial hours after being bitten."
"LET ME OUT! IT BURNS!" How can he just stand there!? Wait...did he just say bitten?!
"The subject complains of burning sensation on the skin, which further indicates heightened reaction to UV light. This could explain why many mythos about the creatures have them burst into flame in sunlight; metaphor taken literally."
What is he talking about!? Why does it feel like I'm standing in a pocket of Hell!?
"Heart rate is increasing, Dr. Woods."
The woman at the computer.
She's the one.
She's the one at the controls.
"TURN IT OFF! PLEASE!" I can hear you, woman, so I know you can hear me!
"Overall stress levels are rising, Doctor, but well within acceptable limits." Why are they doing this to me!?
"Caterpillar's immune system has undergone some extraordinary changes. Early lab results show that right after the change begins, the body's auto-responses are the first thing to be transformed. This may help to explain why the human body is able to survive the change; the body prepares itself to be ripped apart and put back together first. Blood work indicates that Caterpillar may be able to fend off most diseases. Results of post-viral exposure tests are still pending."
Viral?! What the hell did they give me!?
"DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA HOW THIS FEELS!? LET! ME! OUT!" Damn restraints...!
"Doctor...stress levels to chamber are increasing; he's trying to break free."
I have to get out... I have to!
"Increase the radiation levels..."
"Doctor??"
"Do it."
If I can just get one arm free...!
Maybe...just maybe...
No!
More light!
"AHHH!!!"
"Subject appears to be in a great deal of pain at the increased UV setting, despite the fact that it's actually lower than those used by your average tanning salon. Closer inspection...reveals that UV exposure at this change is in fact damaging to the skin as the subject is beginning to display minor burns throughout the body. How do the creatures walk around in the daylight without suffering from this level of discomfort? More testing will be needed."
"Sir, stress levels are continuing to elevate. If we don't stop now he's going to become more and more aggressive. He's sedated for now, but once he gets enough adrenaline..." If I get enough adrenaline what!? WHAT!?
"Agreed. Turn off the lamps."
Oh...
The lights dimming....
I can't see...
I can't breath...
I can feel... But, I don't want to feel this...
Hot tingling sensation running under my skin, like fire ants burrowing through my veins.
Skin burning like I just bathed in lava...
I feel even more ill than I did when I woke up.
All I want is to be numb again...
God, make me numb again...
"Stress levels decreasing rapidly; brain activity suggests increased levels of endorphins being released," what the hell is she saying now?
"Could explain why the complete ones have such a high threshold to pain; the body sends out feel good chemicals to help them deal with it." Who is this guy?
Who am I for that matter...?
I can't remember...anything. It hurts to remember anything...
Why can't I even remember who I am!?
"Who...am I?"
"You?"
Oh, crap...
Here he comes....
Closer...
Weird...
Even through the scent of burning filaments I can smell him...why...?
"You're our pet caterpillar... But, but unfortunately, we may have to put you down before you can become our butterfly... Sedate him. Take him back to his room, keep him restrained."
What is this guy on?
What did they put me on?
Am I dying?
Am I changing?
Changing into what...?
"What do you think of the memory loss?" Why does that woman he's talking to seem sp familiar...
"He's been through a lot, physically, mentally... Its quiet possible his mind just couldn't handle the stress." She talks to him without even skipping a beat at that console... Beautiful wrapping to a cold *****... She there and listened and didn't even try to stop it til I started hurting her precious machine...
*HISS*
What the hell!?
Why is everything going dark again...!?
"Administering the sedative."
No! No...! I can't...can't fall..
Fall asleep...
I can't...
No...
...