1320 7.23 KB 131
Darkness [Midnightverse]
By AutoponyCreated: 2022-04-11 11:05:17
Updated: 2022-04-11 11:13:12
Expiry: Never
- 
                                            1.
                                            >...I fell asleep.
- 
                                            2.
                                            >When did I fall asleep?
- 
                                            3.
                                            >Not that I should necessarily be complaining, considering how hard it is for me to get shuteye nowadays.
- 
                                            4.
                                            >It's so damn hard to let my thoughts clear away and let my mind sit idle.
- 
                                            5.
                                            >Ever since they did... whatever it was to my head.
- 
                                            6.
                                            >Some sort of an implant.
- 
                                            7.
                                            >I'm not really sure what it is.
- 
                                            8.
                                            >All I know is sleep is difficult to achieve for more than a couple of hours at a time, and I feel an endless drive to keep occupied.
- 
                                            9.
                                            >Read.
- 
                                            10.
                                            >Observe.
- 
                                            11.
                                            >Learn.
- 
                                            12.
                                            >Whatever, I'm up now.
- 
                                            13.
                                            >Obviously I didn't rest well, considering I have a mild throbbing pain in my head...
- 
                                            14.
                                            >I open my eyes, preparing for the fluorescent assault of light from above.
- 
                                            15.
                                            >Nothing.
- 
                                            16.
                                            >...Did I open my eyes?
- 
                                            17.
                                            >I pay more attention as I feel my eyelids squeeze shut, then slowly pry them open.
- 
                                            18.
                                            >Black emptiness again.
- 
                                            19.
                                            >...maybe they turned the lights off?
- 
                                            20.
                                            >No.
- 
                                            21.
                                            >I specifically asked them to keep my room lit at all times so I could read at night, when my mind won't let me rest.
- 
                                            22.
                                            >And even when the lights were out, I could make out objects and shapes in the darkness.
- 
                                            23.
                                            >So why can't I see?
- 
                                            24.
                                            >My heart begins to race as I struggle for some sort of explanation.
- 
                                            25.
                                            >Maybe a blindfold?
- 
                                            26.
                                            >I don't feel anything on my head...
- 
                                            27.
                                            >I raise my head slowly, then turn to the left...
- 
                                            28.
                                            >Nothing.
- 
                                            29.
                                            >The right...
- 
                                            30.
                                            >No change.
- 
                                            31.
                                            >Am...
- 
                                            32.
                                            >Am I blind?
- 
                                            33.
                                            >How?
- 
                                            34.
                                            >What is happe-
- 
                                            35.
                                            >"Sir, she's awake n-"
- 
                                            36.
                                            >"I am standing right here, you think I don't notice the subject's fucking head moving around?"
- 
                                            37.
                                            >Of course, it's *that* asshole.
- 
                                            38.
                                            >The head of this whole project.
- 
                                            39.
                                            >I don't need eyesight to know that beady-eyed, bald-headed jerk is right outside the viewing window of my room.
- 
                                            40.
                                            >I don't know his real name.
- 
                                            41.
                                            >He doesn't deserve one, other than insults.
- 
                                            42.
                                            >The same that he offers to basically any of the scientists on the project under his direction.
- 
                                            43.
                                            >He has to be the reason why I can't see right now.
- 
                                            44.
                                            >The other voice...
- 
                                            45.
                                            >I don't recognize it.
- 
                                            46.
                                            >Probably another new assistant for dickhead extraordinaire to abuse until the fellow either transfers or quits.
- 
                                            47.
                                            >But my emotions quickly seize control from the observant and calculating part of my mind.
- 
                                            48.
                                            "What is going on?"
- 
                                            49.
                                            >I try to sound calm and firm, but my voice is a bit... shaky.
- 
                                            50.
                                            >"According to our newest and most brilliant scientist, you're awake," you hear, doubling as both a sarcastic response to you and a backhand of sarcasm for the new guy.
- 
                                            51.
                                            "Why can I not see?"
- 
                                            52.
                                            >"Probably aftereffects of the surgery - I'm sure the optic nerves need some time-"
- 
                                            53.
                                            "What did you do to me?!" I shout, angry and fearful as any attempt at remaining calm evaporates.
- 
                                            54.
                                            >"I was going to tell you until you interrupted me," he responds, calmly and overly polite.
- 
                                            55.
                                            >I give him an ugly scowl but hold my tongue from lashing out any further.
- 
                                            56.
                                            >"Better. Now as I was saying, it's probably going to take some time for your optic nerves to heal, the swelling to subside - I'm not exactly shocked to hear that your sight hasn't returned yet, but I'm sure it will in time."
- 
                                            57.
                                            "That doesn't explain what you fucked with."
- 
                                            58.
                                            >"Language, Princess."
- 
                                            59.
                                            >He knows I've come to hate that fucking name.
- 
                                            60.
                                            > It's become a running joke.
- 
                                            61.
                                            >The way he says it- that drawn-out, sarcastic tone.
- 
                                            62.
                                            >Trying to pretend like he actually sees you as something other than a test dummy.
- 
                                            63.
                                            >No princess would be subjected to this kind of life.
- 
                                            64.
                                            >A lab rat in a hundred-foot by hundred-foot steel and glass habitat.
- 
                                            65.
                                            >"We replaced your eyes."
- 
                                            66.
                                            >That simple statement sends chills through my whole body.
- 
                                            67.
                                            >What the fuck?!
- 
                                            68.
                                            "There was nothing wrong with my eyes, you fucking asshole!"
- 
                                            69.
                                            >I hear his hand slap the glass window of the door, the loud, sharp sound making me jump.
- 
                                            70.
                                            >"You keep speaking to me like that and I'll find something else to fuck with on you, you ungrateful shit!" head asshole extraordinaire shouts in anger.
- 
                                            71.
                                            "Oh, crude language is only allowable when it's used by you toward your little fuckboy labcoats underneath you as well as me, huh?! And what do I have to be grateful for?!"
- 
                                            72.
                                            >I'm done with this.
- 
                                            73.
                                            >I can't just let this go.
- 
                                            74.
                                            >This is too much.
- 
                                            75.
                                            >My mind races with the consequences of what this newest surgery might present.
- 
                                            76.
                                            >At least the second one didn't have any effects.
- 
                                            77.
                                            >It didn't work at all.
- 
                                            78.
                                            >'Needs further fine-tuning for the brain to manipulate it,' apparently.
- 
                                            79.
                                            >But this is...
- 
                                            80.
                                            >What if I never get my vision back?
- 
                                            81.
                                            >The only thing that I feel like keeps me sane is reading and learning.
- 
                                            82.
                                            >Without that...
- 
                                            83.
                                            >What do I do?
- 
                                            84.
                                            >What use do I have anymore to-
- 
                                            85.
                                            >No.
- 
                                            86.
                                            >Use to them is not a life worth living.
- 
                                            87.
                                            >Maybe that would be the end of all of this.
- 
                                            88.
                                            >Maybe it wouldn't be so bad.
- 
                                            89.
                                            >"Sir, maybe we should just let her be. She's upset, and the stress is only going to-"
- 
                                            90.
                                            >"Shut the hell up, newbie. You only work for me because the last dumbass assisting me quit. Keep your opinions to yourself, I don't want them."
- 
                                            91.
                                            >"...Right. Sorry."
- 
                                            92.
                                            >All I can do is listen.
- 
                                            93.
                                            >And try to calm down.
- 
                                            94.
                                            >Getting upset isn't going to help me.
- 
                                            95.
                                            >"You are writing everything down in regards to the initial outcomes, yes?"
- 
                                            96.
                                            >"Of course."
- 
                                            97.
                                            >You hear Sergeant Dickhead clear his throat.
- 
                                            98.
                                            >"I'm stuck on this stupid experimental project because the suits were more intrigued by what else I could do to you rather than the outcome of enhancing your intellect - I would love to be moving on and up to more important shit, but here I still am. So you should be grateful because you still have a purpose to be alive."
- 
                                            99.
                                            "It's not a good one."
- 
                                            100.
                                            >"No, probably not."
- 
                                            101.
                                            >I don't know why I was expecting anything else, but his agreement with my bitter comment only makes my stomach sour further.
- 
                                            102.
                                            >"Do you have any pain? Any sorts of shapes you can make out, or is it all just... black?"
- 
                                            103.
                                            > It's the new puppet asking questions now.
- 
                                            104.
                                            "No pain. No vision at all."
- 
                                            105.
                                            >"And now we play the waiting game," you hear the head honcho sigh impatiently. "I'm sure I have more goddamn paperwork to waste my time with in the meantime. I love my fucking job."
- 
                                            106.
                                            >You hear footsteps on the tile floor slowly fade off down the hall.
- 
                                            107.
                                            >But it only sounds like one set...
- 
                                            108.
                                            >"Are you all right?"
- 
                                            109.
                                            >It's the new guy's voice, just outside the door.
- 
                                            110.
                                            >Quiet, almost caring.
- 
                                            111.
                                            >Sympathetic.
- 
                                            112.
                                            >It happens from time to time with the new people.
- 
                                            113.
                                            >Those ones usually don't last long.
- 
                                            114.
                                            >Giving a damn about the subjects is sort of frowned upon.
- 
                                            115.
                                            "I'm fucking wonderful. What would possibly be bothering me on a beautiful day like today?"
- 
                                            116.
                                            >I don't skimp on the sarcasm.
- 
                                            117.
                                            >I don't even really need to try to force it into my voice nowadays.
- 
                                            118.
                                            >"Sorry."
- 
                                            119.
                                            "Of course you are. Everyone is. Now leave me alone, I have important things to do, like lay here and stare into darkness with my lovely new prosthetics."
- 
                                            120.
                                            >Nothing.
- 
                                            121.
                                            >Theres no response.
- 
                                            122.
                                            >But no footsteps, either.
- 
                                            123.
                                            >You wait a few moments - but still, silence.
- 
                                            124.
                                            >Is he just going to stand there, ogling you?
- 
                                            125.
                                            >You aren't an exhibit.
- 
                                            126.
                                            >"Hey, you aren't down here to play with yourself while staring at the test subjects, move your ass, rookie!"
- 
                                            127.
                                            >Before you spit more poison into the interaction, Dickhead hollers from down the hall.
- 
                                            128.
                                            >"You should improve in a day or two, things just need to heal and the inflammation has to subside. But I gotta go," the new hire quickly spouts.
- 
                                            129.
                                            >"Have fun. I'll be here."
- 
                                            130.
                                            >More bitter sarcasm for his trouble as his footsteps briskly echo down the hall.
- 
                                            131.
                                            >He isn't going to last long down here in this pit of shit.
                         by Autopony
                         by Autopony
                         by Autopony
                         by Autopony
                         by Autopony