Chapter 5 The Vein

The first furnished room Evernya found was a smaller, more specialized gym with a window displaying the room to her from the hall. Evernya scanned the gym devoid of mundane equipment like an elliptical in favor of weapon racks and open space. In the far left corner was a clear enclosure that appeared to be a small arena area, which from the lack of handle on the inside seemed to only open from the outside.

Evernya stared at the clear enclosure with trepidation. Did they plan to force me to fight to the death in the arena? I sure hope not! I prefer the other gym. This place feels cold and clinical. The other gym had some color to the mostly white room, giving it a warmer atmosphere. They probably built for the other gym for employees. I bet they wanted to segregate me from the general population, maybe because of my abnormal animal parts. I doubt they meant me to take a right down the hall. They likely would have had everything set up for me on this side. Oh well, too late for that now. Nothing to help me escape here. Time to move on. Evernya thought after she surveyed the training room from the hall.

Evernya passed what resembled a small classroom with a single long table in front of a podium and screen, but seeing nothing of interest, she continued.

A few minutes later, Evernya found another lab-like room, like the glass coffin room, but much more extensive. Evernya entered, hoping to find answers, but stopped dead when she spotted what appeared to be a torture table with straps that looked perfectly sized for her.

She stared at the table, frozen in terror. What the hell? What did they plan to do with me! I get the training room and the classroom, but this is just too much! Why would they torture me? Was it to break me so they could control me? These people are sick! I may be making assumptions, but somehow, I doubt anything involving me strapped to that table would be pleasant! This room is probably for more invasive tests. Tests I have absolutely no desire to be a part of! But something tells me I would have no choice if they were here. Please stay away! Leave me be! I hope my awakening didn’t set off any alarms alerting them! Why did I have to think that! I need to get out of here quick!

Bursts of energy exploded out of the terrified catgirl for a few seconds until she inhaled a deep, calming breath as she stroked her tail. A panic attack won’t do me any good. I don’t want to trigger these stupid bands again. Besides, I need to keep calm to find my way out of here.

Evernya averted her eyes from the torture table to investigate the rest of the room, hoping for something useful. Her eyes landed on another giant clear enclosure installed along the back wall, which yet again appeared to only open from the outside. Terrified of the implications of the enclosure, Evernya moved on.

The rest of the room contained unknown machines, similar to the capsule room. Evernya found another computer, but after a quick scan of its files, she discovered it was devoid of any useful information. Yet again, coming up empty, she exited the room, shoulders slumped, tail dragging on the floor.

Unfortunately, the next room wasn’t any better than the last one. In the next room, there was a jail cell taking up most of the room. Three of the walls of the cell consisted of thick bluish-black metal while the fourth was a dozen centimeter thick transparent wall.

Evernya trembled as she stared at the cell while her mind raced. Of course, they would have a jail cell too! There isn’t even a bed, only some shackles attached to the far wall of the cell! Wow, those things look sturdy and heavy! If I ever got locked in here, I would never get out on my own! That was probably the point. They even have some a shade that could drop over the glass wall!

Not only were planning to torture me physically but mentally with an isolation cell! Can these guys sink any lower!? How could they torture a cutie like me? Do they have no heart!? Definitely not going into that cell. What a horrid way to go, trapped by accident in a jail cell of an abandoned lab. Evernya shivered at the thought. Terrified to remain in the room any longer, Evernya spun and hobbled out of the room as fast as she could, without tripping over her tail.

About twenty meters past the jail cell, Evernya received a familiar compulsion to turn around. Interesting, so I’m not allowed to go this far. This could be promising. I wonder why the compulsion thing isn’t stronger than it is. Now that I know what it is, I can easily ignore it. I could even push through it back near the arch. Was it meant for a mindless slave, or is my mind too strong? I will probably never know either way. Scratch that, I don’t want to know because that involves meeting these evil people!

Evernya continued down the hall, ignoring the strengthening compulsion. For almost twenty minutes, there was nothing but spotless white walls. Wow, this place is enormous! It may be simple in design, but it is gigantic. It would take me at least an hour to walk from one end to the other.

The next room Evernya came across resembled an observation room. The room had dozens of screens displaying views of every angle of all the rooms from the glass coffin room until the jail cell.

The catgirl’s temper flared as her eyes scanned several dozen camera views. So not only am I stuck half-naked and tortured with substandard living arrangements, but I also have absolutely zero privacy!

As Evernya turned to leave the observation room, she caught something on a screen on the right side. What is that!? Is that a robot!? Evernya then paid closer attention to the other screens, spotting dozens of robots of several shapes and sizes. Every robot was keeping a safe distance from her as not to alert her of their presence.

Evernya glared at the screens, tail whipping as her eyes flipped from one view to another, rage bubbling under the surface. Is that how I ended up back in the hospital room!? These things have been following me this whole time! Are they keeping tabs on me for whoever built this place? Or are they just running on a pre-programmed routine? I really hope it’s the second option! The evil people may have already discovered me!

Her fragile hold on her emotions snapped, causing another meltdown. This time Evernya failed to keep a lid on it. Waves of energy exploded out of her, destroying all the monitors in the room within five meters of her. As always, the bands lit up, but this time they struggled to snuff her out.

The bands fought for five minutes to suppress the waves of energy before succeeding. As the last waves of energy winked out, the drained catgirl collapsed to the floor, out cold.

By the time Evernya fell unconscious, the waves of energy pulverized everything within a five-meter radius of her collapsed body. Only the room itself survived unscathed.

Twenty-four hours later, a frail catgirl cracked open her tired eyes. Evernya couldn’t even muster the energy to lift her head. What happened? I was in the spy room when I spotted those robots. Then nothing.

After five minutes of laying unmoving, Evernya lifted herself into a sitting position. She scanned her surroundings with widened eyes, finding herself at the center of a ten meter diameter circle of destruction. Only the floor, ceiling, and walls survived. Everything else laid in unrecognizable heaps along the edge of the ring.

How did this happen!? Why am I in the center of this devastation? Where did the spy room go? Wait, is this the spy room? Evernya’s thoughts ran in circles as she tried to make sense of what happened.

Evernya flopped down on her back, exhausted, both physically and mentally. She laid on the floor for around two hours before she forced herself to move again.

In a trembling motion, Evernya climbed to her feet and wobbled out of the room. Her drained body made it a few meters outside of the room before she had to lean against the wall for support. Why do I feel so tired? Did these stupid bands do something to me again? Evernya peered down at her wrists, noticing they were glowing bright enough to function as a flashlight.

Triggered by the sight of the bands, her eyes shined with rage, but with no energy left, the bands snuffed it out in an instant. The oppression of the bands only ignited her anger further, but nothing came out, as there was nothing left in the tank. Evernya collapsed to her knees, breathless and fuming with anger. I need these things off me now!!

Pushed on by her rage, Evernya fought against her exhaustion, forcing herself to hobble down the hall. Unable to support her full weight, she leaned against the wall to her left for support as she walked.

About thirty meters later, the hall ended with another black door with glowing green veins. Evernya dragged her feet toward the door, refusing to give in to the bands. As Evernya approached, an unknown energy invigorated her body, washing away all fatigue caused by the bands.

By the time Evernya arrived at the door, her body was vibrating with energy. The bands on her limbs and neck continued to shine, but they couldn’t stem the flow of energy into her. She touched the door handle, prompting something to leave her once again. A click sounded, signaling the door was about to open. Unlike last time, Evernya sidestepped the door as it swung open on its own.

Inside, Evernya found a massive blazing bright blue vein on the floor of the room, twenty meters in front of her. The vein radiated the same feeling the plants and pool were but at transcendent levels. Connected to the vein were many pipes leading to unknown locations. Within a few seconds, Evernya’s knees shook as a moan escaped her now fanged mouth.

Overwhelmed by the almost orgasmic feeling radiating off the vein, Evernya failed to notice the dozens of robots burst into the room. The robots surrounded her, leaving no holes for escape.

“PROJECT REBIRTH LEAVE THIS ROOM AT ONCE!” All the robots boomed out at once.

After the robots issued their command, the catgirl’s body stiffened. Evernya’s eyes glazed over as if she lost consciousness. The bands blazed as she performed an about turn before robotically walking toward the door with the robots surrounding her, leaving no escape. On the outside, Evernya appeared to be calm and emotionless, but inside her head, she was screaming.

What is happening!?

Why can’t I control my body!?

All I want is to leave this place! Just let me out of here!

Her confusion and desperation shifted into pure rage.

How dare they!? They have no right to do this to me! I refuse to be controlled!

I WANT OUT NOW!

Just as Evernya’s body reached the door, something awoke within her. With a surge of energy, the compulsion shattered, blowing the robots away from her.

No longer under the robot’s control, Evernya roared. “HOW DARE YOU TRY TO CONTROL ME!”

Evernya refused to move from her position a few meters from the door. With a blinding bright gaze promising death, her eyes swept the surrounding robots who were reestablishing their perimeter.

The bands grew brighter, trying to suppress her, but the enraged catgirl outmatched them. Evernya felt a familiar compulsion descend on her mind, ticking her rage up another notch.

With an almost animistic snarl, Evernya commanded. “I WANT THESE GONE NOW!”

The bands continued to glow brighter, but they couldn’t withstand the abuse. Under the assault, cracks formed on the wrist and ankle bands. They held on for a few more seconds before blowing apart.

Like a dam breaking, a surge of energy flooded through her body.

Overwhelmed by the energy gushing into her, Evernya moaned in ecstasy. Evernya’s legs crumbled, forcing her to her knees with a blissful but vacant expression. However, the energy gushing into her appeared to be never-ending. Evernya’s moans turned into screams of agony as the energy ravaged overfilled her body.

The energy from the now dimmer blue vein refused to stop, flooding her body while pieces of the room tumbled to the now crack filled floor around her kneeling body.

After a minute Evernya’s body reached its limit. Her eyes rolled back as she crumbled to the floor, unconscious.

A moment before the room would crush her body, Evernya vanished.

Evernya reappeared, sprawled out on the forest floor, smoking, twitching, and mercifully unconscious.