Fifth stirred with a frightened gasp from her fitful sleep. Her sleep was plagued with nightmares of Doctor Shou and the interns killing her. Intermixed with those dreams was one of a giant black beast chasing her. No matter how hard she ran, it stalked her every step until she awoke in fear, her heart pounding.
The nightmares of the beast had been happening for nearly a month. She couldn't figure out why. She just wanted them to stop. She lay in bed for a moment longer, too hurt to move. The call of her bladder drove her upright with a pained moan. Every inch of her body hurt.
After the failed attempt to shift on command and the caning, she had been dragged from her cell later that night. The afternoon session was repeated and ended the same: failure. Enraged, Doctor Shou had allowed the interns to take turns punishing her with whatever they could get their hands on. She had fainted from the assault.
Judging by the amount of blood on her bed and the worn and tattered sheets, the damage to her scarred body was great. She tried not to think about it as she walked shivering from the cold over to the bucket that was her toilet. She quickly used it and plodded slowly back to her cot, trying not to jar her injured body.
Fifth sat down, grabbed the worn blanket, and wrapped it around herself. She felt disgusting, and her matted hair smelled of dried blood and filth. She longed for some water to wipe away the grime and blood that covered her from head to toe. She knew better than to ask for such "luxuries." The last time she'd tried, it hadn't gone well. She would never again risk Doctor Shou's wrath just for some water to cleanse herself.
Her stomach chose that moment to complain about its empty state. Absently, she rubbed her belly and willed it to be silent. No food would be forthcoming today because of her failures yesterday. Doctor Shou often said, "Those that don't work, don't eat." Fifth didn't understand what that had to do with her. She did work. She tried hard to give Doctor Shou the things she demanded.
It didn't matter, though. She was a failure and would always be one. At least that's what Doctor Shou and the interns always said. Until she did what Doctor Shou wanted, life would be nothing but hell. She longed to get out of this prison to see the thing called the sun that she had read about in the book from her childhood. Back then, Doctor Shou was nicer. She gave her picture books and toys.
Once Fifth had gotten older and her body started to change into that of a woman, Doctor Shou grew mean and cruel. Every little thing ended with Fifth being punished, even when it wasn't her fault. Doctor Shou also brought in the evil interns to work. It had gone downhill from there.
Fifth's stomach grumbled again at the lack of food. She rubbed it, trying to appease her hunger pangs. She was thirsty, too, but no water bottle was in the room. Tears prickled at the corners of her eyes. Life wasn't fair. It was torturous, and she hated it. She wished someone would come to save her.
She jolted from her thoughts by the rattling of keys at her door. She tensed. She wanted to weep. Was she going to be put through another session?
The door opened, and the two male interns entered.
"Get up," barked Bastard One.
Slowly, Fifth stood. She didn't resist when Bastard Two grabbed her arm, hauling her to her feet. The interns roughly grabbed her arm and dragged her from the room. Her tremors of fear started when she spotted the lab door. She prayed to whatever higher power was listening to save her from Doctor Shou's obsession. She couldn't take much more. If something didn't happen soon, Doctor Shou just might kill her.
They went inside, and Fifth blinked hard, blinded by the lab's bright lights. Once her vision cleared, she saw Doctor Shou by the examination bed with a pleasant smile.
"Good morning, Fifth. I hope you slept well. Today is going to be a busy day."
Bile rose in Fifth's throat. She was going to throw up. Doctor Shou's friendly tone meant suffering for her. She squeezed her eyes shut, not wanting to face reality. A loud clap startled her, and she opened her eyes. Doctor Shou was in front of her. She flinched, stumbling backward, not going far, because of the interns' brutal hold on her arms.
Doctor Shou laughed, and the hairs on Fifth's body stood up. Today was going to be bad; unbelievably bad. She could feel it, and her soul trembled in dread.
"Fifth, do you know how disappointed in you I am?"
Doctor Shou's ferocious expression paralyzed Fifth as fear drowned away all coherent thought. There was nothing she could do that would lessen Doctor Shou's ire. Doctor Shou reached out her hand, and Fifth flinched away from its nearness.
Doctor Shou laughed. Fifth was unable to dodge the doctor's fingers or the caress of her cheek that promised agony. She might not live past this day. She had so many regrets, too. Doctor Shou smirked and dropped her hand.
Fifth let out the breath she didn't realize she was holding. The backhand slap from Doctor Shou rocked her head. The slap stung so much that her eyes teared up. She stared at the doctor in shock. What had she done wrong now?
"When I ask a question, Fifth, I expect an answer. Understand?"
Fifth looked at her like she was crazy. How was she supposed to use sign language when the two interns had her arms imprisoned? The throbbing of her right cheek reminded her of her precarious situation. The doctor was acting crazier than usual. That meant nothing good for Fifth.
Doctor Shou raised her hand again, and Fifth mouthed a hasty "yes."
"Now, get on the bed."
The interns released her arms, and Fifth reluctantly got on the bed and lay down. The female intern scrambled over and, with practiced hands, restrained Fifth. She also used the neck restraint, causing Fifth to hyperventilate. This was bad, so bad! Fifth wanted to cry. She was terrified of Doctor Shou's mood today.
"Today is a special day, Fifth," stated Doctor Shou with a fake smile. She turned her back to Fifth and grabbed something from the nearby tray. Fifth couldn't see because the neck restraint kept her head from turning. Her mind conjured up all sorts of horrible possibilities as to what Doctor Shou was grabbing.
The shadow of Doctor Shou made Fifth glance up. Terror seized her at the sight of the syringe in Doctor Shou's hand. Her mouth opened and closed rapidly as she repeated "no" over and over again. She hated not having a voice!
"Now, now, Fifth. We shall try a new blend." Doctor Shou gently tapped the syringe filled with a dark purple liquid. "If you don't produce results today, I will get creative. Perhaps that will be enough motivation for you."
She held the syringe up once more, and Fifth struggled. She gasped when Doctor Shou jabbed the syringe into her arm. She didn't want this! Please, someone save me, she screamed into the darkness of her mind, right as all-consuming burning began tearing through her veins. She opened her mouth to let out a voiceless howl and was lost to the agony of her pain.